The Best JRPGS on Every PlayStation Console, Ranked

Not every genre can boast that it has been a major player across multiple generations of consoles, as genres and trends tend to come and go. However, as other sub-genres have faded into relative obscurity, the JRPG has remained a staple of the industry.

These games have regularly been the stars of the show on each console, with a JRPG or two usually being part of the debate for the best ever game to appear on each respective console, which is why we want to look back through the annals of PlayStation history and see which JRPGs would be considered the best in class.

We will be picking one representative from each console to represent the JRPG genre, and then we will decide, once and for all, which of these games ranks as the best of the best. It’s not just a battle for which game was best, but also, which console hosted the best of the bunch.

7

YS: VIII: Lacrimosa of DANA

Best of the PS Vita

It shouldn’t be all that surprising that the PS Vita ranks the lowest on this list, mainly because the library is pitiful compared to the rest of the consoles listed. Blame Sony for abandoning this beautiful handheld well before its time.

There were some Persona games on the Vita, but because they’ll be represented elsewhere, the best of the rest that the Vita had to offer is fronted by the YS series. For many, Lacrimosa of DANA still represents a high watermark for the franchise, and all things considered, it’s a blessing that you can play this one on the go courtesy of the Vita.

Not only does this one offer quentessentially YS combat with a three-pronged party system, but it also offers a far more mature and involved narrative compared to most other entries in the series. Not to mention lots of great side content and almost all launch issues that plagued the game have been addressed.

It’s not a game that can compete with the goliaths that are yet to come, but it’s a great option if you still want to try and squeeze some joy from your Vita.

6

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

Best of the PS3

Keeping things Falcom for another entry, we have Trails of Cold Steel. A game that takes quite a bit of flak within the Trails fandom as one of the lesser Trails games overall. But, regardless of what you think of the rest, it was a wonderful start to proceedings, and one of the best JRPGs the PS3 had to offer.

Offering a classic coming-of-age story in a vast, interconnected and rich world, the initial Cold Steel outing allowed fans to get to know Rean and company intimately, master a deep, dynamic turn-based system with unique aspects like turn-order manipulation, crafts, and breaks, and there’s even a Persona-esque feel to the side content.

Personally, I think Trails in the Sky as a whole probably edges this series, but you have to give credit where it’s due. Without this one, the rest simply would not have followed. So, this one more than earns the right to represent the PS3 JRPG era.

5

Jeanne d’Arc

Best of the PSP

If you were hoping that at least one grid-based tactics JRPG would pop on the list, then you’re in luck. As Jeanne d’Arc does enough to sneak in thanks to the omission of Final Fantasy and Persona entries on the beloved handheld.

This game is an odd duck in many ways, as it offers a historically focused tale centered around the life and times of Joan of Arc, but naturally, with many liberties taken to make history a little more fantastical and JRPG-friendly.

History buffs might scoff at the inclusion of magic and demons, but even they would likely be won over by the accessible tactical grid combat that wells just as timeless and nuanced as Final Fantasy Tactics, which, as many of you will know, is very high praise indeed.

The visuals, whether referring to the anime-style cutscenes or the in-game sprite-work, are sublime, and overall, this game, while criminally overlooked, is easily one of the best tactical JRPGs ever made. So, if you have a PSP gathering dust, get yourself a cartridge and get playing.

Best of the PS5 (So Far)

While the battle for the best PS5 JRPG still rages on at the time of writing, it’s pretty definitive at this point that Metaphor Re:Fantazio is the front runner for that accolade.

This game is essentially where the Persona series and Game of Thrones meet at a crossroads, offering a medieval fantasy story full of twists and turns, but with the familiar turn-based combat of Persona that we know and love.

Granted, this game omits the classic creature-taming aspect of its sister series, opting for a system more in line with the job system of Final Fantasy. But that aside, it’s a stone’s throw away from Persona with just enough unique aspects to stand on its own as a killer series.

The jury is out if it will keep its top spot when the inevitable PS6 comes along. But, what I can say for certain is that whatever comes along to kick it off its perch will need to be phenomenal.

3

Chrono Cross

The Best of the PS1

It was always going to be a pretty impossible task to follow up the near-perfect game that was Chrono Trigger. A game still spoken about in glowing terms today as one of the finest JRPGs of all time. However, despite having its critics, Chrono Cross gave it a pretty good go.

It was always going to get heat for not offering a direct sequel. But if you can set that aside, what you get is a mature and broody story, a unique and interesting elemental grid combat system, one of the finest soundtracks of all time, and some of the most ambitious design choices of the era.

Some big swings don’t equate to home runs, as the story is a little confusing, and the excess of characters leads to an overall lack of depth with each. But all in all, it’s a masterpiece in its own right. Certainly not as ‘all-killer, no filler’ as Chrono Trigger, but certainly one to try if you don’t mind peaks and valleys.

2

Final Fantasy XII

The Best of the PS2

It was a toss-up whether to include Final Fantasy X or XII as both are tied in terms of aggregate score. But, in the end, I settled on XII due to this game representing the peak of what the PS2 was capable of, with visuals that make you wonder how that humble little piece of hardware could pull off such graphical excellence.

But, visuals and gorgeous skyships aside, FFXII is also excellent due to the vast areas to explore that feel alive and rich with worldbuilding elements. Not to mention a Gambit system that made it one of the more accessible FF games in recent memory and a great jumping-in point.

I’ll grant you, Vaan is hardly a standout protagonist, and the politically charged story can be a little dense at times. But, the other side of the coin is that this leads to one of the most fully realized worlds in the series’ history.

Not everyone will agree, but I still think FFXII is one of the best games in the franchise’s history, and represents the pinnacle of the PS2.

1

Persona 5 Royal

The Best of the PS4

If you were being truly honest with yourself, you knew that the Phantom Thieves would be stealing this top spot just as they stole our hearts and our free time.

Persona 5 Royal is the definitive way to play what is pretty much unanimously considered the best Persona game out there, which requires beating some very stiff competition. But Persona 5 does that thanks to some of the most stylish visuals and UI imaginable, alongside some killer gameplay.

The classic creature-tamer meets social life simulator formula is at its most refined in this title, offering an amazing cast of characters, a gripping day-by-day progression, and some of the most memorable dungeons in JRPG history in the space of the game’s various Mind Palaces.

It’s not just the best JRPG of the PS4 era. It’s firmly in the running for the best JRPG of all time, and that’s why this one tops this list at a canter.

NEXT

10 Best JRPGs For Non-JRPG Fans

JRPGs are an acquired taste for some, but these games are tasty no matter what.