JRPGsoffer some incredibly vast worlds for people to explore. Sometimes daunting in the worlds one can travel to within their gaming devices, there have been plenty of fantastic franchises that came out of the genre. Licenses likeDragon QuestorFinal Fantasytend to define the genre, but JRPGs can also be as distinctly different as, say, theShin Megami Tenseifranchise. Over the years, there have also been plenty of games and franchises that have been left to collect dust.
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There are countless reasons developers and publishers might move past a license, but there are just as many justifications for bringing back these same properties. For one, they typically do have a fanbase, and even if these games are not particularly well-known, they are arguably less of a risk than new IPs. Here are someJRPG franchisesthat deserve to make a comeback.
Updated July 04, 2025 by Mark Sammut:JRPGS might be a niche genre but it has also proven to be timeless. Something would be amiss with the world if a new Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, or Shin Megami Tensei game were not in development, and these properties are nearly always in the public discourse. However, for every Persona and Tales of franchise, there are properly 20 JRPG licenses that have been forgotten to time, destined to only be remembered by a handful of people who grew up with a PS2, PSP, or SNES. While some of these games are better left in the past, there are plenty ofJRPG franchises that deserve reboots.
1999
2001
2004
Shadow Hearts: From the New World
2005
Starting withKoudelkafor thePlaystation,Shadow Heartsis a JRPG franchise that specializes in horror. Dealing with elements of the occult, players were treated to a unique battle system on top of a novel setting.
With only four games within the series,Shadow Heartshas been dormant since 2005. That being said, with a game series likeShadow Hearts, it would be fun to see a return once again to this setting.
1997
2000
2002
Grandia 3
Grandiastarted back in 1997. A JRPG franchise created by Game Arts, this series was pretty simple but it was also done in a way that ensured the titles were full of fun.
For the most part, one of the general themes behind theGrandiafranchise is the observation of the Hero’s journey. The games were also known for their great world-building as well as asolid combat system. An HD collection was released in 2019, so hopefully, a proper reboot/sequel is released in the future.
Baten Kaitos: Eternal Wings and the Lost Ocean
2003
Baten Kaitos Origins
2006
Producing two Nintendo GameCube releases,Baten Kaitosinstantly differentiated itself from other JRPGs by introducing mechanics revolving around cards called Magnus. These cards are not just central to the turn-based combat, where the party members’ actions are determined by the random cards that they pull from a deck, but also the story’s mythos. The franchise comes with deep lore that still has room to grow.
Even though their combat systems can be an acquired taste, both of theBaten Kaitosgames are among the best RPGs on the GameCube, and they are also among the most ambitious. A third entry was meant to be in development, but it never came to fruition, and the property has been largely forgotten since 2006. Although not one of the most well-known JRPG series ever,Baten Kaitosis enough of a name to give a reboot a leg up.
1996/2003
2007
Wild Arms: Million Memories
2018
Essentially a JRPG with heavy influence from theWild West, theWild Armsseries is often considered a cult classic for many people. The license is also a media franchise as it also has spawned manga and toys.
A reoccurring motif that appears throughout the series was the ARMS and how it plays with the environmentalist themes of the game. With the ARMS themselves acting as representatives of a more destructive age. While a mobile game was released in 2018, the last console entry was the PSP’sWild Arms XF. That debuted all the way back in 2007 in Japan (and in 2008 in North America).
Golden Sun: Dark Dawn
2010
Golden Sunis pretty famous among Nintendo fans. Originating from the Gameboy Advance, theGolden Sunfranchise is known for simplistic plots that are great for portable devices.
The franchise became good enough that the main character appeared as an assist trophy forSuper Smash Bros.That being said, the games have laid dormant since 2010. Considering the fanbase is still clamoring for another entry, a reboot of the series might be the best way to go.
1999/2009
2003/2011
Growlanser 6: Precarious World
This tactical JRPG series produced a lot of games in a relatively short time span, and most of them were pretty good additions to the genre. However, asGrowlanserwent on, some of its sequels started to remain in Japan and, eventually, the franchise just faded away and stopped producing new content. With so many titles to its name,Growlansercan seem overwhelming to jump into; however, the games are largely stand-alone, so newcomers can just pick the one that is most convenient to them.
While by no means terrible, theGrowlansergames are quite dated, and they have not aged as well as some other JRPGs released during the 2000s. A reboot would give the franchise a fresh start, although a remaster of theGrowlanser Generationscompilation would also work. IfLangrissercan make something of a comeback, then there is no reasonGrowlansercannot do the same.
1993
Breath of Fire 2
1994
Breath of Fire 3
Breath of Fire 4
Breath of Fire 5
Breath of Fire 6
2016
TheBreath Of Fireseries is one of the premier franchises by Capcom. Similar to theFinal FantasyorDragon Questgames, eachBreath Of Firegame has its own story with some even having a completely different setting. The unique thing about these games though is the dragon mechanics as well as the great characters that appear within each entry.
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Unfortunately, the franchise has not produced a proper JRPG entry since 2002’sBreath Of Fire: Dragon Quarter. The latest entry, the poorly receivedBreath Of Fire 6, was a multiplayer mobile game littered with microtransactions.
1995
1998
Suikoden 5
IfBreath Of Firewas the Capcom RPG, thenSuikodenwould be considered the JRPG for Konami. Totaling up to five mainline entries along with a bunch of spin-offs,Suikodenwas particularly known for having war and conflict as the central theme.
By collecting over 100 characters, players get to experience a story unlike any other. In fact, to this day,Suikoden 2is held in high esteem by JRPG fans. Nonetheless, not much has been heard since 2012, however, a spiritual successor calledEiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroesis currently in development.
The Legend of Dragoon
The Legend of Dragoonwas created by SCE Japan Studio. Being a 3D JRPG, it was designed by the developers with player immersion in mind. Whether that’s from its realistic world or cinematic presentation,Legend of Dragoonwowed its cult audience with its gameplay and world.
This JRPG offers a unique blend between classic turn-based gameplay and cinematic real-time commands. A reboot really needs to happen with a game with this much potential.
Dark Chronicle
Dark Cloudis the JRPG created by Level-5 studios, the same company responsible for games likeDragon Quest VIIIandNi No Kuni.Dark Cloudis an action JRPG that stars Toan who was given the stone of Atlamillia, allowing him the power to rebuild lands that have been destroyed.
The series currently has only two games, including the fantasticDark Chronicle, and the studio is now focused on its other JRPG titles. It would be fun to journey back into the world ofDark Cloudonce more.
