When Japan began developing its ownRPGs, developers like Yuji Horii, the father ofDragon Quest, aimed to create something more accessible for players.
Dragon Questwas inspired byWizardryandUltimabut didn’t include fully customizable characters, countless attributes, large parties, and branching narratives.
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This streamlined approach, combined with inherently Japanese characteristics like anime-inspired art styles, dramatic storytelling, and a focus on character development, earned these games the title ofJRPGs.
As JRPGs gained popularity, other games began paying tribute to them. Many developers sought to create their own interpretation of JRPGs, even if they weren’t Japanese.
We’ve decided to highlight the best JRPGs not made in Japan that could easily pass as works of the old-school Japanese RPG wizards.
8Earthlock
The Festival of Magic
Earthlockis a humble indie game by Norwegian studio Snowcastle Games. Its story takes place in a world where the planet has stopped spinning, causing weather cataclysms across various regions—some are scorched by constant sunlight, while others are frozen in perpetual darkness.
Snowcastle draws inspiration from classicSquaresoftgames featuring turn-based combat. Each party member fights in pairs, altering their abilities and taking two different stances. Amon, for example, can switch between ranged and melee attacks, each with distinct advantages against certain enemies.
On the right-hand side of the screen, a timeline displays the combat order, helping players strategize.Earthlockis an unambitious, cozy game that delivers on its promises. The first game must have been relatively successful sinceSnowcastle announcedEarthlock 2in 2020.
7Fallen Legion
A Vanillaware-esque Game
At a glance,Fallen Legionmight seem like a Vanillaware production due to its striking visuals, but that’s not true. The two games,Fallen Legion: Sins of an EmpireandFallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion, along with their compilationRise to Glory, were developed by Indonesian studio Mintsphere.
Each game is set in the Empire of Fenumia and features a different protagonist. While not precisely masterpieces, they have their own charm. The combat resemblesValkyrie Profile, where each face button triggers an attack from a party member.
Battles feel like mini-gauntlets comprised of several stages. After each victory, players can choose buffs to strengthen their team for the next challenge.
Outside of combat,Fallen Legionplays out on a map reminiscent of tactical games, where clicking on an area triggers cutscenes, battles, or both. It isn’t the most awesome game, but it scratches the itch for something new but familiar.
6Child of Light
The Only Child
Child of Light
Ubisoft Montreal’sChild of Lighthas more in common with JRPGs than Western RPGs. In this artistic game, players follow Aurora, who dies in her sleep and awakens in the world of Lemuria, where she must restore light to the land to return home.
Child of Lightis steeped in artistry. Its narrative is almost entirely in rhyme, which might be a gripe for some players. The art style draws inspiration from historical illustrators and even Yoshitaka Amano, renowned for designingFinal Fantasylogos and several of the series' characters and monsters.
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The combat uses an active turn-based system similar toGrandia, where a timeline determines action order. Depending on the commands chosen, players can interrupt or cancel enemy turns. Only two party members participate in battles, making the encounters more streamlined and strategic.Child of Lightis deemed one ofthe best PS3 RPG.
5The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
The Fellowship Of The Final Fantasy
The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age
Who would have thought Electronic Arts would practically copyFinal Fantasy X’sblueprint to create aTheLord of the Ringsgame? That’s what happened withThe Lord of the Rings: The Third Age.
The combat plays out nearly identically toFinal Fantasy X’sConditional Turn-Based Battle system. A queue displays the order of combatants, and this order can be altered using abilities that speed up allies or stun and slow down enemies. Each party member has unique specialties and learns new abilities through leveling up or equipping Elf Stones.
The game’s protagonist is Berethor, a captain of Gondor. The story unfolds duringThe Lord of the Ringstrilogy but is non-canonical. This creative freedom allowed the game to include epic boss fights, such as battling the Balrog alongside Gandalf.
Berethor and his group operate behind the scenes under Gandalf’s guidance to aid Frodo and the Fellowship in their quest to destroy the One Ring.
4Battle Chasers: Nightwar
An American JRPG
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
American studio Airship Syndicate developedBattle Chasers: Nightwar, an RPG based on the fantasy comic book of the same name. Unlike other games on this list, the studio never explicitly cited JRPG inspirations, though players and some pundits often label it an “American JRPG”—as odd as that might sound.
Battle Chasers: Nightwarfollows adiverse cast of characterstasked with protecting Gully as they travel to the Capital Lands. When their airship is shot down, they must escape a mysterious island teeming with deadly foes.
The game features an isometric view reminiscent ofDiabloas players explore both dungeons and the world map. Dungeon difficulty can be set before entering, and layouts are procedurally generated, keeping exploration fresh.
Its turn-based combat is straightforward but introduces a few twists. Regular attacks allow party members to generate Overcharge, a surplus of mana usable only during that battle. Some abilities have a charge time, pushing the member’s turn further down the timeline. Enemies operate similarly, giving players time to brace themselves before a devastating blow lands.
3Cris Tales
Time Travel In Battle
Cris Tales
Dreams Uncorporated, a Colombian studio, developedCris Talesas a love letter to JRPGs likeFinal Fantasy,Chrono Trigger, andPersona.
The game’s theme revolves around time travel but with a unique spin. Protagonist Crisbell can jump through time on the map and during battles, triggering various effects. For example, Crisbell can leap into the past to move objects, removing them as obstacles in the present.
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Her time-jumping ability is pivotal in combat as well. Crisbell can send enemies into the past, making them weaker, or plant a poison attack that takes effect when they’re thrown into the future, dealing severe damage. This mechanic is essential for resolving some conflicts.
The entire design ofCris Taleshinges on its time-jumping system, particularly the narrative. After gaining her powers, Crisbell witnesses her home destroyed by the Empress of Time. Determined to stop the villain’s empire, she sets out to master her time magic and rewrite her world’s fate.
2Chained Echoes
A Mix of JRPGs Homages
Chained Echoes
German solo developer Matthias Linda is the mastermind behindChained Echoes, aturn-based indie RPGinspired by 1990s JRPG classics. Fans of games likeFinal Fantasy,Suikoden, and the masterpieceChrono Triggerwill find a lot to love here.
InChained Echoes, players follow Glenn as he embarks on a mission with the Iron Bull gang. He inadvertently activates a mysterious stone during the mission, triggering a massive explosion and tragic deaths, setting the stage for the game’s intricate narrative.
The story is full of twists—sometimes too many—but JRPG fans will easily recognize its influences. The game offers numerous features, including base building, giant robot battles, a class system, and robust turn-based combat.
A standout feature of the combat system is the Overdrive Gauge. During battle, actions raise or lower this gauge, and its position determines whether allies deal more damage or take more. This forces players to approach encounters strategically rather than relying on spamming basic attacks.
1Sea of Stars
The Best Non-Japan JRPG
Sea of Stars
Canadian studio Sabotage Studios created the stellarSea of Stars, a modern RPG with the heart of a classic JRPG. According to director Thierry Boulanger,the inspirations behindSea of StarsincludeChrono Trigger,Super Mario RPG, andIllusion of Gaia, and the final result truly shines.
The story follows Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale as they embark on a lifelong mission: to defeat The Fleshmancer. Along the way, they meet a colorful cast of companions, each driven by their own motivations.
The turn-based combat introduces several creative gimmicks. Each ability includes a unique interactive element to enhance its power. Players can also use time button presses to reduce damage from enemy attacks, andparty members can combine their abilitiesto create devastating team attacks.
Sea of Stars' standout combat mechanic is the Lock system. When an enemy prepares an attack, lock icons appear above them, representing specific elemental types. Hitting all the required elements before the enemy’s turn cancels their attack, encouraging players to carefully strategize their actions instead of mindlessly attacking.
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