I started with Pokémon Firered when I was 5 years old back in 2005 when I was given a Pearl Blue Gameboy Advance SP on my 5th birthday by my mom, and Jrpgs have forever been my favorite gaming genre ever since and always will be until the day I die. I was actually surprised you didn’t mention the Pokémon franchise.
For Nintendo, I also might recommend Tokyo Mirage Sessions. While it's a weird pick as it's a crossover between two popular JRPGs, there's enough of a disconnection between both series that it kind of becomes its own thing. One of the best parts of is that it's not a long JRPG which most non-RPG players will probably appreciate, though the aesthetic will either turn you off or interest you depending on who you are. For every other platform, I highly recommend Yakuza: Like a Dragon for those that want a "modern looking" game. While it is the 8th title within the Yakuza/RGG series, it's a perfectly ok starting point. A lot of the systems within the game borrow from many other popular JRPGs, and personally believe it's great for JRPG beginners
The reason I wouldn't recommend games like those is, while there are systems that connect to JRPGs, for the most part they are too unique to those games. If you play a Final Fantasy or a Dragon Quest you can then switch to another game that has a lot of links to what you've already played and it feels familiar. If you play a Yakuza game you really will only want to play more Yakuza games if you enjoyed it. Or maybe Shenmue. Which isn't bad necessarily, but makes them not great introductions to the genre.
I believe I started by playing Pokemon, almost every of the main series games, but I didn't even know they were JRPGS when I did lol, the first JRPG I played knowing it was one, was Persona 4 Golden, it's an amazing game, I played it while waiting for Persona 3 Reload to launch and completed it on 2 weeks, any of the persona games are great games (maybe just not persona 1, due to the bad gameplay).
That honestly sounds lowkey insane for a first JRPG game, but glad you had fun with it. Even more insane to do ff7 after lol, ff7 to me doesn't feel that easy to get, as oppose to a dragon quest game.
I started with persona 5 royal in 2020 during lockdown. Always thought JRPGs weren’t for me but I had nothing to do and wanted something different so I gave persona a try as I had heard nothing but praise for it… I was hooked and became a weeb that year.
While this is a pretty good list, I would not recommend FF7 Remake for a first JRPG. For one, without going into too much spoilers, it's more of a sequel than a remake. There are many things that will not totally make sense unless you play the original FF7 first and parts of the story that are spoiled early on in Remake but are left more of a mystery until way later into the original game. Plus some smaller details that will leave you a bit wondering if you haven't played Crisis Core or at least done the optional Gongaga section of the original FF7. Also, while it is more interesting story wise, I would definetely recommend FF4 over 6 for a first time JRPG. The main reason is that it really sticks to the original conventions of the genre whereas FF6 breaks those conventions. You would appreciate FF6 more if you were more acquainted with a more 'typical' JRPG experience like FF4, esecially for the second half of FF6. One JRPG that I cannot recommend enough for first timers is Lunar: Silver Star Story, especially the PS1 version, it truly gives the most well executed 'This is a JRPG' experience. Otherwise, great list, loved the reccomendation for Suikoden, feel like that game doesn't get enough love.
I'm with you on Lunar. For me it's the archetype of what I wish more JRPGs would be. So well rounded, and the end-game sections (without spoiling anything) are what every epilogue should look like. I love that game so much that I want to potentially save it for another video in the future. Final Fantasy also has more word of mouth that I think people are more likely to respond to and be willing to try it out based on having heard about it already. Plus it has influenced such a large amount of JRPGs, and the only place Lunar would have fit is within the Playstation section unfortunately. (Bring it to PC naow) I would agree that you can get a lot more out of FF7 remake from playing the original, but I think enough care has gone into it that newcomers won't even realize that. And for people that will ONLY play modern games (those people do exist) this is a bit more of an easy transition.
Getting used to turn based? Final fantasy X. Realtime combat? Ys 8 Something between? Xenoblade chronicles 1. Ff7 remake is a poor choice given that it expects familiarity with the original. Dragon quest 11 or the latest entry you can get your hands on are great too. Modern pokemon isn't good, if it was, I'd suggest that. Yakuza like a dragon is simple enough, but you'll be missing context from the brawling entries. Do not touch infinite wealth first, or you'll really be confused.
Final Fantasy X isn't even a good starting point for Final Fantasy. It's totally different than the other games in the series, and isn't for everyone. A lot of people like happier endings. Ys VIII, not a bad choice for Action RPGs. Tales is a better entry point for JRPGs with action combat. Ys is kind of it's own thing and has little in common with other JRPGs. But I'll never tell people to not play Ys. FF7 Remake doesn't require anything. Just because it has a lot of nostalgic value, doesn't mean it doesn't have anything to offer outside of that. It's a good starting point because people who play modern games don't need to completely swap their mindset. It's a good middle-ground between traditional JRPGs and other Playstation exclusives. Pokemon....meh. Yakuza takes place basically in one city. Which I feel like takes away an entire important aspect of JRPGs (exploration). Most of the series isn't turn-based. I don't think I would call them JRPGs at all until maybe Like A Dragon.
I started with Pokémon Firered when I was 5 years old back in 2005 when I was given a Pearl Blue Gameboy Advance SP on my 5th birthday by my mom, and Jrpgs have forever been my favorite gaming genre ever since and always will be until the day I die. I was actually surprised you didn’t mention the Pokémon franchise.
Amazing list man! You definitely put a lot of thought into finding JRPGs that fit as many types of gamers as possible. Keep up the good work!
Thanks, I'm glad you enjoyed the video!
Finally, a man of culture and taste!
Thank you good sir, I appreciate the endorsement!
@@GameClouds keep em coming. great stuff man.
For Nintendo, I also might recommend Tokyo Mirage Sessions. While it's a weird pick as it's a crossover between two popular JRPGs, there's enough of a disconnection between both series that it kind of becomes its own thing.
One of the best parts of is that it's not a long JRPG which most non-RPG players will probably appreciate, though the aesthetic will either turn you off or interest you depending on who you are.
For every other platform, I highly recommend Yakuza: Like a Dragon for those that want a "modern looking" game. While it is the 8th title within the Yakuza/RGG series, it's a perfectly ok starting point. A lot of the systems within the game borrow from many other popular JRPGs, and personally believe it's great for JRPG beginners
The reason I wouldn't recommend games like those is, while there are systems that connect to JRPGs, for the most part they are too unique to those games. If you play a Final Fantasy or a Dragon Quest you can then switch to another game that has a lot of links to what you've already played and it feels familiar.
If you play a Yakuza game you really will only want to play more Yakuza games if you enjoyed it. Or maybe Shenmue. Which isn't bad necessarily, but makes them not great introductions to the genre.
Great job on the video, please keep up the good work! :)
Thanks for watching!
Decided this year I would try focus on jrpgs primarily. Your list couldn't have come at a better time
Glad to help! I'll have plenty more where that came from throughout the year too. Thanks for watching!
Dont worry, will be going through your backlog of videos for more recommendations @@GameClouds
I believe I started by playing Pokemon, almost every of the main series games, but I didn't even know they were JRPGS when I did lol, the first JRPG I played knowing it was one, was Persona 4 Golden, it's an amazing game, I played it while waiting for Persona 3 Reload to launch and completed it on 2 weeks, any of the persona games are great games (maybe just not persona 1, due to the bad gameplay).
my first jrpg was xenoblade chronicles 2 and then after that i played the original final fantasy 7
That honestly sounds lowkey insane for a first JRPG game, but glad you had fun with it. Even more insane to do ff7 after lol, ff7 to me doesn't feel that easy to get, as oppose to a dragon quest game.
"how good is xenoblade chronicles? "
"yes"
I started with persona 5 royal in 2020 during lockdown. Always thought JRPGs weren’t for me but I had nothing to do and wanted something different so I gave persona a try as I had heard nothing but praise for it… I was hooked and became a weeb that year.
I wanna say pokemon too but man is that complex for a new person to it
its a children's game...
While this is a pretty good list, I would not recommend FF7 Remake for a first JRPG. For one, without going into too much spoilers, it's more of a sequel than a remake. There are many things that will not totally make sense unless you play the original FF7 first and parts of the story that are spoiled early on in Remake but are left more of a mystery until way later into the original game. Plus some smaller details that will leave you a bit wondering if you haven't played Crisis Core or at least done the optional Gongaga section of the original FF7. Also, while it is more interesting story wise, I would definetely recommend FF4 over 6 for a first time JRPG. The main reason is that it really sticks to the original conventions of the genre whereas FF6 breaks those conventions. You would appreciate FF6 more if you were more acquainted with a more 'typical' JRPG experience like FF4, esecially for the second half of FF6. One JRPG that I cannot recommend enough for first timers is Lunar: Silver Star Story, especially the PS1 version, it truly gives the most well executed 'This is a JRPG' experience. Otherwise, great list, loved the reccomendation for Suikoden, feel like that game doesn't get enough love.
I'm with you on Lunar. For me it's the archetype of what I wish more JRPGs would be. So well rounded, and the end-game sections (without spoiling anything) are what every epilogue should look like. I love that game so much that I want to potentially save it for another video in the future. Final Fantasy also has more word of mouth that I think people are more likely to respond to and be willing to try it out based on having heard about it already. Plus it has influenced such a large amount of JRPGs, and the only place Lunar would have fit is within the Playstation section unfortunately. (Bring it to PC naow)
I would agree that you can get a lot more out of FF7 remake from playing the original, but I think enough care has gone into it that newcomers won't even realize that. And for people that will ONLY play modern games (those people do exist) this is a bit more of an easy transition.
Getting used to turn based? Final fantasy X.
Realtime combat? Ys 8
Something between? Xenoblade chronicles 1.
Ff7 remake is a poor choice given that it expects familiarity with the original.
Dragon quest 11 or the latest entry you can get your hands on are great too.
Modern pokemon isn't good, if it was, I'd suggest that.
Yakuza like a dragon is simple enough, but you'll be missing context from the brawling entries. Do not touch infinite wealth first, or you'll really be confused.
Final Fantasy X isn't even a good starting point for Final Fantasy. It's totally different than the other games in the series, and isn't for everyone. A lot of people like happier endings.
Ys VIII, not a bad choice for Action RPGs. Tales is a better entry point for JRPGs with action combat. Ys is kind of it's own thing and has little in common with other JRPGs. But I'll never tell people to not play Ys.
FF7 Remake doesn't require anything. Just because it has a lot of nostalgic value, doesn't mean it doesn't have anything to offer outside of that. It's a good starting point because people who play modern games don't need to completely swap their mindset. It's a good middle-ground between traditional JRPGs and other Playstation exclusives.
Pokemon....meh.
Yakuza takes place basically in one city. Which I feel like takes away an entire important aspect of JRPGs (exploration). Most of the series isn't turn-based. I don't think I would call them JRPGs at all until maybe Like A Dragon.