I actually think FF9 was the series peak. 6 will always mean more to me because it was the first game to show me that games aren’t just fun, they’re truly art and maybe the pinnacle of it when done right. I want them to redo 6… but I don’t lol. I don’t think it’s possible. There’s so much I want them to explore. Spoiler I want so badly to see Terra converse quietly with her dad’s magicite and explore her feelings more. There’s so much that could be fleshed out and explained with the characters. There are story moments that don’t exactly make sense, that could be explained better or redone to not be cringy or slightly creepy. Like Setzer is introduced as actually a bad guy, I think we could do better at justifying his actions when we’re introduced to him. I think some view Locke as also creepy, but he never struck me that way. Just extremely guilty and desperate to make things right.
I'm so glad you included Xenogears. That for me is still the most ambitious storytelling ever seen in a JRPG. Only Trails manages to come close in terms of shocking plot twists and dark themes. Other stories I really like include Lost Odyssey and Persona 5.
Yeah, especially if you think about Xenogears' place in the overall story Takahashi wanted to tell -- the whole Xeno universe has the potential to be close to the same level of epicness as Trails.
Ive played every Trails and Xeno game, in my opinion Xenosaga is the best of them all in terms of story. Trails does too many things I started to not like in the Cold Steel series which is a shame because Sky and Zero were so well done. Xenogears and the Xenoblade series are better games than Xenosaga but Xenosaga, story alone, I still consider the best story in all of gaming and I've played and beaten hundreds. Nier isn't a jrpg but the connected stories of Drakengard and Nier are also incredibly interesting and unique stories.
@@joeyisabsb1I do respect the overarching narrative of trails series but man does it do so many things that pisses me off to the point where it even fell off my top 10 fav jrpgs, there is very little to no consequence, the pacing is often very bad and the plot armor is pretty much a joke that is extremely hard to take the game serious.
@@نونيم-ي4ح I was just about to ask which Trails game has a good story. Lol I've never played one but whenever I ask, someone always talks about how good the "lore" is over the actual story and characters
Here are my top ten, in order tho haha (I haven't played every game on your list so 😂). I know I'm missing some of the absolute best of the genre, but hey, I gotta save some good games for later 😂 10. Dragon Quest XI 9. Tales of Vesperia 8. Final Fantasy VIII 7. Paper Mario: The Origami King 6. Final Fantasy X 5. Octopath Traveler II 4. Final Fantasy IX 3. Blue Dragon 2. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch 1. Lost Odyssey
I subscribed the moment you gave Final Fantasy VI the recognition it deserves. Thank you for that. The rest are great too. Edit: not really a complaint, because I’ll look it up, but you may want to add which system each game is for.
Xenogears is that one game that I can still play, today, without any mods Okay, that's an exaggeration; virtually everything with hand drawn art is still on the table. Doubly so if it's pixel art. But, gfd... Xenogears hits just as hard as the year it came out.
I would say that "Japanese Role-Playing Game" is like "French fries." They're Role-Playing Games made in the Japanese style. So any game that uses that style is a JRPG in my book, even if it doesn't originate from the country.
I'll be honest, I played it so long ago that I don't remember much about the story. And the translation was pretty rough, as I recall, so I probably didn't fully absorb it. I'm looking forward to the remaster, hopefully they get all that cleaned up.
TBH stories are secondary to me as I value more the gameplay in video games. I love a good story but not if it interrupts too heavily with the gameplay. For example, I rank Xenoblade Chronicles 3 much lower than others do because at one point I got so frustrated with not being to actually play the game for over an hour because of cutscenes. That said I want to give the nostalgia shoutout to Final Fantasy IV. Consider at the time, there was really nothing like it story wise and the game just gave me the feels in such a strong way. Also I love your shirt Brandon!
Thank you! And I agree, there are times when story can become obtrusive, even for me. Believe me, I experienced some of the 90 minute cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid 4....
The effect that Evangelion had on the cultural zeitgeist of Japan really can't be overstated. Its influence can be felt through various works like Xenogears, Code Geass, Persona 5, Naruto, Serial Experiments Lain, and hundreds more, all seeking to expound on, refute, or answer the primary theme of Eva, and one of the central paradoxes of humanity: the hedgehog's dilemma. I think we'll look back on Eva as Japan's version of The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a work that shaped an entire generation of storytelling.
i think you're taking in on the wrong side. Eva was what had to happen to Japan. humanity's history doesn't really work just with what can be seen, like something exists--->enormous influence on the things coming after in a big generational way. it's a bit more complex than that. i'm of course not saying Eva didn't have influence, it was indeed enormous, but it's more because it had to be. if it wasn't Eva, it would've been something else. the other things after it wouldn't "not exist" if Eva wasn't here. they also would have, differently. it's something that was there, in Japan. it's something that was getting out, and Eva was a catalyst for it. we cannot overstate the importance of humanity's inner boiling energy. it's like jazz or mostly anything else, it had to happen, whatever the seed of its beginning. it's always the same, humans are multiple to have the same ideas at the same time (on a very conceptual level or more concrete), or with a slight time gap.
Its baffling how Ys 8 started as a shipwrecked, trapped in an island kind of thing. You would think it's gonna be a case of explore this island make a boat and bolt outta there, but once you explore the other half of the island, oh boy are you in for a ride. One of the best games I've played in terms of storyline. Its slow burn, but a really good burning.
I guess I never really got to the story in Ys 8 - I tried a couple times but I just remember being stuck and running around in a circle after getting to the initial island. After doing the same thing like 10 times I pulled out the game and tossed it...One of these days I might pull it out again.
Love your content so much. Just finished Crossbell Arc and bought a Steam Deck and I am 20 hours in Trails from the Sky. I love Estelle so much. Thanks man. You encouraged me. Love these other games. Omori is now on my wishlist.
Xenogears will always be my number one for story telling as well, but really glad to see Ys VIII on this list. That was a game I started up on a whim thinking "ah it will be a fun action RPG but probably nothing to right home about" and it ended up being of my favorite RPGs of all time.
A fellow story lover! Love to see videos about game stories and I agree with most of these picks especially Y8 I loved the setting and concept Tho is does break my heart not seeing Nier automata on the list jk😅 if you haven’t played it I highly recommend for its story
13 SENTINELS AEGIS RIM, Xenogears, the Xenoblades, FF6-7-10 (my dirty secret is I consider 10-2 very much a part of 10) and probably FFT too, definitely Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology yeah, Undertale if it counts, CHAINED ECHOES if it counts, Triangle Strategy tries a bit hard but I love it, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, all the Suikodens, Trails in the Sky. Honorary mention to Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Arise, but I think both are flawed. Abyss has weird pacing since it puts a bazillion twists in the first third or so, and Arise is ... if you've played Arise I feel like why it's flawed is so obvious lol but I love love love both. I adoooore Ys VIII but let's just say I'm very surprised to see it on this particular list lol.
I Would Add XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition, XenoBlade Chronicles 3 with the Future Redeemed DLC, Fire Emblem Three Houses Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload
I wish I felt anything like you about Undertale. In my review of the game, I think I gave the story a 3 or 4 out of 10. It did nothing for me except make me laugh a bit haha.
Love your picks and clearly I really need to get to Ys VIII! I at least have it now so zero excuses!!! I play JRPGs for the stories so it’s a HUGE factor for me!
Here’s my list of both JRPG and RPGs that have the best stories 1. Final Fantasy 7 2. Final Fantasy 9 3. Final Fantasy 10 4. Tales of Berseria 5. Tales of Arise 6. Legend of Dragoon 7. Ni No Kuni 8. Persona 5 9. Fire Emblem Awakening 10. Fire Emblem Azure Moon 11. Fire Emblem Crimson Flower 12. Fire Emblem Cindered Shadows 13. Dragon Age Origins 14. Dragon Age 2 15. Dragon Age Inquisition 16. Dragon Age Veilguard 17. Baldur’s Gate 3 18. Divinity Original Sin 2 19. Hogwarts Legacy 20. Fenyx Immortal Rising 21. Greedfall 22. Fable 1 23. Fable 2 24. Fable 3 25. Diablo 2 26. Diablo 4 27. Banner Saga Trilogy 28. Dungeon of Naheulbeuk 29. Persona 3 30. Warcraft 3 31. Ys 8 32. Xenoblade Chronicles
A great list! I think Breath of Fire 2 would be on mine. I just remember how intrigued and drawn in I was at the really sad start to that game's story as a kid 😊
JRPG stories I love are Eternal Sonata on PS3 which is still stuck there and Ni Nu Kuni which both just really emotionally moved me. Final Fantasy IX with beautiful disney esc character designs and loveable characters. Fire Emblem Echoes is stoll my favorite story for that series. Thanks Brandon.
This reminds me that I gotta get back to Ys VIII eventually. I was enjoying the game but the game is a crime to the eyes on Switch so I gotta get it on Steam so it actually looks acceptable lol.
Omori was such a surprise addition to my favorite switch games. Didn't expect so many...feels. Regarding the RE trilogy of FF7, I suspect it'll be something similar to the Rebuild of Evangelion movies. A half-sequel, half-shenanigans and a definitive ending. Until the creators are strapped for cash again.
Hahaha yes, I was just thinking that it's crazy I'm still experiencing stories with these characters I loved as a kid, now that I'm a middle aged man, and I was wondering if I would STILL be experiencing new stories with them when I'm like 60 😅
Lacrimosa of Dana isn't just one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played... it's one of the greatest *video games* I've ever played. In nearly every RPG I've ever played, there's always a few members of the main cast I don't care for. In FF9, I never felt much for Quina, Amarant or Eiko. FF8 had Zell, Selphie and Irvine fall flat for me. In Ni No Kuni 2, pretty much only Roland and Evan I found endearing. And Sea of Stars made me want to beat Garl over the head with a chair. But Ys VIII? Every. Single. Character. I ADORED them. Adol, Hummel, Laxia, Ricotta, Sahad and, of course, the titular Dana. This cast was so immensely loveable and charming, and they were all fun to play as. I love Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. It was a crown jewel experience.
I'm a story & character guy as well, so I may have to check out a few on your list that I haven't played. For me the standouts are the Trails Series, Dragon Quest V, and Suikoden II. I agree that FF VI & Chrono Trigger should always be included in a list such as this as well. For an underrated recent game that I think should be up there, I'd throw in Triangle Strategy.
Omori was a welcome surprise, and it is truly a hidden gem. Though, my goodness, is the story heavy! The cutesy, clever gameplay and colorful characters helps offset the weight of it though.
Clicked on the video because I was pretty surprised to see Ys 8 in the thumbnail. That games story doesn't get enough attention, its seriously impressive for an Ys game and it blew me away. The twists and turns had me hooked. You are right about it being way better than the narrative in previous entries. It was the one thing that was slightly lacking in other games, now we have the complete Ys package. My absolute favorite in the series.
Yeah, and I'm glad they're continuing in that direction (at least it seems that way). I didn't love 9 QUITE as much as 8, but it's still on the right track.
@@JustTheGems good thing you are the underwhelming, ignorant and uneducated minority. Lunar Remastered announced less than 24 hours later for Spring 2025 for the overwhelming majority that can/did. Admittedly the Sega CD OGs were better but still it's better than every trendy, inferior game and story on this trash list. m.ruclips.net/video/mQ01e5PkiA8/видео.html
I’m a massive fan of Tetsuya Takahashi’s work - Xenoblades 1-3 +DLC was my favorite stories - it was massive and sad even at the “end” 800+ hours and worth every minute - love your list 😊❤
When it comes to my fav JRPG stories, here's my favs- Eternal Sonata- No surprise that my fav game has one of my fav stories. It's not afraid to get philosophical and makes you think! I would only recommend this game for those who like deep stories and mindsets because it's not easy to understand at times. Grandia 2- First JRPG and it turned me into a better person because of the story. It starts out as your basic JRPG where you think everything is black and white, but then things start to unravel and you realize nothing every IS black and white. I still think Ryudo has one of the best char arcs in gaming. Tales of Symphonia- Man the lore in this game goes pretty deep. You think one simple task to 'save the world' would be a one and done deal, but NOPE, far more complex than that, and how the chars' stories connect to overarching plot is great too. So many plot twists too it's nuts.
I never had too emotional of a feeling playing Chrono Trigger and its story, but there's one story element I respect, and I've never seen a game quite like it: its pacing. It's perfect! I've seen nothing quite like it before that or since, it wastes no time
I literally almost looked ahead in the timeline, oops lol. Good choices of best stories all around! I probably would've put Shadow Hearts up there too, but I just like all the mythos around Roger Bacon haha.
I really see why you put Xenogears, FFVI and VII, Radiant Historia and Undertale on this list. Also Ys VIII for being phenomenal in general (I don’t think it’s story is sooo impressive though, would have preferred if they stayed with the simple „escape the island“ premise). Don’t see what the rest on this list is doing here though.
I think the story from Tales of Berseria stuck with me more than just about any other game. It's not that the story is so deep but it has a high emotional impact and the ending...well enough said.
I think I'm going to have to give Chrono Trigger a shot one day just because I've been hearing about it for years and haven't actually been able to play it. However, Xenogears sounds REALLY interesting to me and I'm curious to see what that's ALL about
You missed one of the greatest games ever made entirely. I have played a few of the games on your top 10 list. This one exceeds all of them. Final Fantasy 13-2. It takes place in 3 AF which is three years After Fall of Cacoon. The people living in Cacoon a civilization built on a raised platform. Plus, those in Pulse which is what everything on the ground which is not Cacoon is referred to. Are now forced to coexist. Civilization has started over from square one. Makeshift towns are made out of whatever can be found or crafted. People have to be resourceful living on the surface which is full of monsters.
Ok here are some games i think that also had good stories: Xenosaga Ep1 to Ep3, The Lost Child(You can also try El Shaddai), Parasite Eve 1, Secret of Evermore, Shadowrun, Shadows Awakening, Chrono Cross, Shelterra the Skyworld, FF12, Crystar, and Deus Ex Mankind Divided.
I love it when your videos start, and you're miles away from the camera 🤣 Awesome list though, Lacrimosa of Dana is unbelievable, I absolutely love that game ❤️
Man I wish I could get into the Trails games, I had to push myself to finish FC. The game definitely had some cool moments, but the vast majority of the game was just filler dialogue with horrible pacing and mediocre combat. Its been like 10 years since I completed FC and still haven't had the desire to jump into SC
Can't help but notice those are mostly somewhat dated games! Is it nostalgia ? Is it because these games influenced modern day JRPGs so much that these original stories seem unoriginal to the contemporary gamer eye? Is it because story isn't a big marketing point anymore? Is it because such great games just happen every so often? Your video made me want to try some of these out, but honestly I have a hard time playing dated games like these, nowadays. I feel like I don't have enough gaming time available to play both modern, more attractive experience AND those classics that sound mind blowing yet somewhat unappealing. But I hope they get somewhat remastered, ported, or even remade like FF VII has been, at some point, because I really want to be able to experience these I think I kinda would have appreciated if you gave a general idea of what these games may have inspired (story or gameplay wise) compared to more modern options. This way I would either have been even more compelled to try these out, or would have tried a more modern "equivalent". Tho I guess it could quickly turn into implicit spoilers to do that... Also kinda surprised not to see a mention of the Tales of or the Persona series in there. But I guess you couldn't cover anything and everything, with so many options Any way, cool vid
I still havent played Harvestella but I fell in love with the cover the moment it was announced and cant wait to play it especially after hearing your thoughts about it!
Undertale, Omori, Ys, Trails, Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger... wasn't expecting to see so many franchises I've played, and I'd agree! ... But if you're including Undertale and Omori I'd lose the J in the video's title for accuracy's sake.
Oh, I have to disagree on the etymology of JRPG. Like I said to another commenter, in my book, "Japanese Role-Playing Game" is the same as "French fries." They're just role-playing games in the Japanese style. The country of origin doesn't matter, it's all about the product. That's how I see it at least.
@@JustTheGems Okay, so Japan somehow owns a style and if it's ever made in another country then it's really Japanese? It doesn't 'add nuance' to the term. It makes it more meaningless, and discredits anyone from any other country making them. 'French fries' is a specific item. 'JRPG' is a category that people expect accuracy for and use it to narrow down. I don't see any problem with just calling it RPG.
I really like the trails series. I started YS 8 a few days ago. Not even through the first chapter. I am glad to hear the story will be this amazing. Personally, I would add Suokoden 2, but perhaps I am biased since it is my favorite game of all time.
You know, it's been years and years since I played Suikoden 2 in its entirety. I really want to play it again, but I wanted to wait for the remaster and... Well, you know how that's been going so far. 😣
I agree with everyone except Trails and Ys 8 Trails of Cold Steel story is terrible, probably one of the worst stories I played in a videogame (and I liked Sky) and Ys 8 is a mess with a bad (true) ending and boring characters
I honestly think it depends. If a game has a meh story or an outright BAD story, if the gameplay is great, then I'll probably still have fun with it. But it won't engage me on the same level as even a game with subpar gameplay but an excellent story.
I only played Chrono Trigger this year. I can guarantee you the story sticks with you. I have nostalgia for this game. But i think about it a lot. It is 100% an S Tier story
6 месяцев назад+2
Another banger of a list! Still waiting on my copy of Harvestella and I promise to keep you posted! Ps. Your video skills, your editing, and your delivery have gotten so, so good. Keep doing a great job and raking in those subscribers!
Ya had me scared that you'd feature a list with Harvestella but not Xenogears, but you came through! Hahaha jkjk But I'd definitely put The World Ends With You on a list like this. It's one I don't see get mentioned very often, but I think the characters and themes they explore really make it some of Square's top notch story telling!
Phenomenal list and video. I’d like to submit: SMT/Persona series Mother 2 and 3 Xenosaga series Xenoblade chronicles 1 and 3 Valkyria chronicles Steambot Chronicles Final Fantasy Tactics, 9-10, 14 Suikoden series Nier Series And some honorable mentions: Star Ocean second story Vagrant Story Shadow Hearts series Parasite Eve
@@JustTheGems when I first played Steambot I remember vividly thinking two things. “This game makes me feel nostalgic for a time that never existed” and “I wonder if that says something about the nature of our society and capitalism or why we feel nostalgia for times like these?” And I thought these things very early on before much of the story even played out. At that moment I thought this was just a random little JRPG and didn’t think that it would concern itself with any real themes. The rest of my time with that game would confirm that those feelings I had were very intentional. It still impresses me and baffles me that the creators of that game were able invoke very specific ideas in my brain from the first few hours.
FF IV - best pacing and very balanced themes, unique protagonist that starts on the "wrong" side, i doubt a more compelling redemption story is possible, this one is masterfully crafted and believable. Phantasy Star II - unique ending worth the entire playthrough one of the first great story JRPGs its released in 1989 and predates FF IV the other great pioneer story JRPG. Suikoden I - great pacing similar to FF IV, similar protagonist, you start on the "wrong" side, both games have this fairy tale ambience around them, great OST Suikoden II - that Main Boss fight in the middle of the game and overall quite good narrative Breath of Fire II one of the hardest old school JRPGs, but the finale is absolutely worth it. Breath of Fire IV unique plot this should be totally your thing - The Protagonist is also the Antagonist and vice versa they are both 2 different personallities living in different time eras, yet they are destinated to clash in the presence at the very climax of the game. You play them both, too and they share a secret. Great OST and artwork as well. Are there any modern games like these? Other than sequels and remakes? Stopped playing JRPGs around the 2Ks and moved to western RPGs and tactic games. But those mentioned had good main stories and strong characters. Of course i played most games on the list like FF VI and CT, but not Xenogears or any of the Trails games. Why the heck i even missed a game as old as Xenogears? After checking, this game was never released in PAL regions. I did import FF IV and FF VI as U.S. versions, but did not bother with PS imports, because i got a PC then and had many more options what games to play.
That us a good list. I need to get on the ball and get Harvestella before it become one of those expensive games that gets over looked. I would probably put Chrono Cross on my list as for me, it is one of the best games on the original Playstation. My issue with Xenogears is how it is clear they ran of time or money to finish it, and it falls flat on itself (plus, I am still salty to this day about trying to beat the final boss and never being able to).,
It's funny I've only finished one game mentioned here and 2 others I've only spent a few hours in. I'll be honest I'm surprised that Crystar wasn't mentioned, personally that would make my Top 10 without doubt that and Triangle Strategy, Blue Reflection Second Light, Yakuza 0 as well as the Xenoblade Chronical games just to name a few. And at the moment I'm playing through Mary Skelter 2 and I'm really looking forward to finding out how the two games are connected. I've so many questions.
Great list! Here is mine, and 3 from the same series: 1. Suikoden II. 108 characters and somehow its the best character game to me. I love the setup and delivery for the entire game. And I fell apart when Nanami...well spoilers. 2. Final Fantasy 6. For me 7 doesn't even get close and 8 is better than 7. The sheer epic of the world and what happens to it is amazing. I loved the characters and the opera scene...chefs kiss 3. Persona 2 both: Not many people have played this, but for me was the best marriage of SMT and the "new thing" there is a monumental sacrifice to the story and I'm a suckered for that 4. Suikoden III. A pretty decent game, with some characterizations that are realistic and atypical...I can't give it away, but I love the subtle way the characters react to things that happen, and how uncertain you are of who really is the good guy...then they dare to put you in the shoes of the man that caused it all...the Luc arc makes Suikoden III 5 Xenoblade chronicles: I'm one of those strange people that actually thinks this is better than Xenogears...which is blasphemy. 6. Trails in the Sky SC: an incredible leap in story quality from the setup of first chapter to everything is gold second. What a game, what a ride. 7. Trails to Azure. Who wouldn't cry after this game. It ups the stakes into the stratosphere, and to the very end, you not only feel for the heroes, you feel for the villains as well. 8 Suikoden 5. When this released, I thought it was a return to form. Instead, it would be the last good one. It's still an amazing story, finishing and adding to stories given in the previous games. 9. Final fantasy tactics: a final fantasy that was anything but typical, giving us political intrigue equal to the apocalyptic nature of other Final fantasies. Of course it's just ogre battle...meaning it's fantastic. 10. Dragon quest V. What was it? 4 generations in one game? And the way everything is a generational struggle, the incredible obstacles overcome and the unique aspect of the main characters (your not the chosen one...your the father of the chosen one...) ...I love this game and finished it several times. Special mention: Phantasy Star IV...a masterpiece of the old, old generation that's been forgotten too soon. RIP Yoshitaka Murayama...and thank you
Harvestella yassss. Complete hidden gem and doesn’t get the credit it deserves! Critics complain about lack of customization etc but it makes up for it with so much character development and plot. Best Unicorn ever too.
I personally like the political stuff that’s happening in the trails games. Almost all JRPGs revolve around you as the hero. In the Trails games stuff always happens around you and you feel like part of a much larger thing.
Love that you included Xenogears, I have a similar experience with that game. I played it over and over on my PS1 it was my favorite game of all time, and I also loved NGE. As a teen I identified with Shinji hating himself. JRPGs hit a lot harder as a teen, I remember when completing a game like FF7 or FF8 or XG I would get really sad for days and miss the characters in them as if they were real people. To this day I still have a hard time listening to Small Two of Pieces because of the memories and emotions it brings back up. In a way I miss those times, but also would never want to go back.
I still feel like that right now as a grown ass man lol. Going through it all again now with FFVII:Rebirth! even harder now that the characters look more realistic and have way more personality lol. I don't want this to ever end!
Yeah, the amount of emotional investment we could afford as kids just can't quite compare with the way it is today for me either, I know what you mean.
@keblin86 lucky!! I don't have PS5, I've moved to primarily PC gaming plus switch. I'm so so jealous about FF7 (and God of war) though. Can't wait for the PC ports!
ikr! I was trying so hard not to buy a PS5 as I am mostly PC player too but I can't resist when it comes to FFVII lol. I only bought the PS5 for this really! I will probably buy Rebirth again on PC too because it's so damn good! @@whatismyname5151
Cozy story and easy going games that don’t need a lot of work to complete: Lunar complete story Lunar eternal blue Grandia 1 Games that are semi hard core in terms of story and gameplay Final fantasy 4&6&10 Odin sphere Games that are hard core in terms of story telling: Persona 4 golden (in my opinion it’s the best persona game) Nier automata ( so far the best story I have seen in almost everything) Yakuza like a dragon Judgment the first game And finally tales of bersiria the best tales game ever
is YS 8 really that worth it, i dont really want to sucked to jrpg rabbit hole again, already give up on trails since its too expensive and time consuming to complete, can you play ys 8 without playing other title wether before or after?
It's not true that you won't be able to put down the Trails series. I started last February, then I put it down last August... Well to be fair, that was because I finished all 10 English localized games in original release order. But still, I stopped. Pay no attention to those withdrawal symptoms...
I'm on the same journey, replaying them all (I'm in the middle of Azure now, I started back in January -- got distracted with Rebirth for a bit, but now I'm back on.)
Decent list, major props for including Harvestella that game is SUCH an underrated gem it's tragic that it didn't sell better, and we probably won't get a sequel because of that (it ends on a pretty awesome cliffhanger and I want to see where that may lead) And while I agree about Xenogears being on the list, I would contend that of all of Monolith's games, Xenoblade Chronicles deserves it the most. Persona 5 Royal (the whole franchise really) also deserves a spot, and as far as final fantasy games go... Eh, despite Zack being my favorite character alongside Aerith, I don't actually think the compilation is as compelling as you make it out to be. Especially not compared to the stories and lore found in Vana'diel & Ethryis, the worlda of 11 and 14 respectively. Those are without equal, the best works in the franchise the only others that come remotely close are 6 and Tactics (even though Tactics is ostensibly just Berserk with an FF makeover.)
@@JustTheGems that's fair, they aren't for everyone, and 11 is particularly notorious for being unfriendly to newcomers. The world building is unbelievable in both though.
I need to go back to VC1. I played it up until the part where you fight that one blue-haired lady (I'm blanking, it's been years) and she CRUSHED me, and I got so disheartened I didn't go back...😅
The two omissions I'd place in would be Xenoblade 1 and Suikoden II.
Yeah, the Xenoblade games for sure, as an extension of the Takahashi-verse, and Suikoden as a series is spectacular.
I actually think FF9 was the series peak. 6 will always mean more to me because it was the first game to show me that games aren’t just fun, they’re truly art and maybe the pinnacle of it when done right. I want them to redo 6… but I don’t lol. I don’t think it’s possible. There’s so much I want them to explore. Spoiler
I want so badly to see Terra converse quietly with her dad’s magicite and explore her feelings more. There’s so much that could be fleshed out and explained with the characters. There are story moments that don’t exactly make sense, that could be explained better or redone to not be cringy or slightly creepy. Like Setzer is introduced as actually a bad guy, I think we could do better at justifying his actions when we’re introduced to him. I think some view Locke as also creepy, but he never struck me that way. Just extremely guilty and desperate to make things right.
Radiant Historia was amazing. Got the true-true ending on it. It was so peak.
Omori was great too
I was blown away by that game.
FF6 is my favorite game of all time I thing Lunar Sliver song would be a nice add to this list. Great video.
Oh yeah, both Lunar 1 and 2 are top-tier stories for sure!
I'm so glad you included Xenogears. That for me is still the most ambitious storytelling ever seen in a JRPG. Only Trails manages to come close in terms of shocking plot twists and dark themes.
Other stories I really like include Lost Odyssey and Persona 5.
Yeah, especially if you think about Xenogears' place in the overall story Takahashi wanted to tell -- the whole Xeno universe has the potential to be close to the same level of epicness as Trails.
Ive played every Trails and Xeno game, in my opinion Xenosaga is the best of them all in terms of story. Trails does too many things I started to not like in the Cold Steel series which is a shame because Sky and Zero were so well done. Xenogears and the Xenoblade series are better games than Xenosaga but Xenosaga, story alone, I still consider the best story in all of gaming and I've played and beaten hundreds.
Nier isn't a jrpg but the connected stories of Drakengard and Nier are also incredibly interesting and unique stories.
@@joeyisabsb1 Nier is a JRPG.
@@joeyisabsb1I do respect the overarching narrative of trails series but man does it do so many things that pisses me off to the point where it even fell off my top 10 fav jrpgs, there is very little to no consequence, the pacing is often very bad and the plot armor is pretty much a joke that is extremely hard to take the game serious.
@@نونيم-ي4ح
I was just about to ask which Trails game has a good story. Lol
I've never played one but whenever I ask, someone always talks about how good the "lore" is over the actual story and characters
Here are my top ten, in order tho haha (I haven't played every game on your list so 😂). I know I'm missing some of the absolute best of the genre, but hey, I gotta save some good games for later 😂
10. Dragon Quest XI
9. Tales of Vesperia
8. Final Fantasy VIII
7. Paper Mario: The Origami King
6. Final Fantasy X
5. Octopath Traveler II
4. Final Fantasy IX
3. Blue Dragon
2. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
1. Lost Odyssey
I love Ys 8, it totally surprised me with its quality
Right?? It's such a glow-up from the previous games in the series!
Chomping at the bit to play Harvestella!
I hope you like it!!
I subscribed the moment you gave Final Fantasy VI the recognition it deserves. Thank you for that. The rest are great too. Edit: not really a complaint, because I’ll look it up, but you may want to add which system each game is for.
That's a good point, I'll try and be sure to do that in the future
Chrono Trigger is so good
It's just incredible
Xenogears is that one game that I can still play, today, without any mods
Okay, that's an exaggeration; virtually everything with hand drawn art is still on the table. Doubly so if it's pixel art.
But, gfd... Xenogears hits just as hard as the year it came out.
It's amazing. I just replayed it about a year or so ago and I loved it even more than I did before.
Radiant Historia my favourite of all 💜
It's truly brilliant.
What makes Undertale a JRPG considering it’s not Japanese? Wouldn’t it be a Neo-JPRG or JPRG inspired?
I would say that "Japanese Role-Playing Game" is like "French fries." They're Role-Playing Games made in the Japanese style. So any game that uses that style is a JRPG in my book, even if it doesn't originate from the country.
No Suikoden 2 huh? I would’ve replaced it with Understale.
I'll be honest, I played it so long ago that I don't remember much about the story. And the translation was pretty rough, as I recall, so I probably didn't fully absorb it. I'm looking forward to the remaster, hopefully they get all that cleaned up.
TBH stories are secondary to me as I value more the gameplay in video games. I love a good story but not if it interrupts too heavily with the gameplay. For example, I rank Xenoblade Chronicles 3 much lower than others do because at one point I got so frustrated with not being to actually play the game for over an hour because of cutscenes. That said I want to give the nostalgia shoutout to Final Fantasy IV. Consider at the time, there was really nothing like it story wise and the game just gave me the feels in such a strong way. Also I love your shirt Brandon!
Thank you! And I agree, there are times when story can become obtrusive, even for me. Believe me, I experienced some of the 90 minute cutscenes in Metal Gear Solid 4....
The effect that Evangelion had on the cultural zeitgeist of Japan really can't be overstated. Its influence can be felt through various works like Xenogears, Code Geass, Persona 5, Naruto, Serial Experiments Lain, and hundreds more, all seeking to expound on, refute, or answer the primary theme of Eva, and one of the central paradoxes of humanity: the hedgehog's dilemma. I think we'll look back on Eva as Japan's version of The Hero With a Thousand Faces, as a work that shaped an entire generation of storytelling.
Absolutely - it was paradigm shifting for media in general.
It's also pretty wild how much influence Berserk had
Shitty generation of anime tier writing is more what really has been going on since the 90’s
@@JustTheGemsoh this is the most extra statement ever 😂
i think you're taking in on the wrong side. Eva was what had to happen to Japan. humanity's history doesn't really work just with what can be seen, like something exists--->enormous influence on the things coming after in a big generational way. it's a bit more complex than that. i'm of course not saying Eva didn't have influence, it was indeed enormous, but it's more because it had to be. if it wasn't Eva, it would've been something else. the other things after it wouldn't "not exist" if Eva wasn't here. they also would have, differently. it's something that was there, in Japan. it's something that was getting out, and Eva was a catalyst for it. we cannot overstate the importance of humanity's inner boiling energy. it's like jazz or mostly anything else, it had to happen, whatever the seed of its beginning. it's always the same, humans are multiple to have the same ideas at the same time (on a very conceptual level or more concrete), or with a slight time gap.
Its baffling how Ys 8 started as a shipwrecked, trapped in an island kind of thing. You would think it's gonna be a case of explore this island make a boat and bolt outta there, but once you explore the other half of the island, oh boy are you in for a ride. One of the best games I've played in terms of storyline. Its slow burn, but a really good burning.
Totally, you do NOT see where things are going when you start this one!
I guess I never really got to the story in Ys 8 - I tried a couple times but I just remember being stuck and running around in a circle after getting to the initial island. After doing the same thing like 10 times I pulled out the game and tossed it...One of these days I might pull it out again.
@@Raphtor13 nah man your first impression was correct. leave that game in the dustbin and play something else instead.
@@dangox3370 games good the stories ass though
@@dangox3370Must suck to be you.
Love your content so much. Just finished Crossbell Arc and bought a Steam Deck and I am 20 hours in Trails from the Sky. I love Estelle so much. Thanks man. You encouraged me. Love these other games. Omori is now on my wishlist.
Excellent! You'll have to tell me what you think of the Sky arc when you're done!
Xenogears will always be my number one for story telling as well, but really glad to see Ys VIII on this list. That was a game I started up on a whim thinking "ah it will be a fun action RPG but probably nothing to right home about" and it ended up being of my favorite RPGs of all time.
Me too, it really just snuck up on me!
You will obviously need to play more RPG’s then. For reals 😂
A fellow story lover! Love to see videos about game stories and
I agree with most of these picks especially Y8 I loved the setting and concept
Tho is does break my heart not seeing Nier automata on the list jk😅 if you haven’t played it I highly recommend for its story
Oh yes, Nier and Nier Automata are truly spectacular too! And now I'm hearing we may be getting a third...?
13 SENTINELS AEGIS RIM, Xenogears, the Xenoblades, FF6-7-10 (my dirty secret is I consider 10-2 very much a part of 10) and probably FFT too, definitely Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology yeah, Undertale if it counts, CHAINED ECHOES if it counts, Triangle Strategy tries a bit hard but I love it, Fire Emblem: Three Houses, all the Suikodens, Trails in the Sky.
Honorary mention to Tales of the Abyss and Tales of Arise, but I think both are flawed. Abyss has weird pacing since it puts a bazillion twists in the first third or so, and Arise is ... if you've played Arise I feel like why it's flawed is so obvious lol but I love love love both.
I adoooore Ys VIII but let's just say I'm very surprised to see it on this particular list lol.
Excellent list! Yeah, I think even very flawed games can have a place on a list like this (not that there's really any game that ISN'T flawed, really)
I Would Add XenoBlade Chronicles Definitive Edition, XenoBlade Chronicles 3 with the Future Redeemed DLC, Fire Emblem Three Houses Persona 5 Royal and Persona 3 Reload
I wish I felt anything like you about Undertale. In my review of the game, I think I gave the story a 3 or 4 out of 10. It did nothing for me except make me laugh a bit haha.
Love your picks and clearly I really need to get to Ys VIII! I at least have it now so zero excuses!!! I play JRPGs for the stories so it’s a HUGE factor for me!
I hope you like it! To me, 8 and 9 both do a great job of striking a good balance between action and story.
Here’s my list of both JRPG and RPGs that have the best stories
1. Final Fantasy 7
2. Final Fantasy 9
3. Final Fantasy 10
4. Tales of Berseria
5. Tales of Arise
6. Legend of Dragoon
7. Ni No Kuni
8. Persona 5
9. Fire Emblem Awakening
10. Fire Emblem Azure Moon
11. Fire Emblem Crimson Flower
12. Fire Emblem Cindered Shadows
13. Dragon Age Origins
14. Dragon Age 2
15. Dragon Age Inquisition
16. Dragon Age Veilguard
17. Baldur’s Gate 3
18. Divinity Original Sin 2
19. Hogwarts Legacy
20. Fenyx Immortal Rising
21. Greedfall
22. Fable 1
23. Fable 2
24. Fable 3
25. Diablo 2
26. Diablo 4
27. Banner Saga Trilogy
28. Dungeon of Naheulbeuk
29. Persona 3
30. Warcraft 3
31. Ys 8
32. Xenoblade Chronicles
If I may give some criticism, the background music is too busy/invasive my ADHD mind is having trouble focusing on your words.
Noted, thanks! 😁
A great list! I think Breath of Fire 2 would be on mine. I just remember how intrigued and drawn in I was at the really sad start to that game's story as a kid 😊
I never made it very far in BoF2 (it was a rental for me as a kid), but I find the introduction SO freaking intriguing.
No Xenoblade chronicles 1-3 or chained echos or any tales of games on this list is a complete violation.
JRPG stories I love are Eternal Sonata on PS3 which is still stuck there and Ni Nu Kuni which both just really emotionally moved me. Final Fantasy IX with beautiful disney esc character designs and loveable characters. Fire Emblem Echoes is stoll my favorite story for that series. Thanks Brandon.
Oh I'm glad to hear you liked Echoes, that's the next Fire Emblem I want to tackle.
This reminds me that I gotta get back to Ys VIII eventually. I was enjoying the game but the game is a crime to the eyes on Switch so I gotta get it on Steam so it actually looks acceptable lol.
Haha yeah, it's cool that they got it on the Switch at all, but it definitely has its struggles
Omori was such a surprise addition to my favorite switch games.
Didn't expect so many...feels.
Regarding the RE trilogy of FF7, I suspect it'll be something similar to the Rebuild of Evangelion movies.
A half-sequel, half-shenanigans and a definitive ending. Until the creators are strapped for cash again.
Hahaha yes, I was just thinking that it's crazy I'm still experiencing stories with these characters I loved as a kid, now that I'm a middle aged man, and I was wondering if I would STILL be experiencing new stories with them when I'm like 60 😅
Lacrimosa of Dana isn't just one of the greatest RPGs I've ever played... it's one of the greatest *video games* I've ever played.
In nearly every RPG I've ever played, there's always a few members of the main cast I don't care for. In FF9, I never felt much for Quina, Amarant or Eiko. FF8 had Zell, Selphie and Irvine fall flat for me. In Ni No Kuni 2, pretty much only Roland and Evan I found endearing. And Sea of Stars made me want to beat Garl over the head with a chair.
But Ys VIII? Every. Single. Character. I ADORED them. Adol, Hummel, Laxia, Ricotta, Sahad and, of course, the titular Dana. This cast was so immensely loveable and charming, and they were all fun to play as.
I love Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana. It was a crown jewel experience.
Agreed, they knocked it out of the park with that one. Check out the novel, too, if you haven't already, it's really well-written.
Vagrant story ?? I know it’s more linear and small but the storytelling quality is so high
Yeah 100%, I would say it's a highly story-focused game and it tells it in such a dramatically appealing way.
I came to the comments section to say this, but you beat me to it. It's also WAY more cinematic than it had any right to be for that time
I'm a story & character guy as well, so I may have to check out a few on your list that I haven't played. For me the standouts are the Trails Series, Dragon Quest V, and Suikoden II. I agree that FF VI & Chrono Trigger should always be included in a list such as this as well.
For an underrated recent game that I think should be up there, I'd throw in Triangle Strategy.
Oh I really need to play Triangle Strategy. It's been on the list for a long time now and I love the aesthetic so much
I'm a little shocked you didn't mention behind your left shoulder. Lunar SSSC and EB are right there with these.
The Lunar games are spectacular, as are the Grandia games, for sure! Game Arts knew what they were doing.
This is excellent idea for a video. Stories are my number 1 priority for choosing the games I play!! 🥰
Mine too! A great story does so much for a game, it's hard for me to measure it.
You're always in your element whenever talking about JRPG stories. Great video Branden!
Thanks Emily! This was a fun one to make.
Omori was a welcome surprise, and it is truly a hidden gem. Though, my goodness, is the story heavy! The cutesy, clever gameplay and colorful characters helps offset the weight of it though.
Yeah, I think the pacing of going back and forth between the whimsy and the heaviness really helps you get through it all.
Clicked on the video because I was pretty surprised to see Ys 8 in the thumbnail. That games story doesn't get enough attention, its seriously impressive for an Ys game and it blew me away. The twists and turns had me hooked.
You are right about it being way better than the narrative in previous entries. It was the one thing that was slightly lacking in other games, now we have the complete Ys package. My absolute favorite in the series.
Yeah, and I'm glad they're continuing in that direction (at least it seems that way). I didn't love 9 QUITE as much as 8, but it's still on the right track.
Some games I expected, some games I've already have the chance to play...and then Harvestella and Radiant Historia. Perhaps I'll give them a try.
Lunar Silver Star and Lunar 2 Eternal Blue Sega CD beat this entire list on their own.
Don't quit your day job.
I couldn't get into them
@JustTheGems requires an education, literacy and an IQ North of 50. By your list alone you clearly do not qualify for any of the above.
@@JustTheGems good thing you are the underwhelming, ignorant and uneducated minority.
Lunar Remastered announced less than 24 hours later for Spring 2025 for the overwhelming majority that can/did. Admittedly the Sega CD OGs were better but still it's better than every trendy, inferior game and story on this trash list.
m.ruclips.net/video/mQ01e5PkiA8/видео.html
I’m a massive fan of Tetsuya Takahashi’s work - Xenoblades 1-3 +DLC was my favorite stories - it was massive and sad even at the “end” 800+ hours and worth every minute - love your list 😊❤
Thanks! Yeah, Takahashi is truly incredible.
- *sees video title*
- *checks if Xenogears is in*
:D
It's GOTTA be!
When it comes to my fav JRPG stories, here's my favs-
Eternal Sonata- No surprise that my fav game has one of my fav stories. It's not afraid to get philosophical and makes you think! I would only recommend this game for those who like deep stories and mindsets because it's not easy to understand at times.
Grandia 2- First JRPG and it turned me into a better person because of the story. It starts out as your basic JRPG where you think everything is black and white, but then things start to unravel and you realize nothing every IS black and white. I still think Ryudo has one of the best char arcs in gaming.
Tales of Symphonia- Man the lore in this game goes pretty deep. You think one simple task to 'save the world' would be a one and done deal, but NOPE, far more complex than that, and how the chars' stories connect to overarching plot is great too. So many plot twists too it's nuts.
Hey, it's the Trails guy!
It's me! Trails 4 Life!
@@JustTheGemsTrails guy CONFIRMED
@@JustTheGemsbased
Love the selection of games here! My personal list would have to also include Xenosaga and Tales of Berseria.
Berseria is one of my favorite Tales games, and Xenosaga is incredible - Takahashi can't be beat!
I never had too emotional of a feeling playing Chrono Trigger and its story, but there's one story element I respect, and I've never seen a game quite like it: its pacing. It's perfect! I've seen nothing quite like it before that or since, it wastes no time
I literally almost looked ahead in the timeline, oops lol. Good choices of best stories all around! I probably would've put Shadow Hearts up there too, but I just like all the mythos around Roger Bacon haha.
Dude, Shadow Hearts is awesome! I especially loved Covenant, but the whole series is fantastic.
That's a good list. Ys 8 has been on my backlog for a while. Also support the Xenogears mention 100%!!
Ys VIII! It's awesome, I hope you like it!
Radiant Historia story was an eye opener, so much parallel with real life things (human conflict, ambition, politics etc)
Yeah 100%.
22:00 That's FROG KNIGHT! 🐸
🎵 Theme plays in the background 🎵
I really see why you put Xenogears, FFVI and VII, Radiant Historia and Undertale on this list. Also Ys VIII for being phenomenal in general (I don’t think it’s story is sooo impressive though, would have preferred if they stayed with the simple „escape the island“ premise). Don’t see what the rest on this list is doing here though.
Final fantasy X also has an amazing story
I think the story from Tales of Berseria stuck with me more than just about any other game. It's not that the story is so deep but it has a high emotional impact and the ending...well enough said.
Oh absolutely, the story really resonated with me on an emotional level, it's fantastic.
I'm starting to think he likes Harvestella. 🤔
Oh no, they've discovered my secret!! 😅 lol
I think I'm going to have to give Chrono Trigger a shot one day just because I've been hearing about it for years and haven't actually been able to play it. However, Xenogears sounds REALLY interesting to me and I'm curious to see what that's ALL about
Thank you for the list. Compelling stories, rich worlds and fun characters, all with a good dose of drama make JRPGs sooo much easier to enjoy lol
Ys 8 is wonderful. Something else always draws me away after I few hours. But Ys 1+2 is my favorite.
You missed one of the greatest games ever made entirely. I have played a few of the games on your top 10 list. This one exceeds all of them. Final Fantasy 13-2. It takes place in 3 AF which is three years After Fall of Cacoon. The people living in Cacoon a civilization built on a raised platform. Plus, those in Pulse which is what everything on the ground which is not Cacoon is referred to. Are now forced to coexist. Civilization has started over from square one. Makeshift towns are made out of whatever can be found or crafted. People have to be resourceful living on the surface which is full of monsters.
Ok here are some games i think that also had good stories: Xenosaga Ep1 to Ep3, The Lost Child(You can also try El Shaddai), Parasite Eve 1, Secret of Evermore, Shadowrun, Shadows Awakening, Chrono Cross, Shelterra the Skyworld, FF12, Crystar, and Deus Ex Mankind Divided.
I love it when your videos start, and you're miles away from the camera 🤣 Awesome list though, Lacrimosa of Dana is unbelievable, I absolutely love that game ❤️
Haha yeah man, that's the establishing shot!
Man I wish I could get into the Trails games, I had to push myself to finish FC. The game definitely had some cool moments, but the vast majority of the game was just filler dialogue with horrible pacing and mediocre combat. Its been like 10 years since I completed FC and still haven't had the desire to jump into SC
Can't help but notice those are mostly somewhat dated games! Is it nostalgia ? Is it because these games influenced modern day JRPGs so much that these original stories seem unoriginal to the contemporary gamer eye? Is it because story isn't a big marketing point anymore? Is it because such great games just happen every so often?
Your video made me want to try some of these out, but honestly I have a hard time playing dated games like these, nowadays. I feel like I don't have enough gaming time available to play both modern, more attractive experience AND those classics that sound mind blowing yet somewhat unappealing. But I hope they get somewhat remastered, ported, or even remade like FF VII has been, at some point, because I really want to be able to experience these
I think I kinda would have appreciated if you gave a general idea of what these games may have inspired (story or gameplay wise) compared to more modern options. This way I would either have been even more compelled to try these out, or would have tried a more modern "equivalent". Tho I guess it could quickly turn into implicit spoilers to do that...
Also kinda surprised not to see a mention of the Tales of or the Persona series in there. But I guess you couldn't cover anything and everything, with so many options
Any way, cool vid
I still havent played Harvestella but I fell in love with the cover the moment it was announced and cant wait to play it especially after hearing your thoughts about it!
It's amazing. I hope you like it!
Undertale, Omori, Ys, Trails, Final Fantasy and Chrono Trigger... wasn't expecting to see so many franchises I've played, and I'd agree!
... But if you're including Undertale and Omori I'd lose the J in the video's title for accuracy's sake.
Oh, I have to disagree on the etymology of JRPG. Like I said to another commenter, in my book, "Japanese Role-Playing Game" is the same as "French fries." They're just role-playing games in the Japanese style. The country of origin doesn't matter, it's all about the product. That's how I see it at least.
@@JustTheGems Okay, so Japan somehow owns a style and if it's ever made in another country then it's really Japanese? It doesn't 'add nuance' to the term. It makes it more meaningless, and discredits anyone from any other country making them. 'French fries' is a specific item. 'JRPG' is a category that people expect accuracy for and use it to narrow down.
I don't see any problem with just calling it RPG.
@@giuseppeparry1365 Tomato-tomahto my friend
@@JustTheGems Right-wrong. But this isn't going anywhere.
YS VII was a great intro into the YS Games. Good stuff. Though I won’t Lie. YS 6 Ark is So DAMN HARD! And it can be seen as sorta a Prequel to YS VII.
I really like the trails series.
I started YS 8 a few days ago. Not even through the first chapter. I am glad to hear the story will be this amazing.
Personally, I would add Suokoden 2, but perhaps I am biased since it is my favorite game of all time.
You know, it's been years and years since I played Suikoden 2 in its entirety. I really want to play it again, but I wanted to wait for the remaster and... Well, you know how that's been going so far. 😣
Lost Odyssey
I agree with everyone except Trails and Ys 8
Trails of Cold Steel story is terrible, probably one of the worst stories I played in a videogame (and I liked Sky) and Ys 8 is a mess with a bad (true) ending and boring characters
So.. I'm not really a story guy. But in your opinion, do you think that games with "bad" stories are better or worse than games with "meh" stories?
I honestly think it depends. If a game has a meh story or an outright BAD story, if the gameplay is great, then I'll probably still have fun with it. But it won't engage me on the same level as even a game with subpar gameplay but an excellent story.
I only played Chrono Trigger this year. I can guarantee you the story sticks with you. I have nostalgia for this game. But i think about it a lot. It is 100% an S Tier story
Another banger of a list! Still waiting on my copy of Harvestella and I promise to keep you posted!
Ps. Your video skills, your editing, and your delivery have gotten so, so good. Keep doing a great job and raking in those subscribers!
Hey thanks man! And yeah, definitely let me know what you think of Harvestella!
As a die hard Trails fanatic. Thank you for mentioning my favourite series
As a fellow die hard Trails fanatic, you're very welcome!
Ya had me scared that you'd feature a list with Harvestella but not Xenogears, but you came through! Hahaha jkjk
But I'd definitely put The World Ends With You on a list like this. It's one I don't see get mentioned very often, but I think the characters and themes they explore really make it some of Square's top notch story telling!
Loved TWEWY! I've been making my way through the anime adaptation recently and just kinda reliving it through there, it's awesome.
I hate that I hate the combat of xenogears so much. lol I’ve only managed to play through it once and I was pretty young.
Skies of Arcadia
Phenomenal list and video. I’d like to submit:
SMT/Persona series
Mother 2 and 3
Xenosaga series
Xenoblade chronicles 1 and 3
Valkyria chronicles
Steambot Chronicles
Final Fantasy Tactics, 9-10, 14
Suikoden series
Nier Series
And some honorable mentions:
Star Ocean second story
Vagrant Story
Shadow Hearts series
Parasite Eve
Nice! There are some on that list I really want to play (Steamboat Chronicles, Mother 3).
@@JustTheGems when I first played Steambot I remember vividly thinking two things. “This game makes me feel nostalgic for a time that never existed” and “I wonder if that says something about the nature of our society and capitalism or why we feel nostalgia for times like these?” And I thought these things very early on before much of the story even played out. At that moment I thought this was just a random little JRPG and didn’t think that it would concern itself with any real themes. The rest of my time with that game would confirm that those feelings I had were very intentional. It still impresses me and baffles me that the creators of that game were able invoke very specific ideas in my brain from the first few hours.
FF IV - best pacing and very balanced themes, unique protagonist that starts on the "wrong" side, i doubt a more compelling redemption story is possible, this one is masterfully crafted and believable.
Phantasy Star II - unique ending worth the entire playthrough one of the first great story JRPGs its released in 1989 and predates FF IV the other great pioneer story JRPG.
Suikoden I - great pacing similar to FF IV, similar protagonist, you start on the "wrong" side, both games have this fairy tale ambience around them, great OST
Suikoden II - that Main Boss fight in the middle of the game and overall quite good narrative
Breath of Fire II one of the hardest old school JRPGs, but the finale is absolutely worth it.
Breath of Fire IV unique plot this should be totally your thing - The Protagonist is also the Antagonist and vice versa they are both 2 different personallities living in different time eras, yet they are destinated to clash in the presence at the very climax of the game. You play them both, too and they share a secret. Great OST and artwork as well.
Are there any modern games like these? Other than sequels and remakes? Stopped playing JRPGs around the 2Ks and moved to western RPGs and tactic games. But those mentioned had good main stories and strong characters. Of course i played most games on the list like FF VI and CT, but not Xenogears or any of the Trails games. Why the heck i even missed a game as old as Xenogears? After checking, this game was never released in PAL regions. I did import FF IV and FF VI as U.S. versions, but did not bother with PS imports, because i got a PC then and had many more options what games to play.
I wonder if you might like FF16 - it's still got that old Final Fantasy flavor, but it skews much more heavily in a Western direction.
That us a good list. I need to get on the ball and get Harvestella before it become one of those expensive games that gets over looked. I would probably put Chrono Cross on my list as for me, it is one of the best games on the original Playstation. My issue with Xenogears is how it is clear they ran of time or money to finish it, and it falls flat on itself (plus, I am still salty to this day about trying to beat the final boss and never being able to).,
I remember struggling SO LONG against the last boss in XG.......
Definitely gotta play omori and xenogears. My personal favorite is final Fantasy ix.
I would add Suikoden I (haven't played the others), Persona 5, and FF4
Heck yes! I especially want to do a replay of all the Suikoden games sometime soon.
Xenogears >>> All Jrpgs,Rpgs
Totally agree with that. Favorite game ever.
I came for Chrono Trigger, and I wasn’t disappointed 😎
You know homeboy's gotta throw some CT love out there in the world.
It's funny I've only finished one game mentioned here and 2 others I've only spent a few hours in. I'll be honest I'm surprised that Crystar wasn't mentioned, personally that would make my Top 10 without doubt that and Triangle Strategy, Blue Reflection Second Light, Yakuza 0 as well as the Xenoblade Chronical games just to name a few. And at the moment I'm playing through Mary Skelter 2 and I'm really looking forward to finding out how the two games are connected. I've so many questions.
Totally, I think if this was a list of 15 I'd have Crystar on there for sure!
Great list! Here is mine, and 3 from the same series:
1. Suikoden II. 108 characters and somehow its the best character game to me. I love the setup and delivery for the entire game. And I fell apart when Nanami...well spoilers.
2. Final Fantasy 6. For me 7 doesn't even get close and 8 is better than 7. The sheer epic of the world and what happens to it is amazing. I loved the characters and the opera scene...chefs kiss
3. Persona 2 both: Not many people have played this, but for me was the best marriage of SMT and the "new thing" there is a monumental sacrifice to the story and I'm a suckered for that
4. Suikoden III. A pretty decent game, with some characterizations that are realistic and atypical...I can't give it away, but I love the subtle way the characters react to things that happen, and how uncertain you are of who really is the good guy...then they dare to put you in the shoes of the man that caused it all...the Luc arc makes Suikoden III
5 Xenoblade chronicles: I'm one of those strange people that actually thinks this is better than Xenogears...which is blasphemy.
6. Trails in the Sky SC: an incredible leap in story quality from the setup of first chapter to everything is gold second. What a game, what a ride.
7. Trails to Azure. Who wouldn't cry after this game. It ups the stakes into the stratosphere, and to the very end, you not only feel for the heroes, you feel for the villains as well.
8 Suikoden 5. When this released, I thought it was a return to form. Instead, it would be the last good one. It's still an amazing story, finishing and adding to stories given in the previous games.
9. Final fantasy tactics: a final fantasy that was anything but typical, giving us political intrigue equal to the apocalyptic nature of other Final fantasies. Of course it's just ogre battle...meaning it's fantastic.
10. Dragon quest V. What was it? 4 generations in one game? And the way everything is a generational struggle, the incredible obstacles overcome and the unique aspect of the main characters (your not the chosen one...your the father of the chosen one...) ...I love this game and finished it several times.
Special mention: Phantasy Star IV...a masterpiece of the old, old generation that's been forgotten too soon.
RIP Yoshitaka Murayama...and thank you
Fantastic! This is an excellent list. And I remember being blown away with all the Luc revelations in Suikoden 3. Man, that was a great time.
Harvestella yassss. Complete hidden gem and doesn’t get the credit it deserves! Critics complain about lack of customization etc but it makes up for it with so much character development and plot. Best Unicorn ever too.
Harvestella fans unite!
I personally like the political stuff that’s happening in the trails games. Almost all JRPGs revolve around you as the hero. In the Trails games stuff always happens around you and you feel like part of a much larger thing.
Agreed, it makes the world feel very real and lived-in.
Love that you included Xenogears, I have a similar experience with that game. I played it over and over on my PS1 it was my favorite game of all time, and I also loved NGE. As a teen I identified with Shinji hating himself. JRPGs hit a lot harder as a teen, I remember when completing a game like FF7 or FF8 or XG I would get really sad for days and miss the characters in them as if they were real people. To this day I still have a hard time listening to Small Two of Pieces because of the memories and emotions it brings back up. In a way I miss those times, but also would never want to go back.
I still feel like that right now as a grown ass man lol. Going through it all again now with FFVII:Rebirth! even harder now that the characters look more realistic and have way more personality lol. I don't want this to ever end!
Yeah, the amount of emotional investment we could afford as kids just can't quite compare with the way it is today for me either, I know what you mean.
@JustTheGems yeah and I wish we had trails at that age. It's good now but I can't imagine 14 year old me getting to experience it.
@keblin86 lucky!! I don't have PS5, I've moved to primarily PC gaming plus switch. I'm so so jealous about FF7 (and God of war) though. Can't wait for the PC ports!
ikr! I was trying so hard not to buy a PS5 as I am mostly PC player too but I can't resist when it comes to FFVII lol. I only bought the PS5 for this really! I will probably buy Rebirth again on PC too because it's so damn good! @@whatismyname5151
Cozy story and easy going games that don’t need a lot of work to complete:
Lunar complete story
Lunar eternal blue
Grandia 1
Games that are semi hard core in terms of story and gameplay
Final fantasy 4&6&10
Odin sphere
Games that are hard core in terms of story telling:
Persona 4 golden (in my opinion it’s the best persona game)
Nier automata ( so far the best story I have seen in almost everything)
Yakuza like a dragon
Judgment the first game
And finally tales of bersiria the best tales game ever
Great list! I also agree, Berseria is really, really high on my list (sometimes it's number 1, depending on how I'm feeling at the moment.😅)
is YS 8 really that worth it, i dont really want to sucked to jrpg rabbit hole again, already give up on trails since its too expensive and time consuming to complete, can you play ys 8 without playing other title wether before or after?
Yeah, you can absolutely play 8 without playing any others. The Ys games are only sort of loosely connected.
It's not true that you won't be able to put down the Trails series. I started last February, then I put it down last August... Well to be fair, that was because I finished all 10 English localized games in original release order. But still, I stopped. Pay no attention to those withdrawal symptoms...
I'm on the same journey, replaying them all (I'm in the middle of Azure now, I started back in January -- got distracted with Rebirth for a bit, but now I'm back on.)
Xenogears is number 1. Played it in 98 as a 13 year old.. I was like “ not sure what that was but let’s play it again “
Haha same, it sort of blew my mind.
Old school retro rpgs are the best ones Branden, everyone knows that silly man. 😮
My nostalgia will always agree with that.
Xenoblade Chronicles tops my list, but it's followed by Xenogears, Xenosaga, FFVII, and Chrono Trigger.
Hey nice, always happy to find more Xeno/Takahashi fans! 😁
for me the best story in jrpg is xenoblade games I know I'm cheating for having 3 in one but they r just so perfect i cant choose one
That works for me, I consider them all one solid story so it counts!
Trails is just amazing. I can't believe such a great series exists. Only Xenoblade can compare.
Agreed my friend. Agreed.
Decent list, major props for including Harvestella that game is SUCH an underrated gem it's tragic that it didn't sell better, and we probably won't get a sequel because of that (it ends on a pretty awesome cliffhanger and I want to see where that may lead)
And while I agree about Xenogears being on the list, I would contend that of all of Monolith's games, Xenoblade Chronicles deserves it the most. Persona 5 Royal (the whole franchise really) also deserves a spot, and as far as final fantasy games go... Eh, despite Zack being my favorite character alongside Aerith, I don't actually think the compilation is as compelling as you make it out to be.
Especially not compared to the stories and lore found in Vana'diel & Ethryis, the worlda of 11 and 14 respectively. Those are without equal, the best works in the franchise the only others that come remotely close are 6 and Tactics (even though Tactics is ostensibly just Berserk with an FF makeover.)
I wish I could get into the MMOs, but I've tried a few times and I keep bouncing off of them.
@@JustTheGems that's fair, they aren't for everyone, and 11 is particularly notorious for being unfriendly to newcomers.
The world building is unbelievable in both though.
Lufia II the ending made me cry....
Me too!! 😭
Great list. I really enjoyed Valkyria chronicles. 1 and 4 are great games though I think I prefer 1’s story more
I need to go back to VC1. I played it up until the part where you fight that one blue-haired lady (I'm blanking, it's been years) and she CRUSHED me, and I got so disheartened I didn't go back...😅
Final Fantasy Tactics
One of the greatest!