Summary
Stories are significant elements of almost all JRPGs because they allow developers to introduce characters and define the tone of the narrative. Well-crafted, but sometimes exaggerated plots, attract many players to the genre, presenting fascinating worlds and discoveries told in engaging ways.
Onecommon technique in these games is the plot twist,a surprising revelation that can completely change the narrative in seconds. Many of thebest plot twists in JRPGseither challenge expectations and add new layers to the story or are so well-executed that, even if anticipated, they still manage to surprise.
Spoiler alert: this list delves into major story spoilers for each entry on the list.
Even though the possibility of war is often mentioned in the early portion ofFire Emblem: Three Houses, with characters discussing the different political goals of each faction, it appears that the main villain is the Flame Emperor, a mysterious figure who shows up during certain quests. The plot twist is that this figure is actually Edelgard.
This revelation shifts the entire narrative of the JRPG, moving away from the school setting and focusing on war.It is possible to support Edelgard’smilitary campaign against the other kingdoms, giving more depth to her character and her goals.
From the earliest stages ofMetaphor: ReFantazio, Louis Guiabern isplaced as the primary villainand the driving force for everyone’s intention to defeat him, in order to break the curse that weakens the true prince. Still, late in this JRPG, it is revealed that Louis never committed the act that put the prince in that condition. It was actually Rella Cygnus, Junah’s adoptive sister, who was forced by the church to do it for the sake of her family.
This is only one of the first plot twists at the end ofMetaphor: ReFantazio. Even after finding out he was not responsible, Louis learns the prince is still alive and kills him, removing any chance of a legitimate heir to stop him from taking the throne. That starts a series of events that transform the entire story in the last chapters, making the narrative even stronger.
Twists in the script are abig tradition of this series, andYakuza: Like a Dragonis no exception, delivering an exciting story filled with surprises. From the start, Kasuga Ichiban’s journey is shrouded in mystery, and one of the biggest plot twists happens when the truth about his parents is revealed, completely shifting how the protagonist is perceived.
Throughout the game, Kasuga believes he was abandoned by his birth mother and raised by strangers. However, in Chapter 14, a new perspective on the famous Coin Locker scene shows the real story: he is the son of Akane Kishida and Masumi Arakawa, having been switched at birth. Discovering who his true father is becomes one of the narrative’s highlights, but there are more surprises too, like Kiryu appearance.
Although they are part of a numbered franchise,Xenoblade Chronicles 2does not seem closely linked to the first game at first glance. There appear to be few common elements, and no direct narrative link is mentioned. However, one of the main plot twists in this JRPG happens in the final chapter, showing that Alrest is directly connected with the originalXenoblade Chroniclesuniverse.
This occurs because of Klaus’s experiments in the first title, where he created portals to other dimensions and lost part of his body to one of them, giving rise to The Architect, a deity involved in creating Alrest. This revelation delivers a big twist inXenoblade Chronicles 2, proving that both games’ stories were always linked and laying the groundwork for subsequent entries.
Initially treated as comic relief amongFinal Fantasy 6’svillains, Kefka’s flamboyant personality hides his evil nature, leading to one of thebiggest plot twists in the JRPG. Breaking the typical trope of heroes saving the world, he actually manages to ruin it by using the Warring Triad and becoming a god in a devastated realm.
This event positions Kefka as one of the franchise’s best villains. The character many dismissed at first becomes an overwhelming force. It also alters the direction ofFinal Fantasy 6, since the World of Ruin emerges and the group is scattered, with Celes taking on a central role instead of Tera.
Many consider the traitor’s true identity among the most significant plot twists ofPersona 5, but there is an even more surprising twist hidden in the script: the protagonists were already aware of it from the beginning. This happens due to a minor slip by Goro Akechi during the early chapters, when he reacts to something Morgana says and reveals more than intended.
This detail can be overlooked because it occurs in a quick, subtle scene, which is easy to forget given how longPersona 5 Royalis. Yet that clue enablesthe Phantom Thievesto devise a strategy to confront Akechi once he betrays them. Thus, the major plot twist in this JRPG is not just learning the traitor’s identity but realizing that the protagonists had predicted everything, even securing Sae Nijima’s trust.
Introduced initially as a figure guiding the party to awaken the crystals and restore balance inBravely Default, Airy holds one of thebiggest plot twists among JRPGs. Given her design and the limited examples of malevolent fairies in video games, it seems impossible to suspect that she would be one of the game’s main antagonists.
From the outset, she manipulates the characters for her own ends. Waking those elemental crystals does not restore balance; it creates a link between many parallel realities, enabling her master, Ouroboros, to conquer the Celestial Realm. This plot twist even changes the title screen ofBravely Default, shifting from “Where the Fairy Flies” to “Airy Lies.”
From the beginning ofNieR: Automata, 2B is introduced as a cold YoRHa warrior fighting against machines for humanity’s sake. However, the biggest plot twist reveals that her real mission is not to win the war, but to kill 9S when he uncovers the truth about humanity’s extinction. This tragic cycle changes how the protagonists interact, adding a heavy emotional element to the story.
This revelation redefines each exchange between them, showing that 2B’s aloof attitude hides deep grief. With every execution, she loses more of her own identity, stuck with a duty that goes against her emotions. The impact of this plot twist reinforces the themes of fatalism and control, makingNieR: Automataone of the most memorable stories in JRPGs.
In many games, the protagonist is assumed to be safe, given that the story revolves around them. Yet,Chrono Triggerdelivers a powerful plot twist by having Crono sacrifice himself to save his party from a devastating Lavos attack that would have wiped them all out.
Although Crono can be brought back through specific quests, that moment still has a major impact, and it is possible to finish the story without reviving him, leading to one of the game’s several endings. This is not the only plot twist inChrono Trigger, as Magus,one of its main villains, also joins the party later on.
The fact that Aerith’s death remains one of the best plot twists in JRPGs comes from how it still resonates with fans decades later. Although it is now well-known, few who experiencedFinal Fantasy 7in the late 1990s saw this tragedy coming.
Until her final moment, Aerith is portrayed as kindhearted in a world on the brink of collapse, making it easy to feel connected to her. What makes this plot twist truly iconic is how the entire scene unfolds, from the animated CGI to the soundtrack and the way Cloud says goodbye to her lifeless body.
