Summary
JRPGsare extremely versatile, as they offer players tons of things to do and magical worlds to explore. Whilesome titles have anti-heroes as protagonists, others keep the lines between good and evil very clear-cut. In any case, JRPGs are always very entertaining and typically span decades in a franchise.
Some JRPGs do not focus as much on their storyas they do on their game mechanics and the likable characters that players can use. The former typically feature tons of character customization options, which puts control in players’ hands. Here are some of thebest JRPGs with deep character customization.
Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeance
WHERE TO PLAY
Form an alliance and get revenge, in the latest SRPG in the Disgaea franchise. Killia, a loner, is drawn into forming a rebel army with a group of Overlords to oppose Demon Emperor Void Dark, and prevent him from taking over all of the Netherworlds.
TheDisgaeafranchise has been around for more than two decades at the time of writing this article, which goes to show just how popular and beloved it is in the gaming community.Disgaea 5: Alliance of Vengeancefocuses mainly on Killia, the protagonist, and touches on concepts of revenge that make it feel more serious than other installments in the franchise.
This title allows players to customize their character to a satisfying level. However, it doesn’t have the most complex or deep customization system on the list, which is why it’s at the top. In later installments, such asDisgaea 7,there are many upgradesthat players can take advantage of to make their playthrough more interesting.
5The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC
The Addition Of Chain Crafts Revamps The Experience
Released in 2006,The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SCis a great installment in a much greater franchise. The game is set directly after the events ofLegends of Heroes: Trails in the Sky,picking up on the story that was left by its predecessor.
While the game plays quite similarly to its predecessor, it also has new features and the most welcome addition of chain crafts, which are moves that involve up to four members of players’ parties attacking simultaneously. The character customization options are all there, and while they’re not outstanding, they offer just about enough to keep players invested.
Etrian Odyssey Nexus
The final Etrian installment on Nintendo 3DS.With more classes, characters, gameplay systems, and labyrinths than any other game in the series, Etrian Odyssey Nexus is the ultimate dungeon-crawling adventure.Create and customize characters from 19 playable classes, then take on the dangerous creatures of Lemuria’s labyrinths with your perfect party! With the ability to swap between four difficulty settings, auto-mapping settings, and a grand standalone story, series newcomers and experienced veterans alike are welcome.
Etrian Odyssey Nexusis very special, not only because it’s a dungeon-crawler JRPG, but also because it was the sixth and final main installment in its franchise to be released on the Nintendo 3DS.
This title features a very complex and complete character customization system that allows players to change just about every aspect of their character to have a more immersive experience. On top of this, the turn-based combat mechanics are excellent, and demand that players plan their every move carefully to emerge victorious from any encounter.Etrian Odyssey Nexusshould, without a doubt, be one of theJRPGs that should be ported over to the Nintendo Switch 2.
Octopath Traveler 2
The story takes place in Solistia, a land comprising an eastern and western continent divided by the sea.It is a bustling era, wherein large vessels navigate busy sea routes and the power of steam gives birth to new technologies.Some people thrill to glamorous stars of the stage and industry, while others are brought to tears by war, plague, and poverty.In this faraway realm, eight travelers hailing from different regions venture forth for their own reasons. Step into their shoes and explore the land as you see fit, using their unique talents to aid you along your journey.Embark on an adventure all your own.
Octopath Traveler 2is one of the best JRPGs of the last 10 years, as it not only features a very complete class system but also allows players to have full control over their characters and their evolution throughout the game.
Similarly to its predecessor,Octopath Traveler 2allows players to control eight separate characters, each with their own purpose, as they explore the world. On top of this, the game features severalgreat side questsand also has a compelling narrative that is both immersive and interesting.
An Action-Packed Story That Is Complemented By The Game Mechanics Present
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
InDragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies, players begin their adventure as a city guardian who is sent to retrieve a sacred tree’s fruits, which have the power to grant wishes. Players travel the world, conquer fearsome monsters and unravel an epic storyline. During their journey, players will encounter mighty opponents in fast-paced battles, and also interact with a colorful cast of characters.Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skiescontains special modes that let players share their adventure with others, allowing up to four players to team up via a local wireless connection and experience the fun of tackling challenging monsters and dungeons cooperatively with their own characters. Players can even leave the game active in their backpacks, pockets or purses and still interact with other players via an interactive “Tag Mode.” Information about players' characters can be wirelessly transmitted to others, and treasure maps and customized greetings can be exchanged automatically by players who come within range of one another when their games are set to Tag Mode. Players looking to enjoy a variety of different game activities can take on special side quests. Some of these quests will be earned by progressing through the game, while additional quests will be made available for free download for players with broadband Internet access after the game launches, providing hours of additional content for virtual adventurers to enjoy either on their own or with friends. Some downloadable quests will continue the main storyline of the game, while others offer standalone missions.
Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skiesfollows the story of the protagonist, who is a member of an angelic race after a disaster in their home scatters magical fruits all over the mortal realm.
Like other Nintendo DS titles,Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Skiessplits the action between the two screens that are part of the handheld console to provide a more complete experience. The character customization options are all there, and leave nothing to be desired for players who want to have full control over the character they’ll be exploring the mortal realm with. While this title isn’t the best when comparingevery mainlineDragon Questgame, it does stand in a great position and can be ranked within the top 5 to date.
Fire Emblem: Three Houses
War is coming to the continent of Fódlan. Here, order is maintained by the Church of Seiros, which hosts the prestigious Officer’s Academy within its headquarters. You are invited to teach one of its three mighty houses, each comprised of students brimming with personality and represented by a royal from one of three territories. As their professor, you must lead your students in their academic lives and in turn-based, tactical RPG battles wrought with strategic, new twists to overcome. Which house, and which path, will you choose?
Fire Emblem: Three Housesis an absolute masterpiece. The game focuses on Byleth, a mercenary-turned-teacher, who is tasked with instructing students at a prestigious military academy.
While this game does not have as many character customization options as other titles per se, it does allow players to change their characters’ classes and pick their outfits with a ton of freedom. This, along with theexcellent turn-based combat systemand the outstanding and immersive narrative, makes for a great game that is still played by many today. Naturally, the more players progress, the harder the game will get, so they’ll want to do some research on thebest classes to use for the endgame.
