10 JRPGs You Will Binge Once You Start Playing

1 week ago 9

JRPGs You Will Binge Once You Start Playing

Published Jun 5, 2026, 4:30 PM EDT

Murillo Zerbinatto is an Editor at DualShockers specializing in JRPGs, RPGs, reviews, guides, and lists. He has been writing professionally since 2018 and covering games since 2020, with previous work published at Xfire, RPGInformer, IndieGameCulture, and GameRant.

A longtime JRPG enthusiast, Murillo has played more than 250 JRPGs and earned over 100 platinum trophies, giving him deep hands-on experience with the genre’s progression systems, side content, collectibles, and completionist challenges. His coverage often focuses on franchises such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Trails, Tales of, and Star Ocean.

It is common knowledge in the industry that if you are going to start a JRPG, you had better have some free time on your hands. Not all of them are that demanding, requiring only a few hours before clocking in the credits. However, they hide other dangers in their depths of linear narratives, anime-like aesthetics, and creative combat systems. Some JRPGs are so addictive that you will binge them without even realizing it.

It is a great feeling, isn't it? Starting a new game and only later realizing that you just binged ten hours away in it (while still fulfilling your responsibilities, of course!) I confess that this rarely happens to me with JRPGs, because many of them spend so much time introducing and contextualizing their world that I prefer to play in short bursts rather than dedicating myself to the absolute maximum.

8 Best JRPGs That Aged Like Fine Wine

These JRPGs can still teach a thing or two to their modern counterparts.

That is why when a JRPG truly hooks me, I know I am in for quite the ride. For several different reasons, today I am going to talk about 10 JRPGs you'll definitely binge once you start playing. So prepare to set aside a good chunk of time, take care of the family, and stock your pantry, because binge time is coming.

10 Trials of Mana

Low Pressure Fun

There's joy to be found in simplicity, said a guru. Or something like that. My point is, more often than not, JRPGs are overly complex, both in their narrative and their gameplay systems, and we all need to take things down a notch with a simpler game. That's where Trials of Mana comes in, a great remake of Seiken Densetsu 3, the sequel to Secret of Mana.

Trials of Mana is a straightforward action JRPG perfect for turning your brain off and playing solely for fun. After picking one of the protagonists, we will be gallivanting through the colorful world, facing monsters, leveling up, and changing classes. There is a plot involved, but it is so simple that you can easily follow along.

Since the game is so leisurely enjoyable, it is easy to invest hours and hours without realizing it and binge the entire game in a weekend—if you have the time, that is. Plus, if you enjoy some JRPG replayability, you can simply start the game over with another protagonist, a different party, or simply pick a different class route.

9 Octopath Traveler II

Refreshing At Every Story Beat

Character Sprites, Throne, Temenos, Hikari, Agnea, Ochette, Osvald, Castti, Partitio

For those who are unfamiliar, Octopath Traveler puts us in the shoes of eight distinct travelers, as the title suggests. The first and second games follow this exact same design. You choose one to be your protagonist, experience the first chapter of their story, and then begin wandering the world, meeting the other characters and learning more about them.

The first game did a fine job, but the narrative was a bit skewed, lacking a direct connection between characters. Octopath Traveler II left them more intimately connected, which motivated me to play the game more and more. The fact that we are following different perspectives, visiting distinct biomes, and constantly discovering new locales makes everything feel incredibly refreshing and never tedious.

Furthermore, there is nothing better than using our Path Actions, whether by day or by night, to gain an advantage. Octopath Traveler II is the type of game that will always deliver more the more you dedicate yourself to it.

8 Ariana and the Elder Codex

The Pleasure of Simplicity

Ariana and the Elder Codex Review - Platforming

The first game I ever owned was Super Metroid. I then played Super Mario, Mega Man X, and a bunch of other platformers that practically introduced me to the world of gaming. While I am no longer as intimately connected to them and prefer a more traditional JRPG adventure, every now and then I like to play a 2D platformer with some RPG elements.

Ariana and the Elder Codex scratches that itch perfectly. It is a very simple game with modest ambitions, but it does what it sets out to do incredibly well. As Ariana unlocks more elemental Codices, she learns new spells, expanding the options for how we decimate our enemies.

The game features a simple story, so most of the time I was fully engaged in the gameplay, trying to find the most powerful toolkit for specific stages and to complete challenges quickly to secure the maximum score. Also, since Ariana and the Elder Codex is a short game, it is an excellent choice for those weekends when you just want to stay home with your games.

7 Sea of Stars

Everyone Likes Indies

I truly love playing indie JRPGs. They manage to capture the nostalgia of yesteryear, often including references and easter eggs that make me relive my youth. However, not all indies stand out, but when they do, it is a delight. Sea of Stars is among those indie JRPGs that serve as a love letter to the past while bringing plenty of novelty and authenticity.

Blending elements of SNES JRPGs with modern and extremely gorgeous pixel art, alongside super fun and fluid platforming and puzzle sections, Sea of Stars has everything it takes to win over old-timers like me. Everything feels so comfortable and enjoyable that it becomes hard to put down the controller. Sabotage Studio knew exactly what they were doing here, making the entire experience of their JRPG-inspired game truly bingeworthy.

A Pinch of Roguelike in my JRPG

10 JRPGs That Don't Feel At All Like Anime - Battle Chasers Nightwar

Every now and then, I like to venture into the unknown. I browse the Play Store, filter by RPGs, and pick the one with the most unusual cover art. I don't look at reviews, synopses, or anything else. I just YOLO and buy the game. Clearly, I have stumbled upon some rather painful titles this way, but every once in a while, I find rare gems like Battle Chasers: Nightwar.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar was developed by Airship Syndicate and is not a traditional JRPG. It is, admittedly, inspired by JRPGs, as explicitly stated in its Steam description. Alongside the wonderful visuals, the game features highly tactical turn-based combat where managing mana is essential for our actions.

The most enjoyable part of Battle Chasers: Nightwar is that it features some roguelike elements that blend perfectly with the title's amusing crafting system. Every time we re-enter a dungeon, it can feature one of countless variations, completely changing its layout and treasures. It is a very elegant way to promote grinding for those who enjoy it without getting stuck in a repetitive rut. Needless to say, if a game features roguelike elements, it carries a certain addictive quality, and soon enough, you will be binging Battle Chasers: Nightwar without even realizing it.

5 Super Mario RPG

Straightforwardly Amusing

Since I am talking about simple JRPGs that you can play without having to overthink things, there is no better example than Super Mario RPG Remake, one of the pioneers of this more direct-to-the-point style. I mean, not the Remake itself, of course, but the SNES original. Nowadays, however, it is much easier and more practical to play the Switch version.

Let's face it, Mario has never been synonymous with complexity, and that is reflected in this RPG developed by Square. We have timed inputs here to keep us more engaged in battles, but they are not strictly necessary for victory, since Super Mario RPG is often considered one of the easiest games out there.

Between battles, we also get the story beats, which are easy to follow, and plenty of platforming and puzzle sections because, after all, we are playing Mario, and we need to jump! Super Mario RPG is such an unpretentious and user-friendly game that once you start playing it, it will be hard to stop.

4 NieR: Automata

Time to Bring Your Existence to Crisis

It is strange to say that having an existential crisis is something bingeworthy, but in the case of NieR: Automata, it is. NieR: Automata is an extraordinary case here. First, the game is incredible. A hack-and-slash, android-led gameplay that leaves you intrigued as you visit a post-apocalyptic planet Earth. Then, you start to uncover more of what happened, until you think you have finished it.

But later, you discover that you haven't exactly finished. The game seemingly places you in a sort of New Game+, forcing you to repeat stages from another perspective and with other characters, while perfectly concealing how Yoko Taro produced the game on a really constrained budget. And as you continue unlocking more endings, you will find yourself intrigued, wanting more answers to all the philosophical questions that arise.

Honestly, I couldn't stop until I reached the true ending, and I didn't regret it for a single second. It is not that I couldn't stop. It's that I didn't want to. I needed to know the resolution of the story for 2B, 9S, and... that other one I won't mention to preserve spoilers. It is a true masterpiece of the video game medium that everyone should play.

3 Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age

Prepare to Binge the Entire Month Away

Lost Dragon Quest XI Echoes of An Elusive Age

Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of An Elusive Age - Definitive Edition

Before the return of Dragon Quest with its HD-2D remakes and the Reimagined version, I had grown a bit distant from the series. I played Dragon Quest VIII on the PS2 and only returned to the franchise with Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age on the PS4, so I didn't quite know what to expect. But as soon as I started, I remember saying out loud, "I think I prefer Dragon Quest over Final Fantasy."

I don't know if that holds true to this day, because after playing practically four Dragon Quest games back-to-back over two years, the formula starts to become a bit predictable. Perhaps that is why Dragon Quest XI won me over so completely. The title still upholds the gold standard that made Dragon Quest a benchmark for JRPGs, while packing plenty of modern features that appeal to a more comprehensive audience.

Turn-based combat, but with characters who are pseudo-active during battle. A skill tree progression system, but with a dash of mystery. A crafting system that is very easy to master yet rewarding for anyone who invests in it. That's not even counting the wonderful story and impeccable side characters (at least until Act 2). Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age is, without a doubt, the epitome of the JRPG genre and one that is well worth dedicating the 100+ hours it demands from the player.

2 Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

The Award Hoarder

Clair Obscur Expedition 33 Beats Elden Ring and Is Now The Most Awarded Game Ever

We have already discussed several games inspired by JRPGs that call themselves JRPGs, so there is no better choice than to include Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Man, this game. It quickly became one of my favorite games of all time. I had the pleasure of playing it early here at DualShockers, and I got seriously addicted. It took up practically my entire schedule, and mind you, I am married and have a son.

Of course, you don't need to just take my word for it, because the awards, the review scores, and the sales figures speak for themselves. But I played it before the internet even knew what a sensation the game would become, and I was simply driven wild, completely immersed. Each new story beat left me more surprised, more anxious for what could come next, desperate to know what was happening.

All of this is wrapped in wonderful gameplay that blends turn-based mechanics with action inputs, parries, dodges, and shooting, all functioning in spectacular choreography. If you love JRPGs and haven't played Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 yet, do yourself a favor.

1 Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

I Love the Minigames

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth

Perhaps this entry is more applicable to those who are already fans of Final Fantasy and have played Final Fantasy VII Remake. I won't be a purist and say that you can't play Final Fantasy VII Rebirth without having played the Remake, but if you do, you are going to lose a massive amount of context. After all, Rebirth is a direct sequel. When I first opened that backdoor from Kalm and stepped into the Grasslands, all its expansiveness loaded up before my eyes, I knew I was in deep trouble.

Once again, I was stuck with a title. I know at this point it might be necessary to seek out a therapist to discuss this potential addiction, but well, it is my favorite hobby and literally my job, so I have a decent excuse to binge-play my JRPGs. And Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is a pretty excellent pick for that. It features that entire dose of dopamine where we go around completing markers on the map, but it is well worth it.

Every time we scour a new region and complete more world intel, we unlock more rewards and expand our knowledge of the lore of Final Fantasy VII, offering brand-new tidbits for fans of the classic game. Square Enix knew exactly what they were doing here, especially if you choose to chase 100% completion.