8 JRPGs That Don't Need a Remake

2 hours ago 1

Published Jul 4, 2026, 3:30 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.

Remakes did not just pop up recently, as many people seem to think. Nintendo was already developing remakes during the SNES era, but back then few players realized a game was a remake, since the title usually did not carry that explicit warning. However, I understand that the practice of remaking is indeed far more widespread today, and I am not complaining, because it allows me to experience older games I never had the opportunity to play at the time.

Among the countless remakes out there, JRPGs seem to be the genre that receives this extra love most frequently. Practically every major JRPG series has already received a remake in one shape or form, from Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest to Persona and Pokémon. We still have many others on the horizon and even more remakes that the fanbase loudly demands, though they have yet to materialize.

10 PS1 JRPGs Still Trapped on Original Hardware

Some are in dire need of a port, I would say, simply because I want to replay them.

Today, I want to discuss the exact opposite. I want to talk about JRPGs that don't need a remake, in my humble opinion. This doesn't mean I wouldn't love for some of them to receive remakes, especially in a gorgeous HD-2D engine, but if one of the games mentioned here never gets one, I don't mind at all, because these JRPGs have stood the test of time beautifully.

8 Suikoden II

Don't Change a Winning Team

I know what you are thinking: are you crazy? We just got that mouthful Suikoden I & II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars, and it is a great enhanced version of the original games. And yeah, I agree, which just reinforces my argument that we don't need to remake Suikoden II entirely, since the classic game and the remaster, which doesn't really change its essence, are already enough.

Remember, I am discussing remakes here, full-fledged from-the-ground-up games, not remasters. And if there is one game that absolutely does not need 3D graphics, a revamp of its battle system, and, worst of all, any attempt to alter the story, it is certainly Suikoden II. This Konami title remains and always will be timeless, standing as one of the finest JRPGs on the PS1, whether you like pixel art and turn-based combat or not. It is a real gem exactly as it was meant to be.

7 Vagrant Story

The Combat Must Stay the Same

When I played Vagrant Story for the first time, it heavily confused my brain. First, the Risk mechanic tied directly to the combo gameplay loop did not make any sense. What do you mean I was punished for hitting the timing of my inputs by having my accuracy drop and the damage I take increase? That is absurd, but that is exactly what happens in Vagrant Story. Then, there is the absolute need to craft ideal weapons to face specific types of enemies, otherwise, your damage output will be puny.

All that to say, these mechanics, paired together, work incredibly well despite being mildly confusing, and they make Vagrant Story the masterpiece that it is. Picture a full remake of the game. First, we would have endless tutorials. Next, difficulty modes (which I am totally in favor of for accessibility reasons), but they would certainly make the core mechanics redundant. Finally, we would definitely see a complete revamp of the action system into something far more generic.

Needless to say, I feel that a remake of Vagrant Story simply wouldn't be Vagrant Story anymore. A remaster or a port? I could see that, as long as all the features and mechanics, no matter how unorthodox they were, remain intact.

6 Tales of the Abyss

Keep on with the Remastered Project

To be fair, it feels like I am cheating here because it has been a long time since the Tales of series received a proper remake. The last one was Tales of Hearts R, originally released for the DS and later for the PS Vita. That shift was massive, changing the entire combat format from a 2D side-scroller to full 3D, along with a graphical overhaul and the removal of the need for a second screen.

Since then, Bandai Namco launched the Tales of Remastered project, which has been bringing legacy titles to modern platforms. As they have shown, even PS1 games are only getting remasters with quality-of-life adjustments, as is the case with Tales of Eternia. Therefore, I think the chances of a full remake for any title are low.

Why did I put Tales of the Abyss here then? Because it is one of the titles the fanbase requests most as a remaster, but so far, it hasn't happened. Bandai even remastered Tales of Berseria, but there is still no sign of freeing Luke from his PS2 or 3DS prison. There is a tiny voice in the back of my head wondering if they are giving extra dedication to Tales of the Abyss, which might or might not turn into a remake, but I wouldn't want that. Just a clean remaster with the same additions as the other titles feels more than enough to please us.

Great as It Is

Adding Radiata Stories in here feels like a weird curveball, but hear me out. Even though it is pretty unlikely that we will see the game on modern platforms, (maybe an emulation port or GoG Dreamlist), it would be lovely if we did receive a contemporary version. Radiata Stories is a super engaging, funny, and whimsical JRPG on the PS2 that not many played at the time.

One reason I don't think it needs a remake is that Radiata Stories holds up so well that, if it ever receives an emulation port, I know it would be a success and please the fanbase. I understand that a remake in the vein of, say, Crisis Core could be interesting, but it is not inherently necessary. Just give me a way to replay as Jack Russell and kick NPCs around the city, and I will be happy.

4 Breath of Fire IV

Give Me a Sequel

Whenever there is a discussion about the most beautiful pixel art in the gaming world, Breath of Fire IV is mentioned. If there is one game whose graphics will resist the passage of time, it is certainly the story of Ryu and Fou-Lu. Breath of Fire III already had an impeccable visual presentation, and the fourth title only improved upon it.

Recently, Capcom brought Breath of Fire IV to both GOG and Steam, proving that the developer cares about preservation. I am among those who defend and firmly believe that one day we will receive a Breath of Fire collection, packed with a few quality-of-life features, some bonus artwork, a soundtrack mode, and trophies, but that's it. The games should remain the same, without changes. No Breath of Fire needs a remake. I still must have a new game instead.

3 Valkyrie Profile

It Ended with Elysium

When Valkyrie Elysium came out, I remember there was a massive amount of hype from the fanbase, who were crying out for a new Valkyrie game. Oh wow, I can hear the expectations of those players shattering all over again from here. The thing is, I added this entry more as a cautionary tale about what developers thought fans of Valkyrie Profile wanted, rather than about how a remake would actually turn out if it followed the original blueprint. Because, let's be real, the developers couldn't have been more off. To be fair, Valkyrie Elysium isn't a bad game. It's just... generic.

The silver lining of Valkyrie Elysium is that it also brought a digital port of Valkyrie Profile to PlayStation, which was enough to let us replay this wonderful game and see how well it holds up today, aging like a fine wine. One of the highest points of Valkyrie Profile is the individual stories of the Einherjar, the tragedy surrounding them, and the melancholy we witness firsthand as we offer the characters a second chance. The turn-based battle system is also great, but we know the first thing a remake would do is change it entirely.

2 Final Fantasy XV

Make a Port Instead

Driving in the Regalia in Final Fantasy XV

Recently, during a shareholder meeting, Square Enix made some comments that ruffled some feathers across the internet. One of the questions asked was whether a remake of Final Fantasy XV would be released for the Nintendo Switch. While the question seemed to come completely out of nowhere, the answer was even more surprising, with Square Enix stating it is under consideration. I mean, what?

Perhaps it was just Square executives appeasing the shareholders, because a remake of Final Fantasy XV is certainly not what I expected to be under consideration. The game is modern, features wonderful graphics, and despite its divisive gameplay loop, it runs very well. A port of Final Fantasy XV for the Switch 2 would make sense, but a full remake? Totally needless. Just give us a Final Fantasy IX remake, and we're good.

1 Chrono Trigger

Everyone Wants. But Do We Need?

Yes, I want it too and would probably sacrifice a limb to see a Chrono Trigger HD-2D remake. It would be insanely beautiful, it would bring one of the best JRPGs in the industry to entirely new audiences, and it might even serve as a springboard for a true sequel. But the thing is: does Chrono Trigger actually need a remake, or is that just something we would like to see?

If there is a JRPG more timeless, pun not intended, than Chrono Trigger, I certainly don't know it. From the moment it came out up to the present day, Chrono Trigger remains impeccable in every single category, whether it is the graphics, the soundtrack, the gameplay loop, the script, or its perfect pacing. I mean, what else can we even improve? I don't doubt that we will receive an HD-2D version down the road, keeping almost every aspect untouched except for the visual presentation. However, if we never get one, I will still remain perfectly satisfied with my packed backlog.