8 JRPGs We Want To See Featured During Summer Game Fest

2 weeks ago 7

JRPGs We Want To See Announced During Summer Game Fest

Published May 26, 2026, 1:30 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.

I played my first JRPG more than 30 years ago (I know it doesn't look like it, but I'm 37 years old, thank you!), and since then, it's been love at first sight. I had a few periods of burnout along the way, but I always stayed close to the genre, trying to consume everything possible, whether it was a AAA blockbuster, an indie gem, or even a franchise that was a bit rough around the edges.

By following the genre so closely, I saw firsthand how it took a hit during the seventh generation. Still, JRPGs are resilient and have overcome those struggles, and now they are back stronger than ever, with each new mainline entry in a series breaking sales records, earning critical acclaim, and winning over more audiences.

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

Because of this, I truly believe that JRPGs can establish a massive presence at Summer Game Fest 2026, the likes of which we have never seen before. With that in mind, I have put together a list of JRPGs we want to see featured during Summer Game Fest, whether through world-reveal trailers or more substantial info in a fresh preview.

8 Armed Fantasia

JRPG Gods, Help Us

Developer

Platforms

Release Date

Wild Bunch Productions

PC, PS5, Xbox Series

TBA

I know how much this is wishful thinking, to the point where I might be burning through my wishes for the entire decade if this happens. Still, if Armed Fantasia appears at the event, even if it is just a 30-second teaser to prove the game is alive and well and has found a publisher, the whole show will be worth it to me.

Armed Fantasia is a Kickstarter project by Akifumi Kaneko, the creator of Wild Arms, and it was intended to serve as a spiritual successor to the Wild West JRPG. It didn't take long for the crowdfunding campaign to hit its goals (alongside Penny Blood, but that is a story for another time). However, even with the successful campaign, the game was struggling to secure a publisher to keep development moving forward.

A trailer for Armed Fantasia at Summer Game Fest would show not only that the JRPG has locked down a publisher, but also that it is healthy and moving along smoothly in development. I mean, if there was ever a better time for publishers to take a gamble on turn-based JRPGs, it is definitely now.

7 Monster Hunter Wilds Expansion

Summer Game Fest is Technically Summer

I might be being a tad hypocritical here, since I confess I don't consider Monster Hunter a true JRPG franchise, but this would still be a big announcement. And let's take into account that Monster Hunter Wilds doubled down on the storytelling and whatnot, bringing it closer to a traditional narrative than its predecessors.

However, I think this addition is important, since Capcom has a strong partnership with Summer Game Fest, suggesting it would be a prime moment to announce the first DLC for Monster Hunter Wilds. Furthermore, producer Ryozo Tsujimoto stated that the first large-scale expansion for the game would be announced during the summer, and while I know that, technically, it won't be equatorial summer yet, the showcase is called Summer Game Fest for a reason, and my lawyers could easily use that argument as a get-out-of-jail-free card.

6 .hack//Z.E.R.O.

Unleash the Gameplay Trailer

.hack//G.U. Vol. 1//Rebirth

CyberConnect2, the studio responsible for the .hack series, tried to bring it back in 2017 with a remaster of the .hack//G.U. trilogy. Unfortunately, it wasn't as well-received as the original release, but at least it kept the franchise alive. Bandai Namco mentioned they were working on a new .hack project back in 2023, but that's it. I even said I would be shocked to see a new entry in this JRPG series.

So color me surprised. In February of this year, CyberConnect2 announced .hack//Z.E.R.O. The game will be developed by them and also self-published with Bandai Namco's blessing. The announcement was accompanied by a gorgeous trailer, but no gameplay segments. What better moment to reveal a gameplay preview than at Summer Game Fest, right? .hack//Z.E.R.O. could certainly use the platform to reach a brand-new audience, since the most nostalgic fans are already tracking every announcement closely.

5 Tales of

Remasters are Good, New Entries are Great

If there is one series Bandai Namco is keeping firmly in the spotlight, it is Tales of. Ever since they announced the Tales of Remastered project, we have been getting annual entries, remastering games previously trapped on older consoles for modern platforms. Granted, some titles didn't bring many changes (cough cough, Tales of Berseria), but at least it shows the publisher is invested.

In the latest livestream about the franchise, the producers mentioned they are going full steam ahead with the remasters, but will also continue to produce new mainline games. Well, Tales of Arise launched in 2021, received DLC in 2023, and just got a Switch 2 version released on 22 May. In other words, all the signs and stars are aligning for the announcement of a new mainline Tales of game.

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4 Persona 6

Time To Crush on NPCs Again

The odds of us getting another Persona 4 Revival trailer are high, but I believe it's more likely to appear at the Xbox Showcase than at Summer Game Fest, given Sega and Microsoft's marketing arrangements. Still, if I were in charge of Sega's marketing, I would definitely announce Persona 6, one of the most anticipated mainline games in the JRPG world, at the main event.

Do you realize it has been almost 10 years since Persona 5 came out? In the meantime, we have had spin-offs, remasters, a remake, mobile games, collaborations with other IPs, and a bunch of other brilliant moves by Atlus that kept the series in the modern zeitgeist. This has driven anticipation for Persona 6 to sky-high expectations.

Summer Game Fest would be the ideal moment to announce that Persona 6 is officially in production. It doesn't need a release date anytime soon, but just knowing it exists to build hype in the meantime would be enough to hold me over while I sink into other JRPGs with social links.

3 Dragon Quest XII

It Might Be Announced During Dragon Quest Day

This entry might go out of date quickly, because before Summer Game Fest, we will have the Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Stream, which promises massive announcements, according to comments by creator Yuji Horii on a podcast that was quickly delisted. I'm not being hyperbolic when I say this stream could be the best ever for the franchise, giving us new information about Dragon Quest XII there, as well as more remake announcements and possibly even spin-offs.

Ever since Takashi Kiryu took over as CEO of Square Enix, he has been determined to focus on the developer's lineup of renowned IPs, such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, and it has been paying off. After Dragon Quest XI sold over 9 million units and the HD-2D remake of the original trilogy also yielded great results, fresh information on Dragon Quest XII is crucial.

It could drop either during Dragon Quest Anniversary Stream, which will take place May 27 at 6 a.m. PT / 9 a.m. ET or at Summer Game Fest. I don't care which, just give me more news about Dragon Quest XII, and I promise to hand out free puff puffs. Just kidding, but now you know how desperate I am.

2 Final Fantasy VII Remake Part 3

A Safe Bet

Final Fantasy VII Remake Characters - Cid Highwind

Of all the major announcements I would love to see at Summer Game Fest, the reveal of the third part of the Final Fantasy VII Remake trilogy is probably the most likely. It isn't confirmed, but considering Rebirth was revealed at SGF 2023 and Naoki Hamaguchi is practically on a press tour sharing details about what they expect to bring to Part 3, an announcement is imminent. If not at SGF, it will definitely happen later in 2026.

The third installment will conclude the reimagined Final Fantasy VII trilogy, and the director has promised we will see several staples from the original, such as the Highwind, Rocket Town, and Vincent and Cid as playable members, along with a few other surprises. More importantly, he promises there won't be major story departures from here on out — despite all the changes we've seen so far — and that old-school fans and newcomers alike will love the conclusion.

Personally, I am not offended by the changes, and I welcome whatever they decide to do with open arms. The action system in Final Fantasy VII Remake and Rebirth is my absolute favorite in the entire genre, and just imagining what Square is cooking up for the final part gets me extremely excited. Also, man, I am curious to see what the title will be.

1 Kingdom Hearts IV

Clown Makeup At Hand?

Upcoming Games So Ambitious They May Never Actually Release Kingdom Hearts 4

Silksong fans, we feel your pain. After spending years being bamboozled by announcements, it is now time for Kingdom Hearts fans to carry that cross. And if you're a fan of both series, my deepest condolences. Kingdom Hearts IV was revealed in 2022 with a beautiful trailer, showcasing a more adult Sora, a modern setting, and even snippets of gameplay. Amazing, right?

But oddly enough, having a more detailed announcement seems to fuel anxiety more than if it had been a simple teaser. It leaves the impression that the game's development was well on track, with the foundations ready to reappear soon, unlike a mere logo reveal like Dragon Quest XII. Except that hasn't been the case. Since then, we have only received a few loose tidbits here and there, but nothing substantial to point us in a clear direction.

At most, we saw the cancellation of the mobile game Kingdom Hearts: Missing-Link, which at least reinforced that the team's priority was Kingdom Hearts IV, but that's about it. That said, Square Enix hasn't been sitting idle and has been releasing many wonderful games lately, even if most are remakes or re-releases. This Summer Game Fest, along with the other showcases, has every opportunity to prove that the developer is returning in full force to show they are still a hallmark and a benchmark for JRPGs.