8 JRPGs Where the Main Character Feels Less Important Than the Rest of the Party

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JRPGs Where the Main Character Feels Less Important Than the Rest of the Party

Published Jun 3, 2026, 12:30 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.

One of the factors that separates JRPGs from Western RPGs is narrative focus. While Western RPGs place more emphasis on external conflict and on developing the characters along the way, JRPGs are all about internal conflict, showing how our characters evolve during their journey toward resolving an external crisis.

If that sounds confusing, look at it this way: Ash's goal is to become a Pokémon Master, and in the process, he conquers gyms, defeats Team Rocket, and pacifies legendary Pokémon. If Pokémon had a Western narrative, Ash's core objective would be to defeat Team Rocket and save the world, and in the meantime, he would happen to become a Pokémon Master.

These are simple differences, but they showcase the distinct nature of Western and Eastern storytelling. It is also one of the reasons why I love JRPGs, as I adore seeing my characters grow. And because JRPGs shine such a massive spotlight on our party members, a side character sometimes ends up becoming more important than the main character. This does not mean the protagonist is poorly written, but simply that others step up and steal the show.

8 Suikoden II

Too Much Competition

Suikoden II is often hailed as one of the best JRPGs on the PS1, and I completely agree. The game delivers a refreshing political plot during an era when most other titles focused on more traditional fantasy adventures. In it, you play as Riou, who becomes the leader of a resistance movement as the story unfolds. The main catch is that Riou is a silent protagonist, serving as a self-insert for the player.

However, since there are 108 characters to recruit, it doesn't take long for any number of them to stand out more than Riou. Silent protagonists are a bit tricky because the plot always relies on an external character to move the needle. It is in these moments that party members like Flik, Viktor, and especially Jowy end up becoming far more pivotal to the story.

7 Dragon Quest IV

A Bunch of Protagonists

Dragon Quest IV: Chapters of the Chosen

Dragon Quest IV introduced a narrative novelty to the franchise, showing us the perspectives of different characters before they ultimately unite for a common cause. The opening acts have us playing as Ragnar, then Alena, Torneko, and the sisters, before finally putting us in the shoes of our Hero/Heroine. In each dedicated chapter, our characters are silent, but from the fifth chapter onward, the party members find their voices.

To be fair, many Dragon Quest titles could make this list. Although our protagonists are essential to the plot because they are usually the chosen ones, they don't feel narratively more important than the rest of the party. It's always our side characters who give voice to events, interacting with the world and reflecting the player's thoughts aloud.

Dragon Quest IV stands out because everyone gets a turn in the protagonist's seat initially, so it feels like they all carry equal weight, with the only difference being that the Hero/Heroine is targeted by Psaro early on, which propels the journey to defeat him. The DS version has a prologue in where we start playing with our named character, but it doesn't change that much.

6 Chrono Trigger

Hear Me Out

Whenever I write a list about the absolute best JRPGs, it's hard not to include Chrono Trigger. The game, crafted by a literal dream team, is often crowned the pinnacle of the genre, and for good reason. Ultimately, though, I still prefer Chrono Cross, and it comes down to a simple comparison: Crono versus Serge.

While Serge is incredibly important to the plot and serves as the actual trigger for the events, Crono is just... Crono. He is courageous, making all the time-traveling worthwhile because he chooses to save Marle and eventually recruits a bunch of misfits from different eras to save a future that his seventh-generation descendants won't even live to see. But outside of that, he isn't exactly the most charismatic member of the group.

Silent protagonism, self-inserts... I am repeating myself at this point. Yet, even JRPGs where our main characters don't speak a word can still make them pivotal to the plot. Hell, Chrono Trigger even allows us to finish the game while Crono is dead. I love my silent hero, but I do prefer Frog, Lucca, Robo, Ayla, and the rest.

5 I Am Setsuna

We Are Setsuna, Not Endir

Not coincidentally, I Am Setsuna was produced by Tokyo RPG Factory, a subsidiary of Square Enix, with the explicit goal of delivering gameplay reminiscent of Chrono Trigger. Combat-wise, they managed to pull it off, but that is where the comparisons end. The story is entirely focused on our protagonist Endir, a mercenary accompanying a maiden named Setsuna so that her sacrifice can appease the world's monsters.

The thing is, the game isn't called I Am Endir. Okay, that was a bit lame, but you get the point. Endir is merely accompanying Setsuna on this journey, acting mostly as a spectator. It is a far cry from a protagonist like Tidus, who actively learns about Yuna's pilgrimage and the world of Spira over the course of the adventure and resolves to take action. Endir is just along for the ride, which fits his stoic personality perfectly, but at the end of the day, he doesn't feel as important as the rest of the party—especially the character whose name is stamped right on the cover.

4 Xenoblade Chronicles X

Our Duty Is Solely to Explore Mira

xenoblade-chronicles-x-character-creator

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

When Monolith Soft began production on Xenoblade Chronicles X, the developer stated that the goal was to test the Wii U's technological capabilities alongside the programming sorcery of its staff. To sum up, they succeeded, creating a sprawling open world on a console that should have caught fire just trying to boot the game up.

This technical milestone, however, came at the cost of the JRPG's narrative. Xenoblade Chronicles X features a solid main story and fleshed-out side quests, but it doesn't quite measure up to the other entries in the franchise. Plus, because we play as a player-created avatar, we have very little agency or significance in the grand scheme of things, leading many to consider Elma the true protagonist.

The definitive version of Xenoblade Chronicles X gave our character a bit more relevance, which was a masterclass move. Even so, I always felt our character was merely an accessory to someone else's story, a catalyst for another character's heroic deeds, even if, in the end, I was the one delivering the final blow. Xenoblade Chronicles X is a stupendous game, but we are the main character in the gameplay alone.

3 Valkyrie Profile

Lenneth Gives the Stage to the Einherjar

For anyone familiar with Valkyrie Profile, this choice requires very little explanation. From the moment we boot up the game, we know our role as Lenneth is to recruit Einherjar, warriors who died in the mortal realm and are fated to participate in Odin's Ragnarok, like it or not. Because we are constantly witnessing the lives, tragedies, and unique perspectives of these other characters, Lenneth is quickly pushed to the background.

She does have a personal backstory, particularly if you follow Lucian's plotline, as he recognizes his lost Platina in Lenneth. The presence of these two becomes far more pivotal if you achieve Ending A, which is notoriously difficult to trigger without a walkthrough. The fact remains that Valkyrie Profile has so many Einherjar to recruit, each with a heart-wrenching tale, that they easily capture all of our attention. And just when you think you have gathered all the standout side characters in your party, Lezard Valeth shows up to steal whatever spotlight is left.

2 Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness

The Whole Game Feels Less Important

Reader, I love Star Ocean. It is one of those JRPG series that I desperately wish could get a fair shake. I won't blindly make excuses for it, but I must confess I had fun playing Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness despite its flaws. One of those flaws happens to be Fidel, our medieval protagonist. Fidel isn't a bad guy! He's simply dull.

After he encounters Relia, who serves as the actual narrative catalyst, he decides to protect her out of... pure plot convenience. Miki, Fidel's childhood friend, tags along just because, and so the journey begins. Every single party member who joins the group is drawn in by the mysterious Relia. Still, because these companions possess more intriguing backstories or motives that are less straightforward than Fidel's honorable urge to protect a child, they end up becoming far more interesting than our leading man.

The biggest issue with Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is the game itself. It was clearly made on a shoestring budget, which crippled many aspects of the experience outside its excellent combat gameplay. Unsurprisingly, it is considered the black sheep of the series, though I still believe you should give it a chance if you love the franchise.

1 Final Fantasy XII

You Knew He Was Going to Be Featured Here

Well, well, well, everyone saw this coming, right? Vaan from Final Fantasy XII is often dubbed the worst protagonist in the franchise, and sometimes in the entire JRPG genre. I beg to differ. I don't think he is a bad character. I just don't think he is main character material. That crown safely belongs to Ashe, or even Basch— the latter who rumors claim was intended to be the primary protagonist early in development, though Yasumi Matsuno has since debunked this.

Regardless of the internet discourse, the final product doesn't lie. Vaan serves more as the player's window into the complex political events of Ivalice than as an indispensable piece in advancing the plot and resolving conflicts. He isn't useless, and his grounded perspective is ultimately what convinces Ashe not to give in to the destructive desires of the Occuria. At the same time, I completely understand why players feel he is a bit irrelevant.

If you want to see Vaan in a proper leading-man role, clearly inspired by Balthier, I highly recommend playing Final Fantasy XII: Revenant Wings. Vaan and Penelo fully assume the mantle of protagonists, even if the story of the sequel doesn't hold a candle to the original Final Fantasy XII.