JRPG Remasters We Really Want To See in 2026

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10 JRPG Remasters We Would Love To See In 2026

If there’s one truth in the gaming industry, it’s that old games will eventually see a resurgence, whether as ports, remasters, or remakes.

While the West doesn’t revisit the past as often, Japan does this routinely.

Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest, for example, were released on the NES and have already received remakes or remasters on the SNES, GBC, or even the WonderSwan. The thing is, these aren’t “modern practices” because they’ve been happening for a long time. And I like that because it lets us play older titles we missed when they launched.

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With that in mind, I put together a list of 10 JRPG remasters I’d love to see in 2026. As much as I’d like to go all out and include every JRPG I want to see remastered, I tried to keep my feet on the ground and focus on those that, even if the odds are slim, could realistically get re-released.

I didn’t include games like Chrono Trigger or Xenogears because I’d like to see a fully fledged HD-2D remake, not just a simple remaster.

10 .hack

Bring Kite Back

10 JRPG Remasters We Would Love To See In 2026 - .hack

In November 2017, CyberConnect2 released .hack//G.U. Last Recode, a remaster of the .hack//G.U. trilogy. The collection was well received by critics, better than the original games, and the developer announced it sold 300,000 units in almost one year, which is pretty good for a niche JRPG franchise.

That raised a question: where’s the remaster of the original .hack quadrilogy? CyberConnect2 kept working, releasing three Fuga: Melodies of Steel games in the meantime, along with other projects, but nothing related to .hack. Still, if it were up to the developer, they’d already be working on new .hack projects, but unfortunately, that decision doesn’t rest solely with them.

In a 2024 interview, CyberConnect2 vice president Taichiro Miyazaki said he’d love to revisit the .hack universe, but that depends on the publisher and IP holder, Bandai Namco. He encouraged fans to show their enthusiasm for the series’ return to Bandai if they want CyberConnect2 to work on it again. Who knows, maybe they’ve already started, and we’ll get at least a remaster of the first four .hack games in 2026.

9 Skies of Arcadia

We Want More Air Piracy

10 JRPG Remasters We Would Love To See In 2026 - Skies of Arcadia

SEGA was quite the JRPG powerhouse back in the 8 and 16-bit era, with series like Phantasy Star and Shining. But if there’s one game fans constantly ask to see return, it’s Skies of Arcadia, originally released on the late Dreamcast and later receiving an enhanced port for the GameCube.

Every now and then, rumors pop up that Skies of Arcadia will get a remaster, whether because a new Vyse figure was announced or because its trademark was re-registered. Any breadcrumb is enough to ignite speculation and fuel fans’ dreams.

And if that isn’t proof of how much JRPG enthusiasts want to see the adventures of a young air pirate return, I don’t know what is. Truthfully, I think a remaster, or at least a port of Skies of Arcadia, is quite likely, especially considering SEGA is on a crusade to revive some truly classic and old IPs in its catalog.

8 Lost Odyssey

Let’s Do This Before Sakaguchi Retires

You know how the story goes: Spirits Within flopped, and Sakaguchi left Square to found Mistwalker. The Xbox 360 wanted to appeal to a Japanese audience and hired the father of Final Fantasy to make a Final Fantasy-like game for the console, and thus Lost Odyssey was born.

And yeah, Lost Odyssey is excellent. It’s one of the few turn-based games of its time with high visual fidelity, something Sakaguchi always had a knack for. It featured novel battle mechanics like the reactive Aim Ring System and a collection of incredibly well-written short stories that, dare I say, are even better than the JRPG’s central plot.

The biggest issue is that the game is still stuck on Xbox to this day, albeit with backward compatibility. Lost Odyssey deserves to be experienced by everyone. If Square decided to rescue Fantasian from Apple Arcade and release it on multiple platforms, why not do the same with Lost Odyssey, right? And sooner rather than later, because according to Sakaguchi, he only has one more game left in him before retiring.

7 Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

Bring Back Tri-Ace

Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria

With the release of the not-so-good Valkyrie Elysium, Square also brought over a port of the enhanced version of Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth, initially released for the PSP in 2006. Not exactly a remaster, but we’ll take it, especially since it had trophy support. This only reinforced that the Valkyrie Profile series still has fans worldwide and that the IP has been poorly managed.

One way to draw even more attention while also pleasing long-time Einherjar fans would be to bring Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria to modern platforms. Even on the PS2, the game was gorgeous, with a sober, striking art style. Square, we don't need much. A port with a few modern quality-of-life improvements would do the trick.

I have no idea whether Square Enix ever considered bringing Valkyrie Profile 2: Silmeria back, or if it was one of the projects canceled after the company’s internal restructuring. However, I’d still love to see this JRPG see the light of day again. Who knows, maybe it would also help Tri-Ace, which revealed it was struggling financially a few years back.

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6 Brave Fencer Musashi

Hear Me Out, Square

I know I said I’d only include titles with realistic chances of getting a remaster, and Brave Fencer Musashi doesn’t exactly fit that bill. Still, ever since Square brought Live A Live back as a remake, every title is on the table. Also, dreaming small or dreaming big costs the same, so let’s aim high. I’d love to see Brave Fencer Musashi return, even if it’s just in an enhanced version like Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles.

During the PS1 era, Square released a handful of underrated titles, such as Threads of Fate, Bushido Blade, and the excellent Brave Fencer Musashi. This action JRPG was glorious and packed with inventive features, like the use of the Fusion and Lumina swords. The former is a katana that delivers fast attacks and can absorb enemy skills, while the latter is a broadsword imbued with elemental powers.

Beyond enriching combat, these mechanics were also essential for exploration and puzzle-solving. It’s genuinely one of the most forgotten JRPGs in Square Enix’s catalog, yet one of the most deserving of a modern revival. I’m even willing to sacrifice Musashi: Samurai Legend on PS2 as an offering if needed.

5 Final Fantasy XIII

Lightning Deserves More

Best Order To Play All Mainline Final Fantasy Games (13)

It’s long past time for Square to release a collection containing the entire Final Fantasy XIII trilogy, right? Also, Lightning’s redemption arc is long overdue, and people will have to learn to appreciate it despite the JRPG’s linearity. I blame the PS3’s architecture, which must be making things harder, as seen by the countless crashes the trilogy’s PC ports suffered on Steam.

I understand the sentiment that Final Fantasy XIII was highly divisive and is often considered one of the weakest mainline entries, but even so, if the series sold over 11 million units back in 2014, it means there’s still an audience out there.

Also, let’s be honest, Final Fantasy XIII was already insanely beautiful back in the PS3 era, so it doesn’t need massive visual overhauls. A port to modern consoles with updated frame rates at 60 FPS is all I ask, hell, even 30 FPS. I replayed Lightning Returns recently on PS3, and the frame rate dropped to, I don’t know, under 20 while roaming the city, and it was a real buzzkill.

4 Suikoden III

War Never Ends

10 Highly Reviewed JRPGs That Would Flop Today - Suikoden 3

I suspect, though I can’t prove it, that Konami was nudged by the Kickstarter success of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes into releasing remastered versions of the first two Suikoden games, along with a mobile title. And to be fair, they delivered excellent releases, so it only makes sense to keep the streak going and also bring a remaster of Suikoden III.

Suikoden III isn’t as beloved as Suikoden II, but it’s still one of the most cherished entries in the series, only held back by a somewhat rough battle system. Story-wise, some fans even rank Suikoden III above Riou and Jowy’s rebellion, largely thanks to the Trinity Sight System, which lets players experience the same narrative from different characters’ perspectives.

While I’d love to see Suikoden III on modern platforms, I understand if it doesn’t happen. Pixel art ages like fine wine regardless of style, but early PS2-era 3D engines can look a bit unpolished, and a simple port might not be enough to get rid of that uncanny valley feeling. That’s why a remake would be more favorable, even if the chances of Konami going that route are slim.

3 Tales of the Abyss

Prepare To Meet JRPG’s Most Obnoxious Protagonist

Luke fighting the Nightmare (Tales of the Abyss)

A remaster of Tales of the Abyss feels almost guaranteed, if I had to bet. Ever since Bandai Namco kicked off the Tales of Remastered Project, fans have been asking and clamoring for Tales of the Abyss. Recently, the series producer said they’re tackling releases based on ease of development, which explains why games like Tales of Berseria received a remaster.

Considering modern Tales entries, I’d assume Abyss (and Zestiria) fall closer to that ease of development category, and I doubt they’d be bold enough to remaster Tales of Vesperia again. Maybe the release itself won’t land in 2026, but I’m confident enough to put my hand in the fire for at least an announcement.

Tales of the Abyss launched on PS2 and later received a 3DS version, and both still hold up well visually. The anime-inspired presentation and the series’ distinctive art style remain appealing even today. Personally, I still think it looks better than Tales of Symphonia, which has already received about 18 remasters.

2 Xenosaga

Justice for Takahashi

10 JRPG Remasters We Would Love To See In 2026 - Xenosaga

Xenosaga Episode I: Der Wille zur Macht

We are all familiar with the story of how genius Tetsuya Takahashi was constantly a casualty of the capitalist system and never got to fully realize his vision with Xenogears and Xenosaga. The thing is, he managed to do just that with Xenoblade, and even built upon it with the definitive re-release of Xenoblade Chronicles X.

My slim hope is that he’d not only bring a remastered version of the Xenosaga trilogy, but also include additional story scenes to at least give more substance to what was originally meant to be a six-episode saga.

And I know Katsuhiro Harada already dismissed a Xenosaga remaster because it wasn’t worth the risk, but that was six years ago. A lot has changed since then. We’ve seen a JRPG-inspired sweep the TGAs, Monolith release the highly-acclaimed Xenoblade Chronicles 3, Nintendo acquire Bandai Namco Singapore, and even Harada himself is set to retire at the end of 2025. Sometimes plans change, and sometimes they change for the better. I can already see it happening: Xenosaga Remastered Collection confirmed for 2026.

All in all, more than seeing JRPG fans relive Shion and KOS-MOS’s journey, I’d love to see Takahashi get the chance to try to complete his vision, even if it’s still a fragment of what he envisioned, in a future collection. Too bad we’re relying on Bandai Namco once again.

1 Breath of Fire Collection

I Trust Capcom

I don’t consider myself important enough in the outlet for you to know my personal taste as a gamer or to have read my other articles. Still, if you have, you probably know that Breath of Fire is my favorite JRPG series, with Breath of Fire III being the game of my life.

Ever since Capcom started bringing numerous collections to modern platforms, whether Mega Man, Ace Attorney, or practically every Fighting Collection imaginable, I’ve grown hopeful that the Breath of Fire series would eventually get the same treatment.

I’m not asking for much, okay? A simple port with trophy support and maybe a selection of the original soundtrack or artwork would already be enough for me. Fine, perhaps a new translation for Breath of Fire I and II, and the removal of useless items would also be a good idea. But don’t feel pressured, all right, Capcom?

Dino Crisis fans, I feel you. Capcom has been on a roll these past few years, posting record-breaking profits that any other developer would envy. And they’ve done it by respecting their IPs and pleasing their fans. They recently announced interest in reviving dormant franchises like Mega Man with a new title, Ace Attorney, and Devil May Cry, and that’s fine. I’m patient. You can give them some love while I wait for the day Capcom does the same for our dragon boy, Ryu.