JRPGs Coming in 2026 That Already Deserve Your Attention

We are already in the second quarter of 2026, which means we've had a few showcases and announcements of new JRPGs or their release dates. To be fair, compared to 2024 and 2025, there aren't that many heavyweight JRPGs announced yet, but there are still several that deserve your attention.

From long-standing first-party franchises to remakes looking to give a series a second wind, and beautiful indies that always feed our most creative desires, there are JRPGs for every taste. Today, let me show you some JRPGs coming in 2026 that already deserve your attention and a spot on your wishlist.

10 Edge of Memories

We Know French JRPGs Are Bangers

At first glance, Edge of Memories doesn't look like an indie game. To be fair, I don't even know if it's still considered indie like the first game, Edge of Eternity, since Midgar Studio (yes, inspired by Final Fantasy VII) has grown since its origin, but I digress. All that is to say that Edge of Memories is shaping up to be a great action JRPG that deserves your attention.

Edge of Memories takes place in the same world as Edge of Eternity, but on a new continent. In the role of Eline, we must combat the Corrosion, a plague that is destroying the continent. Throughout the adventure, we recruit new party members who help in this endeavor.

The combat hinges heavily on the combination of skills between Eline and her allies. When the situation becomes dire, Eline can enter a berserker state, unleashing new powers and increasing her destructive potential. Edge of Memories has an estimated release for 2026, but no specific date. It could potentially arrive in Early Access, given that Edge of Eternity spent three years in that model.

9 SacriFire

Will Conquer the Indie World

In 2017, Pixelated Milk released Regalia: Of Men and Monarchs, which flew under the radar for many players. I played it, platinumed it, and loved it! It had its strong points and was very polished, with an incredibly comedic script. Best of all, it made me closely follow all of Pixelated Milk's announcements, and when they announced SacriFire, I was in the front row.

SacriFire has everything it takes to be an indie JRPG that conquers the industry, much like Chained Echoes and Sea of Stars did. With inspirations from Vagrant Story and Valkyrie Profile, and a soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba, the game is already establishing itself as a necessary title in every JRPG fan's backlog.

In the adventure, we follow Ezekiel in a world threatened by the conflict between gods and demons. Fantasy blends with sci-fi in an impeccable 2.5D visual style that brings me a lot of joy. SacriFire had a confirmed release for the first quarter of 2026 on Steam, but after securing a new publishing partner, it has been delayed, likely to make a release across all platforms.

8 Echoes of Aincrad

Deserves the Benefit of the Doubt

Listen, I'll be the first to tell you to manage your expectations with licensed JRPGs, especially Sword Art Online, because one of my lowest review scores went to the port of Sword Art Online: Alicization Lycoris for the Nintendo Switch. However, Echoes of Aincrad actually looks like an interesting JRPG that doesn't lean so heavily on the IP or Kirito's presence.

Revealed in March with a release date of July 9, Echoes of Aincrad allows us to create a custom character and dive into Aincrad to face the challenges of the floating castle, completing quests, hunting for treasure, and perfecting our character. It doesn't seem to have a fixed class system, but rather a progression based on equipment and attributes.

We don't have many details about the game's story yet, but producer Yosuke Futami said it won't be strictly based on the series, so new players can also feel included without needing to follow the series. However, the trailer has already shown that the protagonist of Sword Art Online, Kirito, will appear, for better or worse.

7 Another Eden Begins

From Gacha To Premium

In the past, I would have had reservations about mobile games converting to a single-player premium format. However, after Octopath Traveler 0 (and to some extent Mega Man X DiVE), I can see the potential. So, when Another Eden Begins was announced, it caught my attention because I know this shift can work.

I tried Another Eden before, but the gacha system distracted me too much from the story. I say this because the script was penned by Masato Kato, none other than the writer of Chrono Trigger, Chrono Cross, and even segments of Xenogears. I mean, how can you resist? The single-player version will finally let me experience everything Another Eden has to offer without the frustration of failing to draw a character I want.

I still have some reservations, but I'm ready to dive into Another Eden Begins when it comes out on September 16. The JRPG features strategic turn-based battles, 18 party members, and a New Game+ system that encourages us to replay it repeatedly in search of the numerous endings the game offers, in the most Masato Kato fashion possible.

6 The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales

HD-2D Brought to Full Action

While Square is restructuring and trying to align its releases to please the global audience, an internal team has been winning fans since its first releases. Popularly known as Team Asano, the creators of the HD-2D engine are set to release their first action RPG in this graphical style.

The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales seems to take inspiration from Zelda games of the past, but brings more RPG elements than Link's games. As Elliot, we explore fields and dungeons, solve puzzles, face giant bosses, and collect magicite to customize our hero.

Elliot and his fairy companion Faie arrive on consoles and PC on June 18. It is one of the few games with a confirmed 2026 release date, and certainly one you should keep an eye on, because Team Asano doesn't know how to miss.

5 Brigandine Abyss

Destined to Tactical Fans

For a long time, I thought Brigandine was a fever dream of mine. I played the tactical RPG on the PS1 and didn't know anyone else who had heard of it, even though it was published by Atlus. A few years passed, and a second game, called Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia, was released, bringing the series back to the spotlight - a little dimmed, but the spotlight nonetheless.

To my even greater surprise, a third entry was later announced! Named Brigandine Abyss, the JRPG is not being developed by Happinet this time, only published by it. Development is in the hands of Adglobe, the same team behind ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights.

Brigandine Abyss once again brings a game that mixes kingdom, creatures, and units management with tactical combat. After choosing one of six factions, the player needs to conquer the others and become the very best on the continent of Meltitea. Brigandine Abyss is set for release in 2026, though no confirmed date has been announced.

4 Kyoto Xanadu

Nihon Falcom is on a Roll

If there's one company that has been going all out in recent years, it's Nihon Falcom. In addition to continuing to release new Ys and Trails games with great frequency, they've also been betting on remakes and even sequels to less-known IPs, like Tokyo Xanadu. Its sequel, appropriately named Kyoto Xanadu, was announced in February of this year.

I feel like I'm cheating here because although Kyoto Xanadu has a confirmed release date for July 16, for now, it's only for Japan and Asia. However, given how Nihon Falcom has been trying to strengthen simultaneous global releases, I wouldn't be surprised if the Western version came out in 2026 as well.

Nevertheless, it's worth paying attention to. Kyoto Xanadu comes with an action RPG style that mixes 2D sidescroller traversal with full 3D environments, bringing a unique dynamism. The progression system will be handled by the Soul-Device, which teaches the protagonist, Rei Kamiya, new attack skills and actions.

3 Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave

Welcome to the Heroic Battles

One of the heavyweight JRPGs arriving in 2026 is a new mainline Fire Emblem, Nintendo's tactical franchise. Titled Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave, players will participate in gladiatorial battles called the Heroic Games, ruled by the Divine Sovereign - and nothing screams high-level battles like gladiators.

While not confirmed, fans speculate that Fortune's Weave will take place on the continent of Fódlan, the same setting as Fire Emblem: Three Houses and Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes, while others bet it will be in Dagda. Regardless of the setting, we can expect high-quality tactical gameplay as usual.

Fire Emblem: Fortune's Weave doesn't have a confirmed release date yet, but the window is set for 2026, and Nintendo rarely delays games. The release date will most likely be announced in a future Nintendo Direct.

2 Alabaster Dawn

CrossCode Successor

Radical Fish is one of those indie developers that arrive quietly but take the world by storm. After releasing the wonderful, successful CrossCode, the developer began developing Alabaster Dawn, a 2.5D action RPG with a more fantasy feel, inspired by Devil May Cry and Kingdom Hearts.

Since the dev built the game using the same engine as CrossCode, expect many puzzles, refined action trimmed to perfection, and many hours of fun. Alabaster Dawn has been promising many features that will shape the destroyed world as Juno fights to bring it back to life.

The JRPG already has a demo available on Steam and had its Early Access announcement revealed during the Triple-I Initiative showcase for May 7. So if you fancy playing the game while providing feedback to the developers, you won't have to wait that long.

1 Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter

The One That Will Make You a Trails Fanatic

Nihon Falcom became known for making JRPGs whose series follow a single narrative. Ys, for example, always puts us in the role of Adol Christin in his intrepid adventures, while The Legend of Heroes, now more commonly known as Trails, has followed the same storyline since its conception in 2004.

However, 20 years later, the developer realized how daunting it can be to join the series given its continuity. To address this, they began developing a remake of the first two games. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter launched last year and was one of the best JRPGs of the year, nearly achieving a perfect score from yours truly.

Shortly after, Nihon Falcom announced Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, a direct sequel that takes place literally one day after the end of its predecessor. Needless to say, it is highly recommended to play the 1st Chapter before delving into this one, and to be honest, if you do play the first game, you will certainly be anxiously waiting for the 2nd Chapter.