The best JRPGs that break traditional genre conventions

Key foods

• Star Ocean The Second Story R defies fantasy conventions with a sci-fi twist and offers 99 endings.
• Radiant Historia breaks the linearity of JRPGs with a different timeline in Perfect Chronology.
• The triangle strategy offers a political narrative with deep moral choices and human characters.

JRPGs have set the standard for video game narratives and mechanics for years. These titles' deep stories, strong characters, and unique gameplay loops have made JRPGs one of the top genres for gamers around the world, but with such a powerful library of titles, it's only natural that conventions and tropes appear special. .

So how does a JRPG break conventions? What rules should be followed and which should be broken? Should a story change the classic high fantasy setting, or should the turn-based combat that helped define the genre in the 80s and 90s be revamped? These games notably break away from traditional JRPG conventions and are highly influential.

5 Star Ocean The Second Story R

It defies fantasy conventions with sci-fi flare

One of the Square Enix games that breaks away from pure fantasy and adds a healthy dose of science fiction. Star Ocean The Second Story R It's a great turn-based game that gamers won't want to miss, especially if they like to influence the narrative through their choices. From the outset, choosing one of two protagonists to lead the story puts players on a path to one of 99 endings, largely influenced by how they interact with the multitude of available companions.

The game manages to enjoy everything fans love about classic fantasy environments while challenging many aesthetic aspects. The presence of advanced and futuristic technology creates an environment The second story of R As a single planet in an epic of galactic proportions. It's a great way to show how the framing of a setting is critical to its place in the genre.

4 Radiation history

It breaks the linearity of JRPGs in an interesting way

Many JRPGs are known for their strong, but linear narratives. This is already a convention broken by a few titles, but as a general rule, especially in older games, the agency a player has in the world of many JRPGs is limited to things like party composition and maybe side quests. , as opposed to influencing how the story unfolds.

Radiation historyin particular Complete chronology Remastered on the 3DS is a great example of a game that challenges the linear narrative in an interesting way. Stokes must use the White Chronicle to explore two different timelines separated by his own choices, to find answers to problems that can only be found in one timeline, saving both in the process.

3 Triangle strategy

An epic story of politics with no big bad guys

Not the most famous of Square Enix's titles, but certainly an underrated success with an incredible moral mechanic. Triangle strategy It features an incredible branching storyline that takes players on paths across the continent of Norselia. In a genre that's frankly full of evil wizards and cruel dark knights with big, little horns on their helmets. Triangle strategy It breaks away from this with a surprising level of political realism and real human characters, while still rewarding players. A complex and cruel narrative to enjoy.

Balancing the three main beliefs and having a story determined by the companions as much as the player is already innovative enough of the JRPG form, but adding to this is an incredibly engaging narrative that shows the characters changing. they grow and even notice that something is happening in it. Too challenging or not worth the risk.

2 Resonance of fate

An incredible battle system and new settings

Resonance of fate One of the most popular JRPGs to date, it is praised for its stunning combat system that breaks JRPG norms in many ways. This “three-attack battle system” allows players to move freely during their turn in battle and their action points are limited. They can then attack the opponent at advantageous angles and can also perform an attack not just once but multiple times.

The game's setting features a gritty, futuristic dystopia and combines it with the iconic steampunk style, making it an incredibly innovative aesthetic and one of the best post-apocalyptic JRPGs players can get their hands on today. .

1 Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance

Battle is only one option in SMT

Shane Megami TennesseeOne of Atlus' flagship series, it's consistently breaking down the barriers to what JRPG combat should be, but Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance It gets a mention here for being an incredibly polished title that deserves to carry the legacy of the series onto the Switch. Complicated stories aren't necessarily the way forward in this genre, though SMTThe discussion of law and chaos versus good and evil is always a wonderful subversion of the more binary narratives of JRPGs.

In almost all non-boss battle encounters, demons can be talked to rather than fought SMT. in revengeplayers will want to talk to demons to lure them into their party by sweet-talking, bribing, or intimidating them. However, they can also extort them for items, scare them into battle, or trade them for their essence, depending on complementary skills.