Many players around the globe love the worlds and characters found in JRPGs, yet some shy away from the pressure of tackling certain series due to how large they are. We are going to take a look at some of the best standalone JRPGs that you can enjoy without the weight of a marathon commitment.
Best Standalone JRPGs That Can Be Picked Up At Any time
While franchises like Final Fantasy and Tales have (mostly) standalone titles, we’re talking about games completely detached from other media. Each title on this list offers a standalone package, with a couple having only minor ties to other media. Also, since ease and accessibility are the whole point of this list, I’ve prioritized games readily available and playable in 2024.
If your favorite didn’t make the cut, there’s no need to get upset. It’s probably just not legally available without dropping serious money at a retro game store. With that being said, let’s jump into our list of some of the best standalone JRPGs you can find.
Lost Odyssey
Lost Odyssey was like a star athlete on the worst team in the league. It was an innovate, lore-rich, classic JRPG exclusive to the Xbox 360 of all consoles. I know so many die-hard JRPG fans who just absolutely flew past this game. Because, at that time if you wanted JRPGs you were picking up a PS3. Admittedly, XBox consoles have come a long way in terms of JRPG accessibility. In fact this very game is available on the Series X|S as a backwards compatible title.
Pick it up, but know it’s a slow burn story-wise. There’s a lot of background lore, and the world is pretty unique and fleshed out. The gameplay also really worked to speed up and excite the traditional turn-based system. This makes battles feel a little more interactive than a traditional turn-based JRPG.
Blue Dragon
Wait a minute, doesn’t Blue Dragon have sequels? Is this guy a huge liar about the rules? Should I write a letter about this to the International Board of JRPG Opinions? Well cap that inkpot sailor, because I didn’t lie I said “minor ties”. The Blue Dragon follow-ups were both on the DS and not exactly anything to write home about. It’s also hardly a “franchise,” in my opinion. Either way, though, any opportunity to talk about Blue Dragon should be a welcome opportunity.
Blue Dragon is a beautiful world with an incredible art style that really does deserve more attention and love. It has a unique variation of the class system that is both fun and satisfying. It really leans into the anime tropes and vibe if that’s your thing. This game was another win for the 360 and is available on the Series X|S as a BC title.
Rogue Galaxy
Rogue Galaxy is one of my favorite JRPGs of the Playstation 2 era, and it still holds up beautifully in 2024. A space opera of sorts, the story takes your characters to many different planets. Add in a wonderful voice cast and deep crafting mechanics Level-5 was known for at the time, and you have a hit.
Rogue Galaxy was made available on the Playstation 4 with full trophy support back in 2016, and it’s still playable today. The art style leans towards cel-shading, but the world design is the highlight. If you’ve never given it a shot you need to fix that as soon as possible.
Tokyo Xanadu
Tokyo Xanadu is like a marriage of The Trails series with elements from Persona. Even more so than Trails of Cold Steel. This is ideal because the Trails series is the exact opposite of a standalone experience. Tokyo Xanadu could act as a bit of a toe in the water and maybe even satisfy a Trails urge for those not ready to dive in face first.
Tokyo Xanadu also has a modern setting, which I know is a little rare in the genre. It’s got fun combat and an engaging story, and you can snag it on PS4, Switch, and PC. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but keep it on your radar.
Chrono Trigger
“Ok, now this one definitely had a pretty big sequel.” Look, ok yeah, Chrono Cross is pretty good. To me though, Chrono Cross and Chrono Trigger are both standalone games loosely related to each other. Honestly, I don’t even really have much to say about Chrono Trigger because it’s etched in gaming lore. If it’s not on your JRPG playlist, time for a serious rethink.
It’s available as a remake on DS, which is probably harder to find than the original SNES version at this point. Luckily, you can the port of the original on PC easily. You can even get it on your phone if you wanted it on the go.
Legend of Dragoon
A great story with memorable characters and gameplay. Legend of Dragoon offers everything players love about the JRPG genre in a single, cohesive package. This is great news because it’s also one of the best retro JRPGs too. Both the interesting world and inventive combat hold up and don’t even need to tie into anything else. The transformation system in the game is unique, and I’d love to see it used more.
Truly, it’s got to be on your list if you’re a JRPG fan and overlooked it. It’s also easily found on the PlayStation Store for only $10 (or free if you’re a PlayStation Plus Premium member), making this an excellent budget option as well. When I get this genie out of the lamp I bought on Craigslist, I’m wishing for a revival. Therefore, you should absolutely play it now and be prepared for that any day now.
Skies of Arcadia
This is the one game on this list that may be hard to track down. It was only released on the Dreamcast and ported to the Gamecube. However, it is such an incredible experience that I feel I have to mention it here. Copies of the GameCube port go for around $150-$200, while the Dreamcast version can be found slightly cheaper (though you’d need a Dreamcast).
Skies of Arcadia is a timeless classic that offers a captivating blend of adventure, exploration, and storytelling. The characters are memorable, the battles are epic, and its setting and world are incredibly unique. This is a pretty deep-cut JRPG, so adding this one to your list could even be a little bit of a flex.
So, hopefully, if you’re looking to pick up something standalone, this helped. Remember, never feel intimidated by a big series when there are plenty of smaller fish to fry in the meantime. There are always more JRPGs to play.
