The 10 best JRPGs 2020 - The list for Japanese role-playing games

We present to you the best JRPGs in 2020:

  • What makes these role-playing games stand out?
  • Who are they suitable for?

Table of contents of the best JRPGs 2020

  1. Persona 5
  2. Ni no Kuni series
  3. NieR: Automata
  4. Dragon Quest XI: Fighters of Destiny
  5. Kingdom Hearts 3
  6. Xenoblade Chronicles 2
  7. Final Fantasy 7 Remake
  8. Tales of Vesperia
  9. Pokémon Sword and Shield
  10. Chrono Trigger

Persona 5

  • Platform: PS3,
  • Genre: Social role-playing game
  • Addons: Various DLCs with different costume sets and another difficulty level
  • Multiplayer: No
  • Suitable for: Fans with a good flair for conversation and plenty of empathy

Persona 5 is not only a truly excellent role-playing game, but a unique one at that, even in the JRPG genre. As a teenager, you'll investigate a wide variety of criminal cases and have access to a mysterious app that will catapult you into a fabled fantasy world at the touch of a button.

But be careful: Your character also has a nebulous past that no one should know about. On the side, you'll also have to deal with everyday school life, take on side jobs and maintain social contacts.

The visual style, the excellent directing and the unusual story make Persona 5 stand out from the rest of the JRPG world and ensure that the Atlus production made it onto our list of the 20 best role-playing games of 2020. By the way, Persona 5 Royal, an extensive remake with fresh characters and unused storylines, will be released at the end of March.

Our guides to Persona 5

Ni no Kuni series

  • Platform: PC, PS3, ,
  • Genre: Fantasy Role-Playing Game
  • Addons: None
  • Multiplayer: None
  • Suitable for: Fans of special visuals and playful images

The Ni no Kuni series takes you to an enchanting fairytale world full of fantastic creatures and lovable characters. As 13-year-old Oliver, you'll embark on a breathtaking journey and experience great adventures. You'll be supported by your companions Sven and Esther, as well as a huge armada of Pokémon-like monsters.

Ni no Kuni: The Curse of the White Queen and Ni no Kuni 2: Fate of a Kingdom were developed in collaboration with the famous Ghibli studio. The animation style and hand-drawn protagonists are reminiscent of anime classics such as Princess Mononoke and were embedded in one of the most detailed worlds in video game history.

The real-time battles and the various spells, which can be further developed with money and experience points, in combination with the relatively easy difficulty level are aimed more at a younger audience, but should also keep older gamers enthralled for a long time with tricky puzzles, among other things.

Our guides to Ni no Kuni 2:

NieR: Automata

  • Platform: , PC, Xbox One
  • Genre: Action RPG
  • Addons: 3C3C1D119440927
  • Multiplayer: Unfortunately not
  • Suitable for: Lovers of story-heavy and action-packed role-playing games

NieR: Automata, as the fifth part of the Drakengard series, remains completely in the tradition of its predecessors and convinces with spectacular action sequences and an incredibly deep story that raises existential questions. The story, which we don't want to reveal much about, revolves around the proxy war between machines created by aliens and androids developed by humans in a post-apocalyptic scenario.

Technically, NieR: Automata has its weaknesses, which hardly matter in view of the otherwise flawless production. For the first time,cult director Yoko Taro ventures into an open-world environment in the latest Drakengard installment, further tinkering with his legendary status.

Dragon Quest XI: Fighter of Destiny

  • Platform: 3DS, , PC,
  • Genre: Fantasy role-playing game
  • Addons: Various DLCs with avatar sets, as well as an emperor's axe exclusively for PS Plus customers
  • Multiplayer: Nope
  • Suitable for: Fans of traditional JRPGs and well-told hero stories

the Dragon Quest series is now34 years old. However, the fantasy world has not lost its appeal at all. Dragon Quest XI: Fighters of Destiny continues the tradition of its predecessors and offers some role-playing clichés from the Land of the Rising Sun alongside turn-based battles.

The great strength of Dragon Quest XI: Fighters of Destiny is the emotional and professionally recorded dialogs that tell an exciting hero story. The stringent level design contributes its part to the entertaining story.

Kingdom Hearts 3

  • Platform: , PC,
  • Genre: Fantasy role-playing game
  • Addons: Additional level Re Mind, key sword Evening Grey as DLC
  • Multiplayer: Only playable alone
  • Suitable for: Disney fans and hack-and-slash lovers

Donald Duck, Captain Jack Sparrow and Elsa from Frozen in one video game? That's the recipe for success of the Kingdom Hearts series. A Disney and Square Enix crossover, the JRPG combines the best elements and most famous characters and worlds from both franchises into an experience that is truly recognizable.

The story of Kingdom Hearts 3 seamlessly picks up from the end of the predecessor and thus directly picks up fans of the series. But newcomers will also get along with the storyline right away. As always, you take on the role of the hero Sora and have to protect the kingdom from the darkness.

Our guides to Kingdom Hearts 3:

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

  • Platform
  • Genre: Open-world action role-playing game
  • Addons: Stand-Alone Story DLC
  • Multiplayer: Nope
  • Suitable for: Open-world fans and those looking for challenging combat

Xenoblade Chronicles 2 is a JRPG heavyweight and doesn't have to hide from role-playing game references in terms of game world. As Rex and Pyra, you fight your way through countless hordes of enemies and powerful bosses on and in gigantic titanic creatures. Along the way, you'll search for the mysterious land of Elysium at the top of the world tree.

Xenoblade Chronicles 2's plus points are the expansive game world with an unbelievable number of side quests and the complex real-time combat system, which even challenges role-playing pros and only gradually unleashes its full power.

Our guides to Xenoblade Chronicles 2:

Final Fantasy 7 Remake

  • Platform
  • Genre: Action RPG
  • Addons: None yet
  • Multiplayer: No
  • Suitable for: Final Fantasy enthusiasts and anyone who gamed video games in the late 1990s

On April 10, the wait will finally be over when the long-awaited Final Fantasy 7 Remake is released. The remastered version of the 1997 original, one of the best RPGs of all time, is something of a dream come true for any gamer who immersed themselves in the iconic world of Gaia in the late 1990s.

Admittedly, the remake lacks the turn-based battle system of the original. Nevertheless, the visually impressive production and the high nostalgia factor promise another milestone in the Final Fantasy universe.

Our guides to the Final Fantasy 7 Remake:

Tales of Vesperia

  • Platform: Xbox 360, PS3, PC, , , Xbox One
  • Genre: Fantasy Role-Playing Game
  • Addons: Two DLCs with costumes and additional objects
  • Multiplayer: Yes. Up to four players can participate in battles locally via controller.
  • Suitable for: Fans of the Tales series and classic Japanese role-playing games

Tales of Vesperia enchanted the hearts of JRPG fans on the Xbox 360 back in 2009, and now owners of the other platforms can also enjoy Tales of Vesperia with the release of the Definitive Edition, which is based on the PS3 version of the game that was only released in Japan.

Like its predecessors, the third part of the Tales series puts a lot of emphasis on character development and the group dynamics of the motley group of heroes around the kind-hearted thief Yuri. After the ancient Blastias - mysterious stones from which people extract energy - are stolen all over the world, Yuri sets out to find the cause of the sudden disappearance.

Pokémon Sword and Shield

  • Platform
  • Genre: Collectible Role-Playing Game
  • Addons: The Isle of Armor and The Crown Tundra will be released in 2020 and will feature additional Pokémon
  • Multiplayer: Yes
  • Suitable for: Pokémon fans and gamers with a strong penchant for collecting

The eighth generation of the addictive Pokémon game series comes with the familiar game mechanics around the corner. Pokémon can be collected, trained and used in battle in the arenas to become a Poké Champion and complete the Pokédex.

New in Sword and Shield is Dynamaximization, which temporarily increases the size of your Pokémon in battle. Also, for the first time, there is the possibility to fight against very special Pokémon in Dyna-Raids and collect special rewards. And of course, legendary Pokémon are once again part of the game in Sword and Shield.

Our guides to Pokémon Sword and Shield:

Chrono Trigger

  • Platform: SNES, PS1, Nintendo DS, iOS, PC
  • Genre: Time Travel RPG
  • Addons: Jet Bike Special, Character Library, Music Library
  • Multiplayer: Yes
  • Suitable for: Time travel nerds and enthusiastic retro gamers

Chrono Trigger has cult status among JRPG purists and takes you on a wild journey through time to save the world from destruction in the role of the hero Chrono. In the course of the story, lots of historical heroes will join your troop.

The JRPG already celebrated its premiere in 1995 on the Super Nintendo. An Android version has existed since 2012, and the classic role-playing game has also been available for purchase on Steam since 2018.

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