What’s up, nerds? The summertime is upon us, and as we prepare ourselves for the incoming heat, let’s look forward to staying indoors to play some 40-hour-long JRPGs. We’ve brought together 13 titles for you today, we know there are a ton of video games to be excited about that are available now, but let’s look forward and get this hype train going.
Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection (June 1 | Switch, PC)
When it comes to dungeon crawlers, Etrian Odyssey is a consistent series of high-quality games. However, after the 3DS lifetime ended, the future of the franchise became uncertain as it was only released for the Nintendo handhelds and used the dual screen scheme as a central point of the experience.
Fortunately, ATLUS is giving the series a new go on the PC and Switch with Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection, which offers the three first titles remastered for a single-screen HD experience. Hundreds of hours of running into F.O.E.s await us again in this heaping helping of dungeon crawling. Here’s hoping this is a good sign for a Persona Q2 remaster!
Loop8: Summer of Gods (June 6 | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X, Switch, PC)
Described as a coming-of-age JRPG, Loop8 is set to be a unique experience in which the power of friendship is very real and an actual mechanic of the game. As a young boy called Nini, we have to save the world from incoming doom at the hands of the Kegai. Our weapons are the friends we make along the way whose emotions we can influence by interacting with them during the month of August 1983.
There are many outcomes depending on your choices, and it’s more likely than not that the player may be defeated by those creatures. In case the worst happens, you have the chance to use Nini’s powers to reset the world, restarting the ever-looping August until you find a way to defeat those dreadful creatures with your friends.
FRONT MISSION 2: Remake (Delayed | Switch)
Front Mission is a classic mech RPG series that features multiple tactical classics. Originally released for the PS1, Front Mission 2 was one of the big highlights in the series’ history, and it unfortunately never came over to the Western shores. With Forever Entertainment’s remake, which is likely to have a similarly faithful adaptation of its predecessor, we finally will have a chance to get an official English release.
Front Mission 2’s story happens twelve years after the first game, as the OCU now faces a rebellion in the region of Alordesh. But there is more behind this coup than what may seem at first, and the player will get to understand the nuances of this conflict with multiple perspectives as the game follows three main characters in different OCU positions.
We didn’t love the first remake, but hopefully, this title takes some of the feedback from 1st and bridges the gap to modern gamers a little bit more.
Final Fantasy XVI (June 22 | PS5)
The wait is finally over, as the next mainline title in the Final Fantasy series, Final Fantasy XVI, will finally be released exclusively on the PlayStation 5 console. To think the series has been going for so long that we’re now at the 16th mainline entry, sheesh.
This time, the story follows the protagonist, Clive, in the land of Valisthea, divided between six nations that hold power through access to magical Crystals and Dominants, people who can wield the power of the Eikons. This game is certainly going to make a big upset in the month of June, and since our preview, we haven’t stopped thinking about it.
SOULVARS (June 28 | Xbox One, Series X, PC)
Originally released only on mobile, SOULVARS is a deck-building RPG that oozes style. In a futuristic setting, humanity now faces the threat of the Dominators who came after them as a consequence of their misuse of technology. It’s now up to powerful humans known as Soulbearers to face these creatures and protect mankind.
Combat follows a turn-based system that allows for careful planning and beautiful animations for special attacks and finishing moves. Players will have to master their skills and hunt for unique Dominators if they want to get the best gear to face the challenges ahead of them. But more than exploring the city and the battle system, the colorful, stylish animations are the big highlight here.
Trails into Reverie (July 7 | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)
Trails into Reverie is the 10th game in the Trails series of Falcom’s JRPGs. Though Cold Steel IV was a conclusion of sorts to Erebonia’s threads, Reverie is a final send-off before the series moves on to Calvard for the upcoming games, Kuro no Kiseki and Kuro no Kiseki II, which are already available in Japan.
Reverie follows three protagonists (Rean Schwarzer, Lloyd Bannings, and the mysterious newcomer C) and their respective groups as we see the aftereffects of the Cold Steel series on Erebonia, Crossbell, and the whole continent of Zemuria. With a “Crossroads” system, players can change to the perspective of one of the other protagonists, making it a unique installment in the series that fans shouldn’t miss.
Atelier Marie Remake (July 12 | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch)
While the Atelier series may have gained much more fame with the Ryza games, the series has been a staple of the JRPG genre for a long time now. And everything started with Atelier Marie on the PS1 back in 1997. Unfortunately, it was a Japan-only release but this is finally going to change this July as Atelier Marie Remake comes west, and an English-translated edition of the revised original game, Atelier Marie Plus, will also be part of its Digital Deluxe Edition.
Atelier Marie Remake tells the story of a young woman called Marlone, who’s very close to failing her alchemy studies. Her teacher Ingrid gives her a last chance to provide the best item she can make in five years. The remake gives players the option to remove this deadline and play the game more comfortably if they so desire, as well as revamping visuals significantly with a cute 3D chibi look and gorgeous 2D portraits. Finally, having the very first Atelier game in the West is an occasion to be celebrated, and it’s one game any JRPG fan shouldn’t miss.
Cross Tails (July 20 | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X, Switch, PC)
RideonJapan is working on a new RPG strategy called Cross Tails. In a world of anthropomorphic cats and dogs, the Hundians and Felis peoples nurture hatred for each other since ancient times. They don’t even remember what started it all, but enmity has become part of their nature by this point.
However, a mysterious third power arrives, dramatically changing this long-standing war between dogs and cats. With the player controlling troops of both sides in tactical warfare, we expect it to offer a cute-looking experience and a serious take on the subject of the rivalry between the two popular pet options.
Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles (August 29 | PC, PS5, Switch)
Nippon Ichi Software may be more well-known for the Disgaea franchise, but they had one unique RPG series that preceded it: Marl Kingdom. With inspiration from fairy tales and musicals, the franchise started with Rhapsody on the PS1 and explored the dynamics of young girls’ dreams and wishes into a full-fledged whacky JRPG journey. Its sequels were only released in Japan, but NISA is finally bringing them over with Rhapsody: Marl Kingdom Chronicles.
Rhapsody II: Ballad of the Little Princess tells the story of the Tomboy Princess Kururu, the daughter of Cornet, the heroine of the first game. Just like Cornet, she just can’t sit still and decides that instead of sitting on her thumbs, she has to go out there and look for her prince.
Meanwhile, Rhapsody III: Memories of Marl Kingdom offers a conclusion to the series with interconnecting chapters that happen in between the events of the previous two games. As the player controls Cornet, Kururu, and various other characters, their true love story escalates to its final destination.
Sea of Stars (August 29 | PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Series X, Switch, PC)
Ok, this one might be cheating a little but hear us out. Sea of Stars may be developed by a Canadian team, but we all know its essence is deeply rooted in Japanese goodness. JRPG is its DNA, no matter how you slice it, with visible influences from Chrono Trigger and other classics of the genre, even if it is not made in Japan.
Sea of Stars is a turn-based RPG in which the player is rewarded for pressing the buttons according to the battle animations as well as exploiting enemy weaknesses with combos skills and the locks system. Seamless navigation through the world is a highlight with exploration that promises an alluring journey through a charismatic 2D pixel-art paradise.
Rune Factory 3 Special (September 5 | PC, Switch)
Six months after the original Japanese release, Rune Factory 3 is finally coming to modern platforms in the West. Set in an idyllic fantasy town, Rune Factory 3 Special has players recover the memories of Micah, a young adventurer who’s also secretly a monster.
Compared to the DS version, this remaster of Rune Factory 3 adds new story segments with Newlywed Mode and Another Story, as well as a more challenging Hell difficulty for players who thought the original was too easy.
Monochrome Mobius (September 5 | PS4, PS5)
Monochrome Mobius is a Utawarerumono spin-off focused on the past of the character Oshtor. As he meets a mysterious girl, he gets a shocking revelation that his father may still be alive in a distant land called Arva Shulan, which he has never heard of before. This encounter sets him on a journey bound to reveal hidden truths he would never imagine.
Unlike the Utawarerumono main games, which offer tactical combat, Monochrome Mobius is a turn-based RPG with a concentric oval timeline. Stunning enemies and ascending your characters to the internal layers of the turn order are important strategies to succeed in combat. The game was originally released on PC last year, and the PlayStation port is a good opportunity for those who haven’t played it yet to dive once again into the world of sung legends.
The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails (Sept 19 | PS4, Switch, PC)
The Legend of Nayuta is a Trails spin-off that was originally released on the PSP. Though the game carries the name of Falcom’s turn-based JRPG series, this action RPG is heavily inspired by other titles of the developer in its gameplay, such as Zwei. The story connections are also pretty much unsubstantiated small nods, making it an easy entry for anyone who just wants a good game to enjoy instead of having to play a dozen games before getting to the latest release.
The game follows a boy called Nayuta Herschel, who dreams of going beyond the horizon to explore new areas. Though he spent his time mostly stargazing, one day, he meets a fairy and sets on an adventure with his friends to deal with a vile conspiracy.
