8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (2025)

JRPG

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (1)

By Murillo Zerbinatto

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8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (2)

When Japan began developing its own RPGs, developers like Yuji Horii, the father of Dragon Quest, aimed to create something more accessible for players.

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Dragon Quest was inspired by Wizardry and Ultima but didn't include fully customizable characters, countless attributes, large parties, and branching narratives.

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This streamlined approach, combined with inherently Japanese characteristics like anime-inspired art styles, dramatic storytelling, and a focus on character development, earned these games the title of JRPGs.

As JRPGs gained popularity, other games began paying tribute to them. Many developers sought to create their own interpretation of JRPGs, even if they weren't Japanese.

We've decided to highlight the best JRPGs not made in Japan that could easily pass as works of the old-school Japanese RPG wizards.

8 Earthlock

The Festival of Magic

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (4)

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Earthlock is a humble indie game by Norwegian studio Snowcastle Games. Its story takes place in a world where the planet has stopped spinning, causing weather cataclysms across various regions—some are scorched by constant sunlight, while others are frozen in perpetual darkness.

Snowcastle draws inspiration from classic Squaresoft games featuring turn-based combat. Each party member fights in pairs, altering their abilities and taking two different stances. Amon, for example, can switch between ranged and melee attacks, each with distinct advantages against certain enemies.

On the right-hand side of the screen, a timeline displays the combat order, helping players strategize. Earthlock is an unambitious, cozy game that delivers on its promises. The first game must have been relatively successful since Snowcastle announced Earthlock 2 in 2020.

7 Fallen Legion

A Vanillaware-esque Game

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (5)

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At a glance, Fallen Legion might seem like a Vanillaware production due to its striking visuals, but that's not true. The two games, Fallen Legion: Sins of an Empire and Fallen Legion: Flames of Rebellion, along with their compilation Rise to Glory, were developed by Indonesian studio Mintsphere.

Each game is set in the Empire of Fenumia and features a different protagonist. While not precisely masterpieces, they have their own charm. The combat resembles Valkyrie Profile, where each face button triggers an attack from a party member.

Battles feel like mini-gauntlets comprised of several stages. After each victory, players can choose buffs to strengthen their team for the next challenge.

Outside of combat, Fallen Legion plays out on a map reminiscent of tactical games, where clicking on an area triggers cutscenes, battles, or both. It isn't the most awesome game, but it scratches the itch for something new but familiar.

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6 Child of Light

The Only Child

RPG

Systems

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (11) OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:83/100 Critics Recommend:80%
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch , Nintendo Wii U , PlayStation 3 , PlayStation 4 , PS Vita , Xbox One , Xbox 360 , PC , Stadia

Released
April 30, 2014

Developer(s)
Ubisoft Montreal
Publisher(s)
Ubisoft
Multiplayer
Local Multiplayer , Online Multiplayer

Engine
UbiArt Framework

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco

How Long To Beat
11 Hours

PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

Ubisoft Montreal's Child of Light has more in common with JRPGs than Western RPGs. In this artistic game, players follow Aurora, who dies in her sleep and awakens in the world of Lemuria, where she must restore light to the land to return home.

Child of Light is steeped in artistry. Its narrative is almost entirely in rhyme, which might be a gripe for some players. The art style draws inspiration from historical illustrators and even Yoshitaka Amano, renowned for designing Final Fantasy logos and several of the series' characters and monsters.

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The combat uses an active turn-based system similar to Grandia, where a timeline determines action order. Depending on the commands chosen, players can interrupt or cancel enemy turns. Only two party members participate in battles, making the encounters more streamlined and strategic. Child of Light is deemed one of the best PS3 RPG.

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5 The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age

The Fellowship Of The Final Fantasy

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (13)

RPG

Systems

Platform(s)
Nintendo Game Boy Advance , GameCube , PS2 , Xbox (Original) , Xbox 360

Released
November 2, 2004

Developer(s)
EA Redwood Shores
Publisher(s)
EA

Engine
Unreal Engine

ESRB
t

How Long To Beat
22 Hours

Who would have thought Electronic Arts would practically copy Final Fantasy X's blueprint to create a The Lord of the Rings game? That's what happened with The Lord of the Rings: The Third Age.

The combat plays out nearly identically to Final Fantasy X's Conditional Turn-Based Battle system. A queue displays the order of combatants, and this order can be altered using abilities that speed up allies or stun and slow down enemies. Each party member has unique specialties and learns new abilities through leveling up or equipping Elf Stones.

The game's protagonist is Berethor, a captain of Gondor. The story unfolds during The Lord of the Rings trilogy but is non-canonical. This creative freedom allowed the game to include epic boss fights, such as battling the Balrog alongside Gandalf.

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Berethor and his group operate behind the scenes under Gandalf's guidance to aid Frodo and the Fellowship in their quest to destroy the One Ring.

4 Battle Chasers: Nightwar

An American JRPG

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (17)

RPG

Strategy

Top-Down

Systems

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (22) OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:80/100 Critics Recommend:75%
Platform(s)
Android , iOS , Nintendo Switch , PC , PlayStation 4 , Xbox One

Released
October 3, 2017
Developer(s)
Airship Syndicate
Publisher(s)
THQ Nordic

Engine
Unity

ESRB
T For Teen // Alcohol Reference, Blood and Gore, Fantasy Violence, Mild Language, Suggestive Themes

How Long To Beat
30 Hours

PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

OpenCritic Rating
Strong

PC Release Date
October 3, 2017

Nintendo Switch Release Date
May 15, 2018

American studio Airship Syndicate developed Battle Chasers: Nightwar, an RPG based on the fantasy comic book of the same name. Unlike other games on this list, the studio never explicitly cited JRPG inspirations, though players and some pundits often label it an "American JRPG"—as odd as that might sound.

Battle Chasers: Nightwar follows a diverse cast of characters tasked with protecting Gully as they travel to the Capital Lands. When their airship is shot down, they must escape a mysterious island teeming with deadly foes.

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The game features an isometric view reminiscent of Diablo as players explore both dungeons and the world map. Dungeon difficulty can be set before entering, and layouts are procedurally generated, keeping exploration fresh.

Its turn-based combat is straightforward but introduces a few twists. Regular attacks allow party members to generate Overcharge, a surplus of mana usable only during that battle. Some abilities have a charge time, pushing the member's turn further down the timeline. Enemies operate similarly, giving players time to brace themselves before a devastating blow lands.

3 Cris Tales

Time Travel In Battle

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (23)

RPG

Systems

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (28) OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:74/100 Critics Recommend:46%
Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox One , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released
July 20, 2021
Developer(s)
Dreams Uncorporated , SYCK
Publisher(s)
Modus Games

Engine
Unity

ESRB
T For Teen due to Fantasy Violence, Mild Language

How Long To Beat
22 Hours

PS Plus Availability
Extra & Premium

Dreams Uncorporated, a Colombian studio, developed Cris Tales as a love letter to JRPGs like Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger, and Persona.

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The game's theme revolves around time travel but with a unique spin. Protagonist Crisbell can jump through time on the map and during battles, triggering various effects. For example, Crisbell can leap into the past to move objects, removing them as obstacles in the present.

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Her time-jumping ability is pivotal in combat as well. Crisbell can send enemies into the past, making them weaker, or plant a poison attack that takes effect when they're thrown into the future, dealing severe damage. This mechanic is essential for resolving some conflicts.

The entire design of Cris Tales hinges on its time-jumping system, particularly the narrative. After gaining her powers, Crisbell witnesses her home destroyed by the Empress of Time. Determined to stop the villain's empire, she sets out to master her time magic and rewrite her world's fate.

2 Chained Echoes

A Mix of JRPGs Homages

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (30)

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RPG

Systems

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (35) OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:90/100 Critics Recommend:95%
Platform(s)
PC , PS4 , PS5 , Switch , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S

Released
December 8, 2022

Developer(s)
Matthias Linda
Publisher(s)
Deck13 Interactive

Engine
Unity

ESRB
M17+ For Mature 17+ Due To Sexual Themes, Strong Language

How Long To Beat
35 Hours

OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

German solo developer Matthias Linda is the mastermind behind Chained Echoes, a turn-based indie RPG inspired by 1990s JRPG classics. Fans of games like Final Fantasy, Suikoden, and the masterpiece Chrono Trigger will find a lot to love here.

In Chained Echoes, players follow Glenn as he embarks on a mission with the Iron Bull gang. He inadvertently activates a mysterious stone during the mission, triggering a massive explosion and tragic deaths, setting the stage for the game's intricate narrative.

The story is full of twists—sometimes too many—but JRPG fans will easily recognize its influences. The game offers numerous features, including base building, giant robot battles, a class system, and robust turn-based combat.

A standout feature of the combat system is the Overdrive Gauge. During battle, actions raise or lower this gauge, and its position determines whether allies deal more damage or take more. This forces players to approach encounters strategically rather than relying on spamming basic attacks.

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1 Sea of Stars

The Best Non-Japan JRPG

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (36)

RPG

Systems

8 Best JRPGs Not Made in Japan (41) OpenCritic Reviews
Top Critic Rating:89/100 Critics Recommend:97%
Platform(s)
Nintendo Switch , PC , PlayStation 4 , PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X , Xbox Series S , Xbox One

Released
August 29, 2023

Developer(s)
Sabotage

Publisher(s)
Sabotage

Multiplayer
Local Co-Op

Engine
Unity

ESRB
E10+ For Everyone 10+ Due To Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Mild Language

How Long To Beat
28 Hours

Metascore
87

Number of Players
1-3

PS Plus Availability
N/A

OpenCritic Rating
Mighty

PC Release Date
August 29, 2023

PS5 Release Date
August 29, 2023

Xbox Series X|S Release Date
August 29, 2023

Nintendo Switch Release Date
August 29, 2023

Canadian studio Sabotage Studios created the stellar Sea of Stars, a modern RPG with the heart of a classic JRPG. According to director Thierry Boulanger, the inspirations behind Sea of Stars include Chrono Trigger, Super Mario RPG, and Illusion of Gaia, and the final result truly shines.

The story follows Solstice Warriors Valere and Zale as they embark on a lifelong mission: to defeat The Fleshmancer. Along the way, they meet a colorful cast of companions, each driven by their own motivations.

The turn-based combat introduces several creative gimmicks. Each ability includes a unique interactive element to enhance its power. Players can also use time button presses to reduce damage from enemy attacks, and party members can combine their abilities to create devastating team attacks.

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Sea of Stars' standout combat mechanic is the Lock system. When an enemy prepares an attack, lock icons appear above them, representing specific elemental types. Hitting all the required elements before the enemy's turn cancels their attack, encouraging players to carefully strategize their actions instead of mindlessly attacking.

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