Summary
Players loveJRPGs with immersive worldsthat feel detailed and believable. Given how lengthy these games are, the last thing players would want is to feel like they’re wasting their time in a world that isn’t interesting.
World-building and lore go a long way in making these worlds feel special. Players who want to make the most of the time they spend in a JRPG should make it a point to check out the best games in the genre with fleshed-out worlds.
After players get a taste of Zanarkand’s futuristic aesthetic, they’re whisked away to the world of Spira where Tidus finds himself confused and out of his depth. This makes him the perfect protagonist to learn about the history of Spira as he slowly acclimatizes to the world and its traditions.
Spira is a rich and diverse world that feels exciting to explore as players embark on an epic journey. The game’s dark themes never feel overbearing, especially since Spira itself is brimming with so much charm that fans can’t help but lose themselves in this massive landscape as they find out everything there is to know about this captivating world.
The Legend of Heroesseriesfeatures some compelling sagas that players can get invested in, with many people consideringTrails in the Skyto be the most charming of the lot. All three games in the series are worth checking out as players get invested in an epic story.
What makes the world ofTrails in the Skyso engrossing stems from how alive its world feels. The way orbments aid day-to-day life is clear as day, with every NPC having a mini-arc of their own that can be enjoyed if players make it a priority to speak to characters after every major story event.
Xenogearsis one of the most ambitious JRPGs on the PS1, and it’s a shame that poor management prevented this title from enjoying the success it deserved. The game’s worldbuilding and lore is in a class of its own, but the second half of the game is such a slog that key details may be missed out on.
Everything from politics to religion is explained in great detail to make the world ofXenogearsstand out. It helps that the combat is engaging enough for players to remain entertained as they learn more about the engrossing world thatXenogearsis set in.
Yakuza: Like a Dragonwas already at an advantage when this long-running series decided to transform their mainline series into a JRPG. The history of the series is rich with many details thatmakeLike a Dragoncompellingfor both newcomers and long-time fans.
The new setting of Isezaki Ijincho helps new players get invested in this title with ease as they slowly uncover the world of theYakuzaand its twisted elements. Ichiban may seem like a loser early on, but he manages to redeem himself in the eyes of players while slowly learning about everything that happened in the underworld while he was in the clink.
Some games end up featuring so much lore that the simple act of following a scene becomes confusing because of the words being thrown out. This makes reading up on the established lore a must forFinal Fantasy 13players if they don’t want to be confused.
It’s a clumsy way to handle the plot but shows just how much effort was put into makingFinal Fantasy 13’s world feel as authentic as possible. If players had the patience, they wouldn’t find it challenging to get invested in a unique world that is jam-packed with details.
Fans ofthePersonaserieswill feel right at home withMetaphor: ReFantaziodespite the change of setting from modern reality to full-blown high fantasy. The slow introduction of Atlus' fantasy RPG helps establish the elements of the world before sending players on a grand adventure to gain as much approval as possible in the United Kingdom of Euchronia.
It helps thatMetaphor’s world is so detailed and engaging that players will have no problems getting invested in this world. Every piece of lore feels like a reward as players understand how this fantasy world works, making for a delightful experience.
Pretty mucheveryXenoblade Chroniclesgameis full to the brim with incredible worldbuilding and lore details. The third game is no exception here, with the nations of Neves and Agnus locked in a never-ending war.
To make things worse, the people fighting in this war have ten-year lifespans, further adding to the mystery. Seeing the familiar regions of Bionis and Alrest from the first two games merge to form Aionios makes this open world feel engaging as is, enhancing its history as returningXenobladeplayers discover everything possible surrounding this game’s lore and how these events came to pass.
TheSuikodengamesinvolve massive wars between warring nations that are full to the brim with a ton of history for players to uncover.Suikoden 2is no exception here, with many people considering this title to be the very best in the series because of how it executes the formula.
Ensuring that the City-States of Jowston don’t fall to the Highland invasion generates a ton of intrigue surrounding the world and its history. This lore is just one of the many elements that helpSuikoden 2feel like a rich and rewarding JRPG that players can spend a ton of time in with ease.
