The Best JRPGs On PS5

JRPG is a subgenre of RPG. The J in JRPG stands for Japanese RPG. While the mention of the country of origin does not seem to make that big of a difference on paper, several changes set JRPGs apart from standard RPGs, especially the new JRPGs on PS5.

In comparison to RPGs, JRPGs are prominently more focused on story rather than gameplay. Another difference is the reliance of JRPGs on dice rolls and numbers as opposed to contribution by the player. JRPGs are also significantly longer running compared to RPGs, and usually feature the traditional unique anime-esque art style that so many people seem to know and love.

Today, we’ll be comparing some of the best JRPGs on PS5  to make a list of the five best ones.

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#5: Tales Of Arise

Tales Of Arise is an action JRPG and the 17th installment in the Tales series. The game was released globally on September 10, 2021, for the PlayStation 5. The game is published and developed by Bandai Namco Entertainment and is built using Unreal Engine 4. The game was highly successful, received mainly positive reviews from critics, and was also awarded the Best RPG award at The Game Awards 2021.

The gameplay of Tales of Arise has been significantly altered compared to the earlier installments in the series. Mainly with the introduction of the Linear Motion Battle System, which focuses primarily on eluding and countering. Another deviation from the past titles is the removal of the multiplayer feature. However, a new feature was introduced in Tales Of Arise, called “Boost Strike”, which allowed multiple members of the party to perform simultaneous attacks under certain conditions.

#4: Elden Ring

Elden Ring is a JRPG on PS5 that was released on February 25, 2022. The game was developed by FromSoftware and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. In addition,  fantasy writer George R. R. Martin provided great insight into the epic world-building.

The players can venture into the dynamic open world filled with interesting characters and quests to find and complete. Elden Ring also has the trademark FromSoftware difficulty, as there are several extremely challenging bosses players have to fight and defeat to complete the game. All these factors combined are why Elden Right was crowned the Game Of The Year of 2022. In light of this success, the developers announced the Shadow Of Erdtree DLC in 2023, and it is expected to be released in 2024.

#3: Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth is a Japanese role-playing game and the ninth installment in the Like A Dragon series. The game was developed by Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio and published by Sega. It was released on January 26, 2024, for the PS5 and received mainly favorable reviews from critics.

Infinite Wealth features the franchise’s first-ever international location, Hawaii, and brings back Ichiban Kasuga and Kazuma Kiryu, the protagonists of the previous titles. Similar to the seventh chronological entry in the series, the new turn-based combat makes a return. However, the players have the ability to change the combat back to its brawler roots by using an ability unique to Kiryu.

The story of this game is more intimate than most previous games in the series, as the protagonist Kiryu struggles with the news that he has cancer. On the other hand, the other main protagonist Ichiban tries to locate his biological mother, who abandoned him at birth.

#2: Persona 5: Royal

Persona 5 is a JRPG and the sixth chapter of the Persona series. The game was released in 2022 for the PlayStation 5 and was developed by P-Studio and published by Atlus. Persona 5 has been acclaimed as one of the best RPG games of all time, has won several awards, and had sales of over 7.2 million units by 2023.

You play as a male high school student in Persona 5, living out a single year while attending school in modern-day Tokyo after being forced to leave your hometown after a corrupt politician framed you for something you didn’t do. The gameplay changes in accordance with the in-game weather and the time of day, similar to a simulation game. 

The dungeon crawling segments lead to combat and during battle attacking an enemy’s weakness deals more damage than other attacks. A critical hit bonus grants a special attack feature called All Out Attack. This allows simultaneous attacks by all party members and greater damage to the enemy.

#1: Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is an action JRPG on PS5 and the 16th chapter in the Final Fantasy series. The game was released on June 22, 2023, for the PlayStation 5. The franchise was created by Hironobu Sakaguchi and the game was developed and published by Square Enix. 

The production and promotion of Final Fantasy XVI were greatly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic but the game received massive praise by critics for the gameplay, story, music, and graphics. There was some criticism regarding the limited role-playing aspect and technical issues. However, three million units of the game were sold after launch.

Final Fantasy XVI is set in the twin continents of Valisthea, which is divided into six nations. They are ruled through the use of magical Crystals and Dominants, human hosts that become vessels of each nation’s Eikon. Similar to the previous chapters, Final Fantasy XVI has a heavy focus on the story and a combat system based on magics and melee attacks. 

This brings to an end our list of the five best JRPGs on PS5. Are you in agreement with the rankings or do you think a game needs to be ranked higher? Do share your thoughts in the comments below and we’ll definitely consider your opinion. Meanwhile, check out our Top 10 Best Fortnite Superhero Skins (Ranked).