Best JRPGs on PS5 show just how diverse the genre can be. Some games focus on emotional stories, others on strategic combat, and some on pure spectacle. If you want a modern blockbuster, start with Final Fantasy VII Rebirth. If you prefer emotional depth, try Persona 3 Reload. And if classic turn-based charm is your thing, Dragon Quest XI S or Final Fantasy IX are excellent choices.

Best JRPGs on PS5 You Must Play.

Japanese role-playing games (JRPGs) have long ceased to be a niche genre for anime fans and turn-based combat enthusiasts. Today, JRPGs offer vast open worlds, complex storytelling, and deep combat systems. PlayStation 5 offers a wide selection of games in this genre, including new AAA hits with huge budgets, remakes of classics, and titles inspired by legendary JRPGs from the 1990s.

I’ve rounded up the best JRPGs for PS5, from sprawling fantasy adventures to sci-fi thrillers and stories about schoolchildren saving the world between classes.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth.

Final Fantasy VII Rebirth is one of the most expansive Japanese RPGs for PlayStation 5. This is the second installment of the remake of the iconic Final Fantasy VII, in which Cloud and his companions leave Midgar and set out to explore a vast world. Their adventure could take you over 100 hours!

Dynamic real-time combat combines with the ability to issue tactical commands. You can also switch between characters, use magic, and perform powerful team attacks. However, Rebirth doesn’t become a typical action game. Choosing your abilities, selecting your equipment, and exploiting your enemies’ weaknesses still play a significant role.

The side quests, minigames, and world itself deserve special attention. You’ll explore deserts, forests, coastlines, and ancient ruins, all set to enchanting music and stunning graphics.

• Why you should play: for the spectacular battles, interesting storyline, colorful characters, and the scale of the world.

Personally, I didn’t notice how, instead of focusing on the story, I found myself stuck for dozens of hours playing minigames and exploring the coastlines. The boss fight left a lasting impression on me, as I had to juggle characters, issue commands at the right time, and be mindful of weaknesses.

Persona 5 Royal

Persona 5 Royal is a great choice for those who want to not only save the world but also live the entire virtual life of a Japanese high school student. During the day, the protagonist studies, hangs out with friends, and works part-time. At night, he and his team of Phantom Thieves infiltrate supernatural palaces to change the hearts of criminals. It sounds weird, but the reality is even cooler.

The gameplay is divided into two parts. The first is a social simulator. The second is a turn-based RPG. The relationships you spend time with determine how you develop your relationships, and therefore your combat abilities. Battles are built around exploiting enemy elemental weaknesses, cleverly swapping creatures called Personas, and sequencing your attacks.

Royal is an expanded version of Persona 5 with additional content, characters, and storylines. However, even without them, the game is very long, potentially taking over 100 hours to complete.

• Why you should play it : for its aesthetics, excellent soundtrack, deep characters, and unusual combination of everyday life and mystical adventure.

What struck me most was how the game forces you to plan your day: you might want to rush into a dungeon, but instead you end up leveling up your relationships with friends. It’s these little things that unexpectedly come in handy in battle.

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Metaphor: ReFantazio, created by the creators of Persona, takes familiar concepts and places them in a completely different world. It’s not set in modern Japan. Instead, it’s set in a fantasy kingdom where different nations vie for influence, and the fate of the throne becomes part of a larger political conflict.

The game’s key feature is its archetype system, which allows you to customize your heroes’ combat roles. You can create combinations of abilities, experiment with your squad composition, and tailor your tactics to specific opponents. Battles combine elements of turn-based and real-time action.

As in Persona, the calendar plays a vital role. The player must manage their time between quests, travel, and developing relationships with allies. This adds strategic depth to the adventure.

• Why you should play: If you’re looking for a challenging combat system, a unique fantasy world, and a story that explores themes of power, prejudice, and social order.

Final Fantasy XVI

Final Fantasy XVI is perfect for those who enjoy dark fantasy, large-scale battles, and Game of Thrones-inspired stories. Protagonist Clive Rosfield finds himself embroiled in a conflict of states, political intrigue, and the struggle of beings capable of changing the course of war.

Unlike the classic installments in the series, traditional turn-based combat is virtually absent. The combat system is reminiscent of a fast-paced action game like Devil May Cry. Clive combines attacks, dodges, and the abilities of Eikons—powerful beings linked to elemental forces.

The game’s highlight is its epic boss battles, which are more reminiscent of battles from spectacular blockbusters than traditional RPG combat.

• Why you should play it: If you’re looking for serious fantasy, spectacular battles, and a cinematic storytelling experience. However, fans of classic JRPGs should keep in mind that FF XVI leans more toward action.

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth

Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is an unusual JRPG where a dramatic storyline is mixed with absurd humor, and serious conflicts can alternate with searches for lost items or competitions in minigames.

The events take place in Japan and Hawaii. Ichiban Kasuga sets out to find his mother, and along the way, he encounters the legendary yakuza Kazuma Kiryu. As a result, the characters’ personal story unfolds into a sprawling adventure with numerous side quests and detective twists.

Combat here is turn-based, but quite dynamic. Characters move around the field, exploit the environment, combine attacks, and master various professions. These professions determine the available skills and allow you to change your squad’s tactics.

A separate reason to get acquainted is the amount of additional content. Here you can farm the island, fish, play arcade games, sing karaoke, explore the city, and complete dozens of completely crazy quests.

• Why you should play: for the humor, charismatic characters, varied gameplay, and a huge number of activities outside of the main story.

I didn’t expect to be so engrossed in farming and karaoke, only to return to the dramatic story with the same expression. This game constantly balances on the edge of absurdity and seriousness, and that’s what captivated me.

Persona 3 Reload

Persona 3 Reload is a modern remake of one of the most compelling entries in the Persona series. The story centers on a group of high school students who encounter a mysterious phenomenon known as the Dark Hour and explore the tower of Tartarus beyond our world.

As in Persona 5 Royal, the player must balance ordinary life with supernatural adventures. During the day, the protagonist attends classes, interacts with classmates, and develops relationships, while at night, they fight monsters.

The turn-based combat system requires you to identify your opponents’ weaknesses and use your Personas’ abilities effectively. Unlike the original, Reload features a new interface, modern graphics, and user-friendly controls.

The main difference from Persona 5 is its darker atmosphere and a more serious story about friendship, loss, and the finiteness of life.

• Why you should play it: This is an RPG with a strong emotional storyline and a well-thought-out character development system.

OCTOPATH TRAVELER II

OCTOPATH TRAVELER II is a great choice for fans of the old school. The game features an HD 2D visual style. Pixelated characters are combined with 3D environments, modern lighting, and effects.

The game features eight heroes with different personalities and goals. You can start with any character, gradually building your team, and discovering new regions of the world. Combat is turn-based. Victory depends not only on your characters’ levels but also on timing your attacks.

• Why you should play it: For the tactical combat, beautiful pixel art, and feel of a classic adventure from the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is an expanded version of the first part of the remake of the cult 1997 Japanese RPG, in which the story of Cloud Strife and his allies received a modern visual presentation and a new combat system.

The action takes place in Midgar, a vast industrial city controlled by the Shinra Corporation. The company harnesses the planet’s life energy for its own purposes. Cloud joins the resistance. But the fight against the corporation soon fades into the background, as a far more formidable enemy emerges.

The combat system combines dynamic real-time battles with tactical control of abilities, magic, and companions. The Intergrade edition includes an additional episode, “INTERmission,” starring the ninja Yuffie Kisaragi. The PS5 version also features enhanced graphics, a performance mode capable of running at up to 60 fps, and a photo mode.

• Why you should play: The game is perfect for those looking for a story-driven JRPG with memorable characters and spectacular battles. It’s also ideal for fans of the original.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is a role-playing game from French studio Sandfall Interactive, inspired by Japanese RPGs. It’s set in a dark fantasy world where the mysterious Artist regularly creates a number on a monolith, causing people of the corresponding age to disappear. An expedition team sets out to stop her, realizing that time is running out to save her.

The game’s core elements are turn-based battles with elements of active interaction. While attacking, you can perform additional actions. When defending, you must dodge and parry attacks at the right moment. This means that battles require not only careful choice of abilities but also attentiveness to your opponent’s actions. The art style, music, and dramatic story, which explores themes of loss, memory, and hope, deserve special mention.

Why you should play: The game combines a deep story with intense combat and a vibrant world.

Ultimately, the PS5 is a great choice for JRPGs: it offers plenty of big new hits, remakes of classics, and games for those who miss the legendary titles from the 1990s. Choose based on your mood: for scale, go for Rebirth, for a dose of everyday life and mysticism, try Persona, and for absurdity and adventure, try Infinite Wealth. Don’t be intimidated by long playthroughs, because that’s where these games truly shine.