Traditional JRPGs have had something of a renaissance in recent years. Games like Dragon Quest XI, Ni No Kuni, Tales of Berseria, Xenoblade, Persona 5, and the upcoming Final Fantasy VII Remake have brought the genre back into favor with gamers and critics.

Prior to this, however, the genre faltered against their western equivalents with fans preferring the freedom and openness of games like The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion. The dwindling interest in traditional JRPGs could have been down to the genre not moving with the times.

This meant that the genre had fallen into something of niche category among gamers which continues to this day. As a result, many critics that reviewed JRPGs didn’t like or understand their appeal and this is reflected in many good games scoring low on Metacritic. Let’s take a look at 10 JRPGs that are better than their Metascore.

10 Star Ocean: Integrity And Faithlessness (Metascore 58)

Released for the PlayStation 4 in 2016, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness is the fifth game in the series developed by tri-Ace. The game’s timeline is set between the second and third entries in the series although it is a standalone game in terms of its story.

It seems the main reason for Integrity and Faithlessness’ low scores seem to stem from technical issues. While these are warranted to a degree, the fifth Star Ocean game is still a very entertaining old school JRPG. It doesn’t try to reinvent the wheel, but the series’ combat is fantastic and light years ahead of most games in the genre and there’s an enjoyable story that’s arguably better than its predecessor.

9 Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell Of Ar Ciel (Metascore 61)

Ar Tonelico Qoga: Knell of Ar Ciel was released on the PlayStation 3 in 2011 and was the third entry in the Ar Tonelico RPG series. While it doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors on the PlayStation 2 the game’s story and character development is in a league of its own.

The combat system is very similar to the real-time fighting seen in the Star Ocean and Tales of series. There are some questionable mechanics that require the player to remove parts of their Reyvtail’s clothes to increase their power but those willing to look past these quirks should definitely give Ar Tonelico Qoga a chance.

8 Eternal Poison (Metascore 65)

Eternal Poison was released for the PlayStation 2 in 2008. It was developed by the now-defunct Flight Plan who were best known for their Summon Night series and published by Atlus. It’s a tactical RPG that borrows heavily from the Fire Emblem series and adds its own Gothic horror twist on the genre.

The game’s story features multiple paths and multiple but unique perspectives with twists and turns that develop the world of Eternal Poison even further. In addition, the combat is very challenging and like Fire Emblem features a permadeath mechanic. It has since become a cult hit among JRPG fans with a brand new copy of the game selling for well over $200 on eBay.

7 The Last Remnant (Metascore 66)

The Last Remnant was first released on the Xbox 360 in 2008. It was then remastered for the PlayStation 4 and the Nintendo Switch in 2018 and 2019 respectively. The graphics engine received an upgrade from the Unreal Engine 3 to the Unreal Engine 4.

As a result of the remaster, The Last Remnant is a significant improvement over the original. All of the framerate issues of the original are gone and lighting and textures look so much better. There’s a steep learning curve, but fans of Square-Enix’s SaGa series will be right at home. In addition, The Last Remnant’s world is a detailed one that is reminiscent of Final Fantasy XII and is accompanied by a fantastic musical score.

6 Nier (Metascore 68)

Released for the PlayStation 3 and the Xbox 360 in 2010, Nier is an action RPG spin-off of the Drakengard series. It combines several different genres into one game going from a hack-and-slash action game, a 2D side-scrolling platformer, a top-down shooter, and more.

Unfortunately, not all of this works perfectly, but Nier has gained a cult following because is it better than the sum of its parts. Nier’s story is still one of the best in gaming and the soundtrack is amazing beyond words. Its sequel Nier: Automata was released in 2017, retaining everything that fans loved about the original only the gameplay was handled by the masters of the action genre PlatinumGames.

5 Suikoden Tactics (Metascore 68)

Released for the PlayStation 2 in 2005, Suikoden Tactics is a tactical turn-based RPG spin-off of the Suikoden series. It was released to help expand the story and events that surrounded Suikoden IV. It’s narrative functions as both a prequel and a sequel to Suikoden IV with returning characters and locations.

Played as a standalone title, Suikoden Tactics isn’t very appealing but as an expansion to Suikoden IV, it is essential for fans. Its gameplay is far more simplistic than Final Fantasy: Tactics but its battle system is more accessible and engaging to newcomers to the genre as a result.

4 Infinite Undiscovery (Metascore 68)

Infinite Undiscovery was released exclusively for the Xbox 360 in 2008 as part of Microsoft’s move to make the console more appealing to Japanese consumers. It was developed by tri-Ace the creators of the Star Ocean series.

The story while full of JRPG cliches provides a fun adventure to keep players entertained from start to finish. The combat system, like Star Ocean, is in real-time and just like that series is one of the best in the genre. Additionally, a version of Star Ocean’s excellent item creation mechanic makes an appearance in Infinite Undiscovery allowing players to create their own equipment.

3 Magna Carta 2 (Metascore 69)

Released exclusively for the Xbox 360 in 2009, Magna Carta 2 was co-produced by the South Korean studio Softmax and the Japanese studio Bandai Namco. It’s a traditional JRPG that implements a surprisingly accessible yet deep and engaging real-time combat system.

The early stages of Magna Carta 2’s story may seem cliché but those that actually stick with it will find a story transcends expectations. The game’s narrative is full of twists and turns and it’s overarching narrative places an emphasis on war and its effects on relationships.

2 Tales Of Zesteria (Metascore 72)

Tales of Zesteria was released on the PlayStation 4 in 2015. It is generally regarded as one of the lowest-scoring games in the series. It doesn’t quite reach the heights of its predecessors like Tales of Symphonia and Tales of Vesperia but it’s a good JRPG deserving of the Tales name.

Its story is typical of a chosen hero with a destiny to save the world but its King Arthur-inspired themes are sure to entertain fans of fantasy and adventure stories. The real-time combat system will be familiar to fans of the series and the world is more open than its predecessors. Furthermore, Zesteria has significant connections to the excellent prequel Tales of Berseria released in 2017.

1 Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (Metascore 72)

Released as part of the Fabula Nova Crystallis series Final Fantasy Type-0 HD in 2015. It is a remaster of the PSP original that was previously only available in Japan. Despite the massive undertaking of upscaling PSP game to the PlayStation 4 and the Xbox One Type-0 HD is still good looking title with only a few blocky textures.

However, it Type-0’s dark and bloody tale of war and the sacrifice of youth that makes stand apart from other Final Fantasy titles. Players will need to consult the in-game compendium to get a true understanding of the lore but it will be worth it for JRPG fans that like a deep story.

NEXT: 10 Overlooked Games Of The PlayStation 4/Xbox One Generation