In many ways, the JRPG genre is built almost entirely on the tropes and clichés it defines. Thanks so much for being so fluid with those threads, sometimes it feels like we go years without seeing an old JRPG cliché come back to life.
As for the amnesiac hero, it’s kind of a trope that had its time in the sun. It defined a large number of 1990s JRPGs, and continued into the 2000s. It’s certainly still going on today, but it feels very rare.
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The prospect of a hero with no memory of his past life, including how that affects his current journey, has powered some of the most important JRPGs over the years. In the games I don’t use it, however, it stands out from the crowd. Some of them are also strong contenders for the best the breed has ever seen.
8
Super Mario RPG
A Timeless Classic
Although he explores some unfamiliar territory, Mario’s first RPG adventure clearly avoids the amnesiac trope. Super Mario RPG sees a funny plumber from Brooklyn on a big adventure, recruiting friends like Peaches and newcomer Geno to the party.
Mario shows no sign of amnesia at all, having a clear head about each person he meets. It would be weird to give Mario amnesia anyway, but Super Mario RPG steers clear from the trope.
Super Mario RPG is also a great game. Its quirky, understated humor and quirky writing are incredibly endearing. That sense of style and eccentricity would pave the way for other Mario RPGs to follow the same pattern.
7
Triangle Strategy
The Best HD-2D Game
While I understand the potential fatigue with Square’s HD-2D art style, I find myself eagerly anticipating what they will do next with it. Back in 2022, Square released what I feel is still the best HD-2D game in Triangle Strategy.
With its clever combination of strategy-based gameplay, a richly detailed fantasy world and amazing characters, Triangle Strategy is a great experience. And it rather handily avoids the amnesiac hero trope.
Serenoa Wolffort is a stubborn, stubborn leader, faced with rumors of betrayal and an attempt to prevent an all-out war. He feels like a classic JRPG hero in that he’s brave, passionate and a little stubborn in cool ways.
6
The sky of Arcadia
Wow, Mateys!
In all the years since Skies of Arcadia was released, I’ve tried, and failed, to find a game that creates the same feeling it does. It’s been over twenty years, and I still get to play a JRPG with the same sense of wonder that this game can evoke.
It’s one of those games where, if you’re a fan, you’re probably a big fan. No other level of fandom will do, as Skies of Arcadia is a game that can define your personality for decades.
The lead character of Vyse also has absolutely no signs of amnesia. He’s a focused, straight-forward JRPG hero that I can easily rank up there with the best in the genre.
5
Valkyria Chronicles
A JRPG Like No Other
For the past fifteen years or so, I’ve tried to get everyone I know to play Valkyria Chronicles. It’s the kind of game that most people think they understand, but you can’t really understand how good it is until you play it. From the outside, it looks like a typical JRPG strategy, but it’s much more interesting than that.
I love how satisfying combat and encounters are in Valkyira Chronicles. Most games that use this style of combat feel untouched, but the actual action of firing a gun or maneuvering a tank feels incredibly tactile and heavy.
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Both of the main characters of Valkyria Chronicles, Welkin and Alicia, are great. Their relationship forms the core of the game’s story, and I love them both. The story and characters of Valkyria Chronicles are some of the best I’ve ever seen in a JRPG.
4
Final dream 13
Lightning Strikes Three Times
If any JRPG franchise has a solid track record with amnesiac protagonists, it’s Final Fantasy. Characters like Cloud, Squall and Terra are shaped by their amnesia, but Square has also done its best to avoid the trope.
The game that did that best is Final Fantasy 13. Lightning is as clear-headed as one can get, and the way he reacts to his surroundings to transition from passive to active, is fantastic.
Final Fantasy 13 has a pretty bad reputation, but I’ve always loved the game. The combat is very good, and despite the line at the beginning, it is really amazing when it opens.
3
Yakuza: Like a dragon
We are JRPG Now
It’s still amazing to me that Sega decided to make the best Yakuza game into a JRPG, and then decided that this is what the franchise is now. It was clearly a smart decision, as Yakuza: Like a Dragon shipped over two million units, and helped make the business a household name.
Like Dragon has taken a strong influence from the original genre like Dragon Quest, and wears those influences on its sleeve. It’s honestly amazing that their first attempt at turning the franchise into a JRPG was as good as it was, and subsequent Yakuza games will follow suit.
It also introduces a new character, with former Ichiban Kasuga taking over from former main character Kazuma Kiryu. Ichiban is such a joy, and remains one of the franchise’s most beloved heroes.
2
Chrono Trigger
One of the Great
No JRPG discussion is complete until Chrono Trigger is delivered. It is one of the most influential video games of all time, surpassing the JRPG mark in every way. Indie developers have been drawing inspiration from Chrono Trigger for forever now.
It has some of the most exciting combat in the genre, and the speed at which it appears is still impressive today. The combat and action feel energetic, and there aren’t many JRPGs of this era that have as much spark as this one.
Chrono himself is the main character. Among the JRPG heroes of the ’90s, Chrono feels like the most classic example. He is a young man on the brink of fate, and faces the forces of evil with a brave face.
1
Dragon Quest 11: Echoes of a Dark Age
An Old Favorite
Dragon Quest 11 was one of those special games that made me feel like I was reliving a long-gone part of my childhood. Spending hours and hours exploring the vast world of fantasy becomes difficult as you get older, but Dragon Quest 11 was the kind of game that takes its time.
The hero of Dragon Quest 11 also feels like going back. He is not oppressed by trauma or grief, just a young man who is given the task of growing up before his time. There are no signs of amnesia here, even if team member Erik struggles with it a bit early in the game.
As it always does, Dragon Quest makes the old ways feel revolutionary. It has a traditional turn-based combat system, but there’s something about the flow and speed of combat that’s just intoxicating. There is no better time than now to jump into this timeless masterpiece.
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