There are many titles that come to the minds of fans when the topic of the bestFinal Fantasygame is brought up, but there’s one particular title that’s always unfairly excluded from this conversation —Final Fantasy VIII. The hype for this game was understandably through the roof, mainly due to the fact thatFinal Fantasy VIIsold a massive number of units on the PS1 and is still considered to be one of the best games ever released on this platform. So, it was only a given thatFinal Fantasy VIIIsimply wouldn’t be able to meet the lofty standards set by its predecessor and would be unfairly dissected by fans and critics alike. However, over time, fans have realized thatFinal Fantasy VIIIis actuallyan excellent gamein its own right thatdeserves way more praise— something that is ensured with the release of theRemasteredversion.
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For the peoplewho lovedFinal Fantasy VIIIand wish to play more JRPGs like it, here are recommendations that will definitely be worth their time.
10Parasite Eve
The graphics ofFinal Fantasy VIIIwas one of its biggest selling points, and Squaresoft used this art style in great effect across numerous games, includingParasite Eve.
Unlike the somewhat light-hearted tone ofFinal Fantasy VIII,Parasite Eveis an incredibly dark and bleak game that’s full to the brim with disturbing imagery and grotesque monsters. Gamers who wish to get into this title should be ready to deal with these unsettling images… but once they do, they’ll definitely be able to enjoy this underrated gem.
9Xenogears
Speaking of excellent titles by Squaresoft, it would be impossible to not mention the masterpiece that isXenogears. This mecha-JRPG is everything one could ask for when it came to merging these two genres.
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It’s a shame that the second half ofXenogearsturned into a visual novel with intermittent dungeon exploration and boss battles since the game was truly on track to become the greatest JRPG Squaresoft had ever made by the time the first disc was done with all its content.
8Shadow Hearts
A JRPG series that most people don’t know about — which is quite a shame indeed —Shadow Heartsis a trilogy of Lovecraftian JRPGs that one should definitely check out, especially if they loved Squall’s character development acrossFinal Fantasy VIII.
The lack of any conversation aroundShadow Heartsis quite disheartening indeed since these games are genuinely excellent JRPGs in their own right.
7The Legend Of Heroes: Trails In The Sky
The Legend of Heroesis considered by many to be one of the most underrated JRPG franchises around, and one need only take a look at the sheer quality of theirTrails in the SkyandTrails of Cold Steelstory arcs to understand why this is the case.
While the latter of the two may have more modern nuances, it’sTrails in the Skythat slightly edges out its counterpart by telling an amazing story that will surely tug at the heartstrings of even the most stoic of individuals.
6Octopath Traveler
For people who wish to enjoy the good old days whenFinal Fantasygames — and most other JRPGs, for that matter — functioned on a 2D plane,Octopath Traveleris the definitive title for them to try out.
The 2.5D art style is truly breathtaking, and it certainly helps that the story, characters, music, combat, and boss battles are the stuff of legends. Any player who enjoys some good old-fashioned JRPG goodness will definitely enjoyOctopath Traveler.
5Chrono Cross
The graphical upgrade ofFinal Fantasy VIIIwas truly breathtaking for its time, which is what makesChrono Crosssuch an easy recommendation in this regard — it definitely looks similar toFinal Fantasy VIIIin a myriad of ways.
Of course, it’s not likeChrono Crosscan only be recommended because of its graphics — the gameplay, story, and characters (of which there are a ton) are also standouts in their own right. That being said, it would be impossible to talk aboutChrono Crosswithout mentioninganother legendary game in the series…
4Chrono Trigger
Pretty much every person even remotely familiar with JRPGs has heard the wordChrono Triggerat some point. After all, the fact of the matter is thatthis legendary JRPGis widely considered to be the finest representative of its genre, if not one of the greatest games ever made.
Any self-respecting JRPG fan worth their salt should definitely playChrono Triggeras soon as possible if they haven’t already — the game isan absolute gem of a titlethat simply cannot be ignored.
3Kingdom Hearts II
TheKingdom Heartsseries might’ve had a ton of mixed reception over time, but there’s no denying the fact that Kingdom Hearts II was an undeniable high point for the series.
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Everything from the combat to the story had been refined to a T inKingdom Hearts II, enabling an experience that is enjoyable and memorable in every manner possible.
2Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
TheShin Megami Tenseiseries is notorious for being one of the harder JRPG series out there, and there’s no better way to experience these digital hardships than throughShin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne.
The fact that this game is notorious for being extremely challenging yet was the first candidate from the franchise to receive an HD Remaster is a testament to just how belovedNocturnereally is.
1Persona 4 Golden
WhilePersona 5 Royalmay be one of the more accessible titles in the series, most series veterans will agree with the fact thatPersona 4is a better package due to its superior story and characters — both of which are the beating heart of allPersonagames.
Persona 4 Goldenis an excellent package that improves upon the base game while adding a fair share of content to the mix as well. It’s an excellent title that no one should miss out on, regardless of whether they’re a JRPG fan or not.
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