Top 5 JRPG Franchises To Try Out In 2022 [PC]

JRPGs or Japanese role-playing games have been a separate genre from normal RPGs for ages. They are usually characterized by an animation-heavy style and until very recently, by turn-based battles. In this article, we are going to showcase the top 5 JRPG franchises to try out in 2022

1. The Legend of Heroes

The Legend of Heroes or "Trails" is one of the more under-appreciated JRPG franchises. This is a series of 11 games, with the 12th title, Kuro no Kiseki, scheduled for release later this year.

Legends Of Cold Steel 2 — The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel 2

The Trails series' main draw is its epic story of good vs evil, politics, conspiracy, with characters from all the games being part of an interconnected universe. The games are divided into four main arcs, with the third one, Trails of Cold Steel, being the most modern and accessible title. Gameplay-wise, the Trails series has the turn-based RPG classic, with a number of extra mechanics like combo or team effect.

2. Final Fantasy

Final Fantasy has come to the modern era with Final Fantasy XV. They have ditched the turn based combat in favor of a more action packed gameplay style, with the recent Final Fantasy VII Remake having exploration and battle mechanics both take place in real-time.

Overall, this is the perfect entry point to get into the series, especially if you are not into turn based combat. There is also going to be another FF game to release this year, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.

3. Monster Hunter

In the Monster Hunter games, the player takes on the role of a Hunter, tasked with slaying or capturing large monsters. They need to utilize a variety of weapons, tools, and environmental features to damage and weaken the monsters while surviving their attacks.

Monster Hunter Rise — Monster Hunter: Rise

Upon slaying a monster, players gain loot in the form of monster parts, which can be used to forge new armors and weapons to tackle stronger monsters, which creates a gameplay loop. 2022 is the best year to get into this series, with both Monster Hunter World and Monster Hunter Rise being top tier games.

4. Tales

Tales of Arise, one of the most successful RPG releases in 2021, is part of the Tales series. This is also a long running JRPG series similar to the Trails series, however, the entries are mostly separate from each other. Except when indicated by naming, the main Tales entries are separate from each other apart from gameplay mechanics and themes.

If you want to start this series, Arise and Berseria are probably the best titles to pick up.

5. Yakuza

Yakuza is one of the newer JRPG series to debut on PC. Currently, all the main Yakuza games are available on PC, from 0 to the latest 'Like a Dragon' (Yakuza 7). The storyline premise for each franchise installment is typically a crime drama, with plot lines inspired by yakuza films.

Yakuza Like A Dragon — Yakuza: Like A Dragon

The gameplay of Yakuza is fairly easy to get into. The franchise incorporates elements of the beat 'em up, action-adventure, open world, turn-based strategy and action role-playing genres.