The 19 Best JRPGs of the 2010s

A decade where the genre hit its modern stride, from blockbuster heavy-hitters to cult favorites only devoted fans rave about. Which one earns the crown?

1

Kingdom Hearts III

A 2019 action RPG uniting Disney worlds and Final Fantasy roots in a long-awaited finale.

1000pts

2

Persona 5

A stylish 2016 Atlus RPG about phantom thieves balancing high-school life with dungeon-crawling heists.

999pts

3

NieR: Automata

A 2017 action RPG by PlatinumGames following androids in a haunting post-apocalyptic war against machines.

999pts

4

Fire Emblem: Awakening

A 2012 3DS tactical RPG credited with reviving the strategy franchise for a global audience.

933pts

5

Persona 4 Golden

A 2012 Vita re-release of the murder-mystery RPG blending social sim with TV-world dungeons.

888pts

6

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel

A 2013 Falcom RPG set in a military academy amid political turmoil in the Erebonian Empire.

837pts

7

Dragon Quest XI

A 2017 entry in the classic franchise praised as one of its finest traditional turn-based adventures.

837pts

8

Final Fantasy XIV: A Realm Reborn

The 2013 relaunch that transformed Square Enix's MMORPG into a beloved genre staple.

777pts

9

Bravely Default

A 2012 3DS RPG reviving classic job systems with its signature Brave and Default combat twist.

777pts

10

Octopath Traveler

A 2018 HD-2D RPG weaving eight travelers' stories with a retro-modern visual style.

706pts

11

Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch

A 2011 Level-5 RPG with Studio Ghibli animation about a boy journeying to a magical world.

706pts

12

Final Fantasy XV

A 2016 action RPG following Prince Noctis and friends on a sprawling road-trip across Eos.

706pts

13

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

A 2019 Switch tactical RPG splitting war and academy life across three rival nations.

706pts

14

Tales of Berseria

A 2016 action RPG following a vengeance-driven heroine in a darker entry of the Tales series.

621pts

15

Pokemon Black and White

A 2010 DS RPG introducing the Unova region with an all-new generation of creatures.

621pts

16

Xenoblade Chronicles 2

A 2017 Switch RPG following a salvager and his living-weapon Blade across a world atop titanic beasts.

621pts

17

Xenoblade Chronicles

A 2010 open-world Monolith Soft RPG set across the bodies of two colossal slumbering titans.

518pts

18

Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana

A 2016 fast-paced action RPG stranding adventurer Adol on a mysterious cursed island.

518pts

19

Shin Megami Tensei IV

A 2013 3DS RPG plunging samurai into a demon-haunted post-apocalyptic Tokyo.

518pts