Of all the genres, JRPGs are some of the most hotly anticipated upcoming games each year, and 2023 is no different. Filled with epic stories, invigorating combat, and over-the-top designs, role-playing games inspired by the classics of the Japanese market are typically a safe bet when you’re looking for titles to sink your teeth into.
In terms of JRPGs, 2023 is looking incredibly varied. From stunningly crafted AAA masterpieces to highly experimental indie games, there’s no shortage of options for every taste.
Platforms: PS5
Release Date: June 22, 2023
The summer of 2023 will play host to a brand-new mainline game of one of the greatest JRPG series of all time. Final Fantasy XVI will arrive just a touch under 7 years after its road trip-based predecessor with the promise of something truly different.
The latest installment in the beloved franchise will also be its darkest yet. FFXVI takes place in Valisthea, a medieval-inspired land stricken by a horrible darkness known as the Blight. The title’s protagonist will be an unlikely hero who’ll have to overcome challenges to rid the land of this threat while seeking revenge. If you haven’t already realized, this is going to be Final Fantasy’s most mature story and world to date.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 2023
Big-budget studios may have left turn-based combat in JRPGs behind but indie studios are picking up the slack. Such is the case with the upcoming game Sea of Stars by studio Sabotage. This retro-style top-down adventure is inspired by the legendary Chrono Trigger and has music composed by Yasunori Matsuda of both Chrono and Xeno series fame.
Sea of Stars features meticulously modernized 16-bit-inspired graphics with some incredibly fluid animations. Its combat system promises exciting and deep turn-based mechanics that encourage experimentation. Finally, the game will feature a story that’ll surely fill you and other fans with the same wonder JRPGs had in the good old days.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Release Date: January 12, 2023
Prepare to become the Pirate King in a legendary anime’s first foray into the world of JRPGs. In One Piece Odyssey, you’ll go on an all-new adventure with the Straw Hat pirates. Luffy and his crew find themselves shipwrecked on a mysterious island that makes them relive their memories from the places they visited along their journey.
The game’s combat is turn-based with a unique twist. The devs call its core mechanics “Scramble Area Battles” where your fights are separated into several locations. The key to victory is finding the optimal placement for each of your party members to counter the various foes that cross your path. Some battles may even trigger “Dramatic Scenes”, which are random events that put your crew in tough situations. For instance, Sanji will be rendered unable to fight due to being surrounded by women. Overcoming these challenges will result in higher-quality rewards.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails to Azure
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: March 2023
The Legend of Heroes is one of the longest JRPG series, with games spanning three different story arcs within three territories of the same universe. One of these arcs, based on the Crossbell region, has yet to see a full and proper release in western markets but that’s beginning to change. After the first game in the arc, Trails to Zero, finally saw its launch earlier this year, its follow-up has become one of the hottest upcoming JRPGs of 2023.
The game continues the saga of the Special Support Section who have new threats to tackle. With new gear and teammates at their side, the choices they make will forever change the future. Carrying on the tradition of the series’s deep and strategic combat, coupled with an engaging story and memorable characters, this is one of the 2023 game releases you won’t want to miss.
Platforms: PS4, PS5, PC
Release Date: 2023
After several delays during its production, Granblue Fantasy: Relink may likely be hitting shelves in 2023. Based on the popular Japanese gacha game, Relink is pegging itself as a unique JRPG among its peers by virtue of its 4-player co-op. You can link up with up to three other players online or you can play the game entirely solo with AI companions. Through the game’s action combat, you’ll be able to unleash powerful combination attacks with the spectacular visuals the Granblue series is known for.
What’s more, the game’s music is composed by the incomparable Nobue Uematsu and Tsutomu Narita. Although the game has had a rocky journey, with PlatinumGames leaving the project and handing it off to Cygames, Granblue Fantasy: Relink will surely be a smash hit among JRPG fans.
Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
Platforms: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: 2023
If you rejoiced at the news that both original Suikoden titles will be getting the remaster treatment, then you’ve got even more reason to be excited for another upcoming game of 2023. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes wears its Suikoden inspiration squarely on its sleeve. It takes the same concept of gathering a huge number of unique characters and dials it all up to 11. With a cast of over 100 playable heroes, this title aims to be an epic adventure from start to finish.
Not much else is known about this title’s gameplay and story. However, you can definitely expect it to be a massive sandbox with endless potential for experimentation.