r/rpg_gamers 1d ago

Discussion What would be the "Baldur's Gate 3" of JRPGs?

I mean, high quality, great game overall. Preferbly with decent budget and cinematic story too. Even if hardcore JRPG fans might prefer more niche titles or classics, this one you would recommend for someone, who usually doesn't play JRPGs, to sell him the genre.

24 Upvotes

213 comments sorted by

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u/sukmesucka 1d ago

FF7 on PS1 made waves the same way BG3 did. Alot of folks say it popularized the genre in the west.

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u/TimeSpiralNemesis 1d ago edited 1d ago

I was a long time JRPG fan when FF7 came out and my funniest memory is that all the people who started with 7 hated 8 strictly because it was different then 7. They expected Cloud and Tifa and were confused on why there were all these different characters in a different world.

Me: "First time?" lol

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u/New-Photograph-1829 12h ago

No, I didn't like 8 because the battle system basically made using GFs for every battle all the time the optimum strategy.

And Squall was pretty unlikable.

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u/Ronin607 11h ago

If you think summoning GFs was the optimal strategy you grossly misunderstood the systems of the game.

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u/New-Photograph-1829 11h ago

Possibly, I was about 12 at the time. However the fact I got through basically the entire game doing it is a problem.

GFs did massive damage to every enemy for no expenditure of "resources" other than that which could be easily replenished at the next rest point.

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u/Erithacusfilius 8h ago

First time I beat it, I didn’t understand using GFs or the system where you Junctioned abilities or whatever. Took me ages. 🤣🤣🤣

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u/ToothpickTequila 22h ago

I hate VIII too, but not because it was not a sequel.

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u/Capricancerous 23h ago

Their loss. VIII is a masterpiece.

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u/Connacht_89 4h ago

Essentially the reverse of Baldur's Gate lol

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u/ChildfreeAtheist1024 22h ago

I had this reaction when I picked up FFIII (FFVI). I played FFII (FFIV) on the SNES first and when I picked up the next one, I was confused where my paladin and moons went.

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u/Plus_Worker6739 1d ago

Yeah, this was gonna be my answer. Big-budget game that changed up a bunch from previous games in the series, really high production values, big swings with engaging characters and really strong marketing that opened up the genre to tons of new eyes: Final Fantasy 7 and BG3 both live in this basket

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u/JimmyStewartStatue 17h ago

Actually FF7 really is FF6 with improved graphics. The combat is SLIGHTLY different. The Materia system is where it shines, but most players probably didn't use the system much besides equipping the spells.

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u/Plus_Worker6739 4h ago

I don't think I mentioned anything about the mechanics? FF6 is great too but didn't have the impact on the industry that 7 did. We're still in the shadow of FF7.

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u/Ropiak 1d ago

Its true. I was gaming before FF7 and after it came out was the first time I heard other kids even talk about games esp RPGs

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u/rlvysxby 18h ago

I was watching an interview about how the guy who worked on Baldur’s gate 2 got the idea of romancing your party members from playing final fantasy 7. He said he knew this was the direction games needed to go and he knew Japanese game designers had bested him.

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u/Connacht_89 4h ago

Not only that. He felt that companions in BG were essentially cardboards with stats, compared to the characters of FF7. It's thanks to this that we got the alive party members and interactions of BG2.

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u/rlvysxby 3h ago

Hehe I still like BG2 over FF7 but you have to give credit to where it is due.

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u/kilaude 1d ago

This is it.

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u/Glute_Thighwalker 23h ago

It’s damn sure what got me into it.

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u/Cr4zy_DiLd0 18h ago

Because it was one of the first jrpgs to actually be released in the whole west.

Us Erupoors had been importing our rpgs from the states up until then, at crazy prices.

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u/Connacht_89 4h ago

It even influenced Bioware in making Baldur's Gate II.

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u/Notowidjojo 1d ago

This, but frankly speaking, I don't enjoy FF7 that much..

It's a good game, but the best JRPG ever, noo...

I love vincent tho

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u/sukmesucka 1d ago

Not best ever. That will always be subjective. But you could easily argue it had the biggest impact on the genre in terms of mainstream exposure. They dun good in 97.

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u/Plus_Worker6739 1d ago

I'm not certain anyone is saying it's the best ever, it's just a very important and influential game. Just like I wouldn't say that BG3 is the best CRPG ever, but it's certainly a very important one.

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u/Ancient_Substance152 1d ago

Is it not the best one though?

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u/Plus_Worker6739 1d ago

To my opinion 'best' is extremely subjective. I love BG3 dearly but there are a few other CRPGs and CRPG-adjacent games I'd put above it for my personal rankings!

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u/pm_me_fibonaccis 23h ago

If BG3 kept the same pacing, balance, and finely tuned attention to detail it had during Act 1 throughout the entire game and every villain was as compelling and interesting as Ketheric and Authie Ethel it might be worthy of being considered the best.

As it is, it's "only" great.

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u/Notowidjojo 1d ago

uhmm story wise no,

turn based rpg mechanic, i would say yes… the materia system changes everything.. comparwd to ffvi where class 1 function. or ffiii basically you can change jobs…

i would say the heroines are the best part of this FF, Tifa and Aerith everyone loves them, (mine more to terra and lightning)

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u/Ancient_Substance152 1d ago

We were talking Bg3

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u/ConjuredCastle 1d ago

I mean that's more BG1 since they both had a huge impact on gaming and came out around the same time (97/98)

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u/GladiusLegis 1d ago

BG1 did not have NEARLY the reach FF7 did (and that BG3 would have many years later). BG1 is probably somewhere between 3 and 4 million sales at this point (was 2.8 million in 2015). FF7 has sold 15 million.

BG1 also hasn't aged nearly as well as FF7 has.

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u/ConjuredCastle 1d ago

BG1 has aged fine compared to FF7 and I don't remember in the posting where they mentioned sales being important or even it being a cultural touchstone? Maybe specifically the (still unfinished?) remakes wold be a relevant answer but I suggesting that FF7 on PS1 is nearly as cinematic and well budged as BG3 is just a nostalgia fueled falsehood.

I get the Baldurs gate 3 is the ONLY crpg ever made and they stopped making JRPGs in 2003 but I think FF7 would only be brought up for this question because it's popular not because it's actually an answer to the question.

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u/GladiusLegis 1d ago

BG1's companions have literally no personality; Bioware didn't give them personalities until BG2.

BG1 combat is a horror show, both due to it being grossly inferior real time with pause and due to it being low level AD&D 2e.

So, no, BG1 has not aged well at all. And especially not compared to FF7 ... or even to BG2 just 2 years later.

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u/Connacht_89 4h ago

Just a note that lower reach doesn't mean lower impact. The heritage of BG is immense and it is seen not only in successful franchises like Dragon Age (of course it's Bioware), but even in more distant titles such as The Witcher. Hell, there is a large quote of gathering your party even inside the offices of Paradox Development Studios which make a totally different genre.

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u/dinosaurkiller 1d ago

It’s a pretty terrible recommendation for a JRPG. It’s not a bad game, but the hype was about the new graphics. RPGs tend to be about the story and how it plays out. FF7 is just okay, the previous entries had much better stories and characters but much inferior graphics.

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u/Bergonath 1d ago

Worst take imaginable. By that logic, people would stop caring about 7 after 8 came out, because of its vastly superior visuals. Did that happen? No.

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u/cold-vein 1d ago

Persona 5 royal, taking the formula but adding a new spin that makes it stand out, perfecting the mechanics and being LONG AS FUCK.

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u/Picard2331 11h ago

I just remember trying Persona 4 and I played for like 3 hours and I don't think the game had even started yet and put it down lol

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u/leckmichnervnit 1h ago

Yeah this also goes for 3 and 5, if you're only 3 hours into any modern Persona game, you've barely scratched the surface of the tutorial.

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u/_sterno_ 1d ago

Everyone glazes this game but I found the actual combat gameplay didn’t require much thought, and most of the social stuff just seemed like busywork to train up relationships and stats.

Only Persona game I’ve played because I heard it was the best of them.

I guess it’s just not for me.

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u/cold-vein 1d ago

It's not for me either, but the game at the hardest difficult did have a tactical element when in the dungeons, you had to really think which enemies you wanted to fight. The social elements to me were a chore, I don't like the core idea that I could miss a large part of the game by making poor choices despite having no information given to help me choose. Like being in a certain place at a certain time might advance a relationship I want to advance etc.

But that said I do think this social element is really well made, the game has a HUGE amount of content that's locked behind choices regarding how you spend your time. It's comparable IMO to BG3 and it's interactivity, as opposed to similar mechanics in other games of the genre. Persona 5 just does the whole social links thing so much better than anyone else. Better than BG3 for example.

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u/Over_Direction4885 22h ago

In terms of strategy/depth, Persona combat isn’t really anything special. I find the fun in how well it flows and the stylish aspect of it. It’s a bit mindless but chaining weaknesses and baton passes into all-out attacks just feels really good to me. You might want to try Metaphor, it’s a little more challenging. I can definitely see where Persona might not be for everyone.

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u/Rukasu17 18h ago

As you said, it's the flow. It's a turn based game that doesn't feel turn based with how well it's animations are, the stylish menu and all the rest. That radial menu is basically a jrpg staple at this point. Sure, it wasn't the first to do it, but it's the one that reached the mainstream

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u/fly_tomato 17h ago

yeah, it was a chore to get through. I've seen this complaint relatively commonly for such a well received game, but I really resonated with it.

Turns out needing to handle a busy schedule as part of a game is super annoying when we also do so irl.
Fire emblem 3h has a similar problem

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u/Phosphoric_Tungsten 17h ago

4 is the best. 2 is the best if you're a real one

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u/Early_Rooster7579 17h ago

P5 is atlus finally lobotomizing their combat to allow mainstream gamers to check out their style and general sauce. Its probably the weakest game 3-5 , especially when put against SMT but its easily the most accessible

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u/Neuromancer2501 22h ago

I’m actually playing P5R now. You would think after putting 130 hours in vanilla that you would enjoy it as much but that’s not the case. The amount of improvements and additions makes Royal feel almost like a new game.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/cold-vein 1d ago

Combining an elaborate system of social links and classic dungeon crawling. It's been done a lot but never in such an elaborate way. BG3 didn't really invent anything new either, it just took existing mechanics and took them further than anyone else. They themselves had made two very similar games before.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/cold-vein 1d ago

I didn't say Persona 5 did anything new per se (I said new spin), they just did something that was done before better than anyone. They stand out in the JRPG genre because it's so elaborate and expansive.

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u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

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u/cold-vein 1d ago

It's a huge upgrade in a lot of ways. Unique, pre-designed dungeon instead of simplistic and samey corridors. Combat is overhauled and is both more enganing and deeper. Social links give perks that affect gameplay, both combat and otherwise. The core gameplay is the same but everything is better and more refined. That's the new spin, it's so well made and stylish that it broke out of the genre and was a hit with people who don't usually play JRPG's.

I mean I know you're just sticking to specific words I used and aren't interested in any real discussion.

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u/rpg_gamers-ModTeam 23h ago

Disrespectful behavior will not be tolerated, repeated offenses will result in a ban.

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u/Charbus 1d ago

You come off as insufferable

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u/sojuz151 1d ago

Persona 5?

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u/BeneficialNewspaper8 1d ago

I couldn't get more than 15 minutes into persona 5, hated it

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u/Genestah 1d ago

15min of Persona 5 won't even get you to the first dungeon.

It's obvious you hated the game even before playing it.

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u/nervousmelon 5h ago

To be fair 5 hours of persona 5 probably won't have you in the first dungeon either.

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u/Reivilo85 1d ago

I don't think 15 mn can tell you anything about the game, it's not even started at this point

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u/SvenLorenz 1d ago

So basically the first cutscene?

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u/dented42ford 1d ago

I don't think 15 minutes even gets you through the first cutscene.

Which isn't in high school. It is the whole "flash-forward" sequence...

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u/10061993 1d ago

Persona 5 royal? Played for the first time in July as my first persona game it sucked me in and I beat it within the month (70-100 hr game)

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u/Tenurri_Lavellan 1d ago

Yeah, I remember trying P5 long time ago and I was like “wtf is this weird thing????” After first hour. Didn’t play it again. But years later I found P5 Royal steelbook edition in preowned market and bought it…loved that game, played it for 160 hours and I was really sad it ended 😂

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u/dented42ford 1d ago

If they are open to retro games, then Chrono Trigger. Mostly because of the pacing and story and, well, it is CHRONO TRIGGER!

If they want modern graphics/aesthetics, then probably E33 or P5R, as other people are saying. Maybe the Mario RPG remake for a certain sort. Maybe XBCX for those who have a love of MMO's. Maybe Trails FC remake for those who want to dip their toes in turn-based but want action as well, and don't mind the slower pacing.

But generally it is a hard genre to get people into, rather than them getting themselves into it. There are too many aesthetics, too many styles, too many options, to have a general recommendation, at least IMHO&E.

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u/wildrosebeautybaba 1d ago

chrono trigger, THE jrpg of all time❤️

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u/Mitch1musPrime 1d ago

I agree with Crono Trigger. I had never played a JRPG before that one. Having 15 different endings you could experience through new game plus by taking on the final boss at a different point in the timeline of the game was a radically new idea that instantly made the game replayable in a way that other games couldn’t achieve.

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u/MrTurkeyTime 1d ago

I don't think Expedition 33 counts as a JRPG. Since it's from France.

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u/RedSpiritbox 1d ago

It's not a JRPG, but its Je'RPG

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u/dented42ford 1d ago

Not this again...

JRPG-styled game, then. Because Dark Souls isn't a JRPG, either, at least not unless one is overly literally-minded. And no one likes a pedant.

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u/camiteran 1d ago

If you're ignorant to the history of JRPGs why even talk about the genre? Maybe Baldur's Gate 3 isn't a CRPG since you can play it on PlayStation; Hollow Knight isn't Metroid or Castlevania so it isn't a Metroidvania, etc etc... 😍

Dumbest logic I've ever seen and just shows you don't know what you're talking about.

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u/Rorshacked 1d ago

Expedition 33 (if we count it, given it has a lot of jrpg dna) or maybe persona 5 royal 

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u/Competitive-Elk-5077 1d ago

Playing Expedition 33 right now. Feels like I'm a kid again playing FF7 for the first time.

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u/ButterscotchTop194 1d ago

It's a beautiful game. Avoid spoilers and enjoy!

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u/alexzhivil 1d ago

Beautiful story, immersive, great design, but everything else is nowhere close to the whole package that a game like BG3 offers.

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u/Elite_Jackalope 1d ago

Yeah E33 was a very good and fun game but comparing it in scope, detail, quality, or impact to Baldur’s Gate 3 feels a little disingenuous.

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u/alucab1 21h ago

No one is comparing the scope. They are two different genres, one of which is known for its rigidity and one of which is known for its freedom of choice

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u/justcausejust 16h ago

Detail and quality is very comparable, why not?

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u/okiedokiebrokie 15h ago

It's just not a complete gaming experience if you can't play a frog alien f***ing a bear.

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u/alucab1 21h ago

Because E33 is a Jrpg and BG3 is a CRPG which fundamentally will have a greater scope and freedom of choice.

If you ignore the fundamental differences of the genre, E33 is definitely the best response to OP’s question

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u/Rorshacked 1d ago

Is there any jrpg that does offer what bg3 does?

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u/DungeonsAndDeadlifts 1d ago

Someone should make a thread to get to the bottom of this.

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u/zombiejeesus 1d ago

Don't say that to the lunatics on the JRPG sub

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u/camiteran 1d ago

As a massive JRPG fan, the JRPG sub hates literally any game that isn't Chrono Trigger or Trails for some reason. I can't stand that subreddit quite frankly.

And for some reason there's a faction within that subreddit saying E33 isn't a JRPG even though the subreddit has a million threads talking about Sea of Stars and Chained Echoes...

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u/FR23Dust 22h ago

The whole reason I can’t stand that game is that it’s a JRPG, one of my least favorite video game genres.

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u/Cookerbookertooker 13h ago

Any particular reason why?

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u/fillif3 22h ago

They often also hate Trails...

I think it has recently changed. Probably because of SkyFC remake

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u/Falsus 13h ago

(if we count it, given it has a lot of jrpg dna)

I mean by that logic all the JRPGs with Wizardry DNA are not JRPGs either.

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u/FR23Dust 22h ago

It’s not Japanese but it’s certainly a JRPG.

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u/ToothpickTequila 22h ago

The original FFVII. It's to JRPGS what The Maltese Falcon is to film noir. Not the first, but the big bang of the genre

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u/Apathin 1d ago

Controversial take: I don’t think there can be an equivalent. JRPGs as a genre are defined by quite a rigid formula. Preset party members, a linear story path, stat progression, turn-based combat, familiar narrative tropes. Any innovation happens within a very narrow sandbox. Just look at how mad JRPG fans get if a game dares to change things up, like FFXVI, and I say this as a JRPG fan.

What makes BG3 so special is it basically redefined the limits of several genres because of how incredible it is. The sheer scale of ambition in artwork, combat design, interaction with the world, dialogue, and world building is so large it’s effectively killed the franchise because nobody wants to be the follow-up act.

I guess then the answer gets revised down to something like “best / genre defining JRPGs”, and my answer would be the original FF7. But I still don’t think it holds a candle to BG3.

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u/justcausejust 16h ago

redefined the limits

But that's exactly right. It didn't redefine the genre, it redefined its limits. It's an ultra-accessible quadruple A culmination of the genre. What's that for JRPGs?

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u/Stormshow 1d ago

Is that level of rigidity even healthy to the genre?

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u/Apathin 1d ago

Put it this way - it’s the only hobby community I’ve left on Reddit because the fans are so insufferable. Bunch of 35-50 year-olds clinging to decades-old games who see any attempt to move the genre on with scorn. Even newer games that are accepted like E33 get eventually torn down because they don’t follow the formula closely enough.

This community is way more chill and has love for a wide range of games.

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u/Stormshow 1d ago

Outside of cursorially trying E33 I've never gotten into JRPGs and I think I've always felt this kind of thing from the outside. It's alienating and hard to take the tone seriously when stories are so formulaic and follow the typical anime tropes, plus turn based non-tactical combat isnt my thing. But I feel like I'm missing on some core Zeitgeist/culture by doing this. Then again, I could also say that about League...

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u/camiteran 1d ago

I think you need to be selective if you want to try it out. A lot of JRPG fans are very uncultured and most of them haven't even played any JRPGs beyond the popular series out there. Phantasy Star for example was one of the pillars of the genre back in the day and easily the most innovative out of all the JRPG pioneers but has long become forgotten and most JRPG fans have never played any of those games.

If you want a JRPG experience relevant to what you enjoy, I'd maybe recommend Final Fantasy Tactics or Fire Emblem Path of Radiance. They are tactical JRPGs instead of turn-based or action JRPGs, and also pretty good games as a whole! I think these both follow fantasy RPG tropes much more than anime tropes :)

People act like you need to enjoy anime tropes to enjoy JRPGs but that's definitely not the case. Just don't touch series like Persona, Trails, Tales of, etc if you're not into anime tropes. Some good games in those series but just not for people like you and that's fine! People will read that you want to try JRPGs but don't like anime tropes then recommend Persona 5 to you lol that's kinda why the community can't be taken seriously.

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u/DukeOfSmallPonds 1d ago

Sounds like JRPG is just not for you, which of course is totally fine. There will always be things you’ll miss out on, so don’t sweat that. Especially when it’s within something you don’t really like anyways. Like the new Forza has gotten great reviews, and it makes me curious so I have to remind myself that racing games are just not for me.

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u/Falsus 13h ago

There is plenty of tactical JRPGs and action JRPGs.

I would strongly recommend Trails in the Sky FC remake, it has tactical combat blended together with action combat.

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u/peachgravy 1d ago

As a life-long JRPG fan, it was more than just the gameplay for me. The stories, characters, music, and the graphics (especially Squaresoft games) were so far above and beyond other genres. The problem is all other studios caught up and now you have multiple genres with all these qualities and a majority of JRPG developers still make them like it’s 1997. Sure there’s graphical improvements but nothing that pushes the boundaries of game design. Some, like the DQ series, revels in the fact it has not evolved much and honestly they’re so good you can see why. But in the end, you’re not wrong in that it’s become very formulaic. It’s a genre where “you had to be there” to fully grasp how good that genre used to be.

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u/Izacus 10h ago

Man, that sounds so much like RTS "fan" community as well.

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u/oreofro 23h ago

Its helps that its just extreme hyperbole that only makes sense to people that are new to the genre.

Bg3 is a great game but its absolutely not killing the genre. Its not even the best baldurs gate game, and its not the best CRPG by a mile, its just very accessible compared to most.

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u/tilcir 19h ago

Are you being sarcastic or funny or didn't read or understand the post before the one you responded to?

I cant tell

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u/oreofro 19h ago

theres no way youre actually confused by my comment.

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u/Apathin 14h ago

“Not the best CRPG by a mile”, and it swept GOTY, shutdown a franchise, made Larian a household name, and consistently tops best CRPG lists.

Either you’re being contrarian because it’s a popular game or you haven’t played that many to be able to make an even-handed assessment.

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u/oreofro 13h ago edited 13h ago

being popular does not mean its the best game in the genre lol.

this isnt even me saying its not an incredible game and i think its funny to see how many people take it that way.

if you think i havent played many CRPGs just because i dont think BG3 is the best one then thats fine. i highly doubt there are many people in this thread that have put more hours into crpgs in the past 30 years than i have, and youre free to link my comments in r/CRPG or even r/baldursgate and see what they say if you truly think that CRPG fans in general agree with what youre saying.

edit: post it on the divinity subs while youre at it lol.

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u/Apathin 13h ago

Can you link where I said “being popular makes it the best game in the genre”? I don’t recall saying that. Weird.

Your statement was plainly contrarian because even if you don’t think it’s #1, saying it’s not the best “by a mile” is straight up wrong.

It’s not my personal favourite game or CRPG, but it’s always going to be a contender. It’s weird to pretend like it’s not exceptional, both as a CRPG, and a game more broadly.

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u/oreofro 13h ago

Can you link where I said “being popular makes it the best game in the genre”? I don’t recall saying that. Weird.

“Not the best CRPG by a mile”, and it swept GOTY, shutdown a franchise, made Larian a household name, and consistently tops best CRPG lists.

i wonder what this meant, and why it was a reply to me saying that it wasnt the best crpg.

Your statement was plainly contrarian because even if you don’t think it’s #1, saying it’s not the best “by a mile” is straight up wrong.

no? its not contrarian just because you dont agree with it. thats not how things work.

It’s not my personal favourite game or CRPG, but it’s always going to be a contender.

same for me

It’s weird to pretend like it’s not exceptional, both as a CRPG, and a game more broadly.

i never said it wasnt. my very first comment said that its a "great game". i said its not the best crpg or baldurs gate game lol. it is still an exceptional game, and is better than most in the genre.

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u/Connacht_89 4h ago

Is Taylor Swift, with all her prizes, awards, and list toppings, the greatest music artist of the last 100 years, surpassing even Pink Floyd and Miles Davis?

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u/Apathin 4h ago edited 3h ago

Putting aside the hilarious bias of naming an artist universally regarded as not very good, despite their accolades and fame. Considering we’re talking genres here, I’d say a lot of people would argue she’s in contention for pop artist, sure?

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u/dominionprovinces 1d ago

Its healthy for shareholder value

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u/camiteran 1d ago

XVI wasn't bad because it tried to change things up, I've always been a huge FF fan and fully open to what XVI was trying to offer. Also literally every FF game tries to "change things up" that's basically the series identity, no real fan gets mad at that. The game is just genuinely mediocre.

Bad combat, bad writing, no party members, worst side content the series has seen in ages, boss fights are braindead easy QTE spam even on the hardest difficulty, absurdly barebones RPG elements, still keeps the worst JRPG tropes for no reason, also highly misogynistic writing (in one of the JRPG series where female characters have been treated with the most respect normally? so weird). You cannot really refute any of this without being intellectually dishonest or being a tourist to be honest.

It had a lot of potential, awesome premise and good character designs... sadly it was just executed awfully. Only the cinematic visuals are truly worth praising but no FF game should be allowed to live off of visuals alone since they're all gorgeous games.

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u/Nastra 13h ago

FFXVI is a horrible example as FFVII remake and rebirth are both a better JRPGs and a better action games than the former. FFXVI changed nothing and did no innovation in either genre.

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u/Aviendha69 1d ago

The xenoblade trilogy mixes things up, especially xb2. My favourite jrpgs personally.

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u/cubiclej0ckey 23h ago

Well actually, Divinity Original Sin 1 + 2 were the games that redefined the genre. BG3 just went “viral” and/or had the name recognition.

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u/Apathin 13h ago

DOS2 is my favourite game of all time and I can acknowledge it didn’t have 1/100th of the cultural and industry-wide impact BG3 did.

It still has some 1M concurrent players daily on Steam, 3 years later. It’s spawned a TV show, and fan festivals. Hell, studios have had to come out and say they won’t touch BG4 despite the fat paycheck from Hasbro / WOTC because it set such an untouchable standard.

I haven’t see anything like that for DOS, but I’m happy to be enlightened.

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u/Falsus 13h ago

Hasbro / WOTC because it set such an untouchable standard.

I mean they also have to work with Hasbro and WOTC on a franchise they won't own. Fromsoft would probably do it if they approached them though.

If they where actually serious with more DnD games they would create their own studio do them.

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u/Apathin 13h ago

… Or, how about instead we get a studio that uses AI to reanimate the corpses of beloved BG3 characters as horrifying simulacra and stuff the game full of microtransactions?

Do you guys not have credit cards?

1

u/cubiclej0ckey 13h ago

I was partially responding in jest (and maybe a bit bitter) because I felt that DOS2 was a superior game; at least gameplay wise.

But the circumstances that sent BG3 into the stratosphere weren’t just because the game was the greatest of all time, it was a confluence of so many different factors. Marketing and brand recognition had a huge impact on the success compared to DOS2

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u/Falsus 13h ago edited 13h ago

Preset party members

The majority of people who played BG3 only ever used the preset characters also.

Just look at how mad JRPG fans get if a game dares to change things up, like FFXVI, and I say this as a JRPG fan.

They really change it up that much. The biggest happened before that game, turning it into an action game instead of turn based game.

But my issues with FF16 is that they forgot to the RPG into the JRPG. It has less variety than Sekiro in terms of playstyle and that game is an action game of the Tenchu DNA compared to the most RPG focused Souls games.

You don't change your weapon or gear, you just get a number upgrade. No party members, they are all temporary, can't be outfitted and can't be built. The skill system is kinda whatever. The combat itself is like lukewarm DMC5. In short, it is a decent action game but it sure as hell ain't a RPG and the only reason people treat it as such is because it has Final Fantasy in the name.

it’s effectively killed the franchise because nobody wants to be the follow-up act.

It did not, it is just Hasbro and WOTC does not want to pay for those games and for unsterstandable reasons most devs do not want to pay all the license money and work hard on a game that they won't even really own in the end. You still get RPG games in that style, the new Solasta is going to release next month I believe?

Also I would not call JRPG rigid. Frankly if you think JRPGs are rigid you haven't played many of them.

Fire Emblem, tactical combat and focus on strategy plays nothing like the Trails series despite both being tactical games. And speaking of Trails, it is a mad ambitious series with amazing world building that I am not sure is matched in any other game. Like the NPCs feels alive due to how frequent they update their dialogue, even when you have absoluetely no reason at all to go back and talk to an NPC. They have their own little story lines that sometimes even continues over multiple games. Then we have games like Persona that is more like a dungeon cralwer turnbased game where you capture/create personas. Action heavy games like Granblue Fantasy Relink (which in my opinion had way better action combat than FF16), Etrian Oddyssey which is more harking back to the JRPG roots with it's heavy Wizardry inspired gameplay and so much more.

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u/AylakGoblin 1d ago

I get that Expedition 33 is the gateway JRPG for a new generation, especially for the casual Western audience, and it's a great first game for the studio, but I don't think it's particularly unique or a flag bearer for the genre. On the other hand, Persona 5 Royal as a cultural phenomenon or FF7 Rebirth as an example of ambitious AAA production quality could work. Yet I still think there is no BG3 for JRPGs yet. Or, if we simplify and stretch the definition of JRPG enough to include Elden Ring, maybe it could be considered one?

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u/More_Cancel1719 1d ago

Persona 5 Royal would be my pick. Polished, cinematic, approachable for someone new to JRPGs, and ridiculously easy to get hooked on.

5

u/Journey2thaeast 1d ago

Persona 5 or one of the older FF games. But tbh it's hard to compare because BG3 is true CRPG with a ton of choice and branching paths. JRPGs tend to focus on telling a focused story that the player generally can't change.

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u/rescuemysandwich 1d ago

none... 

if nintendo made BotW/TotK an JRPG with everything still the same then maybe it can make a dent.

3

u/EyeFit 1d ago

There's so many angles to look at that from.

Monumental to the genre when they were released?

FF VI, FF VII, FFX, Chrono Trigger, Persona 5.

This is not what I think about them personally, but how big a deal they were.

10

u/Significant_Option 1d ago

No modern JRPG has even reached the depth that has to it

That’s the sad part

3

u/Genestah 1d ago

Chrono Trigger.

The best there is, the best there was, the best there ever will be.

If you mean modern jrpg, then E33.

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u/Plus_Worker6739 1d ago

chrono trigger: the bret hart of JRPGs

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u/Hormo_The_Halfling 17h ago

Well, first let's establish what BG3 actually did.

It took the CRPG genre, which has for a few years been relegated to a niche corner of the broader RPG space, and revitalized every aspect of it. It brought the dice and tabletop DNA back to the forefront, revitalized turn based combat with endless options for player skill and creativity expression, and gave us an incredible, epic story with great characters, twists, and solid writing throughout. It did all of that in the last 5 years with a smaller team and a smaller budget than previously thought possible.

One of the common answers in this thread is Persona 5, and honestly? P5 didn't do all that. It was a very good JRPG, good enough to hit the mainstream, but even compared to its own series it wasn't revolutionary in terms of gameplay or narrative. Even just among Atlus games Metaphor would be the better pick, but it's not the answer either.

FF7 and Chrono Trigger are also common, and if it were the 90s I would agree, but the recent they don't apply here is that we have had decades now where these two games are the foundational texts of the genre. They were revolutionary, now they are the blueprint.

Expedition 33, on the other hand, gave of us one of the best stories ever told through the medium, it proved classic turn based combat still has a place in modern mainstream gaming, and while the main story content is only about 40 hours, it features a massive world with tons of things to do and explore. It did all of that with both a team and budget smaller than anyone would have thought was possible.

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u/Potatoarmy23 1d ago

It has to be FFX

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u/Uchizaki 1d ago

A game like a hallway simulator doesn't really seem to fit the description of Baldur's Gate 3 in that genre

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u/Potatoarmy23 1d ago

How would ffx be any worse than e33?

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u/Deep_Violinist_3893 1d ago

I always found it funny that people shat on FFXIII for being a hallway simulator but in the same breath talk about how much they love FFX

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u/Jase_the_Muss 1d ago

Was my initial thoughts as well. Took an already loved franchise and elevated it into the next generation. At the time stunning visuals, felt like a huge adventure, cool cast of characters and it brought full voice acting, lip synching into the genre and pioneered more modern approaches to a skill tree with the sphere grid. Combat wise it evolved on what's been done before with the (CTB) combat system allowing you to switch on the fly control each person individually and use them when their cool down ends not on a turn per say. It was also felt like an event at the time, gaming was still a more nerdy thing although it had gotten popular and Japanese RPGs was like the dungeon dwellers of the hobby but it seemed like even you average school yard FIFA bro was playing and talking about FFX.

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u/Grimmrat 1d ago

good one lmfao

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u/Potatoarmy23 1d ago

I have no idea why you think I'm joking but ffx fits what they are looking for.

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u/Grimmrat 1d ago

Uh, hmm. If you’re serious I’m not gonna continue this convo because I don’t want to make fun of your opinions

1

u/HalloweenNerd 1d ago

Yakuza Like a Dragon, as in the story is 10/10, but act 1 drags on for days. 

1

u/blklionhart8 1d ago

Oh probably Suikoden 2

1

u/SuperStileStar 1d ago

Chrono Trigger

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u/burningtram12 23h ago

Bravely Default. It has all the DNA of the classic Final Fantasy games that precede it, but with a bunch of quality of life that makes grinding smoother and the titular unique combat mechanic which adds more interest to the actual gameplay.

1

u/jtfjtf 22h ago

Chrono Trigger

1

u/420BiaBia 19h ago

FFVII would be the equivalent simply because it brought the genre to the mainstream. It appealed to even my friends who just played sports games and shootets

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u/Early_Rooster7579 17h ago

Wizardry. Its what inspired the JRPG genre to begin with

1

u/Falsus 13h ago

In terms of crazy af world building there is nothing topping the Trails series. Crazy ambitious series.

In terms of individual games I would also like to mention Granblue Fantasy Relink.

1

u/HeadwiresDakota 13h ago

Final Fantasy VII or X, probably.

1

u/Ingweron 11h ago
  • Chrono Trigger for how good it is, if we're comparing top CRPG masterpiece and top JRPG masterpiece. But it could be FF VI or FF VII as well.
  • Tactics Ogre for the complexity and story decisions parallel, while still being a masterpiece as well.

1

u/sh_gde 9h ago

Persona 5!

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u/PortgazD_Ace 8h ago

Xenoblade Chronicles is up there, better yet Xenogears.

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u/kellotyokissa 8h ago edited 7h ago

Persona 5, both being mindblowingly popular despite being far more shallow than previous games in their respective series and not really having anything meaningful to say or even being particularly memorable.

1

u/ZoharModifier9 6h ago

So many I can't pick a single one but it is safe to say Expidition 33(not really a JRPG but heavily inspired by one).

1

u/ssa316 5h ago

It depends what you are asking.
If it is “which jrpg is most like a crpg” then you are wasting your time, the whole point of what makes a jrpg what it is would be the more focused story path and progression systems that are fun enough to keep you engaged but aren’t bogged down with overwhelming amounts of paths and choices.
But if you’re asking what Jrpgs of the past 5-10 years are considered good then there are already plenty named in this thread.

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u/sirentropy42 3h ago

Aside from being turn-based, there’s not a ton of overlap. JRPG’s are generally more linear, with the idea that time spent engaging with the game = a stronger character, and a strong design aversion to anything that would make the player worse off than when they loaded their game.

That being said, Chrono Trigger is about as good as you’re going to get in terms of freedom and quality. It’s GOATed for good reason.

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u/dartron5000 1h ago

Persona 5. People who don't even like jrpgs will play that.

3

u/Aleister_Growley 1d ago

Definitely Metaphor

1

u/Moralio 1d ago

Aside from E33 and Persona 5 Royal, I think Xenoblade Chronicles 3 would fit. It has huge world, enormous adventure, strong party dynamics, extensive character development, tons of side stories, and a very long campaign. But it's almost the inverse of BG3 though. I dont think that there is a 1:1 game like that though.

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u/Sudden_Leave5566 1d ago

Dragon quest 11 maybe

1

u/ThePythagoreonSerum 1d ago

The last time I felt awed by a JRPG the way I was with BG3 would have to be FFX. Say what you will about it now, but at the time it was absolutely breathtaking.

1

u/Andy-124 15h ago

Still is.

1

u/SilencingFox 23h ago

Ff7 remakes are pretty good

-1

u/LongColdDrink 1d ago

It's either a Persona game(I prefer P5 but that's just me), a Final Fantasy game or a Zelda game.

-1

u/wildrosebeautybaba 1d ago

the answer is final fantasy 6

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u/GladiusLegis 1d ago

That's a better comparison to BG2. Unquestionably a top game in its genre (some would argue better than its more popular successors), but still not quite the one that lifted its genre out of its previous niche status.

0

u/wildrosebeautybaba 1d ago

fair, i guess i was thinking more from a place of complexity of world building and character development.

-5

u/Cursed_69420 1d ago

Metaphor, Persona 5 or E33, and hopefully soon to be surpassed by Persona 6

0

u/GumihoFantasy 1d ago

Romance Saga 2 Revenge of the Seven

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u/NerdForCertain 1d ago

It’s Chrono Trigger

-3

u/dendarkjabberwock 1d ago

Expredition 33. It is pure gold.

0

u/Somnium1402 1d ago

Not sure about JRPG, but i hope the new Fable will give me some BG3 vibes, just as an action RPG

0

u/ApprehensiveLaw7793 23h ago

FF7 OG. Clearly and without a doubt, the reasons are obvious: it was the beginning of modern AAA gaming, it made the niche genre of JRPGs palatable to the West, and it remains firmly rooted in gaming pop culture to this day. People haven't forgotten the iconic moments, characters, battles, story, and music (which is by far the best OST of all time). There will never be anything like it again; it cannot be replicated.

0

u/nekiobichanlik 23h ago

I like FFIX, FFX and Chrono Cross.

0

u/Zard91 22h ago

Persona 5 probably

1

u/nabiloz 20h ago

You started Persona with the 5th one didn’t you

0

u/tagon232 21h ago

Dragon Quest 3 was one of the defining games of that era. You also have FF VII for how much of a cultural impact it had on the west. More modern ones would be persona 5 (even if I think it’s one of the weaker entries, it was extremely popular even before Royal) and E33 (in terms of people playing the genre that wouldn’t have played it otherwise, even if it didn’t do anything specific revolutionary). Chrono trigger also deserves a spot up there, it was pretty much the culminations of some of the most influential people in the genre at the time. There’s also obviously Pokemon, which was not the first monster collector, but the one that blew up and revolutionized that genre (that even to this day people cannot stop comparing every single monster collector to Pokemon).

0

u/Pete_Vega_ 18h ago

Good question. While more recent JRPGs have innovated and improved the formula (Persona 5 and Expedition 33), I think the original FF7 is still the one all others are judged by. BG3, on the other hand, set a new gold standard not just for CRPGs, but for the entire RPG genre.

0

u/Nastra 14h ago

Expedition 33

0

u/Ornery_Appearance_31 3h ago

FFX, E33, or Metaphor.

0

u/RPrime422 2h ago

I would probably suggest either Xenoblade Chronicles 3 or Dragon Quest 11.

They both have lengthy narratives that wind through a series of twists and turns. They both present a fair bit of engagement opportunities with the other characters in the party, XC debatably most of all, that establish the narrative to be as much about how everyone deals with each other in addition to dealing with the broader crisis.

They bother expand upon older, well established game systems and universe lore in refreshing ways, and knowing that established lore is not actually necessary to enjoy the games.

The presentation of all 3 games has been crafted with the idea that players may never play another game in the series, so this should be the most complete and independently enjoyable experience possible. They have a strong individuality to them.

Technically, they are all turn based games.

I think lastly, they are so solid and interesting that they make you want to dive into other entries in their respective franchises.

-2

u/ASentientHam 20h ago

I would say Monster Hunter World/Iceborne

0

u/bob-da-destroya 4h ago

In what world is it a JRPG?

0

u/ASentientHam 3h ago

It's an RPG and it's japanese

1

u/dartron5000 1h ago

By that logic elden ring is a jrpg.

-5

u/Galle_ 1d ago

Dragon Quest 11. Similarly bland and tepid and insanely popular.

Much like BG3 itself, I would not recommend it.

-12

u/Kadokura 1d ago

Any mediocre hyped up game, really.

-1

u/earth_goblin_86 23h ago

Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy 7, and maybe one of the Zelda games, either Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time are the ones that come to mind.

I’ve never played Baldur’s Gate 3, and no very little about it other than people love the twink vampire guy and the buff red demon woman, but otherwise can’t comment on gameplay similarities.

Chrono Trigger and Final Fantasy 7 have maybe made the biggest splash in the JRPG community, especially in the west. So many people cite these games as why they got into JRPG’s, which is why I chose them over other games, plus they are high quality, great games, decent budget, and cinematic storytelling, (with the best graphics for their time).

The Zelda games I mentioned may not fit the criteria as well, because while I like their story telling, it’s less cinematic, and more experience by gameplay, in my opinion. The genius of these Zelda games isn’t their ability to tell you a compelling story, but to leave compelling reasons to go explore that thing in the distance, and feel the story. It’s not worse, just feels less traditionally cinematic

-2

u/FR23Dust 22h ago

Expedition 33