Story Highlights
- 2024 is going to be one hell of a year for JRPGs, with many brilliant titles releasing consecutively.
- Infinite Wealth, Persona 3 Reload, Metaphor ReFantazio, and FF VII Rebirth are just a few of these.
- There are a lot more games with an unconfirmed release date, that could make an appearance.
Ah, JRPGs. The genre I played the most in all my gaming years and something I grew up with fondly. The iconic animated-style characters, partying up to go on an adventure, creative gameplay elements both turn-based and action, and a thought-provoking and impactful story to keep you on edge and deliver meaningful concepts with music more impactful than the scene itself sometimes. Trust me I can go on and on when it comes to JRPGs.
JRPGs also possess a vibrant history that goes back to the very initial days of the advent of proper gaming. Pioneer franchises like the Legend of Zelda, Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, The Legend of Heroes, and Ys started back in the late 1980s, and the concept of JRPGs can be traced even further back. Over the years, this genre has changed drastically, but it continues to go strong, and I can’t describe how overjoyed I am that 2024 is shaping up to be an excellent year for JRPGs.
January Has Infinite Wealth And Granblue Fantasy: Relink
When the very first JRPG to start off 2024 is one of the best games of all time in the genre, what does that tell you about the year itself? Yes, I’m talking about Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and it’s safe to say that RGG outdid themselves with this entry. Ever since trying Yakuza 0 for the first time, I fell in love with this series, and it hasn’t disappointed me since. And the latest entry just raises the stakes even more.
The wacky mafia story with the heartwrenching and thought-provoking main story and the most ridiculous and downright amusing side content is back, and trust me it packs a punch you’ll never forget. Go and see for yourself how Ichiban and Kiryu’s stories intertwine in a magnificent presentation. Next up is Granblue Fantasy: Relink, which although comes out on 1st Feb, it’s available on 31st in some regions, and pre-order early access starts soon.
Every Main Yakuza Game is special for something!
byu/Kurusaeda inyakuzagames
If you think this is just another button-masher Action RPG, you’ll have to reconsider soon. Starting as one of the oldest ongoing gacha games, Granblue Fantasy has a huge fan following, and this game is sort of a love letter for fans, and crazy enjoyable for newcomers alike. With multiple playable characters, complex combat, and an enormous end-game potential with its Monster hunter-style raids, sleeping on this would be a mistake, go try out the demo.
February Brings Persona 3 Reload and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth
February is going to be a great month for long-term fans of JRPGs, as it brings entries to two highly popular long-running franchises. Right as the month begins, you’ll get Granblue Fantasy if you’re a PC player, but more importantly, Persona 3 Reload will be here. A complete remake of Person 3, it’s time to revisit Atlus’ masterpiece once again. Some of the voice actors have been swapped, but the experience will be the same or might be better.
Persona series is one of those JRPG franchises that has a very high presence throughout the world, and getting to revisit Persona 3 which is in some ways even better than 5 for me is something I have been planning to do for a long time now. Next up is Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, and I don’t think I need to go into the details of this one. It’s one of if not the most anticipated games of 2024 and for very good reasons.
Just this picture is enough to sell Rebirth to me
byu/good223 inFFVIIRemake
The original Final Fantasy VII was one of the series’ strongest entries, and the most renowned and well-known one too. Thus, a complete remake of this game with an overhauled combat system was a pretty big deal. Especially since Square Enix planned multiple entries to adapt this gigantic game. And then when the first one came out, not only was it a visual feast, but highly creative combat-wise, too. It’s no wonder I and everyone else are so excited for Rebirth.
March Is Packed With Unicorn Overlord, Dragon’s Dogma 2, And The Legend Of Legacy
If you thought JRPGs stopped there, I have some news for you. March will be kicked off by Vanillaware, the creative minds behind Odin Sphere, Dragon’s Crown, and 13 Sentinels. The developer is back with Unicorn Overlord, a tactical RPG that can be traced back to 2014. The game is to be a throwback to the tactical RPGs of the 90s, yet aims to remain as distinct as possible. Vanillaware hasn’t missed before, and I hope it doesn’t now, either.
Next up, we have an entry that I’ve been hoping to become a reality long before it was announced. It’s none other than Dragon’s Dogma 2, the sequel to what’s probably Capcom’s most underrated game. It’s technically not a traditional JRPG, but it’s a lot more along the lines of how Final Fantasy 16 was. Regardless, Dragon’s Dogma was an adventure I always found extremely enjoyable, and I was beyond joyous when the sequel surfaced.
Dragon’s Dogma has now sold 6 million copies.
byu/Artistic-Reserve7662 inDragonsDogma
Last but certainly not least is a little treat for 3DS users: The Legend of Legacy. It was a turn-based JRPG from the 3DS era and was a rather peculiar adventure that left you on your own to discover what’s unique about it. It might not have been for everyone, but I enjoyed it and now it’s receiving an HD remaster for Switch, as well as PlayStation and PC platforms. I hope this time it gets more recognition than it did back then.
April Features Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
It seems the wait is finally over, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes has a release date now, and it arrive in April 2024. What’s the context behind this you say? Well, this is a project that’s a spiritual successor to the brilliant Suikoden series I and many others hold in high regard. The series creator Yoshitaka Murayama left Konami, and so did the majority of the original team, and the Suikoden was abandoned after a lackluster entry created without them.
Anyone else excited for Eiyuden Chronicles next year? The original Suikoden is my favorite game of all time
byu/StupidLullabies ingamecollecting
Murayama wished to create a spiritual successor for this beloved franchise and resorted to a Kickstarter campaign for the new Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. A glimpse in the form of a short game Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising was presented, but that was nothing compared to the actual product. Now, Hundred Heroes is about to release, and I must say the new sprites, combat, and overall presentation are looking super solid.
Metaphor ReFantazio, Dawntrail, Trails Through Daybreak, Visions Of Mana, All Have A 2024 Release
Until now, I’ve discussed games with concrete release dates. But that’s not even half of the year covered, there’s still a lot more from where that came from. 2024 has many more confirmed titles for the second half, and I’ll start things off with Metaphor ReFantazio. Atlus’s brand new IP that looks like a mix of its two major franchises also has a hybrid turn-based and action battle system, and honestly, I’m even more hyped for this than Persona 3.
Next up is Dawntrail. What is that you ask? It’s none other than the next expansion of the massive Final Fantasy 14, and it is also the DLC that will bring a complete overhaul of the game’s visuals. The trailer showed a glimpse of what Final Fantasy 14 is about to become, and it’s nothing short of a visual feast. Next up we have the beginning of the new Calvard Saga in the Legend of Heroes: Trails series, and it’s finally coming to the West.
Nihon Falcom games have always been special to me. I’ve gone through every main game of the developer extensively, and I can’t wait to experience what the next phase of the Legend of Heroes series holds. Moreover, we have a surprisingly great reboot of the Mana series. I’ll be honest with you, I wasn’t expecting this to be even half as good as it is, and now the next entry is upon us; it’s nothing short of fantastic news.
2024 Might Hold Even More JRPGs Than What We Know So Far
I’ve gone through all of these games and yet the list is nowhere near to being exhaustive. Goes to show how big of a feast 2024 is going to be for us JRPGs fans. However, it’s not only about the games that have been announced. What makes 2024 even more exciting is the possibility of how it could be packing a lot more than what we know. Not just games releasing this year, but also more info about all the yet undisclosed JRPGs.
Square Enix has both Kingdom Hearts 4 and Dragon Quest XII in development, but we know close to nothing about these two massive entries. There’s a very solid chance of one of these games releasing in late 2024. And even if it’s not released, we’re bound to get more information about them. The same is the case with all the unannounced games Atlus is working on. Who knows we might even get a Persona 6 trailer? (Please let it be true)
Dear Square Enix, I’m ready to add DQ XII to the collection.
byu/mikaifu_collector indragonquest
There’s also the PS5 exclusive Stellar Blade which presented a mindblowing trailer back in TGA and is looking like a very exciting adrenaline-fueled combat-fest. Although it has no release confirmed, there’s a high chance it’ll be making an appearance in 2024, and the possibility is enough to hype me up. Plus, there’s a lot more other than all these big names, stuff that has the potential to become a sleeper hit and surprise us all.
Verdict
I think after all this discussion, there’s nothing wrong in saying that JRPG fans are eating a feast in 2024. Not only is the year packed with solid releases one after the other, but it can hold the key to all the big names yet to be revealed. As a hardcore fan of the genre, I couldn’t be happier. Getting all these will suck my pocket dry I know, but things we do for love, am I right? I hope this genre continues to thrive in the years to come.
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