Though it isn't as beloved as its predecessor, the original PlayStation classic Chrono Cross has finally been given a facelift in the form of the Radical Dreamers Edition remaster. This could be a great way to bring the game to a modern audience with its quality-of-life features, and perhaps open up more fans to other JRPGs.
They might not be the biggest blockbusters, but the subgenre is still alive and well with plenty of games to suit players' tastes. There are other games similar to Chrono Cross more than worth checking out that range from nostalgic classics like Final Fantasy to other modern greats.
Chrono Trigger
The aforementioned original is a beloved classic for longtime JRPG fans in general, as Square Enix's Chrono Trigger was a landmark video game from the 16-bit era. It made its big splash on the Super Nintendo before being ported over to the PlayStation and other systems elsewhere, garnering a massive level of acclaim.
The game was favorably stacked against other titans of its time like Final Fantasy VI for its sprawling fantasy story, characters, streamlined gameplay, and enhanced sprite-based graphics. Chrono Trigger was wrapped up in the iconic art direction of Dragon Ball creator and Dragon Quest art designer Akira Toriyama, though, it's modernly accessible only on PC and mobile.
Final Fantasy IV (3D Remake)
It's impossible not to look into Square Enix's flagship JRPG franchise when looking for a similar experience, and IV features one of the best Final Fantasy stories. Final Fantasy IV was somewhat of a revolutionary for its time, as it fleshed out its world with more engrossing high-fantasy stories, characters worth investing in, and what would become gameplay staples like the Active Time Battle system that helped make the likes of VII the success that it was.
The game is available both as the recent Pixel Remaster PC release and the 3D remake, also available on Steam. Players can't go wrong with either, but the 3D remake's art style is more reminiscent of the Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition remaster.
Final Fantasy VIII Remastered
Final Fantasy VIII was a rare example of a game that achieved critical acclaim and fan divisiveness, all at the same time. Part of it might, unfortunately, be due to coming off the back of the phenomenon that VII was before it, but part of it also came from its complex-to-a-fault gameplay mechanics that felt jarring for series fans.
In this sense, it has something in common with Chrono Cross: The Radical Dreamers Edition, as it, too, sparked a degree of controversy for feeling like such a departure from its predecessor. Nonetheless, it still measures up as one of the best Final Fantasy games thanks to its resonating story and rewarding character arcs. In of accessibility, the remaster on PS4, XBO, Switch, and PC is the best version to play.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath Of The White Witch Remastered
Though a bit more obscure, Bandai Namco and Level-5's Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is an excellent game on its own . The game was one of the best JRPGs to come out of the PS3 generation and was critically praised for its visuals, touching fantasy story, and an inventive blend of real-time action and turn-based combat.
The game's story and art style are heavily inspired by Studio Ghibli's anime movies, with the studio even animating its cut scenes. Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch's down-to-earth, coming-of-age story is hard to not be emotionally invested in, and the PS4 and PC remaster is a great way to experience it today. A more standard port is also available on the Nintendo Switch.
Final Fantasy IX
The likes of Final Fantasy VI and VII are two of the most popular picks among veteran franchise fans for all-time-great status, but IX surely s them in that overall tier. While prior games received similar critical acclaim, IX was a return to form in a way for some fans. VI, VII, and VIII all ventured harder into sci-fi elements for their worlds, and IX took things back to a nostalgic high-fantasy setting.
Likewise, it was lauded for its emotional story, comionate characters, and refined gameplay mechanics. It's one of the best Final Fantasy games for beginners, and the modern systems it's currently available on are Switch, PS4, XBO, and PC.
Trials Of Mana
Secret of Mana was a cult-classic JRPG from the Super Nintendo days, and while its remake turned out to be disappointing to many, the remake of Trials of Mana saw some improvement. The original version was never released outside of Japan, making this a great opportunity for western audiences to try it.
Trials of Mana had an innovative feature for the time of its original release, using six playable protagonists with questlines that eventually converge to find the Mana Sword and defeat a global threat. It uses an action-based combat system that should be welcome to newcomers, even if the game overall is a bit simplistic. The Trials of Mana remake is available on Switch, PS4, and PC.
Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom
After the acclaim of the first game on the PS3, Level-5 followed up successfully with the sequel Revenant Kingdom. Like its predecessor, Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom features an emotionally investing story, this time about a child prince setting out to build his own kingdom after being usurped from his original.
This sequel leans harder into real-time action for its combat mechanics, as well as introducing a kingdom-builder minigame. Those that enjoyed the first game should have no problems being immersed in the sequel. Revenant Kingdom is available on PS4, Switch, and PC.
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes Of An Elusive Age - Definitive Edition
It may not be on the same level of international fame as Final Fantasy, but Square Enix's Dragon Quest franchise is another giant of the JRPG subgenre and the biggest in Japan. Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age was a major milestone for the long-running series, with the game greatly expanding the scope of its world and gaining more popularity westward.
Though some fans might feel the visuals took too conservative of an approach, the general art style still translated well onto more powerful hardware. Likewise, its vintage fantasy storytelling and use of traditional turn-based combat were also praised. The Definitive Edition of DQXI is available on Switch, PS4, XBO, and PC.
EarthBound
On a delightfully weirder note, the cult-classic EarthBound is another great JRPG for fans to try out. It's certainly the most different of the games featured, including Chrono Cross, but it's a hidden gem that shares the retro era of the subgenre. EarthBound follows Ness and his friends on a quest to defeat a cosmic entity hellbent on conquering Earth.
Playing this after Chrono Cross would make for an interesting JRPG experience, as EarthBound uses its intentionally whimsical art style and clever humor to subvert genre tropes. EarthBound is finally available again one modern hardware through the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service.
Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition
Nintendo and Monolith Soft forged their own JRPG contender in the form of the Xenoblade Chronicles series. This series is an off-shoot of the wider Xeno franchise that started on the original PlayStation, but Monolith's first Xenoblade Chronicles put it down the path of being a regular triple-A title for the Japanese publisher.
The original Nintendo Wii release was acclaimed for making a compelling sci-fi/fantasy hybrid story out of what's normally considered a standard premise, as well as featuring an expansive open world filled with engaging main and side-quest content. Monolith recently developed a remastered Definitive Edition of the game for the Switch.
