10 Must-Play JRPGs To Try If You Love Open-World Games

JRPGs and open worlds don’t typically go together, but there are a handful out there that marry these two wonderful genres to create immersive experiences unlike any other. Traditionally, JRPGs are more linear, guiding players through emotionally charged narratives about defeating a great evil. However, occasionally, developers experiment with the genre, introducing new elements and, in some cases, open worlds or zones.

Open-world experiences give players a greater appreciation for the worlds they are inhabiting, such as the floating titans of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 or the densely packed and detailed streets of the Like a Dragon franchise. They can elevate the gameplay experience while heightening the stakes of the core narrative, easily turning a handful of JRPGs into some of the best open-world games of all time. Fortunately, for those who prefer to only play open-world games, there are plenty of JRPGs that match their interests.

10 Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist Of The End & The Secret Key (Gust)

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, PC

Developer Gust revolutionized the Atelier franchise with the release of the first Atelier Ryza game. Since then, it has expanded on the formula, introducing new characters, enemies, and new mechanics. In the case of the third game, Atelier Ryza 3: Alchemist of the End & the Secret Key, the evolution was open zones.

These expansive areas opened up the game significantly, allowing players to explore vast landscapes that had previously felt more like linear corridors. This also made scavenging for resources more enjoyable. Fortunately, while the third game does require some knowledge of the previous entries, it also works as a standalone experience for those who would rather skip the linear games in the series.

9 Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels Of The Starry Sky (Level 5)

Platforms: Nintendo DS

Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Sky took the traditional open-world formula of JRPGs and expanded upon it greatly. Its overworld is packed full of detail, making it a genuine joy to explore, helped further by the introduction of the Starflight Express train in the late game, as well as the ship a little earlier. Additionally, the lack of random encounters ensures that exploration never feels like a slog.

Perhaps the greatest aspect of Dragon Quest 9: Sentinels of the Starry Sky’s world is that it can be explored in co-op mode. Running around DQ9‘s world with a friend never gets old and makes it one of the greatest multiplayer open-world games, certainly on the DS. DQ9 may be a little harder to get into now, thanks to being locked to the Nintendo DS, but it’s still a worthwhile experience that brings together a classic JRPG story with a great open world.

8 Final Fantasy 15 (Square Enix)

Platforms: PlayStation 4, Xbox One, PC

Final Fantasy 15 is more of a modern open-world JRPG. It lacks the loading screens that came with transitioning from overworlds to locations in traditional JRPGs, and players can freely go from one side of the map to the next at any point. There are some exceptions, especially in the late game, when it becomes more linear, but for the most part, Final Fantasy 15 is a truly modern open-world experience.

What makes Final Fantasy 15 stand apart from other open-world games is its focus on the journey. It is a game about journeying with friends, taking photos together, camping at night, sharing stories, and just generally going on a surprisingly fun road trip, despite the stakes involved in the central narrative. For a gorgeous and more modern open-world experience, Final Fantasy 15 is absolutely the way to go.

7 Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (Square Enix)

Platforms: PlayStation 5

Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth took all the lessons learned from Final Fantasy 15 and created more condensed yet nevertheless expansive open zones full of side content. With several distinct regions to visit, each brimming with life and activities, there’s plenty for the budding open-world enthusiast to do. It helps, too, that Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth‘s open world is absolutely gorgeous and easily one of the best-looking open-world JRPGs, if not the best.

FF7 Rebirth reimagined the classic overworld of Final Fantasy 7 as a more modern open-world experience. It’s filled with minigames and side quests for players to complete, as well as enemies and bosses to defeat. It truly redefined the world of Final Fantasy 7 in a way never before thought possible.

6 Dragon Quest 8: Journey Of The Cursed King (Level 5)

Platforms: PlayStation 2, Nintendo 3DS, Android, iOS

Dragon Quest 8 isn’t a traditional open-world, but it does take the overworld format and make it feel more akin to modern open-world titles. It is split between a 3D overworld that players can explore at their own pace, filled with optional areas, and a more traditional overworld when traveling by sea and in other instances. Players can also freely travel back to previously visited towns, making it feel far more open than it seems initally.

For those who prefer a slightly smaller open world, Dragon Quest 8 will be the perfect fit. While it certainly shows its age in some respects, DQ8 has many amazing qualities, including its colorful cast of characters and epic narrative. It’s fair to say there’s a good reason why DQ8 is considered so iconic by JRPG fans across the world.

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5 Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance (Atlus)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S

Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengence is the remastered version of SMT 5, which promises better visuals, a whole new storyline, and several new quality-of-life improvements. Fortunately, the incredible semi-open-world structure from the original is kept intact. This sees players exploring expansive areas of the wonderful and terrifying world of Shin Megami Tensei 5.

SMT 5 is an open-zone game, much like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth or the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise. These zones are gorgeously detailed, and packed full of optional content for players to engage with. For anyone who loves thrilling storytelling and exploring dense environments, Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengence will be a welcome surprise.

4 Dragon’s Dogma 2 (Capcom)

Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, PC

Dragon’s Dogma 2, like Final Fantasy 15, is all about the journey. It is a game built around exploring its open world accompanied by loyal companions called Pawns. It’s a truly immersive experience, one that sees the actions of players and their Pawns deeply affect the world around them.

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It’s easy to see how Dragon’s Dogma 2 has one of the most alive-feeling open worlds. It is the small details, such as encountering random Pawns while exploring, and emergent events, such as an ogre and dragon appearing at the same time and fighting each other, that make it such a joy to explore. This is by far the most immersive open-world JRPG.

3 Xenoblade Chronicles X (Monolith Soft)

Platforms: Wii U

While the majority of the Xenoblade Chronicles franchise has stuck to open zones, Xenoblade Chronicles X is a truly open-world game. Players can fly from one edge of the map in a giant mech suit or walk with their allies and take in the varied sights. Xenoblade Chronicles X‘s open world is also surprisingly vertical, ensuring it never feels like a single flat expanse.

There are clear comparisons between Breath of the Wild and Xenoblade Chronicles X, as both revolutionized their franchises with true open worlds and a greater focus on exploration. In fact, Xenoblade Chronicles X has a more varied and dynamic open world coupled with a far more involved storyline than BOTW. So, for those looking for the complete open-world JRPG package, Xenoblade Chronicles X is the perfect game.

2 Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio)

Platforms: PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC

While most JRPGs tend to skew more towards the fantastical side, the Like a Dragon series, which takes huge inspiration from the Dragon Quest games, is more grounded, at least in terms of its locations. In the most recent entry, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, players can explore areas of Yokohama, Tokyo, and Honolulu. It’s by far the biggest entry in both the Like a Dragon/Yakuza series, bringing together past locations and introducing new ones.

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Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth takes many of the best elements of the franchise’s past, expands on them, and adds more into sheer brilliance.

Like all good open-world games, there’s a plethora of minigames, side content, and fights to get into while exploring. However, it’s worth noting that while Infinite Wealth can technically be played without playing at least the other Like a Dragon game, players will struggle to understand every reference. Fortunately, the open world is so good that it more than makes up for the potential narrative confusion.

1 Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (Monolith Soft)

Platforms: Nintendo Switch

For those searching for open-world JRPGs on the Nintendo Switch, look no further than Xenoblade Chronicles 3. While split into open zones, XBC3’s maps are so expansive they each feel like they could be their own open-world games. Each zone is also diverse in its biomes, with players venturing from fantastical deserts to verdant green valleys without a loading screen in between.

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Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is a culmination of lessons learned from developer Monolith Soft’s past projects, and a best-in-class JRPG that’s a must-play.

It helps that Xenoblade Chronicles 3‘s open world is very vertical, allowing players to get amazing views of the areas they’ve just explored down below. While the war-torn areas of XBC3 are perhaps not as wondrous as Xenoblade Chronicles 2’s titans, they are far bigger. Xenoblade Chronicles 3 isn’t just one of the best JRPGs on the Nintendo Switch, but easily one of the best open-world games.