In the world of role-playing games, there are two main categories: RPGs and JRPGs. While RPGs have originated from the West, JRPGs are Japan’s unique take on the genre. They share a common interest in hit points and intricate fantasy stories, but JRPGs bring their own distinct style and attitude to the table.
There are other noteworthy JRPG franchises such as Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest that have made their mark. The exciting part is that you can now enjoy all of these popular franchises on your iPhone or iPad.
So, gear up, fellow adventurers, as we unravel the enchanting tapestry of the best JRPGs waiting to be discovered on your iPhone and iPad, offering a portal to unforgettable experiences like no other.
Table of Contents
Final Fantasy IX
FFIX is one of the best game in the Final Fantasy franchise developed by Square Soft. You will love the remastered version even though the price is of console’s.
The game is set in the diverse and fantasy-rich world of Gaia and is characterized by its innovative blend of 3D environments and traditional 2D sprite-based character designs. The story, often praised for its depth and emotional resonance, follows the adventures of Zidane Tribal, a skilled thief, and his companions as they grapple with themes of identity, love, and the nature of existence itself. Final Fantasy IX harkens back to the series’ roots with medieval-inspired settings while featuring the spellbinding storytelling and polished gameplay systems that are hallmarks of the franchise.
The iOS port, in particular, takes the already impressive game and enhances it, making it arguably even superior to fan-favorite Final Fantasy VII. With updated graphics that maintain the original’s charm while enhancing its presentation and a touch-based control scheme that feels intuitive and smooth, the game seamlessly adapts to the mobile platform. It also includes several quality-of-life features, such as no random encounters mode and high-speed mode, which allow players to tailor their gaming experience to their preferences.
The World Ends with You: Solo Remix
The World Ends with You: Solo Remix is a dynamic and addictive role-playing game, lauded by The New York Times as one of the best RPGs ever designed. Developed by Square Enix, the game makes a grand appearance on iOS, bringing with it a captivating new combat system, stunning HD artwork, and numerous exciting features that appeal to both new players and seasoned fans of the series. Set in a vividly depicted Tokyo district, Shibuya, the game places you in the shoes of a boy named Neku who finds himself caught up in the enigmatic and high-stakes Reaper’s Game, battling for survival over the course of seven days.
With gameplay featuring psychic superpowers, the game’s combat system is intuitive and engaging. The “psychs” abilities can be activated through simple touch commands such as tapping, slashing, and dragging, making combat a thrilling experience. The revamped Fusion system allows for enhancing item drops, adding another layer to the tactical gameplay. Beyond the main storyline, the game offers deep replay value, unlocking a humorous bonus chapter, additional quests and items, new combat challenges, and secret reports that enrich the story.
The World Ends with You: Solo Remix is not just a game but a living, breathing virtual world. It reflects the real-life Shibuya district in Tokyo, combining elements of reality with a hip fantasy twist, creating a vibrant, immersive environment. Its presentation benefits immensely from redrawn artwork and Retina display support, resulting in a visually stunning gaming experience.
The game also boasts a phenomenal soundtrack of 60 songs by composer Takeharu Ishimoto, incorporating high-quality audio, full vocals, and even new songs. This immersive audiovisual presentation complements the gameplay, making The World Ends with You: Solo Remix a standout RPG on the iOS platform.
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is hailed as one of the finest Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) ever made, featuring an enthralling time-traveling plot and exceptional combat mechanics. The recently upgraded port enhances its experience, making it even more enjoyable than before.
One of its key features is the Active Time Battle Version 2, a dynamic combat system where time doesn’t stop during battles. Players can input commands once a character’s gauge is full, and strategic decision-making becomes critical as enemies’ positions change over time.
The combat in Chrono Trigger is further enriched with the introduction of ‘Tech’ moves and combos. Characters can unleash special abilities or magic, and combine these to execute unique combo attacks. The game boasts over 50 different types of combos that can be executed between two and three characters, adding a layer of depth and strategy to the combat system.
The game features two distinctive dungeons: the ‘Dimensional Vortex’, an ever-changing dungeon that exists outside of space and time, and the ‘Lost Sanctum’, accessible through enigmatic gates in prehistoric and medieval times. Both dungeons provide unique challenges and the opportunity to uncover long-lost secrets.
The game preserves the original’s captivating atmosphere while introducing higher-resolution graphics. The sound and music, supervised by composer Yasunori Mitsuda, have been updated to provide an even more immersive gameplay experience.
Dragon Quest VIII
Dragon Quest VIII, originally released in 2004 for PlayStation 2, is an enchanting installment in the long-standing Dragon Quest franchise. This game is heralded for its charming narrative that unfolds in a richly detailed world brimming with memorable characters and unique monsters. The story revolves around the Hero, who, alongside his band of charismatic companions, embarks on a quest to lift a malicious curse inflicted by the wicked Dhoulmagus. The turn-based combat system and character progression mechanics, intrinsic to the franchise, are well-executed, providing satisfying gameplay throughout the journey.
This game stands out for its breathtaking animation and art style, which is further enhanced in its mobile adaptation. Undeniably, Dragon Quest VIII may be one of the most visually delightful JRPGs on mobile. The developers went the extra mile to ensure the game’s lush environments, designed by renowned manga artist Akira Toriyama, and its fluid animations transitioned gracefully to the small screen. Additionally, the game’s transition to portrait mode for mobile is noteworthy. It offers easier, one-handed play without sacrificing the integrity of the game’s beautiful visuals or complex gameplay mechanics.
Lunar Silver Star Story Touch
Lunar Silver Star Story Touch” is a reincarnation of the much-loved RPG classic, set in the enchanting world of Lunar. The game revolves around a young village lad, Alex, whose admiration for the legendary Dragonmaster Dyne ignites his aspiration to follow in Dyne’s footsteps. As Alex embarks on a supposedly simple quest alongside his friend Ramus, his pet Nall, and his adoptive sister Luna, they are unsuspectingly drawn into a grand saga. The looming threat of the Magic Emperor and the fate of Lunar provide a compelling narrative backdrop to this adventure, paying homage to traditional RPG storytelling with its rich mythology and colorful cast of characters.
SoMoGa has brought a commendable iOS adaptation of this treasured title, equipping it with a host of enhancements that not only cater to the platform’s strengths but also significantly improve the user experience. The game boasts nearly an hour of animated cut scenes that bring the story to life in vivid detail, bolstered by a remastered soundtrack brimming with high-quality music and voice tracks.
A fully updated interface tailors gameplay to iOS devices, offering intuitive controls and seamless navigation. The retinal artwork and widescreen gameplay are visually striking, complementing the immersive narrative and gameplay experience.
With game controller support and more, the game has been revamped to match the expectations of modern gamers while retaining its classic charm.
Final Fantasy Dimensions
Final Fantasy Dimensions is a charming mobile addition to the esteemed Final Fantasy franchise. A noteworthy aspect of this release is its international availability, bringing this entrancing world to a wider audience. The game proudly embraces its legacy by featuring beautiful 2D pixel art and a battle system rooted in job change-based character growth and ability combinations.
This RPG experience is nicely wrapped in a captivating narrative of light, darkness, and crystals. The game brilliantly merges nostalgic elements with contemporary enhancements, delivering an experience that’s both familiar and novel for Final Fantasy fans.
One of the game’s significant features is the Chiptune Arrange functionality, which allows players to switch the background music using chiptune versions of the tracks. This adds an additional layer of customization, fostering a deeper immersion into the game’s world.
Moreover, players have the opportunity to experiment with arranging several background songs in Chiptune before deciding to purchase the functionality. This user-centric feature signifies the game’s commitment to providing a personalized experience for players.
Final Fantasy Dimensions strikes a successful balance between nostalgia and innovation. It appeals to classic Final Fantasy fans through its use of 2D pixel art and a job-based growth system, while also incorporating modernized visuals and sound, and the ability to customize the gaming experience.
VALKYRIE PROFILE: LENNETH
Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth intricately blends the fates of gods and mortals with the rich backdrop of Norse mythology. The game, which marks the beginning of the Valkyrie Profile franchise, offers an evocative narrative that unfolds through intertwined tales, providing players with an immersive gaming experience.
It features groundbreaking combat mechanics, enabling exhilarating combos and special attacks, thus providing deep, action-packed gameplay. Moreover, the game’s replayability is enhanced by multiple endings, which are dictated by the player’s actions and choices.
The mythos of the game is deeply entrenched in the lore of Norse mythology. It imagines a universe where Midgard, the world of mortals, and Asgard, the realm of celestial beings, exist. These worlds coexist peacefully until a simple feud escalates into a divine war, seeping into the mortal realm and signaling the apocalypse. This mythical conflict forms the central theme of the game and drives its compelling narrative.
Enhanced features and ease of gameplay make Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth a more accessible experience for players. The timeless soundtrack by Motoi Sakuraba further elevates the gaming experience, weaving together the narrative and gameplay into a mesmerizing symphony.
It’s not just a game, but a journey through an intricately crafted universe where every battle is thrilling and every narrative thread contributes to a grander story. If you’re a fan of games steeped in mythology with riveting combat and compelling storytelling, Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth deserves your attention.
Final Fantasy All the Bravest
Final Fantasy All The Bravest is a casual, light-hearted game that takes place in the classic universe of the Final Fantasy series, offering players the opportunity to engage in the franchise’s most extensive battles yet.
The game’s mechanics are straightforward yet engaging, requiring players to combat a variety of recognizable enemies to progress through multiple stages. As players level up, they can expand their party with more characters, while the battle system which involves touching or dragging on characters to launch attacks, ensures fast-paced and exciting combat.
Unique to the game is the ‘Fever’ function, allowing players to attack continuously without the need to wait for ATB gauges to refill, offering an adrenaline-filled experience every few hours.
Serving as a trip down memory lane for longtime fans, the game is characterized by pixel art and music reminiscent of previous titles in the series. Progressing through the game unlocks over 20 classic jobs, each carrying its unique abilities.
Notably, the game includes over 30 musical themes from the series, making for a fitting soundtrack to your battles. The game also keeps track of every character, enemy, and item you collect in in-game catalogs, adding a collecting and completionist aspect to the experience.
The game cleverly integrates social networking features and leaderboards, fostering a sense of competition and community among players while also encouraging them to share their progress.
The in-game shop offers a range of premium characters from a variety of Final Fantasy titles, alongside additional game stages from Final Fantasy VII, X, and XIII. Each purchase introduces new, random characters in their original pixel art form and expands the player’s adventure and collection opportunities.
While its casual nature might not appeal to everyone, Final Fantasy All The Bravest succeeds in blending nostalgia, engaging gameplay, and a sense of progression, making it a joyful experience for both series veterans and newcomers alike.
Battle Chasers: Nightwar
Even though Battle Chasers isn’t of Japanese origin, it profoundly echoes the golden age of JRPGs. The game assimilates the essence of the genre and prunes away much of the needless repetition.
Battle Chasers: Nightwar is an RPG game that finds its roots in classic console games, marrying rich storytelling with deep gameplay mechanics. The story unfolds around a young girl named Gully on her journey to find her missing father, Aramus, with the aid of five unique heroes.
These characters, drawn from the Battle Chasers comic series, bring a wealth of abilities, perks, and skills to navigate through dungeons. The game’s mechanics include turn-based combat, offering an interesting blend of strategic encounters reminiscent of traditional JRPGs, and a fascinating overcharge mana system along with Battle Bursts.
Exploration is another key element of Battle Chasers: Nightwar. The game world is immense and loaded with hidden dungeons, rare bosses, and unpredictably appearing allies and enemies, encouraging players to dive deep into its dark forests, icy regions, and hostile arenas.
A unique feature is the action-oriented, randomly-generated dungeons filled with traps, puzzles, and secrets, making every dive a new experience. These environments demand the use of each hero’s unique skills to survive, emphasizing the significance of strategic party formation.
Crafting and survival mechanics further add to the game’s depth. Players can customize their heroes with craftable weapons, armor, and magical jewelry, thanks to the game’s comprehensive crafting system and a unique ingredient-overloading mechanic.
Moreover, with a wide array of enemy types, including bandits, beasts, demons, and more, synergy amongst the heroes’ efforts is crucial for survival. The absence of ads enhances the gaming experience.
Genshin Impact
Genshin Impact, developed by miHoYo, showcases its Japanese Role-Playing Game (JRPG) heritage prominently while masterfully integrating elements from modern gaming. Despite being a Chinese-made game, it wonderfully encapsulates the essence of JRPGs, blending an immersive world akin to “Breath of the Wild” with contemporary gacha mechanics, which explains its global popularity.
At the core of Genshin Impact is a sprawling, highly detailed world teeming with lush landscapes, mysterious dungeons, and exotic creatures. The game draws comparisons with “Breath of the Wild” due to its open-world design and the player’s ability to interact with virtually every element in this world. This compelling environment encourages exploration and immerses players in its diverse biomes, making it a visually arresting and engaging experience.
The game successfully marries its world design with gacha mechanics, a system where players can spend in-game or real-world currency to receive random virtual items. This fusion adds a layer of unpredictability and excitement to the game, driving engagement.
While the gacha elements could have been a drawback, Genshin Impact handles it elegantly, balancing the mechanics so it doesn’t overshadow the core gameplay. As a result, it offers a balanced, rich, and satisfying gaming experience, explaining its meteoric rise in popularity.
