The slate of upcoming JRPG releases, from December 2023 and beyond, is star-studded. Aside from hotly-anticipated remakes, JRPG fans can look forward to brand-new titles from beloved developers. Series that fans thought would never see another installment will also get long-awaited sequels.
Games likePersona 3 ReloadedandDragon Quest Monsters: The Dark Princehave released extensive trailers to hype up their release. Others, such asTsurugihimeandRise of the Ronin, are light on the details as they are deep in development. But what’s clear is the next few months are big for JRPG fans, regardless of their favorite gameplay, themes, or art style.
Platform
Nintendo Switch
Dragon QuestMonsters: Dark Princeis the latest entry toDragon Quest’s monster-taming spin-off series. Players control demon prince Psaro, who is cursed with the inability to harm monsters. At the same time, his gift of monster synthesis can help him raise an army and become the Master of Monsterkind.
Dragon Questveterans may recognize Psaro as the villain ofDragon Quest 4. His first known companion, Rose, was his named lover in the same game. This has led to speculation that the game isa secret prequelto the fourth main title or the start of its reimagining.
TBA 2024
PlayStation 5
Team Ninja’s next PlayStation-exclusive title has been in development for more than seven years. The gorgeous, action-focused RPG takes place in the Bakumatsu period of Japan. Players will control a ronin, a masterless samurai, in an open world as the Tokugawa Shogunate struggles to maintain power.
Because of the era,players can expectthe use of firearms along with traditional katanas. As a ronin, they will also likely have a choice to side with or fight pro-imperial factions, anti-Tokugawa daimyo or lords, or Western imperialists.
TBA 2023
Level-5’s puzzle RPG puts players in the shoes of Detective Harvard as he solves crimes in a futuristic open world. Harvard must use VR and other immersive tech to conduct investigations and fight in a perfect simulation and the real world.
To solve crimes, Harvard must inspect crime scenes and gather evidence. Suspects must also be profiled and the case pieced together via the Case Board and evidence table. Once the culprit is identified, Harvard and his team must capture the target via turn-based combat.
Atlus
Platforms
Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
The modernPersonagames began withPersona 3in 2006. It was the first title in the series to introduce visual novel-style life and social sim elements, Social Links, 3D gameplay, and fully animated cutscenes.Its subsequent releasesalso added a playable epilogue and a female protagonist who had gender-exclusive routes and outcomes.
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Although Kotone Shiomi is currently absent inPersona 3 Reload, fans still have plenty to look forward to in this update. Quality of life improvements from later entriesand combat revamps, aside from obvious visual upgrades, will help reintroduce the game to new series fans.
Studio Zero
Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
Katsura Hashino, Shigenori Soejima, and Shoji Meguro of Atlus fame return forMetaphor: ReFantazio. This fantasy-based title features esoteric, high-fantasy concepts usually outside the modern post- and pre-apocalyptic style of theShin Megami Tenseiseries. As it is a collaboration with Studio Zero, the Atlus subsidiary behindCatherine, players can expect a mature cast and horror elements baked into it.
Metaphor: ReFantaziofollows the Traveling Boy as he gathers followers to become the king of a high fantasy world. Althoughdetails are sparseabout the story, the Sega-published game is centered around the concept of “utopia”. Crossing fantasy and reality is also explored through game mechanics and concepts that borrow heavily fromPersonaand otherShin Megami Tenseititles.
PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
Granblue Fantasy Relinktakes place in the Sky Realm of the original mobile game’s world. Players take charge of a man or woman whose father tells them to sail for a legendary island. But an encounter with a mysterious girl called Lyria sets the young explorer on a grander adventure.
Combat is action-based and skills vary from melee, ranged, to magic. Characters have multiple skill trees and execute link attacks and chain bursts that apply massive damage and effects. Online co-op is also possible for over 100 quests.
Windows
FormerFate/Grand Ordercreative director Yosuke Shiokawa and his company Fahrenheit 213 announcedTsurugihimeback in December. Theindie side-scrolling RPGcenters on the titular sword princess’ 100-day wait for the last battle. It’s up to the player how Tsurugihime will spend those days and what outcome they want to aspire to.
The game features an “ikusei” or raising aspect, playing into its promise of an RPG that “crafts” fate. Part of this crafting process is the customization of the “main character, sword, base Imouto (sister), and much more.”
Rabbit and Bear Studios
Nintendo Switch, Xbox Game Pass, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows
Suikodenfans have wanted a sequel similar to the first two games, even asSuikoden 3came out. Nearly 30 years later, fans will not only get aSuikoden 1 and 2remaster but also the crowdfunded spiritual successorEiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes.
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Villager Nowa and noble Seign are once friends pitted against each other by political conflict and the discovery of an ancient weapon. As Nowa, players can recruit 110 characters to build their fortress and party. Combat follows the classic six-character, turn-based format but employs an ability-linking system with environment-determined modifiers.
The first part of theFinal Fantasy 7 Remaketrilogy shocked fans withits reimagined timeline. In the original timeline, leaving Midgar entails Aerith’s death at the end of disc 1. However, all bets are off inRebirthwith Zack’s presence, Sephiroth and his clones’ early appearance, and the sinister Ominous Shadows.
Speculation is rampant on which events will make the cut. What’s certain is it will feature the Kalm flashback, possibly two parallel worlds dependent on who lives or dies, and Zack’s role in a story he originally had no part in.
