Seth Parmer is a Staff Writer at TheGamer and has been working in the industry since 2014. He previously worked as a freelance Wikis Editor over at IGN and is an expert at all things in the JRPG, Fighting, Soulslike, and FFXIV spaces. Seth has tackled hundreds of guides over the course of his tenure, ranging from basic guides to in-depth boss encounters, and has also offered many informative, highly opinionated listicles. Additionally, he received many excellent titles ahead of release for guides, with Square Enix’s Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, Bandai Namco’s Tekken 8, and Neople’s The First Berserker: Khazan being exciting highlights in his seasoned repertoire.

JRPGs are home to some of the best games in the industry, offering heartwarming tales, tense gameplay, and even the best characters that can push the narrative to greater heights. So, when people dismiss an entire genre due to the length - while understandable - we feel they're missing out and should at least dip their toe into the shorter offerings.

Updated on April 3, 2025, by Seth Parmer: It has been a hot minute since we last touched this list, so we decided to revisit it and add five more games into the mix that are must-plays for anyone looking for shorter JRPG experiences. We also overhauled the rest of the list to bring it in line with our modern standards, providing even more information to you across the board for every entry!

20 Paper Mario

The original Paper Mario is still one of the best, easy-going JRPGs of all time and has endless charm and lovable characters. Additionally, the game's reflex-based combat system offers a fun, new twist on the classic turn-based gameplay, making each encounter feel engaging and fresh.

While not the most complex JRPG out there, Paper Mario is one of the Nintendo 64's best games and should absolutely be experienced by anyone who has yet to fall down its surprisingly deep and excellent rabbit hole. It takes roughly 24 hours to roll credits on Paper Mario, which is nothing nowadays, especially when you can now play it on your Switch.

19 Eternal Sonata

If you're looking for something with tremendous music and fantastic gameplay, then you must check out Eternal Sonata, an underrated title published by Bandai Namco on the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 platforms. While it will take roughly 30 hours to complete, it is time well spent.

Eternal Sonata is developed by tri-Cescendo, who you may recognize from Blue Dragon: Awakened Shadow. While the story is nothing to write home about, everything else is very solid, making it worth checking out if you have the means to, since it is locked away on older hardware!

18 Lost Kingdoms

Before Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, Activision published a couple of other games of FromSoftware's: Lost Kingdoms and its sequel Lost Kingdoms 2. However, these releases were just before Hidetaka Miyazaki joined the team, changing the company's trajectory forever. Still, Lost Kingdoms is one of the most unique GameCube releases and is a card-based action JRPG with real-time combat.

Though Lost Kingdoms is seemingly forever locked away on the Nintendo GameCube, it may be worth getting your hands on if you want to get a feel for what FromSoftware was up to before Miyazaki steered the ship. This game runs roughly six and a half hours long and follows Katia, the princess of the kingdom and protagonist of the story.

17 Okage: Shadow King

Okage: Shadow King is a game filled with quirky and fun characters that will have you quickly grow attached to as you progress through its fascinating story. While the combat is a bit rough overall, it's tolerable, which may not be much of a selling point as the game is roughly 25 hours long.

However, if you love unique and well-written characters and love stories in JRPGs, you should still check out Okage: Shadow King, as there is still lots here to love and respect. It's also available on the PlayStation 5, making it readily available on modern platforms!

16 Chrono Trigger

When it comes to classic JRPG titles, Chrono Trigger is considered one of the best ways to introduce someone into the genre due to its gorgeous pixel art, incredible soundtrack, and fascinating world. The game's length makes matters even better, which only runs roughly around 26 hours to complete (or a tad longer if you like poking around the world).

The only downside is that Chrono Trigger is absent from most current-gen consoles, even with backward compatibility, making it only readily available on Steam, smartphones, and the Nintendo DS. We hope it will make its way onto the Nintendo Switch Online service or back onto the PlayStation Store in the near future.

15 Earthbound

Earthbound, AKA Mother 2, likely needs no introduction here, as it is one of the most well-known and highly praised titles in the genre, making it a must-play if you have yet to experience it. While it is still around a decent 30 hours to complete, that time will pass you by quickly once you're locked in.

Thanks to the Nintendo Switch Online service, you can also play this masterpiece on modern hardware, which is nice to see, considering many of the titles here don't have that privilege. Whether you've played it in the past or have yet to play it, we strongly recommend diving into Earthbound, as it still holds up tremendously well!

14 The World Ends With You: Final Remix

Another classic Square Enix JRPG is The World Ends With You, beloved by its fans for its dark story, incredible characters, killer soundtrack, and unique combat. Getting through the main story will only take roughly 17 hours, or up to 26 hours if you like doing side activities, making it pretty doable for newcomers.

Additionally, the "Final Remix" version is available on the Switch, offering exclusive levels and revamped music. And, if you happen to fall in love with The World Ends With You (as many will), check out its sequel NEO: The World End With You, which delivers more of the same emotional story, great characters, and an exhilarating soundtrack that matches perfectly with the gameplay (though, it is a tad bit longer).

13 Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete

Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete is a remake of the original Lunar: Silver Star released in 1992 and comes rife with many improvements to the top-down JRPG epic. The story follows a young boy named Alex who wants to become an adventurer like his role model, Dyne. One of the main draws to this game and series, in general, is the relatable cast of characters that join Alex on his journey.

Due to the remake's added scenarios and other niceties, Lunar: Silver Star Story Complete will take about 30 hours to roll credits. Even greater news is that you get to experience all of this and other entries in the series in the upcoming Lunar Remastered Collection on April 18th of this year!

12 Ys: Memories of Celceta

The long-running Ys series is oddly underrated despite it being so beloved by its fans, with Memories of Celceta being an installment that the community has split opinions about when it comes to its story and, admittedly, outdated visuals. Still, even with those setbacks, Ys: Memories of Celceta has genuinely impressive gameplay that still holds up.

If you ever considered diving into a Ys title, you cannot go wrong with Memories of Celceta and its near 28-hour runtime. It may not be the perfect JRPG on the market, but it is absurdly fun and is worth your investment in that aspect alone. You can find Ys: Memories of Celceta on the PlayStation 4 and Vita, as well as on Steam.

11 Live A Live

Live A Live is one of the more unique JRPGs out there, taking you through seven unique scenarios while following Odio, the game's protagonist. While each scenario is different, they all link into one another, creating a very solid experience from beginning to end.

It will take roughly 25 hours to complete, and thanks to its recent remake, you can now enjoy it on the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 4 and 5. If you're looking for a unique and charming JRPG, then look no further than Live A Live, as it is truly remarkable and holds up nicely today!