Summary
JRPGs are too broad and diverse a genre to have many tropes that can define every game within it, at least not without the caveat that there are many, many titles that break away from any given archetype. There are even some exceptions to the core rules of this genre that really helped get its start in the 80s and 90s, such as the emphasis on long, expansive stories or intricate party building. Many games in this genre are set in high fantasy worlds, but some take a spininto urban fantasyor sci-fi universes instead.
There are plenty of JRPGs that escape any kind of boxed-in definition, however, leaving players toexplore branching pathsin mysterious worlds or discover secrets in a setting unlike any other. Some games still shed the facade of swords and spells in favor of more…effective equipment, let’s say. For these JRPGs, might and magic might be good, and the power of friendship might be great, but it’s guns that will end up winning the day.
Looping back around to the traditions and styles of the firstValkyria Chronicles, the fourth installment in this series is an excellent way for new fans to engage with the world ofValkyria Chronicleswhile veterans (ha) of the series will be equally pleased with the return to form.
This is a coming-of-age war story mirroring the aesthetics of World War 2. Guns in this game are like what swords, axes, and spears are inFire Emblem.There’s a satisfying and tactile response to every attack that lets players feel the weight of the gun or, in some cases,of the tank, that they are currently using.
Standing among some of the hardest games in the series,Shin Megami Tensei 4:Apocalypseis an incredibly engaging and gritty JRPG that pulls no punches with its story or its combat, forcing players to make tough decisions to survive.
There’s a mercenary culture to the world ofApocalypse,which means guns are never in short supply. This isn’t likeVengeancewhere the player has godlike powers on their side - Nanashi will need to pack some firepower and shoot some demons if he wants to live.
Perhaps the most significantFinal Fantasytitle due to its widespread recognition, and definitely one ofthe best in the series, few games manage to have the same incredible worldbuilding and emotional narrative asFinal Fantasy 7.
This game has an incredibly unique ‘industrial urban fantasy’ setting that lets Cloud get away with wielding a colossal sword while Vincent uses swift pistols and Barrett has an entire gattling gun attached to his arm.
The Nihon Falcom library of games is host tosome truly incredible titles, and the first chapter in theTrails in the Skyseries stands as a fantastic introduction to this incredibly unique JRPG world and the stories that lie within it.
Each character in this title has a weapon type associated with them - and while Olivier uses the lighter variant of guns, players can also use the character Tita, who wields colossal canon-like implements in battle.
A Gun-Focused JRPG Classic
Wild Arms
Experience Wild Arms originally released on the PlayStation® console, enhanced with up-rendering, rewind, quick save, and custom video filters.A warrior, a princess and a rogue cross the wastelands of Filgaia on a quest for ancient relics that may save this brave new world – a world where legends become reality.Join Jack van Burace, Princess Cecilia and Rudy Roughnight as they heed the call of the mythic Guardians to defend the lands from the evil Metal Demons.With a story that spans centuries, breathtaking combat arenas and fully customizable options, Wild Arms launched on PlayStation® in Japan in 1996, and now you can relive the original role-playing adventure that spawned a much-loved series.This title has been converted from the PlayStation® version to the PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®5 consoles and provides newly added features. Consequently, there may be times where the title plays differently from the PlayStation® version, or where some features may cause the title to not function properly. This version does not support the PlayStation® console’s peripherals, therefore some functionality may not be available.
There’s some incredibly interesting lore behind theWild Armsseries that truly helps it stand out from other JRPGs. Guns are treated as the relics of a more violent and warlike age, there’s an almost mystical quality to them and how they’re treated.
This is one of those rare but wonderful games that fusepost-apocalyptic storytellingwith fantasy elements, taking a fantastical spin on the grim task of restoring a world ruined by centuries of warfare.
3Resonance Fate
A Slick And Stylish JRPG
Something of a gem in the JRPG scene,Resonance Fatehas an incredibly unique spin on turn-based battle that allows for free-flowing combat and movement on characters' turns, giving a sense of dynamism and grace that pairs well with the heavy gunfights of this title.
Many of the JRPGs on this list supplement guns with other weapon types or even magic, but if players are looking for games where the be-all and end-all is solely modern firearms, then this high-flying title is exactly what they need.
The glorious HD-2D style is made manifest in this time-spanning JRPG, similar toChrono Trigger, which has players explore a variety of worlds from different time periods and synthesize the distinct stories of these characters together.
The Wild West setting is built on a foundation of pistols and gunplay and is an integral part of the character’s combat experience both during the initial parts of this section and later when characters across time are all together.
1Xenosaga
An Interesting Sci-Fi Take On JRPGs
There aren’t many JRPGs that so excellently shape a space opera story into something that fits compelling and engaging gameplay. Xenosaga is a bit of an obscure title nowadays but it’s an excellent space-faring title all the same.
Players who want guns in their games are in luck here - laser pistols and rifles are some of the main weapon archetypes players will be able to purchase and upgrade as they blast down hostile aliens.
