We live in a time when mainline entries from the industry’s most established series take four to five years to be released. To fill the release gaps and stay relevant, many developers turn to ports and remasters from their catalog, bringing older games to modern platforms.
Japan has been doing this for quite a while, so it is common to see more JRPG remasters and ports than Western RPG ones. Unlike many people, I love this initiative because there are plenty of older games I never had the chance to play back in the day, and I enjoy experiencing them for the first time with more modern sensibilities.
While the biggest names often receive ports, there are others, some lesser-known and some beloved hidden gems, that are still stuck on the original PS1 hardware. In this list, I will explore a few of them that I would love to see remastered or at least ported, so today’s audience can get a taste of the past.
This is not a ranked list.
10
Vagrant Story
Ashley or We Riot
I would gladly take a port of Vagrant Story, but if I am being honest, maybe a remaster would be the better call. Vagrant Story puts us in the role of Ashley Riot in the world of Ivalice, the same setting as Final Fantasy Tactics and Final Fantasy XII, as he ventures alone through dungeons in search of the truth.
The game’s main focus lies in its battle system wrapped inside that dungeon-crawler design. We can chain multiple attacks depending on proper timing, which allows us to trigger more abilities, but at the same time increases our risk. It is a double-edged mechanic that boosts our critical hit chances and damage, but lowers our accuracy and increases the damage we take.
To this day, I remember breezing through dungeons, nailing every timed input, until I reached a dragon, and my damage was laughable, barely hitting single digits. That is where the crafting system, enemy types, and all that jazz come into play. It is creative, but wildly confusing for a young player who didn’t bother to read the manual, like me. A remaster could trim the parts of Vagrant Story that made it more complicated than necessary and leave us with the best bits.
9
Xenogears
Xeno-Series Progenitor
I understand there are many reasons why a simple port of Xenogears would not be ideal. The unfinished second disc, the fact that it was supposed to be the fifth episode of a now-defunct hexalogy, and that Monolith Soft moved on and surpassed it. Still, even taken on its own, Xenogears is an absolute banger.
The JRPG tackles mature themes such as psychology, religion, philosophy, mecha engineering, and street fighting. It is an awesome amalgam that empowers and enriches a spectacular narrative, packed with mind-blowing story beats and even better plot twists.
The gameplay is nothing to sneeze at either, with a turn-based combat system supported by combo inputs and Gears that keep us on our toes at every turn. To this day, Xenogears is hailed as one of the best PS1 JRPGs, and a port could introduce the title to a whole new generation of fans. And, selfishly, help me remember what made it so special, since I last played it more than 20 years ago.
8
Parasite Eve
Time to Solve Those Licensing Issues
I believe the only reason we have not received a port of Parasite Eve yet is due to copyright issues. For those unaware, Square Enix adapted a novel into the RPG, and by the time the third game was released, titled The 3rd Birthday and not Parasite Eve III, they no longer held the rights to the name.
Could Square simply re-release the game under a different name or reacquire the rights? I have no idea. Either way, the world deserves to see Aya Brea again, showing off her mitochondria powers in a Christmas-themed New York. A port would be more than enough, as the game already looked sharp and had great pacing back in the day.
Meanwhile, as Parasite Eve remains in limbo, we have a few titles inspired by it. Some lean a bit too heavily into copycat territory, but it is better than nothing for those craving more horror JRPGs.
7
Alundra
Sony’s Link
Although I don’t consider Alundra strictly a JRPG, I still think it deserves a spot on this list because of its excellence as a game. Often called PlayStation’s own The Legend of Zelda (which I would argue is even less of an RPG), the game has everything you could ask for: action combat, puzzles, daring adventures, and plenty of dream-hopping.
That is because Alundra, our protagonist, can dive into other people’s dreams and save them from nightmares that prevent them from awakening. It doesn’t take long for him to realize he’s the only one capable of stopping the villain, coincidentally, the very one responsible for putting people into an eternal sleep.
Alundra was available on PS3 as a PS1 Classic, but so far it has not made its way to modern platforms. It is featured on GOG’s Dreamlist, and given the number of upvotes, it might only be a matter of time before the platform’s magicians knock on Sony’s door to ask for their blessing to add Alundra to the catalog.
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6
Brigandine
First Entry in an Overlooked Series
For a long time, I had the impression I was one of the few people in the world who knew about Brigandine. But then, in 2020, Brigandine: The Legend of Runersia was released, and now, in 2026, a new entry titled Brigandine: Abyss has been announced. That is wonderful news for a great tactical JRPG series.
But did you know Brigandine was born on the PS1? It was a bit rough around the edges, but already full of heart and soul, which is what makes it, well, Brigandine. I am not sure how it would hold up compared to modern titles, but if there is ever a perfect time to bring the first Brigandine to the masses, it is now.
With new releases on the horizon, the original entry has a real shot at reclaiming its place in the JRPG landscape. Plus, it is a tactical title packed with neat features like castle management, random events, creature upgrades, and evolving hero classes.
5
Legend of Legaia
Combos Galore
The PS1 was flooded with turn-based JRPGs. Because of that, each new title needed to innovate by introducing systems not seen before. Legend of Legaia took that challenge seriously and delivered an incredible combat system, where the choice of directional commands drastically alters the flow of battle.
In a world shrouded by the dangerous Mist, the protagonists Vahn, Noah, and Gala use the power of the Ra-Seru to purify regions and confront the Seru enemies. To do so, they also rely on martial arts. In combat, depending on which commands we input, we unleash new Arts, which can be chained together to create devastating combos.
It was one of the most unique turn-based combat systems. Legaia 2 tried to replicate something similar, but it fell short in other aspects and the series faded into obscurity. Nowadays, the industry is craving more creative and engaging turn-based systems, so a port of Legend of Legaia could reintroduce this combat style to a wider audience and maybe even inspire future projects.
4
Brave Fencer Musashi
Samurai of Legends
As much as I feel like this list is slowly turning into a Square showcase, it’s only a reminder of how prolific the developer was back then, even before merging with Enix. Brave Fencer Musashi was an action RPG, somewhat different from the command-based titles the company was known for.
And incredibly, Square absolutely nailed it. We play as the eponymous Musashi, who wields two swords, Lumina and Fusion, each with powers that alter the gameplay. Fusion can copy enemy abilities and allow Musashi to channel them, while Lumina has its own skill set that expands as we find more scrolls throughout the story.
The JRPG also featured other unusual systems, such as many head-scratching puzzles that relied on Lumina’s abilities, and even voice acting. Sure, it was not award-winning, but it was there at a time when voice-over was far from common in games.
3
Thousand Arms
Dating Sim JRPG
Thousand Arms may not be the prettiest, most polished, or most emotional JRPG on the PS1, but it was wildly fun and creative, that much is for sure. Many of its systems revolve around one key element: your ability to go on dates and charm the girls.
The protagonist is Meis, a spirit blacksmith who grows stronger as he earns the affection of certain party members. This allows him to enhance his elemental weapons, unlock new skills, and ultimately make the whole experience more enjoyable, which is what really matters.
I first played Thousand Arms as a teenager and, needless to say, I got every answer wrong and won no one’s favor. Still, I have never forgotten the JRPG because it was so unusual that it left a lasting impression. I would love to see a modern port of Thousand Arms and teach a whole new generation the wrong way to talk to girls.
2
Vandal Hearts
Mature Tactical Game
Now that Konami is making a strong comeback in the gaming industry, I wonder if it would be too much to ask them to revive some old JRPGs, such as Vandal Hearts. In short, the game features a system commonly seen in many other tactical titles.
Battles take place on grids, characters have classes and unique abilities, there is a leveling system and equipment, nothing too flashy. However, where Vandal Hearts truly shines is in its mature story and presentation. We control Ash Lambert and his like-minded fellows when they become entangled in a political conspiracy that affects the entire kingdom. The blood effects during battle are already a clear indicator of how mature the game is.
Vandal Hearts II features an even more gripping story, where we control orphans who, well, become doubly orphaned after their church is attacked. The only issue is its combat system, which, while innovative, felt too clunky for my taste. Each turn, one of our characters and an enemy moved and acted simultaneously, which sometimes led to awkward moments when we ended up slashing thin air. Still a great game, though.
1
Breath of Fire III
GOG to the Rescue
I feel a bit redundant adding Breath of Fire III here, since GOG will probably add it to its catalog eventually. That is what happened with Breath of Fire IV after it topped GOG’s Dreamlist. So if you want to speed up a PC port of Breath of Fire III, make your vote count.
If Breath of Fire III will be ported sooner or later, why include it? To convince you to give it a shot once it arrives. I understand many people prefer Breath of Fire IV because of its timeless pixel art, but its predecessor has just as many qualities that make it incredible and, not coincidentally, it is my favorite JRPG of all time. We have a timeskip, brotherhood, gorgeous pixel art, the Master leveling system, the Fairy Village, and much more.
The turn-based system is simple, but it features the best dragon transformation mechanic in the entire series. We can find Dragon Genes throughout the world and combine three of them to transform Ryu into entirely different dragon forms. The power of the Brood deserves to be experienced by everyone, so when Breath of Fire III finally arrives, whether through a GOG port or in a long-awaited official Capcom collection, do yourself a favor and give this game a try.
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