Steam is often considered the best gaming platform not only because it has a massive catalog of games, but also because it is extremely user-driven, allowing players to buy, request refunds, and rate games themselves, creating a very active community.
Unlike other review sites, a user can only rate a game they own, even if they refund it. On top of that, after posting a review, it shows how many hours or minutes the player spent on the game, so others can decide whether the analysis holds water.
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With that in mind, I thought it would be interesting to see which modern JRPGs have an overwhelmingly positive rating on Steam and share them with you here. My biggest surprise was that many heavy-hitter JRPGs that I thought had that rating were actually “only” very positive, which, yes, is still an incredible feat, but it still does not reach the 95%+ positive reviews required for the most coveted rating.
I filtered the games by JRPG and Top Rated, and selected those with an overwhelmingly positive rating and a release date after 2020.
10
Wagotabi: A Japanese Journey
Learning by Playing
Developer | Wagotabi Limited |
|---|---|
Publisher | Wagotabi Limited |
Release Date | 13 Aug, 2025 |
People always told me that the best way to learn something is by having fun, and Wagotabi: A Japanese Journey takes that idea to heart. The game is considered an educational RPG that teaches Japanese from the ground up while exploring Japanese culture through puzzles, quests, and minigames. It’s definitely not a traditional JRPG.
However, keep in mind that, even though it has overwhelmingly positive reviews, most analyses emphasize that Wagotabi: A Japanese Journey is excellent for those who want to learn Japanese more playfully, often dubbing it a better Duolingo and praising how quickly they can absorb the lessons.
So yeah, the JRPG delivers exactly what it promises. But if your intention is not to learn Japanese and you are simply looking to have fun with a game, you might want to leave Wagotabi: A Japanese Journey for a different audience.
9
Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
Return of the Emperor
I cannot even begin to explain how satisfied I was to see that the remastered duology of Suikoden I and Suikoden II is rated overwhelmingly positive. The first game has its rough edges, but Suikoden II is often considered one of the best JRPGs on the PS1, and, thankfully, it seems fans feel the same way about its remaster.
Suikoden II is a direct sequel, set three years after the events of the first game in a neighboring region, though it features some very familiar faces. The duology suggests you play both games in order, and I would recommend the same, but keep in mind that the first JRPG was still finding its footing before the second soared and raised the stakes of its political narrative to the max.
The reviews are a mix between longtime fans who appreciated the remaster and the chance to relive old memories, and new players who tend to criticize Suikoden I a bit more but praise Suikoden II. I get that, truly. You don’t need to play the first to enjoy the second, but if you are in it for the long haul, then you are really in it for the long haul.
8
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
A Quintessential Remake
Nihon Falcom is one of the oldest developers in the industry, producing JRPGs since 1981. When it released the spinoff The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, the company decided it would build a sprawling narrative that encompassed all the games, and to this day it has stayed true to that idea. However, to bring new players into the series, it began releasing remakes, starting with Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter.
I had already played the original game and wasn’t one of those worried that the remake would botch the vision and essence of the classic. First, Nihon couldn’t make retcons because doing so would affect dozens of future titles. Second, I trusted them. And that trust was well placed, because Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter is not only an amazing single-player JRPG, but also the perfect example of how a remake should be designed.
The game brings back everything that made the series beloved, including strong character development, impeccable world-building, and a slow-paced narrative that pays off immensely. At the same time, the remake modernized its gameplay systems for a contemporary audience, featuring a perfect blend of action and turn-based mechanics. It is literally the best of both worlds and the only JRPG where I truly agree it was made for both new and old fans alike.
7
WitchSpring R
From Mobile to Consoles and PC
The R in WitchSpring R stands for remaster, because that is exactly what the game is, a remaster of the first WitchSpring. And yes, I know the game is Korean. Still, nowadays, the term JRPG is often used for several Asian titles, since they tend to follow a similar blueprint and design philosophy, as you can clearly see in WitchSpring R.
The series began as premium mobile games and has been making its way to consoles and PCs over the past few years, much to players’ delight. WitchSpring R blends turn-based combat with alchemy-style crafting, tons of minigames, and a huge amount of collectibles. On top of that, it is story-driven, so there is something for everyone here.
All these elements come together to create an amazing RPG. It is not uncommon to read reviews from people saying they underestimated the game or expected nothing from it, only to suddenly find themselves sinking hundreds of hours into it. As the saying goes, never judge a game by its cover.
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6
ASTLIBRA Revision
Made by a Solo Developer
ASTLIBRA Revision is one of those projects made by a single developer that radiates so much passion and care that it is impossible not to be impressed. KEIZO is the name of the legend, a Japanese developer who created this side-scrolling action JRPG. Again, do not judge a game by its cover.
It tells the story of an unnamed protagonist who finds the Libra scales and, alongside his raven companion Karon, must change the past. Most reviews claim the game starts somewhat mundane, but becomes increasingly gripping the more you play, really showing its true colors in the long run.
Combat favors builds created by the player, featuring dozens of weapons, crafting possibilities, and a skill system that expands exploration, improves attack and defense, and allows for countless character builds. And you will definitely need to explore those systems if you want to defeat the game’s massive bosses. Do not sleep on this one. There is a reason why ASTLIBRA Revision has overwhelmingly positive reviews.
5
Felvidek
A Slovakia-Inspired JRPG
The official description of Felvidek says “a JRPG set in 15th century Slovakia, where you embrace the role of an alcoholic knight named Pavol,” and well, if the developer calls it a JRPG, I am not going to argue with that, even though I struggle to find clear Japanese cultural elements in the game.
Maybe the streamlined turn-based system is a homage to classic JRPGs. In Felvidek, we face enemies in command battles while equipping our characters with increasingly better gear. It is also a fairly short game, clocking in at around five hours according to HowLongToBeat.
The best part of the game is its art style, a gorgeous hand-painted world set in an alternate region inspired by the Slovak Highlands. As the alcoholic knight Pavol, you must fight Hussite pillagers and Ottoman spies to uncover the dark secrets lurking in Felvidek.
4
Final Fantasy
The First Fantasy
Imagine my surprise when I saw Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster ranked so highly. And I am not talking about the full collection, but the first game itself. By the way, not only does it have more than 5000 reviews, but it is also the only Pixel Remaster with an overwhelmingly positive rating, yes, even surpassing Final Fantasy VI.
The first Final Fantasy established standards that countless JRPGs still follow to this day (ironically, the series itself doesn’t), and it remains a reference point within the industry. The Pixel Remaster modernizes the title and makes it more approachable for modern audiences, but it is still a very simple, straightforward adventure. After choosing the Jobs for our four party members, we simply move forward, gradually improving them, though without adding much depth to the gameplay.
Still, I appreciate how the modern audience approached the game with the right mindset and accepted Final Fantasy for what it is, evaluating it as an older game rather than judging it based on what they wish it were. Fans appreciated the chance to discover or revisit the title that gave birth to one of the largest JRPG franchises in the world, and it is heartwarming to see the affection it received.
3
Persona 3 Reload
Fastest Selling Atlus Game Ever
Persona 3 Reload launched, and shortly afterward, Atlus announced it had become the fastest-selling game in the company’s history, selling one million copies in its first week. That was music to my ears, especially because I was already tired of hearing people claim that turn-based JRPGs were dead, especially the most wordy ones with mundane activities.
But when the final result is good, it naturally captivates both old and new fans alike. After all, Persona 3 Reload is a remake of one of the most influential JRPGs in the industry. It was here that the Social Link concept was born, giving weight to every optional activity and proving that side content need not be low-quality.
The themes and story of Persona 3, even though they revolve around teenage characters, are extremely mature and still hit home today. And yes, it is turn-based, but there is a strategic layer that makes us carefully think about every command before attacking an enemy, because otherwise we might be the ones getting wiped out in just a few turns.
Persona 4 Golden was even better reviewed than Persona 3 Reload, but since it is a port of a 2012 JRPG, I didn’t include it here.
2
Persona 5 Royal
Highest Rated JRPG According to Critics
If you open Metacritic right now and filter the list by the highest rated JRPGs, you will see Persona 5 Royal at the very top with an incredible score of 95. Unsurprisingly, the game was also beloved by players, garnering more than 30,000 reviews and maintaining an overwhelmingly positive rating.
Persona 5 is one of my favorite JRPGs of all time. It has everything: a gripping narrative, fully fleshed-out characters, great, seamless turn-based gameplay, and a slick, masterful art style. It is a colossal game, easily surpassing 80 hours just for the main story, yet time flies when you are having fun.
It is also the best-selling Persona game of all time for obvious reasons, which probably motivated Atlus to release numerous spinoffs and jump on the bandwagon of remaking older titles. More importantly, Persona 5 is both a testament and a sign that the JRPG world will go absolutely bananas once Atlus announces Persona 6.
1
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
You Knew This Was Coming
While Persona 5 Royal holds the highest critic score on Metacritic, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 holds the highest user score, and until recently, it was the best-rated game on the entire platform. It is hard to put into words how symbolic that is, because not only is Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 considered by some to be an indie game, but it also proudly wears its JRPG inspirations on its sleeve.
I don’t think there is much more I can add about Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 that you have not already heard. It is a dream game made by former Ubisoft employees that took the whole world by storm thanks to its art, its utterly new story, and its dynamic take on the turn-based formula, adding dodge and parry elements to combat.
Ultimately, I believe what captivated players the most is the fact that Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 oozes passion at every turn. You can really feel the care and dedication that Sandfall Interactive poured into the game, resulting in a title made by fans, for fans, rather than something driven by investors chasing an upward line on a financial spreadsheet. I hope Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 inspires future generations and the industry as a whole.
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