The best JRPGs you can play right now on Game Pass
Some of the best JRPGs of our time are available on Xbox Game Pass, and that means you can jump into them without spending any additional money. Well, providing you’re a Game Pass subscriber, of course. We’ve rounded up the best JRPGs on Game Pass right here, all played by us and coming highly recommended.
In the past, Xbox hasn’t been the best place to play JRPGs. But in recent years, Microsoft has made strides to strike deals with Japanese publishers, making games from the likes of SEGA, Square Enix and others readily available on Xbox. Even better, many of them have launched straight into Game Pass.
Each of the games we’ve listed here are not only examples of the best JRPGs on Game Pass, but some of our favourite JRPGs of all time. So if you’re a Game Pass subscriber and want an excellent JRPG to sink your teeth into, look no further. The games we’ve selected below are all available on Game Pass Standard, too, so you won’t need to stump up the cash for an Ultimate subscription.
1. Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
If you loved the Suikoden series back in the day, you really ought to give Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes a try. Even if you’re unfamiliar with it, this is a JRPG harking back to the classics that’s well worth your time. It puts you in the shoes of Nowa, a young man who has just joined the Watch. As part of the Watch, your task is to recover a mysterious Primal Lens — but it turns out that’s only the start of your adventure.
We found the story of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes to lack the punch we expected, but then our hopes were high as Suikoden is one of our all-time favourite JRPG classics. That’s not to say that Hundred Heroes is without any merit though. This game does an incredible job of aping the quality of JRPGs of the 90s and early 2000s, and we couldn’t help but fall in love with its charm. It’s undoubtedly one of the best JRPG games on Game Pass, and if you’re yet to play it, make sure you do so pronto.
Read our review of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
2. Metaphor: ReFantazio
Coming from a team that has previously worked on Persona and the Shin Megami Tensei series, you know you’re in good hands with Metaphor: ReFantazio. This JRPG puts you in control of a young man with special powers, tasked with the insurmountable job of saving his kingdom. With the king recently being murdered, it seems he’s got his work cut out for him.
The story here will keep you gripped, especially if you love narratives with a political slant. But it’s probably the world and the combat that really makes Metaphor: ReFantazio such a mouth-watering prospect. It’s packed with environments that simply beg to be explored, and every enemy encounter you come across will have you raring to jump into battle thanks to a Persona-style combat system. Be prepared to put a lot of time in, though: expect to spend roughly 100 hours with this. If you’re up for it, it really is one of the best JRPGs you’ll find on Game Pass.
Read more about Metaphor: ReFantazio
3. Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
It may be a little long in the tooth now, having first released way back in 2013, but there’s no doubt in our minds that Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch is one of the best JRPGs there is. This Remastered version tidies up the visuals and makes it look even more beautiful than ever. And with artwork by Studio Ghibli, it was already pretty gorgeous to begin with.
Wrath of the White Witch tells the story of Oliver, a young boy looking for a way to bring back his mother, who he’s recently lost. He’ll recruit the help of Drippy, a fairy with an excellent Welsh accent, and meet lots of other interesting characters along the way. When you’re done with this, its sequel, Ni no Kuni: Revenant Kingdom, is also available on Game Pass too. It’s not quite as good, in our opinion, but still a JRPG well worth playing.
Read our review of Ni no Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch Remastered
4. Octopath Traveler
Originally released on Switch before making its way to PC and now Xbox, Octopath Traveler is Square Enix’s first game to make use of its so-called “HD-2D” art style. Needless to say, it looks very nice indeed, while also drawing out a sense of nostalgia.
As its name suggests, Octopath Traveler allows players to familiarise themselves with eight protagonists, leading them through the dangerous world of Orsterra. You’re largely free to choose which characters you take control of, making your adventure somewhat unique. Each character has their own goal, though some will join up with others to make achieving them easier.
With a turn-based battle system that’s reminiscent of the classics but with its own twists, Octopath Traveler is a game that JRPG fans will absolutely adore. And it’s sizable, too: you won’t be completing it in a weekend, that’s for sure. So, if you’re after one of the best JRPGs on Game Pass, make sure you give this a go.
5. Persona 3 Reload
It’s safe to say that the Persona series has cemented itself in the annals of gaming history as featuring some of the most-loved JRPGs of all time. And, despite launching originally on PS2 way back in 2006, Persona 3 Reload brings the beloved game to modern hardware. If you’ve missed out on this classic so far, then, now’s the time to dive in.
Persona 3 Reload is a full remake, but it doesn’t mess around too much with the formula that made the original so great. You’ll find some additional flourishes here and there, but the story is largely the same, casting players as a student arriving at a new school for the first time. But not everything is as it seemed, with something known as the ‘Dark Hour’ affecting him every night.
Ultimately, this is the best version of Persona 3 we’ve had, and if you’re yet to play it, it’s well worth jumping into. One of the best JRPGs on Xbox Game Pass? It absolutely is.
Read our review of Persona 3 Reload
6. Trials of Mana
Remade for current gen consoles and PC, Trials of Mana looks modern, but its gameplay is firmly rooted in the past.
That’s not a bad thing, however. Players will love exploring its world, fighting monsters in real-time and acquiring new equipment and skills to make their party stronger. Trials of Mana has a unique structure, too, with players choosing a party from a selection of characters. Depending on who is chosen, certain story elements will be different, promoting multiple playthroughs.
There is one big issue though; while Trials of Mana is a joy to play, its English voice acting is atrocious. You might want to switch over to Japanese and rely on subtitles to know what’s going on. Still, if you’re after the best JRPGs on Game Pass, it’s certainly worth a look.
