turtlethetaffer's Top Ten JRPGs of All Time

I’ve decided to start writing some top ten lists. I don’t write nearly as much as I should these days, and I’m hoping that by ranking things I love, I might be able to get back into the writing habit. So, you’re going to see with these that there’ll be a lot of games that could fit into multiple categories. I’m laying my foot down right now that you will not see me repeat a game ever.

To begin with, let’s talk JRPGs. It wasn’t until I was a bit older that I fell in love with the genre, but it’s since gone on to become one of my absolute favorites in gaming. Today I’m going to count down my ten favorite JRPGs.

First, some ground rules: It has to be a game that has RPG elements and it has to have been made by a Japanese company, which means many Western JRPG- likes are immediately excluded from this list. We’ll define RPG elements as things like random battles, stat managing, using a party of characters, a relatively open world, etc. The term RPG comes under fire sometimes, since you’re technically playing a role in any game you play, but come on. We all know a JRPG when we see one. Additionally, one game per franchise. As amazing as the sequels to some of the games on this list are, we’re sticking with one per franchise for the sake of variety. Now that’s out of the way, let’s get on with it, shall we?

10. Dark Souls

I bought this for twenty bucks one day at Gamestop only knowing it by its reputation for being extremely difficult. And let’s get this out of the way. The first time you play this, this game is hard as hell. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. They say it was easy, they’re dirty liars. But that’s the beauty of its gameplay- it forces you to learn. My first play through took me around 55 hours. My second took less than half that. It’s difficult because modern gamers aren’t used to games that make the player take a step back from a problem and really think outside the box to solve it. Dark Souls is smart, though, in that it keeps punishing the player until they get good enough to overcome a given obstacle. It forces them to search for alternate paths, or to maybe not confront a tough enemy directly. It’s the kind of difficulty that makes it possible to go through the entire game without getting hit once. It’s just really hard to accomplish that.

That’s only part of the appeal to this game, though. The grand, creative environments, the horrifying enemies, the deep customization systems, the cast of strange characters… Not to mention the story that is told entirely through your interactions with the world. It means that players who just want a tough game can get just that. But players who want to dive in and learn more about the world also have plenty to dissect. Upon closer inspection, there’s a whole vast array of cool fantasy lore to uncover and fallen heroes to mourn. You just need to know where to look. At once an ARPG and a survival horror game, From Software essentially created its own genre, with the recently released Nioh being one of the first clones of said genre. While Demon’s Souls was the game that technically did this, Dark Souls is the one everyone played, and if you ask me, it takes a special kind of game to flip an established genre on its head and produce such a passionate fanbase as the Souls games have.

9. Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate

I was pressured into buying this from a friend. I was initially apprehensive because I’d tried the series third installment out and to be honest, it was too obtuse for me. The MH games have a huge network of interlocking systems that make it unique, and for newcomers, it’s extremely intimidating. So when I bought this, I thought it would be more of the same. Thankfully, I was dead wrong. This game eases the player into all of its systems, but it doesn’t take long before you’re off on your first hunt.

And boy, what a joy hunting is. This game is basically a series of boss fights. You confront monsters of all kinds, each one much bigger than you, and each one takes quite a while to bring down. You’ll have to chase it all across whatever map you’re playing on to finally defeat it. And you’ll do so in style- not only can you make a huge amount of really awesome armor from the parts of your defeated foes, but you can choose form one of 14 weapon varieties, each one different from the last. This means that just about any kind of gamer can find a play style they like. Like to be cautious when you fight? Spear and Shield is for you. Like to hit hard and don’t mind sacrificing defense? Hammer’s got you covered. Want to be agile and able to do an aerial attack whenever you want? You should check out the Insect Glaive, one of my personal favorites. There’s so much more to discuss about this game and how much fun it’s brought me, but all I really need to say is it’s a challenging and satisfying ARPG that is even more fun with friends.

8. Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan

This game is pretty much any RPG gamer’s dream. If you’re a fan of old school challenge, you’ll find plenty of it here. If you’re a fan of absolutely air tight character customization, well, this game has that. But if you’re worried it might be too tough or too steep of a learning curve, this is a great entry point. It explains its many systems very well, and builds its difficulty gradually. And while the story isn’t the most fleshed out in the genre (mostly due to the fact that you create your party yourself and they’re never anything more than blank slates), there’s still some cool stuff going on with the plot involving an ancient god and a fallen empire.

Then there’s the cartography system which should by all rights be tedious. Instead, it’s one of the game’s best features. Filling out the map yourself really makes you feel like you’re exploring something that hasn’t been touched for generations, and when you’ve finished a floor, you can look back on the completed map with satisfaction. You drew in the details. You decided what symbol meant what. Despite how slow paced this game can be, it’s nearly impossible to put down thanks to the wealth of customization options and its sense of adventure and exploration. Just an absolutely rock solid, old school JRPG with enough modern touches to feel fresh.

7. Dragon Quest IX

Many people would probably cry blasphemy for this. V tends to be the most favored among the fanbase (generally speaking) but for me, this one takes the cake. To start with, there’s the main story, which is a solid ride, filled with fun scenarios and goofy puns. Then there’s the character creator, which while not particularly deep, ensures that no two parties are going to be exactly the same, both aesthetically and from a functionality perspective.

In many ways, it’s extremely traditional. Turn based battles, fighting bosses, shopping, etc. But this game was in it for the long haul- once the main story is done, you have access to hundreds of hours of question goodness. Not only are there 184 quests in total to complete (although I think 64 of them are now sadly lost since the servers for the game are down, which sucks hard), but there’s also the Alchemy list to fill up, a party to fine tune, and random dungeons galore. Oh, the random dungeons. This game features random dungeons referred to as Grottoes. They can appear anywhere on the map, and no two are the same in layout. Not only that, but the loot is entirely randomized, as well. You could just get a lame Medicinal herb from a chest, or you could get a super rare Alchemy ingredient you need to upgrade one of your weapons. But after you fight the boss in a Grotto, you get another, brand new map. And you can play through any particular dungeon as many times as you please. I won’t lie- this game is grindy. If you don’t like JRPG gameplay, you likely won’t care for the post game. But if you love it like I do, and want to make as many items as possible, take on the Legacy Bosses, and make your party as amazing as they possibly can be, this game will last you for a very, very long time. And that sheer breadth of content, for me, helps place it on this list.

6. Chrono Trigger

What can I say about this masterpiece of a game that hasn’t already been said? The story is great, the characters charming, the graphics gorgeous, the soundtrack top notch, the battles fun, the replayability through the roof. There are fifteen different endings in this game, and while some are better than others, it’s well worth getting every single one, especially if you’re playing the DS port, which features a new ending, new final boss, and some new post-game dungeons.

Instead of repeating what others have said for me, I just want to touch on why this game resonates with so many gamers. It’s the writing and the execution of the atmosphere. The characters are pulled from all corners of history, each with their own back stories. The journey brings them closer together as people, and once the evil is defeated and they all return to their proper times, you can’t help but fell a bit bittersweet. After all, their mission is done, but now they must go their separate ways. Whether it’s the frog knight Frog, the creative thinker Lucca, or the dastardly Magus, each character stands out and because you care about them, you care about helping them save the future from imminent destruction.

5. Radiant Historia

Appropriately enough, this game owes heavily to the previous entry. It, too, deals heavily in time travel, but with a very different execution. See, the main character, Stocke, is given a book called the Historia following a very near death experience. He is a Special Intelligence agent for his nation, but he soon learns that things aren’t always what they seem in this war. His home nation of Alistel and the country they’re at war with, Granorg, are being manipulated. But by whom or what is unclear.

The time traveling comes into play with a dual timeline feature. Very early on, Stocke must make a choice, and depending on the outcome of that choice, the story splits into two distinct paths. Often times, you’ll come across a seemingly insurmountable problem in one timeline that you must hop to the other one to figure out the solution to. Add on top of this unique mechanic great characters and an intriguing story and you’d already have a winner of an RPG, but the battle system takes it even further. Enemies are on a nine by nine grid and by using special moves and manipulating turn order, you can move enemies onto shared spaces and attack them all at once for massive damage. It’s an absolutely satisfying and fun cherry on top of the already delicious cake. Lastly, its soundtrack can stand with the best of them, easily giving the likes of Chrono Trigger a run for its money.

4. Pokemon Heartgold/ Soulsilver

Can we be honest with ourselves and say that the original Gold/ Silver rendered Red/ Blue obsolete? Yes, gen 1 is what started it all, but it’s really tough to go back to, especially after playing the massively improved sequels. So when Gamefreak remade said sequels, I knew the world was in for a treat. This remake maintains everything that made the original versions great: a strong, grounded over world, great new creatures, a wealth of team building opportunities, and a great soundtrack. But it added even more modern enhancements. In addition to the graphics, there’s now a real time day/ night system, a fully customizable Safari Zone (one of my personal favorite additions), and your Pokemon walk behind you, mirroring the cool but ultimately unnecessary Pokewalker accessory that came with each copy of the game.

But it has to be said: this has one of the best post games of any RPG ever, After fighting your way through the Elite Four, you’re not done. Instead, you can revisit Kanto and fight through their Pokemon league, then confront Red on top of Mt. Silver. It was an absolutely magical feeling as a kid, revisiting the region and seeing how things have changed, and it remains just as magical in these top notch remakes. Plus, the understated writing felt weirdly nostalgic in a way that’s tough to place, but it was really interesting to see how far Team Rocket fell in between games, as well as to see how Kanto changed. In between all this content and atmosphere is the core Pokemon gameplay that remains as strong as ever. Truly a complete package and an absolute must play for any fan.

3. Final Fantasy VI

So much about this game feels… right. The gorgeous 16 bit graphics, the varied sound track, the fun and highly exploitable battle system, the cast of distinct characters, and the story. It stood out at a time when JRPGs typically followed a very strict formula with their tales for being far more in depth and moving than it had any reason to be. While IV undoubtedly changed the game with its cast, the plot was still fairly standard. In VI, though, genre notions are challenged and flipped on their head.

The result is a game that plays and surprises just as much today as it did upon first release. Kefka is a wonderful villain, like if the Joker had a god complex and succeeded in his world domination plans. But Kefka is just one part of the absolutely cohesive and sad tale that this game weaves. The second half of the game is simply about trying to rebuild what’s been broken, and to stop any further harm from befalling everyone. There aren’t many games even today that can boast such a dramatic structural shift, but I’ll be damned if it didn’t blow the minds of all who played. But the gameplay is still strong as ever, with each character having a distinct ability, and that, on top of teaching magic through Espers, makes it just as much a joy to play as it is to take in as a story.

2. Xenoblade Chronicles

Who would have thought that making a single player MMO could work so well? This is a truly gigantic game, which seems appropriate considering the world is the corpse of a Titan. See, a long time ago, the Bionis and Mechonis struck each other down in battle, ending a centuries long fight and from the body of the Bionis sprang forth humanity and life. Cut ahead to the present day, where Mechons have nearly wiped out all remaining human colonies from the Bionis, save Shulk’s. Shulk is researching a blade called the Monado, a lightsaber inspired blade that can kill Mechon. Through a series of events I won’t spoil, Shulk and his lifelong friend Reyn set out on a journey to find out the source of the Mechon invasion and claim revenge on those who’ve wronged them.

The story is like a really great anime, filled with shocking twists and turns, even if it gets a bit out there near the end. But by that point you more than like the strong cast of characters, so it doesn’t really matter. So while the story is epic and grand, filled with sweeping cut scenes, the gameplay more than stands on its own. It utilizes a cool down timer for special abilities in battle, which works wonders for the game’s pacing. The combat is fairly simple but really enjoyable, especially later on when the challenge ramps up. This is coupled with the fact that the game is truly enormous. Each map is several times bigger than Hyrule Field from Ocarina of Time. The beauty of it is that you spend as much time in each area as you want to. Want to just push on and continue the story? That’s totally fine. But if you stop and take the time to thoroughly explore the map, you’ll find new monsters to fight, new and breath taking locations, and possibly more side quests. It’s got incredible bang for your buck, whether you’re simply in it for the story, or want to uncover every last corner of the game world. Side note: the sound track is incredible, with some of gaming’s best battle themes, and this also has one of the best swamp areas in gaming in the form of Satorl Marsh. It appears to be a bland swamp, but at night it literally comes to life and becomes a gorgeous feast for the eyes.

1. Knights in the Nightmare

This is where the term JRPG becomes tricky. This game is like an RTS/ grid based strategy/ bullet hell shooter with numerous layers of RPG mechanics. I’m not going to try explaining, but just know that the tutorial is well over an hour if you go through each and every facet of game play. But essentially, it boils down to this: You are a Wisp, a being capable of temporarily resurrecting the dead. You must charge up the attacks of dead knights to defeat monsters on each grid based map. I’m dramatically simplifying things here, trust me. There are innumerable things to consider while playing, including enemy placement, character placement, Map Phases, and so much more.

But for me, the gameplay is just the bonus that comes with the incredible atmosphere and great story. As mentioned, you are a Wisp, a floating grey light seemingly without any sort of role in life. All you know is you are to fight the monsters that have invaded the land, thanks to a knight named Maria, a warrior whose motivations are at first unclear. As you go through each level, you see more and more of both the currently developing story, and pieces of the past that detail what has already happened and why the world is in such a dismal state. Even years after initially beating it, the characters and plot points have stuck with me in a way few games have. It’s a dark, challenging game, complex in both gameplay and plot, but infinitely rewarding once you begin to figure each out. To top off the already lengthy main story, there’s plenty of replayability thanks to New Game +, hidden scenes that affect the ending, and even an alternate storyline with a brand new character. If you haven’t played this game and are a fan of complex but rewarding mechanics, or just love a really intriguing storyline that takes inspiration from both anime and medieval legend, you owe it to yourself to check out this underexposed and unique masterpiece of a game. It stands out thanks to its mechanics and presentation, but these ideas are executed to such perfection that it elevates this to the top of my list of favorite JRPGs of all time.

Thank you for reading if you’ve made it this far. Believe me when I say that, as a massive fan of the genre, it was difficult to narrow down just ten titles for this list. I hope you enjoyed reading it and have maybe even discovered a new game or two to check out. Also, leave comments! What are your favorites from the genre? Do you agree with the list or not so much? Please let me know.

My next list will be my top ten Indie games of all time, so be on the lookout for that!

I don't really like the term J (Japan)RPG because that's locking it. Witcher may as well be called a P (Poland)RPG, and Elder Scrolls A (American)RPG. . . It's not really the same as Action RPG or Stratagy RPG which are actual genres. .

At any case, it's a good list of games and well written, even if I'm not found of the way it's categorised.

@RSM-HQ: Yeah, and I always thought JRPGs were games that followed the older Final Fantasy formula, i.e. roam a world map, encounters, select moves from a list (turn based) and then have really flashy cinematic battles.

In other words, an actual sub-genre of the RPG genre, generally made by Japanese developers (but, in fact, could be made by anyone provided they follow the "JRPG formula")

I wouldn't call Dark Souls a JRPG, but an action-RPG made by Japanese developers.

I'm probably wrong because JRPGs are like the one genre I don't play but, if I am wrong, I might have been playing JRPGs all along!

@turtlethetaffer nice write up, either way, I enjoyed reading it!

Don't play many RPG's, but so far every YS game has been nothing short of fantastic.

@mrbojangles25: I just call them Turn-based RPGs. But I dunno, I think the term J RPG came from America or Europe because no one in Japan uses that term_

Thanks for reading everyone!

@turtlethetaffer: Could you make a spoiler free case for why Radiant Historia is worth playing? I got it because I love Chrono Trigger but I've played about 15 hours and I wasn't impressed. The time mechanics aren't as interesting as in Chrono, the areas are much more mundane and the battle is boring. The characters aren't that great either. I'm not trying to be critical here. If it gets better, if there is something worth experiencing, I'm willing to make the time investment. If the whole game is about the same as the first few hours then maybe it just isn't for me.

@socurtoxanarosa: So. . .You've played one game on the list and boasted hot-air?

Did you know Demon's and Dark Souls are games heavily inspired by Monster Hunter franchise. No, well they are, Miyazaki Hidetaka san has been in interviews stating so. The way you fight and succeed, time and roll are very similar. Big difference is the MH team have tons of games to polish up the franchise and have perfected the gameplay systems. Which DkS did not in the second game_

MH4G>>DkS (it's not even a fair comparison)

It's a harder game with far more depth as well.

And finally let's not note how stupid this is_

kiddie games like Chrono Trigger

@pug987: Really? Sorry to hear you feel that way. I personally loved the characters, story, battling, etc. I guess if by this point you don't like it then the game is not for you, but I felt the way the storyline developed was really interesting, and when you complete all the side quests, the payoff is amazing. Great ending. To me, at least. Like I said, if you're not enjoying it by this point, then it's probably not for you.

@socurtoxanarosa: Lmao

@RSM-HQ: TBH I am not crazy about how I did it either, but I was struggling to come up with a tenth entry since I was doing one game per franchise (I've played lots of JRPG series) so I took a more literal route with the term. Apologies.

Dark Souls is not a JRPG.

First off the term is very specific and refers to a very specific type of rpg games, FF, Dragon Quest etc

@socurtoxanarosa:

Very easily done after reading a post like this.

@socurtoxanarosa said: is at least 100x better than any other game on your list. It being behind kiddie games like Chrono Trigger is laughable.

You continue to give Dark Souls more credit than it deserves. I like the FROM RPGs, but Dark Souls had many flaws that wouldn't be ironed out till Bloodborne and Dark Souls III. The only thing DkS did best out of the Soulborne series was having a interconnected map at the cost of beauty and stability.

DkS had terrible rolling with limited command variation, broken pose stat, terrible armor/ spell and weapon balance. And despite having some good boss and enemies, DkS had some pretty lame bosses like The Bed of Chaos. And even at DkSs best the enemies are in no way within Monster Hunters league_

Now trust a DkS fanboi to throwing the usual "Lore" motto. You mean the cryptic descriptions that contradict themselves, which the fanbase was wrong about continuously? Nameless King threw many fan theories out the window didn't it. lol

Did you know Monster Hunter has a ton of lore descriptions? No, well play a game that's not DkS to know better, in fact most TCs games have world back-story linked to items and structures. And are far more consistent than what you find in Dark Souls. Lore in DkS is grossly overrated!

I'll give you music over 'some' of these games because it's simply fantastic in DkS. I probably like the music in Bloodborne and DkSIII better than in DkS, because Motoi san dialled it to 11. For TCs list I would give it to either Dark Souls (Sakuraba Motoi sama) or Chrono Trigger (Mitsuda Yasunori and Uematsu Nobuo san). Both are very good games in the music department.

Moving onto your argument of atmosphere. . . All TCs RPGs have fantastic atmosphere, MH and DkS having probably the most inconsistent. In DkS and MH it's either very original and epic/ or flat and dull. They're not beautiful worlds from beginning to end. And this further shows you're bias if you actually believe DkS has a better artistic world than the other games on this list. Now if you stated Bloodborne? I might be in agreement.

I think your argument of Chrono Trigger further shows ignorance. CT was a dream-team-project, a combination of many the highest talents in the country during its time. And paid off as one of those games that is as enjoyable today, as it ever was.

The sprite artstyle was inspired by Toriyama Akira sans drawings; usually known for a younger/ Teen crowd (Dr Slump, Dragonball), true. However the game itself can be very mature and focuses of politics and adult dilemmas thanks to Kitase Yoshinori and Tokita Takashi sans writing (Final Fantasy VI, VII, X, Parasite Eve). I could go on-and-on for why Chrono Trigger is a gem but this has gone on long enough. And think you know little outside the box art of the game.

@turtlethetaffer: i haven't played much from the genre but that was an enjoyable read, very good

@Macutchi: Thank you!

@soul_starter:Like I already said, I used the term literally, as in, an RPG made in Japan because I was struggling to come up with a tenth entry since it was one per franchise.

Really, the only argument you need is this: Even if the games are aimed at people below the adult age, why does that immediately make it bad? There are plenty of movies and books that are aimed at kids that can and are enjoyed by adults for a variety of reasons. Same thing applies to any of the games on the list they'd call "kiddie," even though most of them are at least rated T. Sure, they're colorful, but again, why is that bad again???? Not everything needs to have a dark pallet.

But I'd also argue that the gameplay is also aimed at people with experience in the genre with many of them, such as Etrian Odyssey IV. Game isn't super tough if you play smart, but it can mess you up if you're not careful.

Far as the Monster Hunter thing goes, the deliberate combat of MH is a pretty damn clear inspiration for the Souls series, but they're two entirely different beasts. DkS is like a dungeon crawler with deliberate real time combat and MH is basically one giant boss rush mode with deliberate combat. Plus, you can't really say MH is aimed at kids. The atmosphere is whimsical and silly sure, but ask anyone who plays the series and they'll tell you how tough it can really get.

@turtlethetaffer: I'm well aware Dark Souls overall being closer to an old school Dungeon Crawler, and love them for very much that reason. And feel the Invasion system heightens that.

I mostly wanted to annoy Socur for coming in and discrediting so many great games. Some Dark Soul fans take it too far and need a good slap in the face :)

ff4 is classic

FFT the best games ever made

neither on his list

instead make room for some games

FF4 is literally the godfather of JRPG's for me

@ProtossRushX: FFIV was pretty damn important to shaping JRPGs into what they are today. The characters had actual personality and motivation. They weren't just blank slates. There were shocking plot twists and really, really dark moments. Without it, I really have to wonder what JRPGs would be like today. But to me, FFVI was just such an amazing game. The ultimate downfall of FFIV is that its plot still boils down to "save the crystals" while FFVI has an entirely new, original story, with many more inventive and shocking twists and some really, really cool original lore. Don't get me wrong, a very traditional story can still be great when executed well (this applies to FFIV and many other games) but to me FFVI outdid it with originality and writing. Just a matter of preference, really.

@RSM-HQ:Oh I completely agree. As someone who thoroughly enjoys the series (even II!) I can't stand the fan base at least half the time. And I was more speaking to Scour than you, I can tell you've got quite a bit more sense in your head.

@turtlethetaffer: I liked the second game as well, duel wielding was pretty fun.

Though from a Single-Player point of view is the weakest due to a lack of creativity and awe inspiring locations. Well up until the Crowns DLC came along.

I make no secret that the third game gets my vote. Has the least flaws from a critical-point-of-view compared with the other games in the series, and improved in all the ways I hoped it would.

I can tell you've got quite a bit more sense in your head

"You musn't get in over your head"

I only played 4 games in your list: Chrono Trigger, Xenoblade, FFVI, Radiant Historia.

I liked CT but I got stuck at one point, didn't know where to go so I quit.

Xenoblade , I only played a bit, got bored, probably because I did not understand its combat system. But I now want to give it a second chance, unfortunately I dont't have a Wii anymore.

FFVI. I played for around 39 hrs, I gave it up as the combat was not good, the second problem was that it doesn't have a few main chacracters like other games.

Radiant Historia, at first I really enjoy it, the art direction, the characters, especially the unique and fun battle system, but going back to previous places becomes tedious, and it didn't help that the map was too small and the story was boring.

@turtlethetaffer: You could have put in a FF game? I cant remember but Im sure you missed out on a number of top JRPG franchises.

1 xenoblade chronickles 2 tales of vesperia 3 ni no kuni 4 bloodborne/Dark souls series 5 lost odyssey 6 final fantasy 15 7 final fantasy 10 8 skies of arcadia 9 grandia 2 10 last story&Final fantasy 13

@CTR360: Still gotta play Vesperia and still gotta finish Lost Odyssey. I've had each for a while now

@soul_starter:Final Fantasy VI was my number 3.

Tis not a bad list turttaff. I honestly don't know what my top ten list of JRPGs would include, but I think you listed some good contenders with DQ9 and Souls. I remember trying Knights in the Nightmare and it bugged me too much to try to focus playing lol. I also couldn't get into Radiant Historia back when that came out, though it's not that shocking since I didn't get into Chrono Trigger quite the way most JRPG fans did.

At any rate, there are lots of fantastic RPGs to be had. I think it's impressive to think how different my list might end up being from yours, even in the same sub-genre.

@turtlethetaffer: oops lol I forgot what was on your list. STill, there are plenty of JRPGs out there to choose from without resorting to Souls.

@soul_starter: I mean, I do feel that way about Souls, though. It's a very good game.

@Ovirew:That's why I love the genre though. In the best JRPGs, you feel like you've just witnessed one of the best games ever made. And that's because, in the great ones, you get attached to the characters and world throughout the long journey, so when it comes to a close, it's bittersweet.

@turtlethetaffer: fair enough

I cant remember if it was Souls 1 or 2 that I played but I could never get into it. For whatever reason, I don't think of it as a proper RPG, mroe of an action adventure with RPG elements.

@soul_starter: You could also make the argument it's a 3D Metroidvania with RPG elements. IDK, it's given rise to the term Souls like for a reason.

hows darksouls a jrpg? When i think jrpg i think turn based games made in japan. Not action based games with limited rpg features and story lines