TheDS and 3DS are two of the best handheld consolesever made, with the latter single-handedly keeping Nintendo afloat after the Wii U bombed spectacularly. These platforms are full to the brim with quality games across various genres that haven’t been ported to other platforms, which is a shame.
Some of the best RPGs players can get their hands on are present on these two handhelds. If players are really interested in playing these games, then the effort to procure the hardware required is quite worthwhile.
Final Fantasy 12was an experimental title that has its fair share of fans. What these people may not be aware of is that the game received a sequel that could only be played on the DS.
It was a puzzling move, but players who gaveRevenant Wingsa shot were pleased by the depth of its tactical gameplay. It was great to reunite with the cast again on another epic adventure in the world of Ivalice where the stakes were upped once again.
WhilePokemon Sun & Moonis an excellent additionto the series' legacy, it also caused fans to worry because of a poor introduction and mechanics that had started to feel dated. While this was an indication of the bad times to come, it shouldn’t take anything away fromPokemon Sun & Moon’s allure as an excellent 3DS JRPG that fans will adore.
The monster-catching gameplay is quite addictive, with players encountering a wealth of unique Pokemon and forming their best party during this adventure. The story is more prominent in this title than in otherPokemongames, which is an interesting way to help this game stand out from its predecessors.
It’s a shame that theGolden Sunseries has been dormant for so long. Players are being robbed of unique JRPGs that feature their fair share of puzzles and let players engage with a unique job system that is more varied than ever before inGolden Sun: Dark Dawn.
While the series was getting a bit too generic for its own good, the superb gameplay ofDark Dawnis enough to help it stand out as a stellar entry in the series. It’s a shame that this was the lastGolden Sungame released before the franchise went into hiatus for a criminally long time.
Sometimes, all players need is a bit of fanservice coupled with some solid turn-based combat to check out a spinoff. Such is the case withPersona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth, a game that merges the cast from the third, fourth, and fifth mainlinePersonaentry.
Many players love how charming and fun this side story is, implausible as it may be. Fans of thePersonaseries will find this game to be a no-brainer to play, but people unfamiliar with this Atlus franchise can still test the waters and give this game a shot to see if it’s their thing or not.
A JRPG that pays homage to the golden age of this genre,Bravely Defaultis an epic gamedespite its boring title that lets players enjoy a classic adventure where gameplay reigns supreme. The job system is the crowning jewel of this title and encourages players to mix and match their party as much as possible.
Along with this,Bravely Defaultalso lets players Default on a turn to stock Brave Points that can be used to power up their attack. It’s a simple system but one that encourages people to be tactical in battle against the game’s many challenging bosses.
It’s only a given that an entry in the belovedDragon Questseries would be a no-brainer for fans of handheld RPGs. WhileDragon Quest 9’s innovative multiplayer elements may be harder to enjoy now, that shouldn’t stop people from going through this epic JRPG.
It’s a brilliant entry in the series that takes players on a classic adventure full of the turn-based shenanigans players love in this series.Dragon Quest 9’s classic gameplay and charming graphicsmake it one of the best RPGs on the Nintendo DS and understandably so.
Touted by many as a game released during the franchise’s peak before things started spiraling downward,Pokemon X & Yis the perfect gamefor players seeking out a classic turn-based RPG. Catching Pokemon and forming an optimized party for each gym is a gameplay loop that players will never tire of.
The charming visuals, fun gameplay, and evocative Pokemon design harkens back to a simple time when fans had no complaints about thePokemonseries. It helps that this generation is full of charming Pokemon whom players can bond with in no time as they embark on a grand adventure to become a Pokemon Master.
One of the hardest JRPGs ever made,Shin Megami Tensei 4has become the stuff of legendsbecause of its difficulty. For the most part, players can scrape by this game without playing it as intended early on, only to be obliterated by the Minotaur boss who punishes players for being incompetent at playing this game.
It’s a huge difficulty spike that tests just how much players are willing to learn if they want to topple the game’s many challenging bosses. If they manage to clear the Minotaur, then most players can rest assured that they can go through the rest ofShin Megami Tensei 4, no matter how punishing things get after this point.
