Summary
The JRPG genre has been a cornerstone of the video game industry for many years. In all that time, developers have had the chance topush the games in some very distinct ways, letting their imagination flourish.
This is perhaps most evident in the design of the game’s settings. Some may assume that the majority of JRPGs take place in traditional high fantasy worlds, but there are some games with wildly original and creative settings and environments that totally disprove this notion.
WhileOctopath Travelerdoes hew pretty close to the traditional fantasy trappings of its genre,its environments and dungeons shinethanks to the remarkable “HD-2D” art style that the game pioneered.Octopath Traveler’s locales gracefully combine vintage style with the beauty of modern gaming consoles.
The dungeons themselves boast a great deal of variety as well. Fans will find themselves journeying through sinister waterlogged caves, secret catacombs, and grand and opulent mansions in their quest to unite the eight main characters and lead them through their stories.
ThelegendaryEarthboundis notoriousfor its surreal and avant-garde storyline, wherein a group of psychic children must save an increasingly unusual world from the clutches of an eldritch alien monstrosity. The horror of Giygas is countered by the strange and often humorous nature of the world; puns and jokes abound.
This wacky tone makes for some truly off-the-wall locations. One of the most infamous is Dungeon Man, a titanic stone individual who contains a dungeon within his own body, all because of his love of dungeons. Surreal realms like Magicant fill out the ranks of this bizarre classic.
Baten Kaitosis a rather unique JRPG, combining the turn-based gameplay hallmarks of the genre with collectible cards. The game takes place in a world where people can store the essence of items in cards and use them later to their advantage.
This odd card-based economy is not the most surreal aspect ofBaten Kaitos' world, however. The game takes place in a realm where humans have been forced to occupy airborne landmasses, living there for so long that they’ve evolved wings for easier navigation. The realm ofBaten Kaitosis rich with surreal and dreamlike imagery, which heightens the sense of unreality that pervades the title.
Final Fantasy 10takes place in a grand, oceanic world, dotted with small villages and coastal towns. Despite the constant threat of an evil whale-like titan known as Sin, the culture inFF10is vibrant and colorful; party members and NPCs alike sport vibrant and elaborate outfits.
Despite this world’s perilous status, the setting is still rich with colorful and architecturally striking buildings. As Tidus and his allies journey to defeat Sin, they’ll visit some truly surreal locales, and the vast spherical bubbles where the time-honored sport of Blitzball is played only emphasize this sense of imagination and wonder.
While this action RPG, unlike its predecessor, was not created in partnership with Studio Ghibli, the inspiration from that legendary studio is very apparent in every corner ofNi No Kuni 2’s vibrant world. The game takes place in the whimsical realm of Ding Dong Dell and the three countries that share a world with it.
As players assist the recently deposed King Evan and his companion, a realm-shifted politician from Earth, intheir quest to retake the throne, they’ll travel all across this fanciful environment and meet the strange creatures who call it home. By colliding mystical whimsy with tense politics,Ni No Kuni 2is able to produce a very unique setting.
Atlus' recent fantasy RPG takes place in atroubled fantasy world where prejudice and discriminationhave caused unrest on a massive scale. As would-be monarchs race to claim a recently vacated throne, this mystical realm threatens to come apart at the seams.
The art direction and environments in this game elevate it to remarkable new heights. The grand, imposing architecture of monumental structures like the Grand Trad Cathedral put the society ofMetaphor: ReFantazioin a class all its own, and surreal and grotesque dungeons like the grueling Sandworm Stomach emphasize the bizarre and treacherous nature of the world the protagonists are trying to save.
The world design ofFinal Fantasy 7undoubtedly contributed to the game’s status as one of the most renowned JRPGs of all time. The clash between the natural beauty of Gaia and the encroaching industrialization of Shinra is as relevant today as it was in 1997, and it makes for a truly unforgettable world.
As Cloud and his allies battle against Shinra and the evil Sephiroth, they’ll explore every corner of this vibrant world. High fantasy and industrial machinery is a combination that isn’t too uncommon today, butFinal Fantasy 7definitely pioneered it.
The illustriousChrono Triggerremains a paragonof the JRPG genre decades after its release, and it’s easy to see why. The central time travel premise offers up a bountiful variety of dungeons and realms to explore, from the distant, prehistoric past, to the far-flung future.
Even modern JRPGs struggle to hold up toChrono Triggerin terms of variety and creativity. With dungeons, allies, and enemies spanning the full breadth of this fantasy realm’s massive timeline, there’s a lot to see.
Persona 5stars a group of teens with the mysterious ability to venture into a cognitive realm made of the distorted desires and perceptions of exceptionally evil and misguided people. Each of the game’s dungeons, therefore, is built around an antagonist’s delusion, with twisted caricatures representing the unique and twisted way in which they interact with the world around them.
This makes for some trulysurreal and unforgettable dungeon designs. Fans must navigate unreal locations like twisted Egyptian pyramids, space stations, casinos, and massive bank vaults. Every puzzle and challenge they face along the way is influenced directly by how their target sees the world and how they can correct this flawed and often exploitative perception.
Xenoblade Chronicleshas what is certainly one of the strangest settings in JRPG history. The entire game takes place on the backs of two titanic beings, locked and frozen in eternal conflict. These two titans were large enough to support multiple biomes and societies, and now their inhabitants are carrying on their ancient battle for them.
As Shulk and his allies battle the sinister robotic Mechon, they learn more about the origins of their mechanical foes and the history of machine intelligence on the opposing titan. Both physically and historically, these two massive titans hold countless secrets for fans to discover.
