29 Games Like Final Fantasy
Our collection of games like Final Fantasy features the best Japanese RPGs and includes games like Final Fantasy Tactics for PC, iOS, Android and consoles.
Final Fantasy is a recognisable franchise with its first game released in 1987 which has now grown to dozens of titles with similar themes, gameplay and challenges. In the majority of games in the Final Fantasy series players take control of a group of characters each with their own job or class and progress through the story by exploring and defeating various enemies that are either randomly encountered or predetermined boss battles.
These battles are turn based with players commanding each character individually to attack, use a spell or an item which creates a mixture of RPG and strategy. As players advance individual characters gain experience and level up to improve their skills for increasing combat challenges.
The games like Final Fantasy here are the best from the Japanese RPG genre and offer a mixture of turn based action combat and real time experience which makes the collection below also ideal for those seeking games like Final Fantasy Tactics.
Lost Odyssey
Lost Odyssey brings an impressive Japanese role playing experience similar to that of the acclaimed Final Fantasy series to the Xbox 360 (and later other Xbox platforms). Released in 2008 with development being headed by none other than an original creator of the Final Fantasy series (Hironobu Sakaguchi) players will step into a diverse fantasy world and attempt to save it from a dark fate. The setting for this adventure is one that blends magical and the industrial revolution with the power of ...[Read Review]
Xenoblade Chronicles
Xenoblade Chronicles mixes sci-fi with the Japanese RPG genre to create a streamlined adventure that does away with a number of unnecessary features that have plagued the genre in the past. With a vast open world for players to explore the zones, side quests and your party are all central to your own unique story. The game was released in North America in 2012 for the Nintendo Wii before being ported to the Nintendo 3DS in 2015 and lastly being remastered for the Nintendo Switch in 2020. The set...[Read Review]
Bravely Default
Bravely Default is a 3DS adventure set in the world of Luxendarc where players embark on a diverse role playing adventure as you take your party of adventurers from start to end of the fantasy storyline. Released in 2012 for the Nintendo 3DS a sequel to the franchise would not be seen until 2021 which also expanded the platform availability of this fan favourite turn based role playing title which takes elements from the exceeding popular Final Fantasy series. The result is a deeply satisfying s...[Read Review]
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Trigger is a role playing game that was originally developed for the Super Nintendo in 1995. The game was developed by Square (now Square Enix) so you know that the game is a high quality experience. The development team of the game also included several big names that worked on other popular role playing games such as Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest and Dragon Ball. The game has been re-released several times for modern day availability including the PlayStation Network, iOS, Android, Ninten...[Read Review]
Secret of Mana
Secret of Mana was originally released in 1993 by Square (now Squire Enix) for the SNES and ranks amongst the most popular historical RPG titles in the genre. In 2010 the game was re-released on the iOS platform with minor changes to the original with Android, Windows, PlayStation And Nintendo Switch (as part of the Collection of Mana) releases following across several years. Secret of Mana and the other games in the Mana franchise mix elements of Final Fantasy and the Legend of Zelda with other...[Read Review]
Shin Megami Tensei IV
Growing the franchise further Shin Megami Tensei IV for the Nintendo 3DS allows players to explore an alternative path to demon slaying with ample options to talk with and even have demons join you on your quest rather than fighting them. This mechanic amongst other refinements to the previous titles is the focus of Shin Megami Tensei IV which once again delivers a potent RPG experience in a post apocalyptic Japan. Shin Megami Tensei IV (translated to True Goddess Reincarnation IV) is actually t...[Read Review]
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies
Dragon Quest IX: Sentinels of the Starry Skies changes up the standard formula of the series by focusing on some core improvements and multiplayer features. The game is still a great single player experience though for Dragon Quest fans. The game opens up in the Observatory which is home to an angelic race in charge of looking after the humans below. At the centre of your society is the World Tree which grows the vital fruit of Fyggs which allows your kind to pass onto the next world. One day a ...[Read Review]
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch blends action role playing with monster capturing to offer a great mixture of action and strategy in a single challenging adventure. Originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2010 (Japan only) the game was later brought to an English audience through the PlayStation 3 hardware and in time a remastered version for PlayStation 4, Windows, Nintendo Switch and Xbox platforms. The avatar for your adventure is Oliver who lives in the village of Motorville whose lif...[Read Review]
Xenogears
Xenogears was one of the most popular games for the original PlayStation and now thanks to the PlayStation Store you can get your hands on this classic for your modern PlayStation devices. The game follows Fei Fong Wong and his party of adventurers as they unlock the mysteries of the game world. Xenogears tackles plenty of philosophies head on so if you enter the game with an open mind you might just spend a few minutes thinking about the real world that we live in. The core elements the game ta...[Read Review]
Tales of Vesperia
Tales of Vesperia is part of the long running Tales series of role playing games and marks the 10th addition to this magical RPG franchise known for it’s unique combat elements. While originally only available for the Xbox 360 in English a Definitive Edition brought the popular series to a wider range of platforms. In Tales of Vesperia players will have the chance to explore the planet Terca Lumireis which features a similar theme and aesthetic to the past iterations of the franchise. On t...[Read Review]
Blue Dragon
Blue Dragon is part of the Japanese RPG genre and is similar in design to the Final Fantasy series partly due to Hironobu Sakaguchi overseeing production of the game and writing the story. In Blue Dragon you’ll get to explore a great open world as a group of five friends who take it upon themselves to deal with the increasing threat of Nene who rules over the Grand Kingdom. The story and its accompanying setting was so highly rated that it led to the introduction of an anime and manga spin off a...[Read Review]
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4
Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 4 is a Japanese RPG that has you taking on the role of a high school student. The game originally launched on PlayStation 2 in 2008 and received an enhanced Golden edition in 2012 for the PlayStation Vita before expanding further in 2023 releases on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and Xbox consoles. The game is set in a rural town with emphasis on the high school and its students. Players take control of one of these high school students who has recently moved from a l...[Read Review]
Eternal Sonata
Eternal Sonata is a role playing game from Japan with a focus on incorporating musical elements into its gameplay. The game is available for Xbox 360 and the PlayStation 3. A large portion of the game is set within the strange dream world of Chopon, a composer of music that is on his death bed. Chopin is based directly on Frederic Chopin a popular composer and pianist of his time (1810-1849). The game takes place over 8 different game chapters that are each based on one of his compositions. The ...[Read Review]
Resonance of Fate
Resonance of Fate tries to capture the Japanese role playing genre while adding plenty of unique mechanics. While Resonance of Fate pulls this off in some game aspects, does it masterfully innovate them all? Resonance of Fate was released for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in 2010 and changes up the standard setting by incorporating guns into a fantasy setting. The game takes place in the sky around a device known as the Basel which provides habitable space for humans to live after the planet starte...[Read Review]
Star Ocean: The Last Hope
Star Ocean: The Last Hope is an action RPG from Square Enix. Originally launching on Xbox 360 only the game eventually came to PS3, PS4 and Windows with a few improvements. Choosing a science fiction setting the game is set after a third world war has devastated the Earth leaving the population to go underground. In order to save the human race the decision is made to find a new home planet through space travel. This is where the protagonist enters the fray as they board one of the first conveys...[Read Review]
Valkyria Chronicles
Valkyria Chronicles is a unique role playing game that blends shooting and strategy together into a single tactical role playing title. Serving as the first game in this tactical franchise Valkyria Chronicles has also expanded into the world of anime and magna with varying success. The stage for your Valkyria Chronicles experience is the fictional region of Europa which takes clear inspiration from a real world Europe during World War II as two powerful factions of equivalent strength battle aga...[Read Review]
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor
Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor belongs to the highly popular series of actions games and opts to mix several genres together to create a tactical role playing experience for the Nintendo DS. With multiple endings and paths to take throughout the story combining with so many different team setups it’s a game with high replay value as players can opt to take alternative paths or change their team composition between playthroughs for a different adventure. Set in modern day Tokyo the game explo...[Read Review]
Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth
Launching for PS4 and PS Vita, Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth lets you command your own team of Digimon and customise them to be the ultimate fighting team as you play through the digital world storyline. Subsequently released n Windows and Nintendo Switch under the name Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth: Complete Edition which included the original and sequel (Hacker’s Memory) which also boosts the original Digimon count from 249 to 341. Within this storyline your role is that of Takumi Aiba or Ami ...[Read Review]
Magna Carta 2
Magna Carta 2 is a Korean developed role playing game that stays true to the broader Japanese role playing sub genre with a wealth of choice and deep skill systems to explore along your journey. Released on Xbox 360 in 2009 players can expect flashy presentation and strong character appearances from start to end in the fantasy world. Magna Carta 2 takes place in the fictional land of Lanzheim, a fantasy based world featuring several races that the player will encounter along the story that come ...[Read Review]
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness is a role playing tactical adventure that takes place within the Netherworld following the narcissistic protagonist Prince Laharl in a humour filled dark story. The game opens with Laharl being woken from his coffin with one of his vassals informing him that he has been slumbering for two years longer than anticipated and that his father the powerful King Krichevskoy has died and a number of other demons have risen to battle for the now vacant role of king. Vowing to re...[Read Review]
Nier
Nier crafts an interesting story for Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 owners while pairing it with action role playing and hack and slash fundamentals. Following the story of two books, one good and the other evil Nier is designed for players to play through the story multiple times in order to fully grasp the story elements as new story related mechanics are introduced on subsequent playthroughs. While a PS Vita version was planned this was eventually abandoned and never released to the public. Set i...[Read Review]
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky originally launched in Japan, firmly falling into the JRPG genre. With it’s success in the Japanese market it was eventually brought to English audiences and serves as the very first Trials game in the trilogy. Typical of a JRPG The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky centres itself around impressive character development and a turn based combat system similar to that used heavily in Final Fantasy Tactics. In The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky y...[Read Review]
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate
Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate (MH3U), belongs to the third generation of the Monster Hunter series and is a new and improved version of Monster Hunter Tri adding new monsters and maps. Like the previous games, you’ll be joined by two companions named Kayamba and Cha-Cha. Simply put, MH3U is about, hunting monsters. You’ll venture through several maps completing monster hunting quests within an allotted time. Quests can vary from slaying to capturing monsters with each monster an extremely varied exp...[Read Review]
Fantasy War Tactics
Fantasy War Tactics brings the popular turn based tactical genre to the mobile scene with Nexon’s mobile creation that builds on their impressive list of mobile and PC MMO titles. With a more single player focused offering although there is sstill plenty of community interact Fantasy War Tactics challenges players to collect a team of your favourite heroes as you advance through a PvE campaign and claim the PvP titles should you wish to venture into the player vs player arena. Your objective in ...[Read Review]
Radiant Historia
Radiant Historia is a RPG experience for your Nintendo DS with time travel elements making up the core of the experience. The game was developed by Atlus who worked on many other popular games in the genre including the highly received Nocturne and Persona 3. Radiant Historia is set on Vanqueur, which was the site for a once powerful empire that destroyed itself by using a powerful energy within the game world known as Flux. The current game world which players will have a chance to explore feat...[Read Review]
Enchanted Arms
Enchanted Arms is one of the few console games to offer Pokemon like features and it does so with a traditional JRPG core. The result is a RPG adventure that has elements of monster collection and training to help you conquer the game world that Enchanted Arms throws you into. If you’re primarily a console gamer (PS3, Xbox 360 and Xbox One) seeking your next JRPG but want a touch of Pokemon vibe you’ll find it within. With these JRPG foundations players can also expect an experience ...[Read Review]
Anachronox
If you enjoy the gameplay that the Japanese role playing genre has to offer but want something with more of a western or sci-fi setting then Anachronox provides a good balance between the two. The game was released in 2001 and is a Windows only game. Anachronox takes place in a cyberpunk themed world and features an odd sense of humour that adds a lot to the games overall charm. In the game players assume the role of a private detective who is down on his luck and looking for work in the slums o...[Read Review]
The Last Remnant
The Last Remnant tries to do some unique things in the Japanese RPG genre but not all of them succeed creating a game you’ll either love or hate based on how you like to play the genre. The game was released for the Xbox 360 in November 2008 with a Windows release early in 2009 and subsequently remastered for PlayStation 4. The games development and publishing was handled by Square Enix. From a story perspective the game isn’t anything ground breaking (although that is most Japanese RPGs t...[Read Review]
Tales of Grace f
Tales of Grace f is the PlayStation 3 port of the popular Japanese RPG that was originally released on the Nintendo Wii (only in Japan). The game is part of the long running Tales series with similar gameplay and story elements to the previous instalments in the franchise that have seen this JRPG rise the ranks amongst critics and genre fans alike. In Tales of Grace f players will have the opportunity to explore the fictional world known as Ephinea which is divided into three different countries...[Read Review]