2022 has so far been an extraordinary year for the video game industry in more ways than one. There have been countless titles released this year that have proven to be nothing short of outstanding: but the year is far from over and the list of anticipated JRPGs remains strong. Many of the most anticipated JRPGs of the entire year have yet to officially release. So today, we’re discussing the top 10 upcoming JRPGs arriving in late 2022 and beyond. Brace yourselves: there’s a lot to celebrate here.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero
Being one of the most beloved series in the JRPG world, Nihon Falcom’s The Legend of Heroes has touched the hearts of many through amazing storytelling, lovable characters, and engaging turn-based gameplay. The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero originally released in Japan for the PSP in 2010. Due to a variety of reasons, Trails from Zero had never been localized. On top of that, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel had also later been prioritized in terms of localization when the time finally came. However, recent news of an official The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero release finally changes that!
In The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero, players will learn the complexities of Crossbell State, a small territory located in Zemuria. The story follows rookie CPD members Lloyd Bannings, Elie MacDowell, Tio Plato, and Randy Orlando as they discover the corruption within their city and fight for justice.
Trails from Zero offers many amazing qualities that live up to The Legend of Heroes standards and, after a wait stretching beyond the span of ten long years, it’s safe to say that this game has rightfully earned its title as one of the most anticipated JRPGs to grace the year 2022! According to Nihon Falcom, The Legend of Heroes: Trails from Zero is set to release September 27, 2022. The game will see a Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC release.
Soul Hackers 2
Next on this list of the Top 10 Best Upcoming JRPGs of 2022 is an extremely promising game called Soul Hackers 2. Some people may be wondering: what about Soul Hackers 1? Well, that’s because it’s a bit more niche than one might assume. The first Soul Hackers game– Devil Summoner: Soul Hackers— came out exclusively in Japan in 1997. It is currently available for the Nintendo 3DS.
Much like the first installment, Soul Hackers 2 will include mature content and dark themes. Soul Hackers 2 takes place in a cyberpunk Japan where nothing is as it seems. In the shadows lie Devil Summoners, beings who can harness the power of otherworldly demons. As the end of the world draws near, a digital hivemind by the name of Aion takes on the role of investigating and attempting to stop the butterfly effect responsible for the apocalypse. Furthermore, you play as Ringo, an agent of Aion who must investigate and explore said end of the world in her human form.
Soul Hackers 2 brings a fascinating combination of supernatural elements, cyberpunk environments, and unique-looking gameplay to the table. On top of that, Soul Hackers is an Atlus series: the developers of the Persona series! Knowing this, spooky fanatics and Persona fans alike undoubtedly have much to look forward to here! Soul Hackers 2 releases August 26, 2022 for a variety of platforms.
La Pucelle: Ragnarok
Nippon Ichi Software continues to remaster and deliver their beloved classics one after the next. Over the years, fans have been given remastered versions of Phantom Brave, Soul Nomad, Makai Kingdom, and even a handful of Disgaea titles. However, although many remasters have graced the JRPG community, there are still a handful of titles that loyal fans still crave. One of those titles is, without-a-doubt, La Pucelle: Tactics. Although La Pucelle has aged over the years alongside many other Nippon Ichi classics, its story and turn-based action is no less enjoyable. Now, the wait for a remaster is finally over!
La Pucelle: Tactics, now reborn as La Pucelle: Ragnarok, tells the tale between light and dark. The story is centered around a demon hunting group called, well… La Pucelle. This group works for the Church of the Holy Maiden in the name of all things good. The story progresses through the eyes of main character Prier, a member of La Pucelle. Along with her little brother Culotte, Prier takes the player on a magnificent journey through her world. This turn-based classic is full of unique characters, fun gaming mechanics, unlikely love stories, and a world full of dark secrets. Oh, and there’s even a pirate with an airship and a crew full of cats!
Knowing that a remastering of such a magnificent classic is just around the corner, it would be a sin to leave La Pucelle off this list. La Pucelle: Ragnarok most definitely earns its place in the top 10 best upcoming JRPGs of 2022 and beyond! This remaster will release August 30, 2022 on PC.
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
But wait: Nippon Ichi Software isn’t through shinning just yet! Not only are longtime Nippon Ichi Software fans getting La Pucelle: Ragnarok, but they are also getting Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure! Although Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure is definitely the lesser known of the two, fans of both Nippon Ichi Software and classic JRPGs in general will finally have the chance to experience the magic that is this lovely game! Rhapsody alone is outstanding simply on its own, but, like La Pucelle, it also brings Disgaea fans back to the roots of where the chaos all began!
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure follows the story of Cornet, who is on a journey to find the love of her life: the Prince of Marl. As she journeys through Marl’s Kingdom, Cornet uses her magical horn to obtain the help of puppets and monsters in battle. Cornet and her party also face Marjorly, an evil witch who is also in love with the Prince. Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure offers a colorful world full of music and charm!
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure deserves its spot on this list for all the same reasons La Pucelle: Ragnarok does. Similar to La Pucelle: Ragnarok, this beautiful classic will release August 30, 2022 on PC. Additionally, both La Pucelle and Rhapsody grace the Nintendo Switch as a complimentary duo August 30, 2022, as well!
Valkyrie Elysium
Next up on this list of highly anticipated JRPGs is Valkyrie Elysium. The Valkyrie Profile series is a relatively small collection of games that many JRPG fans cherish. Additionally, the last Valkyrie Profile game released over 10 years ago. This left fans of the series wanting more for over a decade. Although Valkyrie Anatomia had a mobile release just a few years back, it severely lacked what makes the Valkyrie series so great. But now, the wait is finally over!
In Valkyrie Elysium, you play as Valkyrie: an emissary of redemption forged by Odin. In a world where the end of times draws near, Valkyrie’s task is to save a doomed world from the evil that plagues it. Valkyrie Profile is known for being turn-based. However, this time around, Valkyrie Elysium brings real time combat to the table. Between beautiful graphics and a fresh combat system, JRPG fans have much to look forward to!
A game as long-awaited as this one definitely deserves a place in the top 10 best upcoming JRPGs of 2022 and beyond! Valkyrie Elysium releases September 29, 2022 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink
Moving along through the list, the next JRPG to look forward to is none other than Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Granblue Fantasy is a mobile JRPG gacha game for Android/IOS/PC. Granblue Fantasy was never localized, as it had only been officially released in Japan. In 2016, Granblue Fantasy: Relink fell under the spotlight during its earlier development stages. Now, the wait is finally nearing its end!
Granblue Fantasy: Relink reimagines the 2D world of Granblue in a refreshing 3D light. Fans of Granblue are in for a treat, as recent images of this reimagined world suggest that the wait will be well worth it. Every environment, beloved character, and piece of weaponry have been carefully crafted into a breathtaking 3D world.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink looks to be forming into the perfect example of every JRPG lover’s dream. With that being said, Granblue Fantasy: Relink most definitely deserves its spot in the top 10 best upcoming JRPGs of 2022 and beyond! Granblue Fantasy: Relink releases sometime in 2023 for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC.
HARVESTELLA
Next on this grand list is a refreshing change of pace: HARVESTELLA. Square Enix has given many video game enthusiasts a very exciting mixture of genres with the announcement of HARVESTELLA! This RPG offers a nice blend of fantasy and life-simulation. As players explore the world of HARVESTELLA, they will be able to tend to crops, form friendships, fight monsters, and slowly expose the darker mysteries of the season of death: Quietus.
The world of HARVESTELLA looks to be extremely colorful, imaginative, and ultimately unique enough to stand out amongst the crowd. That is why HARVESTELLA most definitely reserves the right to a spot on this list of the most anticipated JRPGs coming in the near future! HARVESTELLA releases November 4, 2022 for PC and the Nintendo Switch.
Final Fantasy XVI
Square Enix is far from being through with the spotlight as we continue on with this list. Next up, we have Final Fantasy XVI. Final Fantasy is, without a doubt, one of if not the most loved JRPG series in the world. Time and time again, new Final Fantasy installments grace RPG buffs and casual gamers alike. Final Fantasy XIV Online, Final Fantasy XV, the Final Fantasy VII Remake: the ride is never-ending. With such an impressive stream of outstanding Final Fantasy experiences, its impossible to brush such an exciting announcement off!
Final Fantasy XVI takes place in the world of Valisthea. This land is full of Mothercrystals that act as mountainous towers gracing Valisthea with its light. Although many people have basked in the safety of these crystals, Blight now lurks and threatens to destroy what the Mothercrystals have given them. Main character Clive Rosfield and his brother Joshua are swept up into a journey of revenge after a tragic number of events unfold in the world of Valisthea.
Like any Final Fantasy game, XVI looks extremely promising. The story synopsis, characters, gameplay, and artwork are most definitely something to be excited for! Final Fantasy XVI releases Summer of 2023 for the PlayStation 5.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force
Up next on this list of the top 10 best upcoming JRPGs of 2022 and beyond is Star Ocean: The Divine Force. Star Ocean is a sci-fi/fantasy JRPG series beloved by many JRPG enthusiasts. Star Ocean: The Second Story and Star Ocean: Till the End of Time are particularly popular in this community. In 2016 the fifth installment of the Star Ocean series, Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness, had a rough release. Although many Star Ocean fans still love this game, it undeniably falls short of what makes a great Star Ocean game. Many fans feared that Integrity and Faithlessness would be the last game of the series: but it isn’t!
Star Ocean: The Divine Force has two main characters: Raymond Lawrence and Princess Laeticia. During a transport mission, Raymond’s ship is attacked by the Pangalactic Federation. Raymond crashes into a foreign planet where he meets Laeticia, who fights to protect her homeland. Together, the two of them embark on a journey that will change the universe forever. The graphics are beautiful, the story is solid, and the gameplay looks engaging. Additionally, players can choose to play the game from either Raymond or Laeticia’s perspective. This adds to a promisingly dynamic experience.
Star Ocean: The Divine Force looks promising enough to make up for what Integrity and Faithlessness lacked and more. Fans of the Star Ocean series and JRPG fanatics alike have much to look forward to here! Star Ocean: The Divine Force releases October 27, 2022 for a variety of platforms.
Kingdom Hearts IV
The final spot on this list is for none other than: Kingdom Hearts IV. Kingdom Hearts, much like Final Fantasy, has a high volume of genuine fans behind it. Fans of this series know that Kingdom Hearts III took a considerable amount of time to officially release after the announcement. However, long waits never deter true fans. So, although we don’t have much information about Kingdom Hearts IV at the moment, an announcement trailer alone is plenty to cheer for!
Kingdom Hearts fans have already taken it upon themselves to theorize what sort of adventure Sora is in for next. There is much speculation as to what the story will be, what the gameplay will feel like, and what sort of exciting worlds will await players! Because of the hype the title Kingdom Hearts brings along with it, the recent Kingdom Hearts IV news alone is enough to earn it a spot on this list!
If you’re new to Kingdom Hearts, you’ll have plenty of time to explore the vast world this series has to offer before the fourth game releases!
Thank-you for taking the time to read this compilation of the top 10 best upcoming JRPGs of 2022 and beyond! Craving more JRPG content? Check out the rest of our articles on JRPGs here at KeenGamer!
