Without a doubt, 2024 was a pretty great year for JRPGs. Heavy hitters like Final Fantasy VII Rebirth and Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth made for satisfying sequels. Meanwhile, new IPs like Metaphor Re:Fantazio and Unicorn Overlord scooped up awards left and right. It’s gonna be a tough act to follow, but 2025 has already dealt a solid hand of new upcoming JRPG titles to look forward to.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero
Coming in a whopping 21 years after the original Phantom Brave on PS2, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a sight for sore eyes. Boasting bright visuals in that trademark NIS style, Disgaea fans will feel right at home. The story is set to be a proper follow-up to the original game, catching up with fan-favourite characters Marona and Ash. As with its predecessor, the gameplay is that of a turn-based strategy RPG – but unlike other games of its ilk such as Fire Emblem, characters are not bound to a grid.
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero (image credit: NIS America)
Reasons to get excited
- A unique spin on the genre
- Return of a cult classic IP
- Whimsical, cartoony artstyle
- Reviews so far have been pretty positive
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero has finally been found, and you can grab it right now on PS4, PS5 and Nintendo Switch. A PC port will launch later in Spring 2025.
Trails Through Daybreak 2
While this game has been out in Japan for a few years now, Trails Through Daybreak 2 comes westwards this February. The whopping 12th entry in the Trails series, itself part of the even larger Legend of Heroes series, this might not be the best entry point for a newcomer. That being said, if you’re not afraid of a little homework, it’s a great time to hop on Falcom’s juggernaut RPG series. If you’re interested, you can check out this list of the highlights right here.
Trails Through Daybreak 2 (image credit: NIS America)
Reasons to get excited
- Another epic chapter within the immense story of Trails
- Same enjoyable hybrid real-time/turn-based combat system as the first, with some new tricks
- Falcom are veterans of the JRPG genre, and it shows
- Reviews from its Japanese release are positive
If you’re not convinced yet, two demos are available: one for the opening chapters of the story that’ll carry through to the full game, and one for the combat system. Both of these are exclusive to PS4/5, while the full game is also out now on PS4/5, PC and Switch.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars
One of the most iconic pair of PS1 JRPGs are making a long awaited comeback. The Suikoden series by Konami prides itself on the most immense casts in the genre, with over 100 recruitable party members. Among them, it’s the original two games that remain the most beloved – and expensive, looking at aftermarket prices. These aren’t just repackaged ROMs though; Konami have delayed this release to add all sorts of neat quality-of-life adjustments.
Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars (image credit: Konami)
Reasons to get excited
- Two beloved JRPGs with a fresh coat of paint
- A brand new translation with much-needed improvements
- Speed-up for when the encounters take a little too long
- Not having to pay $400
If you happen to have enjoyed the recent Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, you definitely need to check these out. Heck, these are the spiritual predecessors, after all. Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars hits PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC on 6th March 2025 – just in time for you to finish reading the title out loud.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition
Beaten Xenoblade Chronicles 3 and caught up with the Xenoblade series? Not anymore! Xenoblade Chronicles X is the oft-overlooked spinoff releasing between Xenoblade Chronicles 1 and 2. As for why, well, it’s been trapped on the Wii U all this time, so no wonder. A port would have sufficed, but Monolith Soft have revamped the graphics with a fine comb for its incoming Switch release.
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition (image credit: Nintendo)
Reasons to get excited
- An opportunity to play an entry in Nintendo’s flagship RPG series without needing a Wii U
- Stunning open world, with your own mech to traverse it
- Refined UI that’s much easier to read than the original
- Brand new story content that may finally resolve the cliffhanger after 10 years
While there may be an oversaturation of remasters in the industry as of late, it’s always healthy to make inaccessible games playable to a larger audience. Indeed, with the Wii U eShop shut down, this will be a much-needed second chance for the game. Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition joins its brethren on Switch, on March 20th, 2025.
Atelier Yumia – The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land
The Atelier series has been going since 1997, with Yumia marking its whopping 26th mainline entry. Up til now, the games have set themselves apart from other JRPGs by being mostly low-stakes affairs, more about alchemy and resource gathering than saving the world. However, Yumia sets itself apart with a new, real-time combat system, with a darker tone. The focus on alchemy remains as strong as ever, but for anyone on the fence on this series beforehand – this may be the one to get you onboard.
Atelier Yumia – The Alchemist of Memories & the Envisioned Land (image credit: Koei Tecmo)
Reasons to get excited
- Stunning anime-style visuals
- Incredibly enjoyable looking exploration
- Something fresh for existing fans…
- …and something convincing for people uninterested in Atelier traditions
Whether this change for Atelier will be for the best or not remains to be seen. Many fans have been lamenting the loss of turn-based combat, in much the way Final Fantasy eschewed it recently. On the other hand, the darker story and real-time combat may help expose the franchise to a wider success than before. We’ll find out when Atelier Yumia launches on March 21st, 2025 across PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
Level-5, the studio behind beloved classics like Dark Cloud, Dragon Quest VIII and Professor Layton, are having somewhat of a renaissance. Perhaps their most interesting project in the works right now is anime cop JRPG Decapolice, but we sadly won’t be seeing it til 2026 at the earliest. In the meantime, the much-delayed Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time will be touching down on Switch very soon. A follow-up to an underrated 3DS title, Fantasy Life i looks to be another great cross between RPG gameplay, and a cozy life sim. There’s an absolute ton packed in here, and the official website provides a very colourful overview.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time (image credit: LEVEL5 Inc.)
Reasons to get excited
- It’s like Dragon Quest meets Animal Crossing, and it’s been a long time since either of those
- Heaps of content to sink your teeth into
- Time travel gimmick could make for a very fun twist to the life-sim formula
- Full four-player co-op gameplay, complete with crossplay!
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time has stolen enough; after being delayed from 2023 to 2024 and beyond, it looks like it will finally touch down on May 21st. Initially announced for Switch, it has since been announced that the game will also launch on PS4/5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road
Level-5’s got more in the oven – their classic soccer-themed franchise is set to make a big return. Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road will feature over 4,500 recruitable players from across the franchise’s history on the DS and 3DS consoles. The battle system is twofold; the story will see you engage in turn-based dialogue battles against people in your way. They’re not unlike the classic ATB system as seen in Final Fantasy games, but the highlights are the actual soccer matches – think FIFA meets Dragon Ball with the insane super moves on display.
Inazuma Eleven: Victory Road (image credit: LEVEL5 Inc.)
Reasons to get excited
- Soccer-based action gameplay unlike anything else in the genre
- A genuinely gripping story with cutscenes animated by the legendary anime studio MAPPA (Jujutsu Kaisen, Ranma½)
- Character roster the likes of which would make Suikoden blush
- One of the few JRPGs you’d be able to get stuck into multiplayer with
Like any good soccer match, Victory Road has been postponed a fair bit. While an exact date still isn’t given, Level 5 are currently aiming for June 2025. While you wait, an open beta is available on PS4/5 and Steam, containing the first hour or two of the story mode and online play. Give it a go!
Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake
Last year saw Dragon Quest III return in glorious HD-2D, becoming a huge hit. Square Enix clearly saw that coming, because even before it released, it was announced that Dragon Quest I and II would receive the same remake treatment later this year. When it comes to iconic JRPGs, you can’t get more iconic than what arguably kickstarted the genre. Remasters of these games already exist on mobile and Switch. However, if they’re anything like Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, these remakes are set to wipe the floor with them.
Dragon Quest I+II HD-2D Remake (image credit: Square Enix)
Reasons to get excited
- Two games for the price of one – you can’t argue with value
- A real piece of gaming history, with the enhancements of HD-2D
- Will definitely be more accessible than the original NES games
- With III being a prequel to I and II, this’ll be a great companion piece
While we don’t have much info or any screenshots yet, Square Enix are still set on launching Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake this year. Platforms aren’t confirmed, but it’ll likely be the same platforms as DQIII’s remake; more info will be shared on their site as it comes. With Square going over their back catalogue with HD-2D, perhaps we can see other classics like Chrono Trigger revived in similar fashion.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
As mentioned earlier, Trails Through Daybreak 2 will mark the 12th entry in the Trails saga. With a mostly ongoing story through all 12 games, scattered across generations of consoles, it can seem impossible to get into. Fortunately, developers Nihon Falcom have bestowed the perfect remedy – a full remake of the original Trails in the Sky. Rebuilt from the ground up with all the advancements that Falcom have made in the last 20 years, it’s not just a rehash – it looks set to stand tall next to the current Daybreak saga.
Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter (image credit: GungHo Online Entertainment)
Reasons to get excited
- A new, updated way to experience the beginning of the Trails series – now there’s no excuse!
- You’re free to choose between turn-based and real-time combat
- As is Trails standard, a truly living world with NPCs who react to story developments
- One of the best JRPG stories of 2004, now in the framework of what could be one of the best JRPGs of 2025
In a first for the franchise, Falcom is set to give Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter a worldwide simultaneous release – no need to avoid spoilers from across the pond for a year or two! It’s set to release in late 2025 on PS5, Switch and PC.
Lunar Remastered Collection
Right, yes, it’s another remaster – but don’t let that deter you from these classics. The Lunar series has seen all manner of ports back in the day, each with their pros and cons. Hopefully, this latest release from GungHo Online Entertainment wipes the floor with all the others for a proper definitive edition! Included will be the original Lunar: The Silver Star and its sequel Lunar: Eternal Blue. No need to worry, there’s no sign of the legendarily terrible Lunar: Dragon Song. The graphics have been overhauled, and there’s a brand new English translation and dub, as well as French and German language options.
Lunar Remastered Collection (image credit: GungHo Online Entertainment)
Reasons to get excited
- Two of the most charming – and overlooked – JRPGs of the 90s
- Cutscenes featuring classic 90s cel animation, upscaled to HD
- New fast-forwarding feature for when the grind is taking a while
- Not fond of the overhauled graphics? Toggle the originals back on, Halo-style
Lunar: Remastered Collection brings these beloved games back for PS4/5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Switch and PC on April 18th. Admittedly, chances are low that we’ll see a new Lunar game if this does well, but no need to abandon all hope, eh?
Pokémon Legends: Z-A
When Pokémon Legends: Arceus dropped in 2022, it marked a surprising reinvention of the long-established Pokémon formula. What had become stagnant after three decades was now turned on its head in an original setting for the series, and fans took to it well. Fortunately, unlike the average generational gimmick, Game Freak are committing to this new “Legends” subseries with Legends: Z-A. We know precious little for now, just that it is set to launch this year, and will focus on the Kalos region (introduced in 2013’s Pokémon X and Y).
Reasons to get excited
- Something that should be more than just the same old creature collector
- Finally exploring the untapped lore of the Kalos region and Zygarde
- With no 2024 Pokémon release, Game Freak have been taking extra time on this
- Possible early title for the Switch 2 – but likely cross-gen with the original Switch
While there’s not been any update as of the time of writing, no news is probably good news. If all goes as planned, Pokémon Legends: Z-A should be out this year. Have no fear – it’s all but assured that it’ll touch down on the original Switch, and should have backwards compatibility with Switch 2. Perhaps we’ll hear more on Pokémon Day (February 27th)?
While it’s definitely a lot of remasters and remakes, there’s plenty of interesting projects set to release this year. Certain major players such as Square Enix remain largely secretive in regards to their upcoming 2025 JRPGs. But hey, that gives all the more room under the spotlight for smaller studios! Feel free to shout-out what you’re looking forward to in the comments!
