IGN Reveals Top 25 Greatest JRPGs of All Time Following Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Success
Entry information
Published on: May 11, 2025
Description
In the wake of the critical and commercial success garnered by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, IGN has curated and published a definitive ranking of the 25 greatest Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) of all time, paying homage to a genre that has captivated global audiences for decades.
This compilation spans several gaming generations and platforms such as the Nintendo Switch and PlayStation, and is carefully structured to ensure that no single franchise overwhelms the list—a pivotal editorial choice allowing for a more diverse representation of the JRPG landscape.
To maintain this diversity, IGN elected to include only one installment per established series, thereby giving due recognition to classic titles without letting renowned franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest dominate the rankings.
This approach acknowledges the vast creativity within the JRPG genre, which has produced a multitude of innovative games across different hardware generations, from the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) and PlayStation 2 to the current Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5.
The full IGN list, which reflects decades of RPG development excellence, is as follows:
1.
Chrono Trigger
2.
Persona 5 Royal
3.
Final Fantasy X
4.
Metaphor: ReFantazio
5.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3
6.
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age
7.
Earthbound
8.
Suikoden II
9.
Pokémon Gold/Silver
10.
The Legends of Heroes: Trails in the Sky
11.
Octopath Traveler 2
12.
Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door
13.
Xenogears
14.
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth
15.
Grandia 2
16.
Kingdom Hearts 2
17.
Tales of Vesperia
18.
Live A Live
19.
Bravely Default 2
20.
Star Ocean: The Second Story
21.
Lost Odyssey
22.
Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch
23.
Golden Sun
24.
Breath of Fire 3
25.
Shin Megami Tensei III: Nocturne
IGN's editorial team highlighted that this ranking serves as both an acknowledgment of the JRPG genre’s foundational impact on game design and a roadmap for both veteran fans and newcomers.
In a paraphrased statement from the publication, IGN noted that they wanted to "shine a light on the extraordinary breadth of experiences the genre has to offer, from timeless classics to bold modern interpretations."
Many of these JRPG masterworks, such as Chrono Trigger and Earthbound, originally launched on legacy Nintendo platforms, while others—like Persona 5 Royal and Xenoblade Chronicles 3—demonstrate the genre's evolution on contemporary consoles including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch.
Notably, the list includes influential games from renowned developers such as Square Enix, Atlus, Monolith Soft, and Level-5, all of whom have played vital roles in shaping the JRPG genre’s international reputation and commercial achievements.
With the exponential growth in digital distribution via services like the Nintendo eShop and PlayStation Store, several of these iconic titles remain available to a new generation of gamers, ensuring that the storied legacy of JRPGs endures.
IGN’s top 25 JRPG list not only celebrates significant milestones in gaming history but also reinforces the enduring popularity and creative richness of Japanese RPGs worldwide.
