The best JRPG focused on friendship

Key Takeaways

  • Some JRPGs excel at showcasing the power of friendship, adding emotional value to climactic moments.
  • Character bindings in games like Persona 3 Reload and Final Fantasy 15 enhance the story experience.
  • EarthBound, The Legend of Heroes, and other titles take on the trope of friendship to help heroes defeat powerful enemies.



The power of friendship is a common trope in most JRPGs, with heroes banding together to defeat enemies who rely on their strength alone instead of trying to open up to others. It's so common in this genre that most JRPGs are criticized for relying on this narrative structure often.

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That being said, some JRPGs do a good job of doing this trope justice by crafting narrative elements around this trope. This allows them to build bonds with their friends and adds emotional weight to each year's climax where the heroes rely on these friendships to turn things around and save the day.


8 Persona 3 Reload

The feeling of being lost during this play is overcome by the warmth of meaningful friendship.


published
February 2, 2024

developer(s)
P-Studio

OpenCritic Rating
STRONG

Fans were delighted to get a golden opportunity to check out one of the most important JRPGs Atlus has ever developed. Persona 3 introduced Social Links and the life simulation element that has become a staple of the series ever since.

The theme of loss dominates an experience that can be sad at times, which is why the bond between the main character and his friends is so important to the experience. Faced with overwhelming odds, the hero overcomes these negative feelings by calling on his friends and sealing Nyx's evil for good.

7 Final Fantasy 15

The Main Party shares a deep bond that enhances the feeling of the ending


published
November 9, 2016

OpenCritic Rating
powerful

Final Fantasy 15 is a game that has overcome the chaotic development process to allow players to enjoy the great development of the series. One of the biggest strengths of this series is the effortless way the four members of the group act, which cements their friendship.

Noctis seems a little unhappy at first glance, but the supporting cast does a great job of humanizing him with some of the characters' favorite moments of humor throughout his journey. This is precisely what helps the finale stand out in the eyes of many as one of the most emotional Final Fantasy end of all time.

6 EarthBound

The prayers of friends and family help the party defeat Giygas

Systems

8-bit super grayscale logo

Even anti-JRPG like EarthBound can't shake the power of the friendship trope that's so prevalent in this genre. Fortunately, this game does a great job of justifying this narrative structure by making the adventure as familiar as possible with a group of kids who are loyal friends and together come together to save the world from the Giygas.


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This evil force is so powerful that the player must go back in time and fight him when he was a baby. A terrifying encounter in a light game where the hero relies on the prayers of his friends (including the player himself) to win.

5 The legend of the hero: road of cold steel

The power of friendship reigns throughout this story arc

The Legend of Heroes: Road of Cold Steel

published
December 22, 2015

developer(s)
Nihon Falcom

the Cold Steel Road arc is arguably the most popular Legend of Heroes story that fans can watch. It may not be the best according to the fans, but the episodic structure of this narrative ensures that players will not have any serious problems through the title at its own pace.


A big part of what makes these games special is the bond they share between Grade VII. The character has differences that he must overcome in the mission, strengthening his bond before taking on the boss and other villains with this new strength of friendship.

4 Octopath Traveler 2

It does a better job of showing the bond between the main characters than its predecessor

published
February 24, 2023

OpenCritic Rating
STRONG

The first Octopath player is an excellent JRPG in many ways, but one area where it fails is in selling the bonds between the main characters. An attempt was made to correct this problem in the sequel which was very effective.

Travel Banter is more frequent, although each player's story seems to be in a silo. It is edited into the final arc where all eight members interact in a significant way, eventually allowing them to take on Vide as all eight members take their turn and get rid of this evil God.


3 The world ends with You

Neku must overcome his isolated nature and bond with his teammates during an unforgettable journey.

Systems

transparent phone 8-bit super grayscale logo

Neku can be unbearable at the beginning The world ends with youalthough his behavior is understandable due to the amnesia he suffers from. However, his nonchalant tendencies in the early stages reinforce his character development as the game progresses.

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He slowly opens up to the other players he joins in this unique JRPG, allowing him to overcome his insecurities and create true friendships with his teammates. This gives him the strength he needs to deal with the twisted game brains he's trapped in.

2 Tales of Graces F

The game is heavily on the theme of friendship


Systems

PlayStation-1 8-bit super grayscale logo

published
December 1, 2009

From everyone legend games that players can watch, Tales of Graces takes the cake as a title that leans heavily on the trope of friendship cementing their bond. Asbel, the protagonist, suffered a terrible loss at the beginning of this game and decided to cherish the bonds he made after that time.

This allows him to fight many powerful bosses and lend the help he needs to his friends. He is a successful actor who ingratiates himself with the rest of the party and uses these bonds to strengthen himself many times.

1 Xenoblade Chronicles 2

Increases the power of the Friendship Cup to maximum


Systems

8-bit super grayscale logo

published
December 1, 2017

OpenCritic Rating
powerful

Many think so Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will be the weakest game of the series. The constant focus on tutorials combined with a story that is not as multifaceted as other games in the series prevents this title from reaching greater heights than its predecessors.

However, this should not take anything away from the quality of this JRPG, with fans of Xenoblade Chronicles love formula that this title brings to the table. While the constant focus on friendship can get tiresome after a certain point, players who love the main character don't mind Rex calling on the bond he's built time and time again to overcome adversity and emerge victorious. .

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