If there is one thing RPG fans always suffer from, it is the size of their backlog. On top of having more and more games coming out, each title demands hours upon hours of gameplay just to see the credits, which keeps expanding our backlog further. All RPG subgenres fit into this, including JRPGs.
However, when I see someone saying that JRPGs are longer, I realize it’s those who have never played Baldur’s Gate 3 or Skyrim, where the hours can easily pass into the hundreds without even touching the main story. I think I know the reason, because while most JRPGs are indeed long, they also feel bigger because of the sheer amount of story exposition and, sometimes, wordy dialogue.
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With that in mind, I put together a list of 8 JRPGs that you can finish in under 10 hours if you focus purely on the main story. If you want to do everything, throw in a couple more hours, but in the end, it will still be a much smoother journey that will not choke your backlog while you dive into another wonderful game.
8
Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure
Music and Funsies
Developer
Nippon Ichi Software
Publisher
Nippon Ichi Software, Atlus (NA)
Release Date
December 17, 1998
My experience with Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure is pretty strange. I bought the game at a local rental shop, and as simple as it is compared to other JRPGs, with pretty mundane gameplay and a plot so cozy and adorable that it felt like it didn’t push my buttons, I remember my journey with the JRPG like it was yesterday (and that was over 20 years ago).
It is a game that stuck with me for some reason, and well, it fits the prompt. In it, we play as Cornet, a puppet-wielding girl who wants to save Prince Ferdinand. With the puppets on her side, she fights enemies in turn-based combat that functions like small strategy fields, grid and all. But since Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure is extremely easy, I never needed to overthink my party composition and usually just had to keep moving forward.
7
Soul Blazer
Preparation for Terranigma
This one is a bit out of left field because I would not call it a fully fleshed-out JRPG, but in celebration of the rebirth of Terranigma, it deserves a mention. Soul Blazer is part of the Quintet Trilogy, which encompasses titles like Illusion of Gaia, Terranigma, and the one in question. It is an action RPG where we have to defeat monsters to release souls.
It is straightforward and not too complex, but it was still wildly fun. I recently replayed it, and it had some interesting mechanics. With every soul released, the towns expanded, unlocking more NPCs with extra dialogue and items. It is also a relatively short experience for a JRPG, with just 10 hours to clock.
6
Jack Move
Cyberpunk Love
Jack Move is that kind of indie that comes and goes under the radar, but whoever played it fell in love almost at first glance. In total transparency, I am not that familiar with the JRPG, but I watched my friend play it and speak fondly of it, which gave me a huge urge to play it, and I promise to get it off my backlog as soon as the launch season settles down (so never).
Like cyberpunk settings and gorgeous pixel art? Then you will enjoy Jack Move, a game where you play as Noa, a vigilante hacker who needs to find her father after he gets kidnapped by the mega-corporation Monomind. The turn-based battle only includes Noa in combat, but it creates a system that justifies this one-member-only gameplay. Just don’t get too attached to Jack Move, because you will finish it in 8 hours.
5
Undertale
Needs No Introduction
I know there are certain disagreements about calling Undertale a JRPG, but come on, Toby Fox wore his inspirations on his sleeve (even if it was to make an anti-JRPG). If you do just a single playthrough of Undertale, you will finish the game in about 7 hours. Chances are high, though, that you will want to replay it, do a pacifist path, or explore the game inside and out.
Undertale is a pretty good experience nonetheless, even if you just want to play it once, sticking with the decisions you made the first time, or if you want to use a guide and pick apart everything. All in all, it is worth playing, especially during downtimes between more colossal JRPGs that demand your undivided attention.
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4
Costume Quest
Childlike Spirit
One day, I was at a friend’s house, browsing the PS3 Store, when I suddenly bumped into Costume Quest. Since I had a little bit of money in my wallet, I decided to buy it and started playing right then and there. Imagine my surprise when I finished the game on the exact same day, and I might add, had a blast in the process.
Costume Quest is super cozy, an adventure aimed at a younger audience, but not childish. Since it takes place around Halloween, each costume functions like a Job system and alters our duo’s attacks in combat. I don’t remember the story very well, but it was engaging enough to make me finish it in one sitting. Not that it is hard, after all, the game takes about 6 hours for the main story.
3
Ys III: Wanderers from Ys
Most Ys, Really
Among the early Ys titles, all of them are pretty casual and quick experiences. I will not say easy, because you will need to farm quite a bit in the first entries. I played Ys I & II this year and kept bumping into the same enemies repeatedly to gain experience. Still, to my satisfaction, every level up powered me up immensely, which kept me motivated to do some more bumping.
As a kindness-driven JRPG, as stated by Nihon Falcom, the early games provide a solid, compact journey. I chose to put Ys III: Wanderers from Ys here because it is a bit more complete compared to the first two, and if you want something more modern, there is the remake Ys: The Oath in Felghana, whose playtime lingers around 11 hours and pretty much also fits this list.
2
Parasite Eve
Done by Christmas
You are in New York, just in time for Christmas, trying to enjoy a peaceful opera night when everything bursts into flames. And by everything, I mean people. That is the premise that kicks off Parasite Eve, and it hooks us right from the start, making it smooth sailing from there on out. I never realized Parasite Eve was short, taking just 9 hours to clear, because I had to keep stopping all the time out of fear and underwear changing.
It is a tight-knit experience for fans of the ATB system and horror fans alike, an unusual combination for its time in the world of JRPGs. The second game expanded the playtime a bit more, and as for the third… better forget about it. All that is left for us is for Square to bring the title to modern platforms, and we will all be happy. And scared once again.
1
Dragon Quest
The JRPG Blueprint
This is a bit of a cheat because nowadays almost nobody will choose to play the original Dragon Quest outside of some diehards. However, I included it because historically and culturally it makes a lot of sense. After all, this simplicity and accessibility were the reason JRPGs were born, and it was the vision with which Yuji Horii created Dragon Quest.
In Dragon Quest, we enter the game’s world, and that is it. We had two buttons to contend with, a few combat commands, and a straightforward mission. So go, defeat the Dragonlord! I never played the original game because it is a bit too much for me, but I did play the mobile remake version (and the HD-2D one, though that already had new mechanics). It is much more streamlined than other RPGs of the era and, to our joy, championed a whole new, incredible subgenre.
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