JRPGs

JRPG stands for Japanese role-playing game, a subgenre of role-playing games developed primarily in Japan. The term is used to describe games that emphasize narrative, character development, and a distinctive visual style influenced by anime and manga. While there is overlap with Western RPGs, JRPGs have been associated with more guided storytelling, often featuring a defined party and central cast.

Gameplay in JRPGs commonly combines turn-based or hybrid combat with menu-driven command systems. Characters typically belong to various classes or jobs that influence abilities, and progression is achieved through experience points, level-ups, and increasingly powerful skills. Exploration is usually framed by a linear or semi-linear storyline, with towns, dungeons, and cinematic cutscenes that advance the plot. Combat systems have included Active Time Battle, real-time with pause, and numerous variants that balance strategy with accessibility.

Historically, JRPGs emerged in the 1980s with influential titles such as Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy, shaping conventions that persisted through the 1990s and beyond. The genre gained prominence through the work of companies like Square Enix, Atlus, Level-5, and Nippon Ichi, producing long-running series and standalone classics. Notable examples include Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, Chrono Trigger, Shin Megami Tensei, Persona, and Tales.

In contemporary discourse, the term JRPG is both a descriptive and marketing label. Modern releases increasingly blend JRPG elements with open-world design, real-time action, and Western RPG mechanics, leading to blurred boundaries between JRPG and WRPG conventions. Nevertheless, the label typically signals games from Japan that emphasize story-driven, character-focused experiences with stylized art and defined party dynamics.