Summary
An unfair stigma attached to most JRPGs is the statement thattheir stories are as linear as they comeand don’t allow for organic exploration like most modern video games. This may be true for some retro JRPGs that don’t allow for a ton of exploration aside from an overworld that carefully guides players to the next city or dungeon that they must reach to advance the plot. However, modern game design has infiltrated JRPGs more than people assume, and this applies to exploration too.
Many games in this genre now allow for seamless exploration that lets players tackle events at their own pace, with some games going so far as to let players ignore the main story entirely. While most JRPGs don’t need to be reliant on engaging exploration to make them stand out, there’s no denying that these experiences feel great if players can roam around the world at their own pace and find a ton of things to keep them engaged.
Octopath Travelerharkened back to the golden age of JRPGs, and any issues that fans complained about in this title were largely addressed in the sequel. In fact, some fans have gone so far as to callOctopath Traveler 2one of the greatest JRPGs of all time, which is hefty praise indeed. The in-depth job system and intense boss battles are two of its strongest gameplay pillars, but an underrated aspect of this title that most people don’t talk about is the fun exploration.
While the random encounter rate can be a bit too high for most people’s liking, players who manage to deal with these filler battles will love exploring the overworld and finding the many side quests and dungeons that lie in wait for them. It helps thatplayers can choose their protagonistand tackle story chapters in whatever manner they see fit, aiding the game’s focus on non-linear exploration.Octopath Traveler2is also an easier game than its predecessor, meaning that players don’t need to strictly adhere to the recommended level requirement for characters. This opens up exploration even more, even if it leads to players barrelling through easier chapters without facing too many issues.
Final Fantasy 12was a huge gamble for the franchise, with the gameplay of this title inspired by the MMORPG that preceded it. This meant that battles in this game took place in real time without any battle transitions, making exploration more seamless than ever before. It helped that the addition of fleshed-out side content like Hunts ensured that players had an excuse to roam around the game’s expansive areas and discover things organically.
It’s genuinely mind-blowing to see the sheer number of optional dungeons, hidden NPCs,unique side quests, and valuable rewards that players could find while moving from point A to point B. The fact that its sequel completely abandoned this freeform exploration for linear corridors is one of the worst design choices inFinal Fantasyhistory and makes it abundantly clear why the mere mention ofFinal Fantasy 13makes a fan’s blood boil.
TheXenobladeseries has blown up to become one of the best modern JRPG franchises fans can get their hands on. The fun tactical combat is carried byan open world that is jam-packed with beautiful localesand meaningful content, and players need only get their hands onXenoblade Chronicles Xto see this franchise at its very best. The sheer number of hours players can spend exploring the open world and finding a bunch of secrets is immense and shows the strengths of this beautiful game.
It helps that the game wastes no time throwing players into the open world, with high-level enemies and a lack of traversal options being the only thing that stops players from being sidetracked for too long so that they can focus on the main story. As players gain levels and make progress in the main narrative, the world organically opens up to let them spend hours upon hours exploring the world to their hearts' content.
For the longest time,Pokemonfans were pleading with Game Freakto develop an open-worldPokemongame that would help players enjoy the feeling of being on a grand adventure with no boundaries to speak of. The dated design of this series had irritated fans to no end, so it’s easy to see whyPokemonplayers were hyped to the moon and back forPokemon Legends: Arceus. It may not have the stellar open world of other Nintendo games likeBreath of the Wild, but players who got over the poor visuals ofArceuswould find themselves enjoying the freshestPokemonadventure in quite some time.
For a first attempt,Pokemon Legends: Arceuswas a step in the right direction. Players could throw Pokeballs without any restrictions and engage in real-time Pokemon battles that were as action-packed as they come. This enjoyment was enhanced with the integration of an open world that helps the game feel grand and exciting as players find secrets while unique Pokemon are visible in the overworld.Scarlet & Violetcould’ve enhanced the series' goodwill, only for a broken launch to take away from what could’ve been a huge evolution for the mainlinePokemonseries.
ThePersonaseries may be Atlus' golden gooseright now, but that shouldn’t take away from the parent series that made its success possible. Fans of hardcore JRPGs will love theShin Megami Tenseiseries to bits, with the fifth game serving as an evolution of the franchise in many ways. The obvious gameplay improvements and graphical upgrades are there for everyone to see, but a huge part of what makesShin Megami Tensei 5such a joy to play is its amazing exploration.
Da’at is easily one of the best settings for anSMTgame to date, with each zone bursting with flavor and impressive vistas to the point where players won’t be faulted for stopping and taking in the sights. It might as well be an open world with its interconnected zones making it seamless to pass from one area to the other, with players finding collectibles and side quests at their own pace while taking on the numerous monsters that stand in their way.
