Some might argue thatJRPGspeaked during the PS1 and PS2 eras, and while more games were released during those years, the genre has never stopped producing quality. More importantly, Japanese companies are nowadays more likely to publish their niche titles outside their home country, and it is generally a safe bet that a significant entry in a prominent franchise such asFinal FantasyorDragon Questwill make its way to the West. The days when someone would need to import a Japanese exclusive are on the decline, and the rise of digital gaming has made it easier than ever to pick up a new JRPG.
RELATED:JRPGs With The Deepest Lore, Ranked
Still, a lot of people prefer to buy physical copies of games, a decision that can be expensive when dealing with JRPGs. Thankfully, the second-hand market is thriving, with platforms such asAmazonproviding players with access to plenty of discounted properties. What are some of thebest PlayStation 4 JRPGswith cheap used copies?
At the moment of writing, these games cost less than $20 used. However, prices fluctuate all the time.
How Long to Beat (Main Story)
50 Hours
Originally released on the PS3,Ni No Kuni:Wrath of the White Witchwas remastered for the PS4 and Nintendo Switch, giving the JRPG a graphical power-up. While that does not sound like much of an improvement, it does make a difference sinceWrath of the White Witchis one of the most beautiful JRPGs of all time, with Studio Ghibli handling the animated sequences.
Delivering a long and powerful storyline that touches upon themes of grief and resilience, Level-5’s game is a work of art in nearly every area, with only the combat being a point of contentious with most people. This is a JRPG that can be enjoyed by all ages.
30 Hours
There are approximately 5 millionDragon Ballgamesin existence, and roughly 85% of those focus onDBZ’s main arcs. On the surface,Kakarotis just another adaptation that goes through the same fights that fans have experienced so many times before; however, while the beats may be the same, the game changes up its execution. This time around, players get to live withinDragon Ball’s world, exploring recognizable areas from Akira Toriyama’s manga and talking to minor characters from the franchise.
RELATED:Dragon Ball Z: Kakarot — All Playable Characters, Ranked
Dragon Ball Z: Kakarotincorporates a number of RPG mechanics to give players a sense of progression beyond just higher power levels. Regarding the combat system, it is reminiscent of theXenoversegames, albeit slightly simplified.
25 Hours
Final Fantasy 10/10-2 HD Remastered,Final Fantasy 12: The Zodiac Age, andFinal Fantasy 15can all be picked up on the second-hand market for a reasonable price, so Square Enix fans on a budget are spoiled for choice. Those ready to go beyond the franchise’s mainline entries will find thatFinal Fantasy Type-0 HDcan be picked up for a very low price, and that has remained consistent for a number of years.
A remaster of a Japanese exclusive PSP game,Type-0 HDis incredibly ambitious considering it originally debut on a handheld system. The story centers around Class Zero, 14 students who are all playable and control quite differently. During missions, players pick three characters and are dropped into mostly linear levels that need to be clearer. Although the world and levels are relatively small,Type-0 HDmakes up for it through its complex and deep combat system, and mastering each student takes considerable time and effort.
40 Hours
Sega’sValkyria Chroniclesfranchise is something special, not just among the company’s products but also JRPGs in general. What other license blends third-person shooters with turn-based strategy and anime visuals? Inspired by World War 2,Valkyria Chroniclestakes place during a war between the Empire and the Federation, with the neutral Gallia nation caught in the middle. The fourth entry introduces a new batch of characters and takes place alongside the events of the previous games, making it accessible to newcomers to the franchise.
Valkyria Chronicles 4’s story is pretty good, but victory is truly achieved in battle. Conflicts are decided on large battlefields were failing to plan ahead will likely result in the deaths of the player’s soldiers.
45 Hours
Sony’s consoles might not havePokemonbut they have arguably the next best thing:Digimon. Even if thebeloved franchisehas not always enjoyed the most success when it comes to games, theCyber Sleuthseries marks a high point in the license’s history. Set in an alternate version of Japan,Hacker’s Memoryfollows Keisuke Amasawa, a boy who has his identity stolen and winds up joining a hacker group in an attempt to gain it back. Pacing issues aside, the story is enjoyable and gets quite dark at times.
Cyber Sleuthuses a traditional but still highly enjoyable 3v3 turn-based combat, one that emphasizes the importance of having a balanced team rather than just powerful individual Digimon. More importantly, these games have an awesome Digivolution system.
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