In video gaming, I think most people generally know what a JRPG is. But JRPGs may be hard to define, genres can overlap, and distinctions are not necessarily clear as elemental crystals. So in this post, let me share what JRPG means to me.
Mostly Japanese, maybe
The “J” in JRPG stands for Japanese role-playing game. The strictest meaning would be an RPG that originates from Japan, which is to say such games are defined merely by geography. But platform games like Super Mario come from Japan yet are not JRPGs. And some JRPGs originate elsewhere. So it’s not that simple.
For example, Ara Fell is an indie game described as a JRPG and was made here in America. From the developer:
"A 16-bit era, Japanese-style roleplaying game set in a magical world floating above the clouds.”
Wouldn’t it simply be easiest to just call all role-playing games “RPGs?” Why the distinction? Well, there’s what’s called WRPGs, or Western RPGs. I think RPGs by default are western unless noted otherwise as JRPG. And, in fact, there are also other types of RPGs, like CRPG. I don’t fully understand the nuance, really.
The Book Meaning
When it comes to a JRPG, to me it’s kind of a “you know it when you see it” situation. Yeah, that’s fuzzy. So to put a textbook definition on it, I present to you the “JRPG Bible.” It doesn’t give a clear-cut meaning, but rather outlines a description:
“Broadly speaking, elements include: an overworld that is divided into discrete town and dungeon sections; separate screens where battles take place, typically turn-based and executed via menu commands; a focus on battle statistics in lieu of other RPG elements (e.g. charisma statistics to influence conversation); unique character customization systems; manga-style artwork; strong soundtracks, as seen in other console games; and linear storylines.”
A Guide To Japanese Role-Playing Games, Bitmap Books Ltd., 2021, page 6.
That description at least gives a starting point of reference, a framework to help establish a way to “measure” a game to see if it’s a JRPG or not. And it seems fairly accurate based on my experience. Of course it’s not perfect, though, because some modern JRPGs like Xenoblade Chronicles don’t have separate battle screens but instead allow combat to flow openly and directly on the world map/field.
That said, how I define a JRPG was kind of set for me from the first time I ever played one. The game that gave me my first exquisite genre-defining taste: Final Fantasy III on SNES (FFVI). So to me, FFVI is the “rule” by which to measure a JRPG. The more closely a game looks and feels like that, the better a JRPG it is. That’s why nostalgic games like Octopath Traveler rank so high on my top JRPGs list.
In my own words, a JRPG is a story-heavy video game with an epic quest to save the world, features preferably turn-based menu-driven battle, utilizes a party of manga-style characters that progress in skills and tools, and relies on various inventory management as the player traverses a world filled with towns, dungeons, various in-between fields, and fantastical environs. Story elements are often sci-fi or high fantasy and may include monsters, magic, unique relics, and religion or deity.
This doesn’t necessarily apply to all JRPGs, but such games typically have most of these elements or some adjacent versions of them. I’ll also add a distinction that I’ve gleaned over time. This might be an inaccurate view, but I think it’s loosely applicable.
A WRPG typically presents to the player a blank-slate character to mold into the player’s own role, projecting your chosen self onto the character. I think it basically adheres to the setup in the table-top role-playing game, Dungeons and Dragons. You kind of make up the story as you go.
In contrast, a JRPG typically has preset characters and personalities that the player discovers as the story unfolds throughout gameplay. The player experiences the story through the eyes of the pre-defined characters, much like reading a book. You discover the story that’s been made up for you.
The Real Meaning
But there’s more to a JRPG to me than how it is or isn’t technically defined.
What a JRPG means to me are the feelings and themes of: adventure, strategy, risk, hope, loss, danger, sadness, betrayal, exploration, ambition, greed, mystery, determination, identity, fear, anger, power, justice, fun, magic, eccentricity, technology, and the like.
When I first played a JRPG, I totally didn’t understand it. I thought video games were merely about timed jumps and button mashing. Some had minor puzzle elements. They were not driven by a narrative. There were no developing characters or drama. But when Final Fantasy VI finally clicked, my eyes were opened to a whole new world within video gaming; I was hooked.
Ever since then, JRPGs to me have meant eager hope and anticipation of playing the next amazing quest of discovery, child-like wonder, and challenge.
What is a JRPG? It’s the promise of a fun and engrossing adventure. It’s entertaining escapism. Sure, some gamers might say these traits come from first-person shooters or life-sims for them. While those kinds of games are great too, JRPGs best present these traits to me.
Nowadays, often fueled by nostalgia and pixel-art, a JRPG to me is a chance to recapture an ineffable part of my childhood, that sense of wonder I easily found before becoming a jaded adult. Who doesn’t want to be filled with awe? While I find compelling stories in books and movies, I also enjoy the interactive fiction of a story-driven JRPG.
That’s what JRPG means to me.
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