10 Essential JRPGs You Need To Play Before You Die

It’s very obvious to anyone who’s a fan of JRPGs that Final Fantasy would top this list, but the question is: Which game in the franchise is the best?

While almost every game deserves a spot on this list, in this case the title for a must-play Final Fantasy goes to Final Fantasy VI.

This game brought with it everything a JRPG should have.

Characters are outstanding, and there are so many in this game that you’d think that most of them would blend in with each other. However, a surprising number of them stand out, and you’ll grow a deep attachment to almost all of them and their stories, such as ex-empire general Celes or confused girl, Terra.

There’s so much variety and creativity in each area. In previous games, most dungeons bogged down to just fire caves or water caves, but in Final Fantasy VI, there’s a level where you enter a dream world, a part where you fight cultists in a never-ending tower, a level in a train that takes dead souls to the afterlife, and the boss is the actual train. The variety is never-ending.

Lastly, gameplay constantly flows and never wastes time with unnecessary animations or longwinded sequences, perfecting each battle's pacing.

Final Fantasy VI is one of the most impactful games in the series, and while some might say others are better, this is the must-play.