10 Essential JRPGs You Need To Play Before You Die

Game Freak has essentially made the same Pokemon game repeatedly over the last 25 years. Because of this, many automatically assume that the undefeated masterpiece of the series is Pokemon Red; however, when it comes to the most expansive and ambitious game in the series, few compare to Pokemon HeartGold.

This game takes place in the Johto region, one of the liveliest and most breathtaking locations we’ve seen in the franchise, which houses some of the most memorable Pokemon like Ampharos and Typhlosion.

When you start your journey, you’ll come across so much variety across both opponents and Pokemon. From a mysterious rival whose identity is never fully revealed to a dragon rider who thinks he’s better than everyone.

Unlike most Pokemon games, the journey isn’t over when you beat the champion and the credits roll. Instead, the entirety of the Kanto region is unlocked, and eight more badges are available to collect. Once you collect those, the game still isn’t over as Mount Silver is opened.

You go up the challenging track, expecting a legendary Pokemon or something like it to be on top, only to find one man: Red, the first game's protagonist. He’s the most challenging boss in the franchise, and the subsequent victory against him makes for one of the most satisfying conclusions to any JRPG.

Heartgold is, simply put, the perfect Pokemon game that has yet to be surpassed.