9 All-Killer, No-Filler JRPGs

As a JRPG player for years, I can safely say that 90 percent of them, or maybe even more, will have some pacing issue for whatever reason. Be it backtracking, lore dump, random encounters, or having to study for a math test in between saving the world.

Because of that, discussing JRPGs that have no padding or fat at all is a huge undertaking, but one I’m willing to overcome. To do that, I didn’t want to focus only on short games, because while they fit the bill, it feels dishonest.

Still, I managed to find some all-killer, no-filler JRPGs, the kind that get straight to the point, from story beat to story beat, without stringing the player along or artificially inflating the playtime.

It doesn’t mean they’re short games, but at least they won’t give you the feeling that they’re longer than they should be. No more faffing around, let’s go to the killer list.

I only considered the pacing of the main story to choose these entries.

9

Live A Live

Bite-Sized Scenarios

I’ll be honest: I’m not the biggest fan of Live A Live, but I do recognize it has excellent pacing for anyone who wants to play a JRPG without dedicating their whole routine to it.

Live A Live has an episodic format. We select a scenario that features its own protagonist, story, and mechanics. Once it’s done, we move on to the next, rinse and repeat until the end. No padding whatsoever.

Since each scenario happens in a different timeline and has its own plot, I felt like I was playing mini-games instead of one big JRPG – which didn’t sit well with me, because I’m one of those who loves a huge narrative like in Trails.

Even so, it’s a great RPG for those who want to play in short bursts, finishing a scenario each sitting. Plus, some scenarios are brilliant and bring outcomes never seen in the genre before, like my beloved Cube and its whodunnit theme.

8

Chrono Trigger

The King of Pacing

One of the biggest reasons why players around the globe consider Chrono Trigger not only one of the best JRPGs ever but also a great entry point for the genre is its pacing.

As I mentioned in the introduction, JRPGs and pacing are practically arch-enemies. Still, Chrono Trigger showed it’s possible to follow the sensibilities and characteristics of a Japan-made RPG and have melodically good pacing.

From the moment Crono visits the fair and crosses paths with Marle, he starts traveling through time and never stops. We only get a breather when we encounter the Epoch alongside some pretty good side quests, but we still know exactly our next destination.

I feel like I’m consistently cheating by putting Chrono Trigger in a JRPG list because it’s the closest game to perfection I’ve ever played. However, it would be remiss of me not to include it, as it totally fits the article’s prompt.

7

Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter

The Only Way Is Up

I know this is an odd entry, but as my favorite series, whenever possible, I’ll sneak a Breath of Fire into my rantings, and Dragon Quarter was my pick this time.

But joking aside, I really believe Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter has fantastic pacing, despite all the roguelike-ness hidden within it. You start the game, get thrown into a claustrophobic dungeon, and the only way ahead is forward.

No padding, no backtracking, and no weird side quests. The only additional content is the Ant Colony, and even our bug friends don’t need constant micromanaging since they operate as we play. That’s the definition of no-filler.

You might not like the game and see it as the Breath of Fire assassin, but you can’t deny that if you’re good, like me, and finish Dragon Quarter in one playthrough, you’ll experience a suffocating but beautifully paced narrative.

6

Pokémon FireRed

We Just Want Badges

The goal of the first Pokémon games was to face the gym leaders and then the Elite Four. If you wanted to do something more, you’d catch Mewtwo and complete the Pokédex, and that’s it.

You can’t deny the formula was a massive success, and to this day, the franchise is one of the biggest, if not the biggest, IPs in Japan. And while Pokémon Red was my first game, I still prefer to recommend Pokémon FireRed, the GBA remake.

Our fledgling Pokémon trainer’s goal remains the same, but the remake offers more gameplay features, improved graphics and color, and new Pokémon. Ultimately, these are all additions that modernized the experience.

However, if you prefer a more classic option, I suggest Pokémon Yellow. You’ll need to grind a bit more at the start and catch a Mankey because, unlike the anime, a Pikachu won’t beat an Onix, but from there on, you’ll have a seamless journey into the stardom of a Pokémon Master.

5

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

Top Tier Storytelling

We can skip the part where you say Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is not a JRPG, OK? That’s getting old, and I’m tired of justifying every time that JRPG is not exclusively about games made in Japan, but rather about games that follow the country’s cultural references. Dammit, I explained myself again!

The thing is, while Expedition 33 was created with inspiration from many JRPGs, as repeatedly stated by the developers, its storytelling and everything that drives the main plot follow a Western format, resulting in a faster and more concise pace.

Maybe that’s why I loved the game as much as I did. I live for JRPGs, but I need a palate cleanser after playing a Persona or Trails game, because they can be exhausting. That wasn’t the case with Expedition 33, which at every moment kept me on the tip of my chair, wanting to find the next plot point.

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is the perfect blend of the creative and unusual gameplay from JRPGs and a Western narrative, guided by silence, subtle messages, and the old “show, don’t tell” adage.

4

Child of Light

When Ubisoft Was Fun

I miss the days when even Ubisoft would take risks and produce JRPG-inspired games, such as Child of Light. Rhymes and script aside, which is the biggest point of contention for this game, it’s undeniable that Child of Light has impeccable pacing.

The game uses a battle system akin to ATB, but with some real-time mechanics, like using our sidekick Igniculus to hinder enemies’ turns. These twists to the turn-based combat made Child of Light quite engaging.

In total, Child of Light has four zones that you can revisit seamlessly to get new items and upgrades. But if you want to just head straight to the main story’s conclusion, you can do that without looking back because the game is relatively easy and doesn’t demand grinding.

Also, well, considering the plot is about our protagonist lying on her deathbed and living in a dream world, you might feel compelled to rush to save her. You’re looking at 13 hours of a well-trimmed first playthrough.

3

Lunar: Silver Star Story

The Dragonmaster Arrives

I have a soft spot for any game that involves protagonists with some “dragon” moniker, transformation, power, or whatnot – except you, Skyrim. Alex, our hero in Lunar: Silver Star Story, dreams of becoming a dragonmaster, and yeah, fits my bill.

Luckily, the JRPG also fits this article’s theme, because Lunar: Silver Star Story is devoid of any filler. Much of that I attribute to its anime cutscenes, which serve as exposition, but without the dragged-out feeling that often accompanies a lore dump presented solely through text boxes. The script is also quite snappy and clever, which keeps us engaged.

The battles are turn-based, but the character must approach the enemy to attack, which adds a touch of real-time strategy. In the remake (and remasters), there are no random encounters, which contributes immensely to Lunar’s well-balanced pacing.

All in all, it’s 25-30 hours of gameplay that you won’t even feel go by and, when it’s over, you’ll want more. Good thing the sequel, Lunar 2: Eternal Blue, is even better than the first. But no matter what, for your life and your dearly loved ones, never, and I repeat, NEVER get close to Lunar: Dragon Song.

2

Final Fantasy IV

Sakaguchi At Its Finest

While Hironobu Sakaguchi had always wanted to create an RPG with a greater focus on storytelling, it was only with Final Fantasy IV that he truly realized his vision. This resulted in a JRPG with fixed characters and story, without dawdling and laser-focused on telling a solid narrative.

From the start, we know what is at stake, and we go after it, following Cecil on his redemption arc, helping some allies along the way, and discovering who the real big bad is.

At each story beat, we get a new tool or means of transportation that, instead of just bloating the gameplay, helps us reach the next plot point and move forward with the journey.

Still, even if you want to do the little side content of Final Fantasy IV, you won’t feel like the experience is misleading you. Good ol’ times when games were more worried about telling a concise story than justifying their retail price with longer hours invested.

1

Chained Echoes

Indie Supremacy

Chained Echoes is one of those lovely indies made by a creator who grew up with JRPGs and wanted to channel this love into development. It’s a good thing Matthias Linda did so, because the game is a gem.

The JRPG presents one of the best explorations I’ve ever seen, a snappy battle that foregoes all grind, and a good story with just the right amount of exposition at the ideal moments. All this contributes to an incredible experience.

I’m not saying the game is flawless, mainly because it has too many plot twists for my taste, which lessens the impact of some revelations. But if you want a nimble JRPG that doesn’t drag and will keep you entertained almost at every moment, this is the go-to.

Sadly, I feel that Chained Echoes was overshadowed by Sea of Stars, as both games were released around the same time. But if you can, play both. The latter, by the way, didn’t make this list due to the unnecessarily long process required to obtain the true ending.