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[Plies]

Well, it's been a year and I'd like to know what think are the Top 5 Best Indie JRPGs!

Indie is self defined, for the purposes of this thread. It generally means small press games. Take your best opinion and have at it! The same goes for the word "best." List the best, your favorite, or just five indie games you think are darned nifty!

If you can tell us a little bit about why you like that game, that's extra awesome!

1 - Chained Echoes: The pinnacle of modern indie JRPGs.

2 - Sea of Stars: I love its engaging combat and stunning pixel art.

3 - CrossCode: Amazing fast-paced combat with clever Zelda-style puzzles.

4 - Astlibra Revision: Indie JRPG with a surprisingly deep, mind-bending story and incredibly satisfying progression systems.

5 - Cosmic Star Heroine: This one reminds me of 90s classics like Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star, you can't go wrong.

 

[Arsic]

I've played and dropped them all.

Imitators just don't cut it.

 

[Lokaum D+]

1 - E33: rewarding combat

2- E33: mature plot

3- E33: no anime cringe fest galore

4- E33: good graphics

5- E33: Sephiroth + Dragon Slayer = Simon

 

[Guilty_AI]

Crosscode
Witchspring R

uhhh, can't remember any other indie jrpg i've played, little witch nobeta maybe? Not exactly JRPG

 

[Arsic]

1 - E33: rewarding combat

2- E33: mature plot

3- E33: no anime cringe fest galore

4- E33: good graphics

5- E33: Sephiroth + Dragon Slayer = Simon

I consider e33 AA, not indie.

 

[uncreativename]

Only one of those was made in Japan

I couldn't think of any jrpgs off the top of my head, so I'll just post some of my favourite indie games made in Japan.

The original version of La Mulana
Recettear
Cave Story
Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin
Been playing this a bit lately and it's good. It's also a bit higher budget but I think it probably counts? Magical Princess

 

[Guilty_AI]

I consider e33 AA, not indie.

it's actually not that far ahead Sea of Stars in terms of budget and team size

 

[poodaddy]

Ummm, I think the only indie JRPG I've ever played was Sea of Stars, which I loved so uh....after much deliberation:

Sea of Stars!

 

[Lokaum D+]

I consider e33 AA, not indie.

well, its won best independent game and best debut indie game last year, i think that say it all.

 

[Guilty_AI]

Crosscode is still the top one tho

 

[HRK69]

Welcome back my man!

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Eastward
Sea of Stars

Hated every other indie "JRPG"

 

[IAmRei]

i only play JRPG from J

 

[Lokaum D+]

i only play JRPG from J

 

[Plies]

i only play JRPG from J

 

[Notorious_Roy]

Cosmic Star and Sea of Stars were okay, like 7/10. I would really like to play Chained Echoes but my copy is coming from First Press Games so yeah...

 

[begotten]

Chained Echoes is better than 95% of JRPGs.

But the funny thing about Chained Echoes I found is that despite taking from and improving on a lot of things - even the developer couldn't think of a good way to balance and make the vehicular / mech combat fun compared to on foot. No one has really done it well.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Chained Echoes is better than 95% of JRPGs.

But the funny thing about Chained Echoes I found is that despite taking from and improving on a lot of things - even the developer couldn't think of a good way to balance and make the vehicular / mech combat fun compared to on foot. No one has really done it well.

Chained Echoes is way worse than 95% of JRPGs

That battle system that make every encounter a boring slog to get through. Hated the forgettable cast with a story that was bad and had a super pretentious twist. Ended so badly too

Instead of calling it Chained Echoes, I tend to call it Pretentious Echoes

 

[Guilty_AI]

i only play JRPG from J

What are some good Jamaican rpgs you recommend?

 

[Odinnii]

In no order:

Those 16 bit style indie games just never clicked even though I like the classics.

 

[adamsapple]

I consider e33 AA, not indie.

 

[NotMyProblemAnymoreCunt]

Who actually listens to what The Game Awards say? I consider Clair Obsur Expedition 33 AA too

 

[IAmRei]

What are some good Jamaican rpgs you recommend?

I'm thinking Jordan RPG dude : ))

 

[uncreativename]

I'm still annoyed Bomb Rush Cyberfunk didn't even get a nomination for best indie game in 2023. Instead they put Dave the Diver from beloved indie developer Nexon Corporation Ltd.

 

[Roy_goodguy]

The first thing that popped into my head is E33, one of the best games I've ever played, which technically is indie, but it doesn't FEEL indie at all.. so I don't know if it counts.

I liked Sea of Stars until I found out you need to get all items (whatever their were, I forgot) in order to get a 'normal' ending, that sucked.
I have Crosscode, it's supposed to be a long game, I'll get to it eventually, their new game also looks interesting.
Chained Echoes is also on my list.

Interesting, seems like I didn't play many indie JRPGs, oh well.

 

[Guilty_AI]

I guess theres also mystia izakaya, though i'm not sure if that can be called a jrpg either

 

[cireza]

Tried Cross Code for a bit but found it unbelievably bloated. Every area and dungeon felt 4 times too long. What is the necessity of turning a game that should be a 10 hours fun experience into a maybe 30 or 40 hours never ending bloat fest ?

 

[TintoConCasera]

why, Andrew's game of course! Anyone who likes Final Fantasy V or other job-based JRPGs should really check it out.

There's also those:

 

[Shifty1897]

Chained Echoes is the best indie JRPG. That game is awesome.

 

[Mayar]

Not in order of importance, just in the order that came to mind:
1) Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes
2) Sea of Stars
3) Chained Echoes
4) Fear Hunger 1&2
5) Astria Ascending

 

[Guilty_AI]

 

[Filben]

I would really like to play Chained Echoes but my copy is coming from First Press Games so yeah.

You should have gotten a Steam key as compensation. Maybe you own a potato PC or Steam Deck that can run it?

As for FPG, this could still be a year or two away given they release it, still.

@topic:

Chained Echoes
Rise of the Third Power
Cosmic Star Heroine

 

[GHound]

Super obscure stuff I'm afraid.

The Witcher
Mass Effect 3
Disco Elysium
YIIK
Fallout: Brotherhood of Steel

 

[Angry_Megalodon]

I LOVE the music and vibes of this game. Very, very charming. Highly recommended.

 

[TintoConCasera]

YIIK

Heard it got a re-release and it's kinda less shitty now. That review by RunningShine sure seemed to have an effect on the devs lol.

 

[vodka-bull]

E33…
….
….
Undertale
Sea of Star

Can't name 5, these 3 are the only indie RPGs I've played.

 

[Odinnii]

Just a cozy fun delightful RPG. Very forgiving too for those that just want to relax and enjoy the wholesome atomsphere. Everyone should play it.

 

[Toots]

It has to be true if you have seen it on tv

My top 5 of real indie rpgs is

Barkley's Shut up and Jam Gaiden
Lisa series
The erogame rpg where you can have sex with the whole village and if you lose a fight with slimes you get molested by them.

 

[TintoConCasera]

It has to be true if you have seen it on tv

I'm with you, but had to give a lol reaction because of the monkey.

 

[Sethbacca]

I don't play enough indie JRPGs honestly. Chained Echoes was pretty awesome though what little bit I played on Gamepass while I had it.

 

[Toots]

By the way

 

[LavitzSlambert]

Coming back to this for the recommendations one day. I loved Sea of Stars and if you consider Expedition 33 indie (borderline imo), but haven't played any of these others mentioned. Pretty sure I did pick up Chained Echoes last year cheap, but haven't gotten around to playing it yet.

 

[Diseased Yak]

What are some good Jamaican rpgs you recommend?

I've heard "Bless Up, Dat Mi Brudda, Respek" is pretty good.

Serious answer to thread that I don't see mentioned: Quartet is great!

 

[BrandwinTX]

Well, it's been a year and I'd like to know what think are the Top 5 Best Indie JRPGs!

Indie is self defined, for the purposes of this thread. It generally means small press games. Take your best opinion and have at it! The same goes for the word "best." List the best, your favorite, or just five indie games you think are darned nifty!

If you can tell us a little bit about why you like that game, that's extra awesome!

1 - Chained Echoes: The pinnacle of modern indie JRPGs.

2 - Sea of Stars: I love its engaging combat and stunning pixel art.

3 - CrossCode: Amazing fast-paced combat with clever Zelda-style puzzles.

4 - Astlibra Revision: Indie JRPG with a surprisingly deep, mind-bending story and incredibly satisfying progression systems.

5 - Cosmic Star Heroine: This one reminds me of 90s classics like Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star, you can't go wrong.

I actually looked at your top 3 yesterday to buy on the Steam Deck. Didn't settle on one, but Chained Echoes was the leader if I decide to buy one.

 

[mopspear]

i only play JRPG from J

Don't make me post the video again.

I was designing a JRPG and suddenly thought "It would be dishonest to not incorporate more western RPG stuff into this. It's who I am. We need a bridge, a Pacific RPG." Hawaii is in the middle but we already have Star Tropics. I could make a joke about the island of Midway and the publisher as well.

 

[Gonzito]

I cannot say 5 because honestly I am not so much into indies

That being said I will always recommend one which is AtomRPG

Amazing game

 

[Plies]

Don't make me post the video again.

I was designing a JRPG and suddenly thought "It would be dishonest to not incorporate more western RPG stuff into this. It's who I am. We need a bridge, a Pacific RPG." Hawaii is in the middle but we already have Star Tropics. I could make a joke about the island of Midway and the publisher as well.

E33 is a JRPG