10 JRPG Franchises We Would Be Shocked To See Another Sequel From

When home video game consoles first became popular, Japanese Role-Playing Games, or JRPGs, were always present, though they didn’t become a worldwide phenomenon until 1997.

I’m still employed and able to expand my work thanks to the wealth of JRPG titles available on older consoles like the SNES, PlayStation 1, and PlayStation 2, including those that were never released outside of Japan.

As the JRPG industry grew, it also hit some roadblocks. We still see these issues today, like games becoming more expensive and taking longer to make. Unfortunately, many beloved JRPG series couldn’t overcome these difficulties and eventually disappeared.

I’m putting together a list of JRPG series I’m honestly surprised haven’t had a new game in a long time. Some have been gone for ages, and others just didn’t do so well with their last release, so I’d be genuinely shocked to see a sequel announced!

10. .hack

An Ambitious Franchise

The .hack series is probably the least well-known on this list, but it’s actually quite extensive, including video games, anime, and books. While many of the games are very similar to each other – they even openly label them as ‘Part 1,’ ‘Part 2,’ and so on – each one is still considered a separate release.

CyberConnect2 started working on the .hack series in 2002. What made it special was its world, which felt like a massive online role-playing game within the game itself. Players take on the role of Kite and must uncover the mystery behind players falling into comas while immersed in the virtual reality MMORPG, The World. It’s a setup you might recognize from many games today!

The games started strong with decent sales and reviews, but later entries suffered from being too similar and lacking fresh ideas. The series expanded to include a game for the PSP, a fighting game for the PS3, and most recently, a remastered collection of the .hack//G.U. trilogy, released for PS4/PC in 2017 and the Switch in 2022.

Even though critics weren’t overly enthusiastic about .hack//G.U. Last Recode, it received the best reviews of any game in the .hack series – a confusing sign for the developers at CyberConnect2. Bandai Namco had announced plans for a new .hack project, but those plans were made before the company canceled some games and reduced its staff, leaving the future of the series uncertain.

9. Grandia

At Least We Have The Collection

The original PlayStation (PS1) is celebrated for its incredible library of Japanese Role-Playing Games, or JRPGs. Many game companies took a chance on this innovative genre on Sony’s first console, and several of the games they created went on to become popular, long-running series.

Grandia stands out as a unique RPG series. It originally offered a more upbeat feel than other games of its time, along with a unique battle system that combined real-time action with turn-based strategy, and a truly inventive magic-fusion feature. While there have been four Grandia games released, Grandia Xtreme is often overlooked.

What led to the end of the Grandia series? It started with the sad loss of the series creator, Takeshi Miyaji. Then, Grandia Xtreme and Grandia III, while decent games, weren’t successful enough to maintain player interest. They couldn’t overcome the challenges of new gaming generations and the rising costs of game development during the PlayStation 3 era, making it difficult to justify creating another installment.

Considering everything, we can guess, though not be certain, why Grandia and other great JRPG series from the PlayStation 1 and 2 era disappeared.

8. Shadow Hearts

Penny Blood Is Just A Fever Dream

The Shadow Hearts series for PlayStation 2 stood out from other Japanese role-playing games thanks to its unique atmosphere. It began with the genuinely scary game Koudelka, and gradually became more lighthearted, eventually taking place in a recognizable, real-world setting.

A standout feature of the game was the Judgment Ring, which made combat exciting and challenging. This system required precise timing to successfully execute attacks and spells – messing it up could lead to failure. Combined with the main character Yuri’s fusion abilities, it created a really original and engaging battle system.

Hiroki Kikuta, the creator of Shadow Hearts, has been working on a new game called Penny Blood as a spiritual successor. This project started with a Kickstarter campaign in 2022, alongside a similar campaign from the creator of Wild Arms for their game, Armed Fantasia. The campaign was very successful, raising nearly four times the amount of money they asked for, but unfortunately, problems soon arose.

Two years later, the situation with Penny Blood has sadly fallen apart – there’s a legal dispute over money, no publisher is involved, and the game’s release is indefinitely postponed, likely meaning it’s cancelled. Armed Fantasia is still being developed and occasionally receives updates for its backers, which is a positive sign. Fortunately, we still have Penny Blood: Hellbound to look forward to.

7. Mana

The Mana Tree Is Dying

If you haven’t tried Visions of Mana yet, I highly recommend it. It’s a lovely, feel-good game with vibrant colors, fun gameplay, unique features, and memorable characters. Plus, fans of the Mana series will find tons of familiar nods and references.

I believe Visions of Mana is the newest game in the Mana series. It was the first completely new sequel in over 15 years, and when it was announced, I was incredibly excited. Unfortunately, everything I’ve heard about the game since then has been disappointing.

The studio that created the game, Ouka Studios, closed its doors on the very day Visions of Mana launched, which is a worrying sign. While official sales numbers haven’t been released, estimates suggest the game didn’t sell well – adding to the disappointing news.

I was surprised by this news. When Trials of Mana – a remake of Seiken Densetsu 3 – launched in 2020, it actually performed better than Square Enix expected. I think that positive reception led them to start developing Visions around the same time. However, even with this new game, there’s no guarantee we’ll see any more Mana titles released in the future.

6. Star Ocean

A Universe of Disillusions

Last year, we got Star Ocean: The Second Story R, a remake of a fan-favorite game widely considered the strongest entry in the series. It sold better than expected, proving there’s still plenty of interest in the Star Ocean franchise.

Honestly, it’s a little disheartening to see how Star Ocean: The Divine Force did. It didn’t get the greatest reviews, and from what I’ve heard, it didn’t sell very well either. Considering it probably cost more to make than The Second Story R, it feels like Square Enix is getting a pretty clear signal: remakes and revisiting older games are a safer bet than taking risks with new titles, especially when they’re made on a smaller budget. It’s a shame, because I was hoping Divine Force would do well!

I don’t think we’ll get a new Star Ocean game anytime soon. I’ve been a fan of the series for a long time, and I’d be thrilled if they announced a sequel—I might even jump out of my chair!—but I think a remake is much more likely at this point.

5. Parasite Eve

Bring Aya Brea Back

Aya Brea once said, “If you do nothing, you will lose nothing,” and it seems Square Enix is following that philosophy. Fans have long wondered why we haven’t seen a new Parasite Eve game or even a remake of the original, with many believing it’s due to licensing issues with the author of the novel it’s based on, Hideaki Sena. However, these remain just theories.

This idea makes more sense when you learn that the third game, The 3rd Birthday, couldn’t use the Parasite Eve name because the original author didn’t allow it after the second game. Frankly, even if they’d called it Tetris Parasite, it still wouldn’t have been a very good game.

That’s my main point. A different title wouldn’t stop people from playing a Parasite Eve game, would it? The real reason gamers don’t play a game is if it’s just not fun, and that’s what happened with The 3rd Birthday.

I’d really enjoy a new game starring Aya Brea from Square Enix, continuing the horror RPG style but with a faster, more action-oriented battle system. Ultimately, whether we get one depends on Square Enix’s interest, not on the author of the original novels.

4. Earthbound (Mother)

Mother 3 International Release Please

Everyone considers Earthbound to be one of the greatest role-playing games of its era, and people often highlight its clever writing, its humorous take on typical genre tropes, and its unique battle system with HP that recovers during fights. I wish I could say the same about Mother 3, but unfortunately, it was never released outside of Japan, so I haven’t had a chance to play it.

People often credit Shigesato Itoi, the creator of Earthbound, with the game’s popularity. He directed and wrote the story for all three games in the series. Unfortunately, Itoi has said that Earthbound is finished, which is likely why there hasn’t been a new game in nearly two decades.

Itoi also expressed interest in seeing another developer create an Earthbound game, which gave fans a little hope. It makes you wonder, though – could a new game ever live up to the originals without the original creator’s involvement? We’ll likely never find out. Personally, I’m hoping for an official release of Mother 3 so I can finally try out its unique, rhythm-based combat system.

3. Golden Sun

Nintendo, Do Your Weird Magic

Out of all these game series, I think Golden Sun has the best chance of getting a new installment. It’s not necessarily a better series than the others, but Nintendo proved they’re willing to revive even very old properties by bringing back the Virtual Boy, so I wouldn’t rule anything out.

The original Golden Sun was planned as a single game, but it grew too large and was released as two parts. Both games are incredibly fun to play, and it’s amazing how well they ran on the Game Boy Advance. While Golden Sun: Dark Dawn, the third game in the series, wasn’t quite as good as the first two, it was still a solid title.

Honestly, a lot of people think the series just disappeared because the team at Camelot started making a ton of Mario sports games instead. Those games are quicker to make, don’t cost as much, and seem to be pretty safe bets for making money. I mean, at the end of the day, we’re all gamers, but these are still products, and companies gotta make a profit, right?

With Mario Tennis Fever scheduled for 2026, the developers at Camelot are likely very busy. However, I still think Nintendo might surprise everyone with a completely unexpected, yet interesting, announcement sometime soon.

2. Chrono

Hear Your Fans, Square Enix

It feels like fans have been requesting a remake of Chrono Trigger for ages, often suggesting the beautiful HD-2D style or a similar approach to the Final Fantasy VII Remake. I’m still holding out hope that Square Enix will make it happen, especially with the company’s recent focus on revisiting classic games.

While a remake of Chrono Trigger would be great, I’m even more excited about the possibility of a completely new Chrono game. Chrono Cross is a personal favorite of mine, and even though some fans don’t think it lives up to Chrono Trigger, it still feels like a natural continuation of the story.

There are plenty of JRPGs that take inspiration from Chrono Trigger, and we’ll likely see many more. However, the one I’m really hoping for is Chrono Break, which has been rumored for a long time. Honestly, I’d be thrilled if Square Enix just made a new time-traveling RPG with a few nods to the past, even if it included a character who constantly reminds us of Magus.

1. Breath of Fire

If Only Dreams Came True

Whenever Capcom reveals a new compilation of their fighting games, Ace Attorney, or Mega Man, I get excited. It suggests they’re nearing the end of re-releasing everything they already have, which could mean they’ll finally turn their attention to other games – hopefully including my beloved Breath of Fire RPG series.

It seems like Capcom isn’t planning any new Breath of Fire games in the foreseeable future. Most of the developers who worked on the series are now focused on Monster Hunter and Dragon’s Dogma. While a new game seems unlikely, I’m still hoping they’ll release a collection including all five original Breath of Fire titles.

Unless the current collection is a huge success and sells a lot of copies, I don’t think Capcom will invest in a new, full sequel to Ryu’s series. For now, if you’re looking for a game with dragons and turn-based battles, Monster Hunter Stories is a better bet.

2025-10-29 22:14