Public Domain IPs We Would Love To See As JRPGs

I’ve always been intrigued by the complex topic of who owns intellectual property – and who owned it in the past. It’s a surprisingly fascinating subject.

Beyond basic copyright, things get even trickier with the public domain. While works in the public domain are generally free to use, popular characters like Peter Pan or Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz often have specific movie or TV appearances that are still protected by copyright, meaning you can’t use those exact visual depictions.

Today, a growing number of well-known works are entering the public domain, creating many exciting possibilities.

I’ve been thinking about these different game ideas, and honestly, a lot of them would work really well as JRPGs. They’ve got everything you’d expect – massive worlds to explore, tons of characters, and enough dramatic story to keep you hooked. I really think they’d thrive as JRPGs, honestly.

7. Conan The Barbarian

Set To Fully Enter The Public Domain In 2028

Most of the original Conan the Barbarian stories are now free to use outside the US, and even more of Robert E. Howard’s fantasy world will become public domain in 2028. This means developers have about three years to begin creating new works based on these stories.

With plenty of time to plan, now’s the moment to explore Cimmeria – a truly amazing and largely unexplored fantasy world. It’s vast and detailed, making it ideal for a large-scale JRPG, similar to the scope of games like Final Fantasy.

Adding Valeria and Belit to your group would give you a wider range of combat options. Plus, Thulsa Doom would be a fantastic villain – he already feels like a classic boss from a Japanese role-playing game.

Now that characters like Kull are free to use – their copyright expired in early 2025 – there’s a great chance to develop their stories further. The contrast in their beliefs could lead to really compelling interactions with other characters.

6. The Three Musketeers

All For One

Alexandre Dumas first published The Three Musketeers in 1844, and it was largely intended as a criticism of the oppressive government of his time. The JRPG genre, with its focus on storytelling and complex characters, is a particularly good fit for exploring such challenging ideas.

This setup is ideal for a classic Japanese role-playing game. You’ve got a complete team, exciting turn-based battles with swords, and a world full of adventure.

Honestly, putting a game right in the thick of the French Revolution feels like a total win. You don’t even need to add in any monsters or magic stuff – the history itself is dramatic enough!

I’m really into stories about these three heroes, always standing up for what’s right. What’s cool is, because this tale has been retold so many times, there’s a ton of freedom in how you can play the Musketeers – their personalities, their whole vibe, it’s all open to interpretation, which is awesome!

5. The Classic Horror Monsters

Picking Up Universal’s Slack

The Universal Monsters are a collection of classic horror movies from the 1930s and 40s. These films are largely based on stories that are now in the public domain, meaning characters like Frankenstein, Dracula, and The Invisible Man can be used freely.

Universal’s attempts to launch a shared monster movie universe haven’t gone well, creating an opportunity for independent game developers. A surefire hit would be a classic Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) where the monsters themselves are the playable characters.

If these classic monsters were characters in a game, Frankenstein’s monster would be a powerful, heavily armored tank, and The Invisible Man would be a quick, unpredictable rogue. Both characters are unique and don’t fit neatly into established roles, making them interesting options to play.

The classic characters are free for anyone to use, but the specific versions created by Universal Studios have their own distinct features that you can’t copy. For instance, your Frankenstein monster shouldn’t resemble Boris Karloff’s portrayal. Beyond that, developers have complete creative freedom.

4. Peter Pan

Off To Neverland

I’ve always loved the magical world of Neverland. As a child, I watched the 1953 Disney film, Peter Pan, countless times.

Honestly, even now, I think a JRPG take on Neverland is a brilliant idea. It has the potential to be one of the most amazing indie games ever made, seriously.

The game already feels like a classic Japanese role-playing game! It has everything you’d expect – dramatic villains like Captain Hook, exciting adventures in a pirate hideout, and magical creatures like mermaids and fairies. It’s a fantastic combination.

The group could include Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Wendy, and her brothers. While we shouldn’t directly copy the look of the 1950s movie, it’s really exciting to think about how we could update this story for people today.

3. Alice’s Adventures In Wonderland

We’re All Mad Here

Lewis Carroll’s imaginative world of Wonderland feels largely untapped by storytelling outside of its original book. There’s a huge amount of potential for new stories there, and a Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) would be a fantastic way to begin exploring it.

The story features a wonderfully strange cast of characters who would be ideal companions on an adventure. Imagine Alice leading a quirky team including the Mad Hatter, the Cheshire Cat, and the White Rabbit!

The Queen of Hearts is a perfect villain for a Japanese role-playing game – cruel, over-the-top, and exactly the type of character players love to defeat. A story about overthrowing her strict rule in Wonderland feels like something straight out of a classic JRPG.

2. Allan Quartermain

Pulp Heroes Need Love Too

Allan Quartermain is a classic adventure hero who has inspired many stories and characters, including Indiana Jones. Despite his impact, he’s largely been overlooked in recent years.

He’s the central figure in Robert E. Howard’s King Solomon’s Mines stories, and a throwback to a classic type of adventure hero. Characters like him aren’t commonly found in modern fiction, except when they’re being imitated or in instances like the Indiana Jones films.

He’s had many adventures, from exploring Africa and England to fighting aliens in some of the more creative versions of his story. Because JRPGs often unfold in connected chapters, this would be a great way to tell his story as an ongoing series.

1. John Carter

One Of The World’s Most Underappreciated IPs

The 2012 Disney movie based on A Princess of Mars was a critical and commercial failure, and the story has largely been forgotten since then. As a longtime fan of the book, this is really disappointing to see.

Edgar Rice Burroughs created a fascinating world called Barsoom, and it’s full of exciting possibilities. While classic pulp heroes aren’t as popular today, a JRPG based on the adventures of John Carter would be truly unique and memorable.

The story of John Carter, with his allies like Dejah Thoris and Tarkas, fighting to protect Mars is the sort of exciting, epic adventure that often inspires classic Japanese role-playing games.

Many more books were written after ‘A Princess of Mars’ that could further develop its universe. Worlds with this much potential are rare, and it’s a missed opportunity for developers to not explore it.

2025-12-03 00:41