I'm looking to play some good JRPGs and finally have the genre click, but I can't find what I want
I want well made action gameplay or at least engaging and thoughtful turn based gameplay, but every JRPG I've tried is so mindless, despite the usually excellent presentation
Basically, what JRPGs are actually challenging, satisfying and doesn't waste my time with grinding or battle transitions constantly?

>>3786138 (OP)
list the games you've played and disliked, and some thoughts on why you disliked them. It aids in anyone giving you suggestions. Rec threads that don't start from this are essentially useless because it's just throwing shit at a wall.

Asking for "satisfying" games is pretty retarded because that's 100% a personal opinion - no one here is going to know your flavor of autism for you.
Challenging is also a relative term (as it is with crpgs too) - anything turn based is going to be solvable by anyone.
Things that lean into action game mechanics are less "RPGs" but idk that sounds like what you're looking for (you are aware that Dark Souls games are JRPGs, right?). You could consider just playing action games.
Almost no RPG in the past 30 years has needed you to grind - that's not a thing. Often it's an "option" for people who can't think, but outside of like post-game, extra challenge content or Disgaea (which is a series for people who like optimizing grinding) you'll never have to grind.

>>3786138 (OP)
>Basically, what JRPGs are actually challenging, satisfying and doesn't waste my time with grinding or battle transitions constantly?
sounds like anything with a focus on battles is out of the question. i'd suggest nothing and just accept the genre isn't for you.

>>3786138 (OP)
Maybe try an SRPG like Final Fantasy Tactics, Triangle Strategy, or Tactics Ogre?

For me it's
>persona 5 is my favourite JRPG because it does things differently
>no i havent played any other JRPGs

>>3786156
Not OP but for me it’s
>Pokémon
>Dragon Quest IX
>SMT 4

I’ve tried other DQ11 and 8 but I lost interest around the 10 hour mark.
SMT 4 was like lightning in a bottle for me. Picked it up in 2020 so I had unlimited time to play it. I was playing the demo for Vengeance but I dropped it due to other games I wanted to play. I’ve tried playing 4A and Strange Journey but neither hooked me like 4.
I want to play some Final Fantasy games since they’re so iconic. I think I’ll start with VII this summer and see how it goes. Any other recommendations are welcome!

>>3786262
>Not OP
so don't fucking post

>>3786138 (OP)
You're asking for kind of a lot. For example, SMT games are the only somewhat challenging turn-based games I can think of but they're also grindy dungeon crawlers. Not sure if you'd like SRPGs at all but maybe try Fire Emblem 5? It's just from one level to the next with no filler in between and you can turn the battle animations off.

Battlechasers Nightwar is pretty good yet not mentioned a lot.

>>3786138 (OP)
>Basically, what JRPGs are actually challenging, satisfying and doesn't waste my time with grinding or battle transitions constantly?

The reality is that although it's almost always an option, virtually no jrpgs require grinding of any sort and it usually ruins the game if you do. For avoiding long transitions, focus on pre-32bit games. Literally just pick one that looks cool and don't grind.

>>3786138 (OP)
>I'm looking to play some good JRPGs
they'll have to make some first

>>3786262
I amtempted to recommend FF6 over 7, I think it's just a better game on all sides. But if something about 7 calls to you then go for it, it's still very good. Similarly I would recommend the first Persona game. I had a similar reaction to SMT4, I played a bunch and they didn't really click but I loved 4 until the end where I just got way too powerful. I liked Strange Journey, but 3 or 4 stratas down ot started to just feel like a slog. Soul Hackers came close but for some reason I get bored part way through every time. Persona 2 is great but bloated, 1 is the only one I really dig. Never played the newer ones though.

>>3787234
Persona 3 (not the remake, didn't try yet) did it for me back in the day. Well I already liked JRPGs but it became my favorite one easily. It has a lot to offer.

>>3787234
Strange Journey is good with QoL added in the remaster. The original was absolutely a fucking slog and it was near impossible. It's doable but you need time and commitment and even then it just gets to be too tedious and unfun.

>>3786156
>persona 3
Loved
>persona 4
pretty good
>persona 5
Dropped at the space station
>dragon quest ix and v
Found them boring
>nocturne
Boring and easy
>strange journey
Tedious despite promising start, dropped at Erid Anus
>ff 8
Tedious
>ff 7
Cancerous art style and boring gameplay
>ff xii
Love the world and the fact battles just start but I'm at the bunny village and it's pretty mindless
>rorona
super cute and comfy but again brainless battles and crafting
>ff x
Got up to the snowy mountain and dropped it, wasn't into the story and the battle system was unengaging
>let us cling together
started this one and really enjoy it
>awakening
Also really enjoyed it
>chrono trigger
Started interesting but got samey
>earthbound
Really enjoyed
>smt iv
Enjoyed
>ys 1 and 2
absolutely adored these ones
>romancing and unlimited saga
Filtered me but interesting

>>3786138 (OP)
Cosmic Star Heroine

>>3787356
>>persona 3
>Loved
Okay so right off the bat you're contradicting yourself because you say you loved a game that's not challenging, has gameplay that is essentially the same as grinding with it's tower bs, and has huge long af battle transitions.

Derailing this thread to ask a stupid question. Square Enix is holding a sale on Steam and two of their worst ports are on sale: Secret of Mana and Chrono Trigger. With the mobile versions of Final Fantasy V and VI gone, what game completes the trifecta of awful ports?

>>3787379
Cosmic Star Heroine is not a jrpg but it IS a good game regardless.

>>3787942
>>3787379

What makes it good?

>>3787983
Each battle is bespoke (no random encounters) and requires you to think rather than just selecting "attack" over and over again.

>>3786138 (OP)
FF13 unironically.

Try the RPGM classics

>>3787983
You only get 1 of each consumable, but it auto-restocks after combat.

If you're confused about how that makes the game good. Try actually fighting things in it and compare the system to the usual implementation in other RPGs

>>3787560
>persona 3 - loved
kek based tower grind enjoyer. the tower should have been a thousand levels. and no friend shit.

>>3787356
you seem to mostly care about gameplay so maybe FF5? the job system is as interesting as you make it and there’s some pretty fun optional bosses. but if you fuck around too much you’re pretty op by the end of the game.

>>3787356
Sengoku Rance and I'm not joking

>>3787356
If you liked Earthbound and Ys maybe you'll like Terranigma

>>3786138 (OP)
>Basically, what JRPGs are actually challenging, satisfying and doesn't waste my time with grinding or battle transitions constantly?
it honestly sounds like you don't really want to play a jrpg; you want to play an rpg-adjacent like soulsborne or deus ex.