Turn-Based JRPGs With Guns

JRPGs are too broad and diverse a genre to have many tropes that can define every game within it, at least not without the caveat that there are many, many titles that break away from any given archetype. There are even some exceptions to the core rules of this genre that really helped get its start in the 80s and 90s, such as the emphasis on long, expansive stories or intricate party building. Many games in this genre are set in high fantasy worlds, but some take a spin into urban fantasy or sci-fi universes instead.

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There are plenty of JRPGs that escape any kind of boxed-in definition, however, leaving players to explore branching paths in mysterious worlds or discover secrets in a setting unlike any other. Some games still shed the facade of swords and spells in favor of more…effective equipment, let’s say. For these JRPGs, might and magic might be good, and the power of friendship might be great, but it’s guns that will end up winning the day.

8 Valkyria Chronicles 4

A Wartime Story Of Desperation And Struggle

Looping back around to the traditions and styles of the first Valkyria Chronicles, the fourth installment in this series is an excellent way for new fans to engage with the world of Valkyria Chronicles while veterans (ha) of the series will be equally pleased with the return to form.

This is a coming-of-age war story mirroring the aesthetics of World War 2. Guns in this game are like what swords, axes, and spears are in Fire Emblem. There’s a satisfying and tactile response to every attack that lets players feel the weight of the gun or, in some cases, of the tank, that they are currently using.

7 Shin Megami Tensei 4: Apocalypse

An Engaging and Gritty JRPG

Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse

Systems

Released

September 20, 2016

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Standing among some of the hardest games in the series, Shin Megami Tensei 4:Apocalypse is an incredibly engaging and gritty JRPG that pulls no punches with its story or its combat, forcing players to make tough decisions to survive.

There’s a mercenary culture to the world of Apocalypse, which means guns are never in short supply. This isn’t like Vengeance where the player has godlike powers on their side – Nanashi will need to pack some firepower and shoot some demons if he wants to live.

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6 Final Fantasy 7

An Excellent Installment In The Series

Systems

Released

February 29, 2024

OpenCritic Rating

Mighty

Perhaps the most significant Final Fantasy title due to its widespread recognition, and definitely one of the best in the series, few games manage to have the same incredible worldbuilding and emotional narrative as Final Fantasy 7.

This game has an incredibly unique ‘industrial urban fantasy’ setting that lets Cloud get away with wielding a colossal sword while Vincent uses swift pistols and Barrett has an entire gattling gun attached to his arm.

5 Trails In The Sky

A Monolithic JRPG Title

Systems

Released

June 24, 2004

Developer(s)

Nihon Falcom

The Nihon Falcom library of games is host to some truly incredible titles, and the first chapter in the Trails in the Sky series stands as a fantastic introduction to this incredibly unique JRPG world and the stories that lie within it.

Each character in this title has a weapon type associated with them – and while Olivier uses the lighter variant of guns, players can also use the character Tita, who wields colossal canon-like implements in battle.

4 Wild Arms

A Gun-Focused JRPG Classic

Wild Arms

Systems

Released

April 30, 1997

Developer(s)

Media Vision

Publisher(s)

Sony Computer Entertainment

There’s some incredibly interesting lore behind the Wild Arms series that truly helps it stand out from other JRPGs. Guns are treated as the relics of a more violent and warlike age, there’s an almost mystical quality to them and how they’re treated.

This is one of those rare but wonderful games that fuse post-apocalyptic storytelling with fantasy elements, taking a fantastical spin on the grim task of restoring a world ruined by centuries of warfare.

3 Resonance Fate

A Slick And Stylish JRPG

Something of a gem in the JRPG scene, Resonance Fate has an incredibly unique spin on turn-based battle that allows for free-flowing combat and movement on characters’ turns, giving a sense of dynamism and grace that pairs well with the heavy gunfights of this title.

Many of the JRPGs on this list supplement guns with other weapon types or even magic, but if players are looking for games where the be-all and end-all is solely modern firearms, then this high-flying title is exactly what they need.

2 Live A Live

A Classic Time-Spanning Marvel

The glorious HD-2D style is made manifest in this time-spanning JRPG, similar to Chrono Trigger, which has players explore a variety of worlds from different time periods and synthesize the distinct stories of these characters together.

The Wild West setting is built on a foundation of pistols and gunplay and is an integral part of the character’s combat experience both during the initial parts of this section and later when characters across time are all together.

1 Xenosaga

An Interesting Sci-Fi Take On JRPGs

There aren’t many JRPGs that so excellently shape a space opera story into something that fits compelling and engaging gameplay. Xenosaga is a bit of an obscure title nowadays but it’s an excellent space-faring title all the same.

Players who want guns in their games are in luck here – laser pistols and rifles are some of the main weapon archetypes players will be able to purchase and upgrade as they blast down hostile aliens.

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