10 Best JRPG Apps in 2022 (Final Fantasy, Pokemon, and More)

This is a dizzying time-travel plot combined with great combat where your goal is to prevent a global catastrophe. Overall, since its release in 1995, it is still to this day considered the best game ever made. 

You play as Crono, a brave young man, as he travels between time periods searching for his new friend Marle. In your travels, you put together a diverse cast of characters, from a knight who is a talking frog and a fierce warrior woman from the prehistoric era, and discover the true nature of the world.

In this game, you'll get multiple endings, plot-related sidequests focusing on character development, and a unique battle system. There are some critiques focused on the controls being unreliable. Yet, most reviews praised the game as a masterpiece in the genre. It is definitely worth multiple playthroughs to experience all the game has to offer!

Along with Final Fantasy VII, this is one of the best early 3D entries into the series and while initially overlooked, it's a great game for both JRPG-beginners and veterans alike. 

This game is modeled after the first Final Fantasy and unlike many of the others, this is played in a medieval setting where you're tasked with fighting a war between nations as plucky thief Zidane. It starts with Zidane kidnapping Princess Garnet who is more than willing to join the band of misfits and together embarking on a large, expansive journey.

According to Final Fantasy fans and critics alike, this is considered one of the best Final Fantasy games ever made. While a few reviewers mentioned the game required some level-grinding to keep up with the difficulty, lots of reviewers loved the gameplay and the story of Zidane and his adventures.

You will be hard-pressed to find more beautiful and unique designs among other games in the same genre. The art style was created by Akira Toriyama, the creator of Dragonball Z, so the character design will be instantly recognizable for fans of Toriyama. 

In this game, the kingdom of Trodain has been cursed by Dhoulmagus, and it is your job to save the kingdom and turn the King and Princess back to their respective forms after the curse turned them into a horse and a troll. The journey is epic and filled with loads of wonderful characters.

The gameplay remains similar to earlier games with experience level systems and turn-based combat modes. A few reviews complained about the lack of a landscape camera mode as the portrait mode reduces visibility during gameplay. However, most reviewers praise the game as one of the best JRPGs in existence.

Unlike some of the other games on this list, this one isn't a port, meaning that it was created with the intention of being played on a smartphone and it shows! It is also made with top-notch production value and lets you explore a world that will keep you entertained for hours.

This game takes place in a world where adventurers flock to a continent in the sky in search of their deepest desires. Nazca, the main character, is following his dream to find paradise. Join in as he explores amazing locales in his search and discovers the secrets surrounding the land of Marble Blue.

Some players found the in-game currency, ohnz coins, quite difficult to collect as there weren't many activities that offered them causing it to become a grind to gather them. Many players praised the game as on par with Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. They found the gameplay and art direction to be stellar in delivery.

Whether you're into gaming or not, chances are that you have heard of Pokémon Go when it took the world by storm upon its release.  What separates this from most games is that it uses your mobile device's GPS system. You have to physically walk around to find and have the chance to catch various Pokémon.

In this game, your goal is to walk around collecting Pokémon as well as battling against other players. You also register data with Professor Willow as you discover more creatures and complete challenges. When you start playing, you will register with one of three teams that serve as your teammates as you battle for control of gyms attached to popular real-world locations.

There have been a few user complaints centered around playing in rural areas and the game world being sparsely populated. Most players loved that the game got them out of the house and walking around. It has acted as a great motivator to get daily exercise and get moving!

Set in modern-day Tokyo, this game might perhaps be a bit on the odd side, but don't let that deter you from trying it out. It features a unique dual-view battle system and fashion-based equipment, among many other special features. 

Inspired by Japanese youth-culture, this will hit home with players that have an interest in Japan. You play as Neku, a young boy, who wakes up mysteriously in the middle of Shibuya and has to compete in a fight for his life. Discover the mysteries surrounding the world as you fight using a unique battle system.

A few reviewers had trouble with the touch screen controls, especially with the more complicated moves that you could acquire. Most reviewers loved the music, the art style, and the gameplay saying that it is a must-play for JRPG fans. The story is reportedly very poignant and heart-wrenching, so have tissues on stand-by for the finale!

This is another one of the more unique JRPGs. This one mixes a Norse mythology-inspired storyline with side-scrolling and turn-based gameplay. It offers multiple endings for a story tailored to your decisions.

In this game, you play as a Battle Maiden called Lenneth Valkyrie in the most epic battle in history, Ragnarok. Your task is to recruit fallen warriors and train them so they can fight against the end of the world. At the end of story chapters, you will learn how well your warriors fared against the apocalypse!

There are some legitimate critiques over the controls as the platforming sections can be especially difficult without using a standard game controller. Several reviews hailed the game as a forgotten classic due to its engaging story, multiple endings, and impactful combat system.

This package comes with three amazing games that defined an era of JRPGs, the Phantasy Star Saga. It comes with entries II, III, and IV and also comes with MFi controller support for better control of the game. Note that there are in-app purchases, as well.

The Phantasy Star Saga is set in the Algol Star System with dark forces threatening the peace of multiple worlds. Each game sees a new, more dire threat to the solar system. Fight the likes of Head Rot, Pug Hit, and Slugmess as you seek to stamp out the dark forces surrounding you!

One major drawback that reviewers pointed out was that in order to save, you had to watch an ad that stopped player momentum. Other than that, players loved the sense of nostalgia they got from playing one of the most highly regarded JRPGs from the early years of console gaming. If you have any interest in where the genre came from, this is a must!

This is one of the first JRPGs released in 1993 for the SNES and still continues to have a large following even today. Some say it bridges the gap between Zelda and Dragon Quest. The game is set in a high fantasy universe where you follow three heroes as they attempt to stop an empire from conquering the world.

Unlike many other RPGs this is not a turn-based one, but instead features battles in real-time with a power bar mechanic. The game also has a unique ring-command system that allows you to pause in the middle of a battle and allows the player to make decisions. The system is also set to allow a second or third player to drop in and out of the game at any time.

Reviewers had issues with the controls in the app version and the game crashing. However, most loved the intense wave of nostalgia they felt playing the game and even people new to the series enjoyed it, with one even saying it aged well.

This is one of the more popular games in the Final Fantasy franchise, not just in mobile gaming but on other consoles as well. It is the last traditional Final Fantasy game in the classic 2D design and considered as a fan-favorite by many. 

The game is set in a fantasy world where you follow Terra, a magic wielder sought by the Empire as a living weapon, as she befriends many memorable characters and fights against an evil set on destroying and rebuilding the world in its own image. Take up arms against this evil empire to prevent even more suffering!

Users have stated that the controllers take some effort to get used to so be aware there is a learning curve. Many others were ecstatic to play one of their childhood favorites. They were delighted to jump back in with their favorite characters from childhood and nostalgia brought on by the masterful soundtrack.