1. Suikoden 3
   Dragon Quest 1
2. Chrono Trigger
   Grandia

Released in 1995 for the SNES, Chrono Trigger is considered by many to be the single greatest RPG of all time. With multiple endings, a host of beloved characters, and an innovative combat system allowing for team attacks, Chrono Trigger is the complete package. The music is fantastic, too!

1. Final Fantasy
   Legend of the Dragoon
2. Nier: Automata
   Tales of Maj'Eyal.

Released in 1987 for the NES, Final Fantasy was thought by developer Square to be their final hope for success. Its triumph resulted in no less than 14 spiritual sequels and innumerable spinoffs, a legacy that is still ongoing today!

1. Destiny of an Emperor
   Wizardry
2. Dragon Quest 3
   Eternal Sonata

Developed by Chunsoft in 1988 for the NES, Dragon Quest 3 was a fantastic iteration of the successful Dragon Quest formula. It offered a day/night cycle, a fully featured class system and a vast open world to explore!

1. Blue Dragon
   Lost Odyssey
2. Shin Megami Tensei: Nocturne
   Fallout: Tactics

Released in 2003 for the PS2, Developers Atlus really made something extraordinary in Nocturne. Noted for its multiple branching paths based on the Universes' core ideologies, its dozens of playable gods and mythological creatures, and its impeccable sense of style, Nocturne is still influencing JRPGs today!

1. Paper Mario: The 1000 Year Door
   Super Mario RPG
2. Pokemon Conquest
   Etrian Odyssey

Released in 1996 for the SNES, Super Mario RPG became an instant classic. Dispensing with many of the genre conventions, it worked using a hybridized action/turn based system that relied on the player's timing, as well as a large overworld to explore, familiar Mario characters and plenty of comedy.

1. Tales of Vesperia
   Mega Man Battle Network
2. Rocket League
   Earthbound

Released in 1994 for the SNES, Earthbound is actually the sequel to a previous game, Mother. While the gameplay was familiar, the setting - the modern day real world - was exceedingly original, as was the game's goofy and irreverent tone. It is also beloved for its characters, its nostalgic writing style and its jazzy music.

1. Xenogears
   Arc the Lad
2. Persona 2: Innocent Sin
   The Elder Scrolls: Battlespire

Released in 1991 for the PS1, Xenogears is an enormous, sprawling epic that takes place on a strange alien world. Filled with arcane imagery and symbolism, a mature story that nonetheless included giant Mechs to battle in, Xenogears is a study in extremes. Although the second disc is notoriously considered unfinished, none can doubt the influence it has had on JRPGs.

1. Dragon Warrior 2
   Digimon
2. Pokemon Red
   Fire Emblem

Released in 1996 for the Game Boy, Pokemon birthed a massive entertainment franchise. The game centers around catching monsters, which you in turn use to battle against other monster trainers in your quest to be the very best. This simple formula has won the hearts of millions!

1. Lunar
   Ys
2. Shining Force
   God Eater

Lunar was released in 1993 for the Sega CD. Although it was not mechanically innovative, it's use of anime imagery and heartfelt characterization made Lunar stand out from the pack.

1. Final Fantasy Tactics
   Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen
2. Wizardry 8
   Tactics Ogre

Released in 1993 for the SNES, Ogre Battle: March of the Black Queen was a unique hybrid of RPG and Strategy game, one that had branching paths depending on your choices in the game. It has had massive influence on tactical RPGs since then, making it something of a grandfather for the genre.

1. Diablo 2
   Persona 3
2. Dragon Quest 4
   Suikoden

Suikoden was created in 1995 for the PS1. It is noted for having both RPG and strategy elements, and having an incredible 108 unique recruitable characters, which would become a hallmark of the series.

1. Ni no Kuni
   Disgaea
2. Monster Rancher
   Final Fantasy Tactics

Disgaea was originally released for the PS2 in 2003. It is notable for being a story where you play as the nominal "bad guys," although in reality it is a tactical JRPG filled with humor, tons of options, limitless potential for character growth, and yes, a little bit of pathos.

1. Valkyrie Profile
   Summon Knight
2. ActRaiser
   Mother

Valkyrie Profile, released in 1999 for the PlayStation, is actually a more action oriented title than many of the others on this list. Nonetheless, its evocative characters, careful stat management and many alternate paths squarely place it on the list of classic RPGs.

1. Wizardry 6: Bane of the Cosmic Forge
   Pokemon: Soul Silver
2. Star Ocean
   Star Tropics

Created in 1996 for the PlayStation, Star Ocean is a series of free flowing action RPGs, similar to the Tales series, based in science fiction settings. It has endured throughout multiple iterations, due to its large scope and popular characters.

1. Shadow of Mordor
   Kingdom Hearts
2. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
   Yu-Gi-Oh!

Released for the PS2 in 2002, Kingdom Hearts is an extraordinary action RPG that combines the characters and worlds of Square-Enix and Walt Disney. Even the main characters have elements of both artistic styles!

1. Phantom Brave
   Tactics Ogre: Knight of Lodis
2. Double Dragon
   Final Fantasy Tactics

Released in 2004 for the PS2, Phantom Brave is a tactical RPG with a twist: your heroes are actually disembodied spirits, and you bind them to various and sundry objects on the battlefield to give them form. The sole exception to this is the main character, who is but a child and needs all the help she can get!

1. Brave Fencer Musashi
   Record of Lodoss War
2. Valkyria Chronicles
   ActRaiser

Released in 2008 for the PS3, Valkyria Chronicles was an unusual game in that it did not fit into typical genre conventions- it was sort of a hybrid real-time XCOM, with a storyline that evoked an alt history WW2 mixed with fantasy elements. Unique to be sure!

1. River City Ransom
   Dragon Warrior 4
2. Etrian Odyssey
   Wizardry 7: Crusaders of the Dark Savant

Released in 2007 for the Nintendo DS, Etrian Odyssey had JRPG stylings but was actually more inspired by the western title Wizardry than anything else. It is known for having the ability to draw maps using the stylus, fantastic music, and the ability to have a custom made party.

1. Romancing SaGa
   Persona 3
2. Final Fantasy V
   Dragon Warrior: Monsters

Released in 2006 for the PS2, Persona 3 was a groundbreaking title that combined intense characterization and a modern setting with visual novel aspects wherein your character would go out with and befriend NPCs. This combination would prove to be incredibly successful, paving the way for two sequels and practically creating a new subgenre of JRPG all by itself!

1. Pokemon: Blue
   Giant Robo
2. My Little Pony: Tails of Equestria
   Super Robot Wars

Created way back in 1991 for the original Game Boy, Super Robot Wars was the start of an incredibly phenomenon. By licensing robots from a host of popular anime and manga and weaving them into a single story, this game set fans' imaginations alight and started a journey dozens of games long that continues to this day!

1. Digimon
   Mechwarrior: Online
2. Netrunner
   Mega Man Battle Network

Released in 2001 for the Game Boy Advance, this reimagining of Mega Man proved to have enduring popularity. It saw him as a sentient program within a network invaded by viruses, and featured a fun combat system that combined real time decisionmaking with collectible "chips" you would pick up through defeating foes.

1. Suikoden 2
   Breath of Fire
2. Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance
   Golden Sun

Created by Capcom in 1993 for the SNES, Breath of Fire's biggest innovation was the ability of the main character to change forms from a humanoid into a Dragon. This was kept - in one way or another - in the sequels, and became a hallmark of the series.

1. Golden Sun DS
   Destiny of an Emperor
2. Final Fantasy Online
   Fire Emblem

Released in 1990 for the NES, Fire Emblem was a straightforward military strategy game with a twist - every unit was a distinct, unique character, and if you lost them in battle they were gone forever! This led to much careful play, a lot of frustrated resetting and a beloved series that continues today!

1. Dragon Quest Heroes
   The Legend of Zelda
2. Romancing SaGa
   Wild Arms

Created in 1992 for the Super Famicom, this classic was never formally released in the U.S. It is noted for its extraordinarily open world for the time, as well as the game involving multiple interwoven scenarios that take place from different characters' perspectives.

1. Phantasy Star
   Wizardry 3: Werdna's Revenge
2. Class of Heroes
   Etrian Odyssey 2

Made way back in 1987 for the Sega Master system, Phantasy Star proved to be a flagship RPG. It was a techno-fantasy based game on a strange world that saw first-person Wizardry-like combat and graphics that were quite advanced for its time.

1. Ys
   Brave Fencer Musashi
2. Final Fantasy Adventure
   Rogue Galaxy

Released in 1987, Ys is an enduring series of Japanese action RPGs that, unusually, are based on the PC. They are known for having large worlds to explore as well as frantic, action-based combat.

1. Final Fantasy 3
   Dark Cloud
2. Skies of Arcadia
   Secret of Mana

Secret of Mana was released in 1993 for the SNES. Brightly colored and filled with a sense of wonder and fun, Secret of Mana features a real time combat system that seems to borrow heavily from The Legend of Zelda, with multiple weapons that could be upgraded, as well as a cast of 3 completely different main characters.

1. Rogue Galaxy
   One Piece: Unlimited Adventures
2. Grandia
   Space Wolf

Originally released in 1997, Grandia was an action based RPG series that was noted for its shonen manga style and wild sense of adventure. Exploration, thrilling combat and elemental magic combined with a story that didn't take itself too seriously.

1. Final Fantasy Adventure
   Tales of Phantasia
2. Diablo
   Sakura Wars

Tales of Phantasia, originally released in 1995 for the Super Famicom, was the first in a huge series that continues today. It was notable for the Linear Motion Battle System, or LMBS, a hybrid real time with pause battle system that involved manually inputting commands as the battles raged.

1. Front Mission
   Ogre Battle 64
2. Mech Commander
   Final Fantasy Tactics Advance

Released in 1995 for the SNES, Front Mission was highly unusual for an RPG. it combined an evocative near future theme with the use of Giant Robots - Wanzers - as your agents on the field. Even stranger, these Wanzers owed more to the ponderous hulks of the Western Battletech than they did to Japanese Mecha!

1. Spyro the Dragon
   Hyrule Warriors DS
2. Monster Rancher
   Super Mario and the SIlver Stars

Released in 1997, Monster Rancher was a game with a simple premise: you capture, train and breed monsters. The combat was entertaining enough, but the real fun was in seeing all of the crazy crossbreeds you could make.

1. Golden Sun
   Parasite Eve
2. Advance War: Days of Ruin
   Fire Emblem 2

Released in 1998 for the Sony Playstation, Parasite Eve was noted for its mature, modern=day setting, its fusion of horror and science fiction and its extraordinarily detailed cutscenes that moved the story along.

1. Age of Empires
   Sakura Wars
2. Atelier Marie
   Ys VII

Atelier Marie was released for the Playstation in 1997. It is unusual for an RPG in its focus on crafting and creation rather than battles, and its more Shoujo - rather than Shonen - manga feel.

1. Dragon Quest 7
   Samurai Warriors: Empires
2. Golden Sun 2
   Final Fantasy IV

Released in 1991 for the SNES, Final Fantasy IV took everything they had learned from the previous three games and built upon it immensely. The series saw Mode 7 graphics, a vast world to enjoy, a story of betrayal, love and redemption, and a ton of interesting, distinct characters.

1. Double Dragon
   River City Ransom DS
2. Yakuza
   Final Fight

Created in 2005 for the Playstation 2, Yakuza is a uniquely Japanese role playing game with RPG elements, fighting through an open world in a modern japanese city. The franchise became known for its cinematic plots, bone-cracking (yet PG-13 rated) action and tons of minigames and side quests!

1. Skies of Arcadia
   Rogue Galaxy
2. Sid Meier's Pirates!
   Infinite Galaxy

Created in 2000 for the Sega Dreamcast, Skies of Arcadia was all about unique party members, wide vistas and above all, exploration. Although much beloved by the fans, a full-fledged sequel was never created.

1. Laguna Drive
   Dragon Quest VII
2. Blue Dragon
   Chrono Cross

Released in 1999 for the Sony Playstation, Chrono Cross was a colorful, beautifully orchestrated sequel to its smash predecessor Chrono Trigger. Although most of the characters did not directly return, the game aged well and is now regarded as a worthy sequel to the SNES classic.

1. Demon's Souls
   Let it Die
2. Space Defense Force
   Shadow of the Colossus

Demon's Souls, released in 2009 for the PS3, was a rarity for a japanese RPG - an open world game with action based combat, with little characterization and where death stalked you at every turn. Its success paved the way for the Dark Souls trilogy that followed.

1. Digimon Online
   Chaos Rings
2. Fire Emblem Gaiden
   Final Fantasy Omni Opera

Chaos Rings is a rarity on this list in that it began as a mobile game. It was marketed as a "full featured" RPG with a normal price, rather than a free-to-play gacha game. Its success has spawned several sequels, but gacha games still reign supreme!

1. Bravely Default: Flying Fairy
   Final Fantasy Adventure
2. The Secret of Mana 2
   Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

The incomprehensibly named Bravely Default: Flying Fairy was released in 2012 for the Nintendo DS. A return to tradition of sorts, it was clearly made for a generation that longed for the old style Final Fantasy games, and it gave them exactly what they were looking for!