Games

Best JRPGs With Base Building Elements

Published

3 weeks ago

November 1, 2024

Christoph Rediske

Key Takeaways

JRPGs offer unique base-building mechanics, allowing players to personalize and upgrade their spaces within the game world.
Games like Suikoden 2, Dragon Quest Builders 2, Ni No Kuni 2, and more feature intricate base-building systems.
Upgrading bases in these games not only enhances the visual aspect but also provides strategic advantages in combat and exploration.

JRPGs are renowned for their expansive, engaging use of storytelling. With many avenues for telling unique tales in fantasy, sci-fi, or contemporary worlds, it’s no surprise that the JRPG is one of the most enduring and popular genres today among casual and dedicated gaming fans. But as is the case for any genre that’s been around for decades, JRPGs have accrued their fair share of tropes, from common story beats to macguffins, to similar character archetypes across different games.

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What is not so cliché in the JRPG scene is the concept of base building, usually found in survival or sandbox titles. Whether it’s managing a household, a castle, or even an entire city, only a few JRPG titles let players divert away from the main story – or incorporate into the main story – an intricate base-building system that allows players to better personalize their space within the world. These titles in particular are all excellent games with excellent base-building mechanics included.

1 Suikoden 2

Dunan Castle Is Shaped By The Player’s Choices

Suikoden 2

Systems

Released: September 29, 1999

A classic gem among JRPGs, Suikoden 2 revolves around Dunan Castle, which players can steadily upgrade throughout tiers as the game goes on. Each tier brings new facilities and character opportunities, making it an incredibly exciting aspect of an already fantastic game.

An HD remake of both the first and second title in the series is in the works for next year, and JRPG fans with a love of good base building and high-quality titles, in general, should keep an eye on these upcoming games.

2 Dragon Quest Builders 2

A Novel Combination Of Sandbox And JRPG

The widely praised Dragon Quest Builders 2 stands as a direct enhancement in almost every way compared to the original title, providing a larger world with more to do inside it, as well as quality-of-life features like fast travel.

For people who find sandbox games like Minecraft to be aimless, Dragon Quest Builders 2 always has some new goal to work toward. For people who find JRPGs too restrictive or linear, there’s plenty of time to take a break from the plot and build to your heart’s content.

3 Ni No Kuni 2: Revenant Kingdom

Embark On A Quest To Forge An Entire Kingdom

The Ni No Kuni series of games has enthralled players and JRPG fans over both of its titles now, with the second game including incredible base-building components that let players realize the settlement of their dreams.

The stunning art direction of this title will compel players to build up their village purely to see its splendor, but the main reason behind upgrading a village is for the helpful facilities that come along with a larger settlement.

4 The Alliance Alive

Guild Halls Are Essential To Progress

Systems

Platform(s): New Nintendo 3DS
Released: June 22, 2017
Developer(s): FURYU

The Alliance Alive is an engaging and reliably compelling JRPG that rewards players who can manage its sheer difficulty. Uniting humans against an otherworldly threat and the Daemons that have come to lord over the world is made much easier by establishing guildhalls.

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Each guild has a certain set of bonuses, which are further improved by recruiting more guildmates to each organization and establishing guildhalls with guildmasters to look over them. These effects can damage enemies in combat or give players access to the best spells and gear in the game.

5 Dark Cloud 2

A JRPG Where You Rebuild The World

Dark Cloud 2

Systems

Released: February 17, 2003
Developer(s): Level-5

Dark Cloud 2 has players utilizing a novel combination of tools at their disposal to adventure and fight. The protagonist, Max, uses a large wrench for damage dealing and can board a large mech to further enhance his attacks.

Rebuilding the world means using geostones to create villages and their facilities, an exciting and engaging element of base building on top of the dungeon diving in this excellent JRPG gem.

6 Etrian Mystery Dungeon

Build Life-Saving Base Camps

Developer: Spike Chunsoft
Publisher: Atlus, NIS America
Platform: Nintendo 3DS
Released: 2015

With the Etrian Odyssey Origins Collection on the Switch rekindling many players’ love of this in-depth dungeon delver series, those looking to find the more off-kilter entries in this collection of titles won’t have to look much further than Etrian Mystery Dungeon.

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These JRPGs give players the freedom to tackle narratives in any order, making for a unique and personal playthrough every time.

The long and branching mystery dungeons in this game can be made easier with the building of fortresses that prevent enemies from spawning in certain rooms and allow players to get a better idea of the overall dungeon map.

7 Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge Of The Seven

Upgrading Avalon Is No Small Feat

Released: October 24, 2024

The recently released Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven has gripped players and allowed new and returning fans to explore Avalon like never before. Managing the kingdom is an essential component of this title. Players can build certain structures, such as blacksmiths or gardens, that provide a unique benefit in their own right as well as increase the development of the player’s empire.

Players unfamiliar with how SaGa diverts from JRPG norms will be in for a treat while returning players will find the gameplay as faithful as ever – building up Avalon into a grand capital is easily one of the most compelling base-building features available in JRPGs today.

8 Ys 8

Upgrade The Village For Enhanced Facilities

Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of DANA

Released: September 12, 2017
Developer(s): Nihon Falcom

The long-running Ys series has iterated on its overall gameplay philosophy with every title, and Ys 8 brought particular focus onto settlement building features that were praised by many new and returning fans.

Like other titles on this list, the main draw of upgrading the village is that it provides more avenues for new NPCs to move in and gives the player bonuses to their combat and exploration abilities. Recruiting castaways that arrive on the island this village is based on rewards players with a host of new establishments, like lodges or farms, that give players new ways to interact with their settlement.