Top 10 Shortest JRPGs I've Ever Played

[@bes03c]

As a grown man with obligations, I appreciate shorter games. I would give an honorable mention to Live a Live remake on Switch. It is fantastic.

[@chiarosuburekeni9325]

Man I wish my backlog wasn`t so massive. I`ve been wanting to get to this on my Steam Deck for months.

[@joeyisabsb1]

I agree! More content creators should showcase short video games

[@alyssashirey1536]

I just beat Live a Live yesterday and I enjoyed it. Definitely like that each segment is short and you can pick up at any time and do a characters chapter and knock it out really quick.

[@tchitchouan]

i'm gonna shorten this video by watching it at double speed.

[@anonamatron]

Ys Origin isn't very long but you'll want to play it three times to get the real story, basically. Finishing twice unlocks a third character and playing the game as that character essentially unlocks the full story. There's also a ton of extras to play through. It'll keep you busy for a while if you get into it.

[@jaxh4x]

such an underrated game

[@m.m.2341]

My thoughts exactly when he mentioned Ys Origin. I was like "What? The game is not only Yunica's route".

[@jaxh4x]

@@m.m.2341 not even just story wise, that game is one of the most fun games I have played in the past several years.

[@m.m.2341]

@@jaxh4x Agree. The story is not bad, but it's definitely a game you play for the gameplay. It's really fun breezing through the enemies and challenging the bosses with the awesome music playing. Good stuff.

[@shiningphantasy1393]

It's a great game; the first two characters are kind of alternative scenarios, the unlockable character's (Toal) story is considered canon.

[@mathewhosier9739]

Even with a busy schedule I still prefer longer jrpgs that I can play over a long period of time over short ones, I feel ripped off when I can complete a $60 game in less than 60 hours, but I would include dragon's crown pro as a long JRPG, considering it takes hundreds of hours to truely complete

[@fightermcwarrior5232]

The shortest RPG I've played in recent memory is Cosmic Star Heroine. I did everything you can do in the game (including earning the platinum trophy for it) in a little over 15 hours or so. I definitely recommend it though, because it's a pretty cool game.

[@shiningphantasy1393]

Cosmic Star Heroine was a solid RPG that brought back a Turbo Duo vibe and had a unique battle system, but yes it did end abruptly from the build up. When I finished it I thought that there was going to be a little bit more coming and I was just like "Wait, that's it?".

[@DaakkuuYRS]

The shortest RPGs I beat were Blue Reflection 1 and Nights of Azure 2. Took for me around 15 hours. Makes sense, since they barely have a sense of griding which I love doing.

[@alexc4820]

Shortest RPG are often action rpg, battles are quicker than turn based or tactical RPG. But when you finish 2 or 3 very long RPG, a short one is really nice to avoid burn out ! Btw, there are even very short turn based RPG, like those published by Kemco on phones (10 hours for some of them), that have been published afterwards on consoles too.

[@creaty2852]

Every time that parasite eve music comes on I get nostalgic to play it again

[@schwarzerritter5724]

I did not expect Lost Kingdoms on the list, but thanks for including it.

[@gabrielsilver7227]

I absolutely LOVE summon night, 1 and 2. God knows how many times i replayed this.

[@SDCrusader]

Nice list! Hero Must Die is another really short one, it's like Half Minute Hero in which that's basically its gimmick

[@nr2676]

I would also add Linda Cube on PSX/Sega Saturn, but this game never left Japan.

[@Vilehand]

Ooh I'm surprised Suikoden 1 didn't make the cut. I was able to get all 108 chars and all the side quests in under 15 hours.

[@zengram]

I loved lost kingdom? I even managed to get all the cards in the game. The final boss card did an explosion who left everyone in the battle with 1 HP including you and him if you are fighting with him. You heal yourself,one hit and game over for him

[@betterthanbrooklyn5806]

Rhapsody was an adorable game! More JRPGs need to double as musicals as I think the combination works really well!

[@shiningphantasy1393]

The thing about Ys games is while many of the games are not that long in duration (Ys 1, Ys Origin, Ys Oath, Ys V, and Ys Ark) you never feel shortchanged because what is there is great minimalist game-play, engaging content, and very little filler. For it's time though Ys 1 and 2 packaged together on the Turbo Duo was as epic as it got.

[@FredHerbert999]

Sweet video dude! I'm surprised Arc the Lad 1 didn't make the list! Such a great game and only aboutb10 hours long if you only complete the story.

[@BigBossCQCLegend]

PS1 Classic Parasite Eve From The Greatest Year in Video Game History: 1998

[@Nino_Psiquico]

Rhapsody looks so cute! I will have to take a play it now. Thanks!

[@OntyVeracitea]

I was expecting Evoland to show up, But i'm not surprised as it feels less like a game and more like a proof of concept

[@Wondermooses]

Awesome list. Nice sometimes to play some shorter games :)

[@suiken3149]

Notable mentions: Akiba Strip: Undead and Undressed Breath of Fire: Dragon Quarter Suikoden Ergheiz (RPG Mode) Metroidvania Castlevanias

[@davidvillegas9449]

hola Erick, si eres fan de fire emblem te recomiendo el indie de lost eidolons, seria bueno que dieras tu opinion del juego en algun video.

[@ipetris86]

Te recomiendo que no le hables en español,ya que puede llegar a discriminarte como lo hizo conmigo cuando le comenté algo en un gameplay y me dijo que no correspondía por tener su audiencia mayoritariamente en inglés🤦🏻

[@davidvillegas9449]

Pero si el wey es latino??? Bueno en fin, también le e escrito en inglés y nada, pero que mal que los vídeos no tengan ni su títulos en español...

[@ipetris86]

Se que es latino,más específicamente mejicano y si que me resulto bastante curioso que me llamara la atención por hablar en español en su canal de inglés,pero de verdad me paso

[@celesgriner2411]

Damn, now I want to see the shortest jrpgs from 16 bit era

[@Sandiramon]

Kinda surprised the first Jade Cocoon wasn't on this list. It's the only rpg i beat on a 3 day rental. Can't remember what my final time was, but I know since I like to grind, it had to be pretty short.

[@tetsmega]

The first Luminous Arc game on the DS can be completed in like 3-4 hours even if you try to get everything.

[@Suraht]

During the Parasite Eve segment: "Perhaps Squaresoft feared a 20-hour long adventure will be too much back then." Xenogears was released about 46 days before Parasite Eve got released. And yes, I realize Erick is just telling a joke, and not making a statement of fact or anything. I just found this funny.

[@JoseAntonio-uf9ws]

Rhapsody a title I already forgotten but I remember this from my childhood. I enjoy this game so much as a child, after seeing the title i suddenly remember some of its songs in my head. I think i will check the switch version

[@jonahabenhaim1223]

9:00 Something is wrong with the framerate in this game or the capture card is screwed up.

[@oscarzxn4067]

Crisis Core is also very short, although only if you ignore, or mostly ignore, the side content.

[@InsomniaticVampire]

I would recommend summon knight sword craft story 1 and 2 to anyone who hasn't played them. Both are great rpgs.

[@montywh]

one that felt really short to me, mainly due to how it was structured, was Tales of Legendia. back in those days, i more or less equated most RPGs i played to average around 40 hours. Legendia's main quest felt like it averaged at 20, then they extended it with a series of post-game character specific after stories you had to do for each of your party members. that section felt like it dragged on, so i never finished it in that sense

[@ssjdennis6058]

You really took "short" seriously. Was thinking 25 or so hours, but you made it way shorter lol. I would love remakes of Ys on Switch. Being short, might even make them available for a bundle!

[@mbern4530]

Falcom said a while back that they would like the series to be available on modern systems so there is always a chance that might happen, but they're a small team so it probably wouldn't happen until after Ys10 releases.

[@Llortnerof]

I hope they do an actual remake of the first two at some point... i just can't get into the push combat. And then there's... 5 i think? That's totally missing so far.

[@ophidianmind333]

Some other interesting short RPGs worth checking out are Exile I & II, Cadash, Cosmic Star Heroine, Jack Move, The Vagrant, and Child of Light. Chrono Trigger and the original Final Fantasy could also be finished in a fairly short time and all of the games in the Ys series before Ys Seven were also on the short side.

[@renathystdream]

surprised that Threads of Fate didn't make the list, it's a great game, but playing through both characters story can be done in about 15 hours

[@FredHerbert999]

Oh Arc is am honorable mention! :-D

[@hondacivet]

What's the track at the end of the video? Also I had no idea Rhapsody: AMA got a rerelease until I saw this video! Will have to pick that up ASAP, I never got to play the original.

[@szczepan4737]

The game that started it all - Dragon Quest I

[@asilver50]

I remember beating parasite eve and thinking I did something wrong because it was over so quickly.

[@armorvil]

He was wrong though, there is side content in the form of the Chrysler building, a post-game dungeon with mant floors that unlocks a 2nd ending.

[@mojtecool9703]

I recently played The great hero and cruel king and it was short and sweet. But it was a blast. Great graphics , nice atmosphere , sweet story. Just a nice game overall.

[@NicoPorterBridges]

Jade Cocoon too! Great list btw

[@sofaris576]

The shortest JRPG I ever played is also my favorite Videogame. "Fuga Melodies of Steel" is only 20 houers long.

[@axgbb]

Didn't know Summon night was short. I didn't bother finishing the two games

[@xbetelgeuse128x4]

I appreciate your love for the rpg/jrpg genre. These are the games that make a console worth buying or not worth buying. It’s why I like Sony and Nintendo well and above the Xbox brand. All the jrpg goodness.

[@drgnslayers]

Rhapsody took me less than 20 hours but it may take less than half the time if you know where to go

[@WhiteFangofWar]

Hybrid Heaven is only about 10 hours, but I also found it very difficult.

[@silverian]

Half-Minute Hero sounded like funny RPG game... 🙂

[@mjdf122]

You need to do one for the 8 and 16 bit eras

[@schadenfreude6274]

It's very hard to play Dragon's Crown with one hand. :)

[@toddclawson3619]

One JRPG that didn't take long to beat that I liked was Folklore. It was a very fun game on the ps3 with a good cast and interesting story. It was kind of like pokemon in that you could use the monsters you beat to fight. Both the two protagonists could use them in different ways making each character unique to fight with. My only complaint about it is that the boss fights for each route were the same even though they are supposedly going on at the same time. It would have been better to give each one a unique boss to fight.

[@TylerMireMusic]

Have you tried For a Vast Future? It just came out and is a breezy 6-8 hours

[@Azael1332Xrd]

A very recent game that could also be on the list: The cruel king and the great hero, is a turn-based RPG not very long, which I could recommend to people who want to introduce themselves to the genre, apstte5du gameplay reminds me of the first Mario paper Another game which I do not know if I could tell, since it is part of another game, that's right, a game within another game. And that's Guardia Quest; Included in Retro Game challenge for DS. Since said game to be a "parody/inspired game" this could have been a separate game as it lasts around 20 hours

[@maskedbadass6802]

The Cruel King And The Great Hero looks visually adorable which made me want to play it, but I was also worried it would be too easy. Worse yet, because the aesthetic is so effective I know that if the ending is sad that it would emotionally wreck me.

[@SuperKratosgamer]

Dragon crown is more a Beat em up with light rpg elements than a actual JRPG

[@cloudstrife1983]

I think 16bit should be included, as there are long ones.. just like some modern ones are short.

[@colebuschle]

Have you played 3rd birthday. Basically parasite eve 3.

[@julius3671]

Neptunia rebirth 1 was pretty short for me, as i shut it off after 20 minutes

[@lucascaribe9935]

I Love dragon crown! And i'm still waiting for a sequel

[@TheLegendofLeo]

This is an awesome list and exactly what I need right now. Rhapsody looks like the most fun for me. Did you do this video before without Switch games? It seems familiar. I love that JRPGs are as long as they are, but sometimes you want to sink your teeth into a game without knowing that you’ll be signing away the next 2-3 months of your life. Thanks for this:

[@Zephyr_Weiss]

Yooooo Star ocean 6 battle theme let's gooooi

[@AgosLive]

Muramasa rebirth.. such a beautiful game i wish they released for switch it would look gorgeous on it

[@Phobos16]

Clearly i will put these on my phone to emulate later, its perfect for casual mobile gaming.

[@FormulaSumo]

Finally, some rpgs i can actually finish

[@gethermedel3620]

guys what's the game on 00:14

[@whitewolf3051]

Played Parasite Eve on the Vita a few years back, but haven’t finished it. Still love the game. Haven’t tried Muramasa on the Vita, and now with how the PSN store requires QR code and other nonsense to log in, can’t get it even if I wanted to.

[@grovoniond.3950]

I'd argue you don't beat Half-Minute hero unless you finish all 4 game modes. Yes, it starts with Hero-30 and you can beat that in 5 hours or less, but the story goes on and is only finished in the culmination of the final battle in Knight-30. On top of that the 3 other games modes are all fun and short as well. In total playtime is around 8 hours.

[@grovoniond.3950]

it's definitely not beat, you have to go through the other 3 modes before you unlock Hero-300, only that is the real ending.

[@AlomzoTigerheart9000]

TLOH prophecy of the moonlighf witch ??

[@REALmikegordan]

How on earth are Kingdom Hearts and Pokemon not on the list? It's very easy to beat all of them in under ten hours, and that includes the more recent Pokemon entries.

[@newageBoundhippie]

Parasite Eve, Rhapsody and Arc the Lad are the only ones mentioned that I've beaten myself ( though I'm in the middle of Muramasa Rebirth.... ). Only other JRPGs I can think of off the top of my head I've beaten that might be on the shorter side are Paper Mario and Fossil Fighters... and man I wish Square Enix would at least remaster if not fully remake Parasite Eve ( and PE2, which I physically can't play due to the god awful tank controls... )....

[@alanscott2517]

It's easier to say "fifth generation" than "32 bit era", since you don't have to throw out any caveats.

[@belkazebra6377]

What’s the track at parasite eve?

[@armorvil]

The game's battle theme, called Arise Within You

[@AzureSymbiote]

Why are side scrolling beat 'em ups considered JRPGs?

[@Eric4real4321]

After xenoblade chronicles 3 im going to need something shorter. Im at about 120 hours and still going

[@mike1989libra]

I wish they’d rerelease all ya games and tales of

[@alexb2639]

rhapsody was so good for it time

[@Manansalaardel]

Erick you forgot (The Longest Five Minutes) Nintendo Switch Game!

[@civoreb]

Most Yakuza game range from 10-15 hours and same goes for the Kemco rpgs. Half of them suck but none is above 15 hours

[@orelas167]

Hmm, yes, Parasite Eve is a little compact, but in a good way. Just one character. But aren't you forgetting the post-game dungeon?

[@mikeg5039]

It took me 40 hours to beat dragons crown lol i did everything tho, all the secrets

[@Jota_Eze]

Great recommendations, I'm gonna try Parasite Eve !

[@Freedom_84]

your assumptions on the time limit for these game is ridiculous. People arent doing speed runs, they are playing a game to get the full experience and enjoyment. muramasa for example is not a 5 hour game, unless like you, you speed through the damn thing. Its roughly 15 hours (30+ if you actually want to do everything like .... i dont know, the way games are meant to be played) out of all your videos, i find the ones where you BS on time length to be the worst ones. i honestly believe you dont even play half the game you talk about on your videos

[@soratheorangejuicemascot5809]

"the way the games are meant to play" is something I find hard to figure out. So do we have to try to suck every fun we can suck in a certain game before we are done?

[@kurosan9712]

Oboro Muramasa is beatable under 3 hours 1 character. There's even a trophy for that on Shita. Even on the mode that has it you die in 1 hit. Absolutely no difference

[@xjax8519]

7 hours thats normal for old games !

[@Terrortrooper]

idk if i would count in Dragons Crown personally. The whole purpose of the game is replayability and co-op. Saying it's short, just based on one story playthrough just doesnt feel right to me.

[@LakrimaProject]

Chrono Trigger is a short jRPG, was quite a let down for me since I played Cross before.

[@papervoxels]

Every game from the developer Zeboyd are incredibly good and very short. I highly recommend them all.

[@Suikojunkie]

Their games are very reminiscent of old school jrpgs but they’re a western developer.

[@papervoxels]

@@Suikojunkie JRPGs aren't RPGs that are developed by Japanese developers, they are RPGs that are developed in the style of the RPGs that came out of Japan in the 80s and 90s. If JRPG was only in reference to where the games were developed, then you would have to count the RPGs developed by From Software as JRPGs despite them being in the style of Western Action RPGs, and you would have to count Final Fantasy 9 as a Western RPG, since it was developed entirely in the West. Zeboyd's games definitely qualify as JRPGs.

[@Suikojunkie]

@@papervoxels Hmm This is still up for debate. People still argue about Dark Souls being a WRPG or a JRPG lol

[@hydrogene]

So I guess I will not see Dragon Quest VII in this list

[@rw277]

Pretty sure Dragon Crown is just Odin Sphere 2.

[@lennethomega6731]

Imagine Parasite Eve but played like RE 2 and 3 remake.

[@armorvil]

Could be a good game, but I would be mad that it got rid of the turn based combat.

[@Hushoo]

Commenting Jade cocoon before the video's over... Let's see

[@lightninghope7265]

Yo jugué rhapsody es muy bueno y parasite Eve. Súper recomendables. ☁️🌸

[@shawnkyle6579]

The sequels to Summon Night Swordcraft stories are longer.

[@AndruComedy]

My kind of list!

[@udaaz]

Very nice 👍

[@StaticSpine]

Man I wish more JRPGs were shorter.

[@ChairmanMeow1]

Nothing wrong with a short RPG in todays gaming world. Back t hen youd be mad if you spent $60 on a really short RPG. But you can price things differently now so why not a $20 quick RPG?

[@mr__seven]

Rhapsody es considerado fácil... porque desde el inicio del juego estás con el pupet más roto del juego.

[@Flareboxx]

Wait what do you mean Lost Kingdoms 2 isn't so good?? It's one of my top 3 favorite Gamecube games and it's 10x better than Lost Kingdoms 1. Lost Kingdoms 2 is seriously such an underrated and hidden gem.

[@kawaiibatman]

But you need 100 hours to platinum Dragon's Crown Pro Wtf

[@mathewhosier9739]

Stop confusing completing a game with beating a main story in the same game, you didn't complete dragon's crown pro, you simply beat the main story on normal difficulty with a single class, completing dragon's crown pro requires playing through each difficulty on each class, it took me over 1,200 hours to truely complete the game and get all 6 classes to level 255, I could make a video about the top 10 longest jrpgs I've ever played and dragon's crown pro would definitely be on that list, the main story on normal difficulty is essentially a glorified tutorial, the game doesn't even begin imo until you hit level 35 and unlock hard difficulty

[@lucasgoes3065]

Ys seven maybe.