Back in the seventh generation of consoles, when achievements and trophies first emerged, I barely cared about them. I just played a game through to the end, completing as many sidequests as I wanted and finding whatever secrets I felt like looking for. However, when playing JRPGs, I generally tried to do everything a game asked of me because these titles know very well how to create engaging post-game content or challenging optional bosses.
Even so, many PS3 JRPGs had needlessly grindy trophies, so they didn’t appeal to me. When I bought a PS4, I didn’t have much money to spare to buy multiple games, so for the ones I did buy, I completed everything I could and, consequently, started going after trophies. It was a point of no return, because ever since then, I keep hunting platinums whenever I can in most games.
Today, with over 100 platinums under my belt and the majority of those being JRPGs, I have an above-average knowledge of which JRPGs are worth the platinum grind and which ones aren’t. To be honest, most aren’t worth it, because they demand too much from the player while delivering very little, but there are still a few where you will earn a platinum simply by engaging with everything the system has to offer.
10
Final Fantasy VII Remake
Hard Mode Done Right
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth became known as one of the trickiest platinum trophies on the PS5, to the point where even Square Enix acknowledged this and said they will tone down the road to platinum in Final Fantasy VII Revelation. However, if you ask me, Final Fantasy VII Remake had almost the perfect platinum grind out of all Final Fantasy titles – the sole exception being the requirement for three playthroughs to get all costumes for Cloud at Wall Market.
The coolest part about grabbing the platinum in Final Fantasy VII Remake is that the game asks you to do everything it has to offer, and that is practically the essence of any JRPG. I generally frown upon any game that asks me to replay a second playthrough, but in the case of FFVII Remake, the second run is on Hard Mode and completely alters the combat dynamics, really keeping me on my toes and forcing me to master the glorious combat to its absolute limit.
9
NieR: Automata
Buy Your Way to Platinum
You may have heard that NieR: Automata features one of the most infamous trophy lists in the genre. First, we have the “What Are You Doing?” trophy, which requires you to look under 2 B’s dress 10 times. Don’t ask. Then we have a bunch of unorthodox trophies that you may or may not acquire during a normal playthrough. A few of them just require you to play the game, like unlocking all endings, something you will want to do anyway since this masterpiece deserves your undivided attention.
However, if by any chance you don’t feel like tackling some miscellaneous activities and are running low on patience, you can simply purchase the trophies in-game. You heard me right. There is a shop inside NieR: Automata that literally sells trophies.
I understand how counterintuitive this might sound, especially since buying trophies drives you away from engaging with the game. But to be fair, there are a few grindy ones that aren’t exactly fun, like upgrading all weapons to the highest level even when you aren’t using them. So simply playing at your own leisure, enjoying all content and endings, and then buying the more grindy trophies feels well deserved in my opinion.
8
Persona 5
Go for the Royal Version
I confess I was a bit reluctant to include Persona 5 here because, considering the calendar nature of the JRPG, everything here is missable. Plus, having to make the right dialogue choices when interacting with NPCs to raise Social Links makes each playthrough feel a little less genuine, since we aren’t picking the options we would actually like to, but rather what a guide dictates. But in the end, I never really felt like I was stepping into the protagonist’s shoes anyway, so that wasn’t an issue for me.
So if you don’t mind using a guide for Persona 5, which for me enhanced the experience even further by letting me see everything the JRPG has to offer, jump right in without fear. Do everything, enjoy all its features, fuse every Persona, experience the storyline of every Social Link, and simply absorb what Persona 5 can offer. The Royal version doesn’t require two playthroughs, making it even better. I only platinumed the base game, so I had to replay a bit until completing the Compendium, and let me tell you, despite taking 120 hours, it was time very well spent.
7
Chained Echoes
The Board Will Reward You
I keep saying that, in my view, Chained Echoes features some of the absolute best exploration in JRPGs. Exploring is great, but not every game manages to deliver rewards that motivate us to roam every single corner. Chained Echoes not only rewards the adventurers among us, but doubles down with the Reward Board, which motivates us to complete the various side content offered by the indie title.
And this Reward Board also functions as an activity checklist, and consequently, a tracker for trophies and achievements. I simply kept doing everything available on the boards, completing tiles, obtaining more rewards, and steadily getting closer to the platinum. On top of that, hunting trophies here led me to recruit optional characters, forge the best weapons for every party member, and face secret bosses. Matthias Linda truly wrote a passionate love letter to JRPG enthusiasts and didn’t miss a beat.
6
Tales of Arise
Easiest Tales of Platinum
I will be one of the first to criticize Tales of Arise, pointing out that it doesn’t represent the Tales of series well, that it became a very standard action RPG compared to its predecessors, and that the second half of the narrative botches the story entirely. However, if the topic is purely the platinum trophy, then this one definitely boasts the best list among all Tales of games. While many entries in the series require several playthroughs, feature endless missables, and demand over 100 hours, Tales of Arise is far more user-friendly.
First of all, there are no missables, and it only demands one playthrough, which is already incredible. Then, everything the JRPG asks is for you to engage with what it offers. Complete the sidequests, spend time fishing, clear the post-game dungeons, and the trophies will naturally follow. At first, I hadn’t even considered going for the platinum in Tales of Arise because I know how nerve-wracking the franchise’s trophy lists can be, but once I noticed I was almost done with everything, I went after the rest, and it turned out great. Arise might not be one of the best Tales of entries out there, but it is still a pretty solid action RPG.
5
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Can’t Get Enough of This Masterpiece
Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 brings together all the staples of the JRPGs that inspired it: turn-based combat with timed inputs, an engaging progression system with versatile builds, and plenty of side content to extend your playtime. And although it features various collectibles, whether in the form of Music Records, journals, or Monoco’s skills, incredibly, none of it feels like a chore. The game is so delightful that you simply won’t want to put it down.
In the past, some trophies were missable, such as that fateful journal locked behind a cell that demanded the Old Key found in the Prologue. Sandfall listened to the fans and streamlined the process, allowing players to obtain the key near the end of the game. This design philosophy carried over to many other aspects, making the process of doing everything in Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 even more satisfying.
Granted, that might be a bit misleading, because while the platinum is quite challenging, especially if you face Simon and other optional bosses, it is still easier than tackling the more empowered versions of those same bosses added in post-launch updates. Nevertheless, take my word for it, you will want to do everything in Expedition 33 just to have an excuse to spend more time alongside Gustave, Maelle, and your fellow expeditioners.
4
Visions of Mana
So Colorful, So Gorgeous
I think it is a shame that Visions of Mana didn’t receive the widespread acclaim it truly deserved. It is the definitive modern take on the Mana series, packing all the lore of the franchise, an extraordinarily gorgeous and colorful presentation, an incredible combat system, exploration with a touch of Metroidvania, and a straightforward story with a few neat twists along the way. It has everything JRPG fans love, so it is a pity it didn’t capture a larger player base.
On top of everything I mentioned, Visions of Mana also features a very satisfying trophy set. Sure, there is a collectible element involving tracking down the Li’l Cacti, but it isn’t missable, and you can tackle it whenever you want, especially with a guide. Beyond that, everything the game asks is for you to engage with its core systems, unlocking all classes, defeating all monsters, exploring every nook and cranny, and so forth. There is only one missable trophy, which involves defeating the post-game boss on Hard difficulty, but by the time you reach that point, you will already be mastering the game.
3
Dragon Quest XI S: Echoes of an Elusive Age
100+ Hours of Pure Fun
Anyone familiar with Dragon Quest knows that these games are immense, even more so if you want to tackle the post-game. So if you jump in with that mindset, you won’t mind the hundreds of hours waiting for you between the beginning of the journey and the platinum trophy of Dragon Quest XI. Earning it feels glorious, extremely rewarding, and gives us even more reasons to stay hooked on the JRPG.
Dragon Quest XI S features a quality-of-life tool that I believe every JRPG should adopt: a sidequest tracker. Whenever a new sidequest opens up anywhere in the world, this tracker notifies you, making the process of clearing optional content feel completely effortless. We also have the elusive Mini Medals, as is tradition in Dragon Quest, but they are far more accessible to gather here, alongside a few minigames that are well worth the effort. The only trophy I had to go out of my way for was in the post-game, where I had to farm Metal Slimes to level up my party, but it went by so fast using a few tricks that I didn’t even notice the grind.
2
The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales
The Best Kind of Adventure
One of my most recent platinums was The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales. Since I played it right at launch, there weren’t many guides available online, so I just played organically, exploring everything I could, collecting Life Shards, clearing sidequests, uncovering optional dungeons, and so forth. By the time I checked my progress, I was only missing a handful of trophies for the platinum, and that was that. A beautiful game overall.
Technically, there are missable trophies in Elliot tied to the different endings. But if you play blind, simply following quest markers, it is nigh impossible to trigger the true ending before the others, given that its requirements are hidden and hints only appear after you complete the alternate endings first. So my advice is to just play and immerse yourself in the vibrant, rewarding world of Philabeldia without worrying about trophies. Near the end, if you are only missing a few, you can easily clean up what remains.
1
Unicorn Overlord
A Completionist’s Dream
As much as turn-based JRPGs are my favorite genre of all time, I still think twice before jumping into a new tactical JRPG. I’m not the best at them, and I always get anxious about failing a stage and losing 30 to 40 minutes of invested time. Unicorn Overlord, though, feels like it was tailor-made for me, because not only are most battles lightning fast, but the game also boasts wonderful exploration and progression systems.
I just kept playing, upgrading my towns, recruiting new units, leveling up my squad, and enjoying Unicorn Overlord for what it is. It is a stellar title and one that carries the torch of Ogre Battle flawlessly. By the time I reached the end, I had practically earned the platinum without even looking at the trophy list. I was only missing a few obscure ones off the beaten path, such as having a cookie stolen by a goat. Yeah, not kidding.