Key things
- Indie games offer unique experiences inspired by classics such as
Sea of stars, Omori,
and
Undertale
. -
Chained Echoes
and
Cassette beasts
brings new perspectives on traditional JRPG mechanics and themes. - Titles like
Cris Tales, CrossCode,
and
Lisa: Painful
they provide engaging stories and gameplay.
Independent gaming is a great way for players to enjoy titles that aren't afraid to take risks, avoiding the cookie-cutter experience issues that most AAA titles suffer from. The wide range of new and unique experiences for fans to enjoy is limitless, especially for gaming fans JRPG genre.

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Numerous amazing indie games do a great job of channeling the spirit of classic JRPGs, featuring everything from cute pixel art to exciting turn-based combat that will keep fans entertained until the very end of these magical adventures. These indie games wear their JRPG inspirations on their sleeves and help improve the genre by bringing their own innovations.
8 Sea of Stars
Inspired by Chrono Trigger, Illusion Of Gaia
Sea of stars
- Released
- August 29, 2023
- Developers
- Sabotage
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
One of the most beautiful indie RPGs that players can get their hands on, Chrono Trigger inspirations are clear from the moment players begin their journey Sea of stars. The colorful pixel art looks amazing and the awesome lore of the game took a lot of notes from how Illusion of Gaia dealt with his world-building.
Combat uses timed button presses and other similar mini-games in the same vein as Super Mario RPG. It all helps together Sea of stars stand out as a polished experience, even if the game itself can feel a bit clichéd at times.
7 Omori
Inspired by EarthBound
- Released
- December 25, 2020
- Developer
- Dip
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
Fans EarthBound who loves the unique nature of JRPGs and wants to witness a darker take on the concept should give it a go Omori shot. This psychological horror RPG lulls the player into a false sense of security before revealing the darkness that plagues Sunny's mind.
Headspace is a beautiful realm to explore, providing enough mystery to keep fans guessing as they live as Sunny for a few days before she's due to move out. The game's story is arguably the best part of the experience, as its plot twist comes as a gut punch that adds to the game's emotional ending.
6 Undertale
Inspired by Mother, Brandish, Shin Megami Tensei
Undertale
- Released
- September 15, 2015
- Developers
- Toby Fox
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
An independent darling who needs no introduction, that's for sure Undertale is inspired EarthBound in more ways than one. After all, Toby Fox worked on it EarthBound ROM hacks before trying to develop its own game, and it shows.
3:36 am

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Adding to the game's charm is a unique combat system that allows players to converse with monsters to talk them down, a mechanic that fans Shin Megami Tensei they will know the games. The cute nature of the game rewards players for saving creatures from the underground, while sadistic players who kill everything in their path can unlock an alternate ending that changes. Undertale into one of the toughest indie RPGs players can get their hands on.
5 Chained Echoes
Inspired by Xenogears, Terranigma, Secret Of Mana, Suikoden 2, Breath Of Fire, The Legend Of Dragoon, Final Fantasy 6, Chrono Trigger
- Released
- December 8, 2022
- Developers
- Matthias Linda
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
From the very moment Chained Echoes was released, its similarity to most classic JRPGs was clear as day. Matthias Linda, the developer, was a fan of many beloved games in the genre and had experience working on RPG Maker before going full-on into development. Chained Echoes.
The epic story and brilliant combat pay homage to some amazing titles in the genre without leaning too heavily on those inspirations. By paying homage to the genre while doing something original, Chained Echoes stands out as one of the best indie RPGs that many fans consider a must-play.
4 Cassette beasts
Inspired by Pokemon, Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest
- Released
- April 26, 2023
- Developers
- Bytten Studio
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
Gamers who want to enjoy a new perspective Pokemon in the field of indie gaming will find Cassette beasts be right up their alley. The game allows players to transform into certain monsters using a cassette player and serves as a fresh take on the iconic GameFreak template.
Along with that present combat systems Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest led the developers to focus on status effects that help battles feel as dynamic as possible. Gamers looking to try a quirky indie JRPG with familiar gameplay mechanics will have a blast Cassette beasts.
3 Cris stories
Inspired by the Final Fantasy series, Chrono Trigger
- Released
- July 20, 2021
- Developers
- Dreams Unincorporated, SYCK
- OpenCritic rating
- Fair
A beautiful indie RPG that pays homage to the greats of the genre, Cris stories it may have quite a few issues, but it still stands out as an amazing game that fans will adore if they give it a chance. The unique time manipulation mechanic adds another interesting layer to the experience.
6:15 am

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It's a shame that the game's combat is too monotonous for its own good, but players who are willing to give these older systems a go will have a great time. Cris stories. The art style and visual design alone are enough to convince players to give this title a try.
2 CrossCode
Inspired by Chrono Trigger, Terranigma
- Released
- May 15, 2015
- Developers
- Radical fish games
- OpenCritic rating
- Mighty
CrossCode is a unique indie RPG where players find themselves trapped inside an MMO with an amnesiac character unable to form words. One look at this game will make it clear how its visuals were inspired by similar games Chrono Trigger and Terranigma.
If players don't mind optional content that deliberately copies the challenging quest structure of most MMORPGs, CrossCode is a beautiful game to play. The JRPG genre is not the only inspiration for this game, with classic 2D Zelda games, Yoshi's Islandand Xenoblade series that also drives the structure of this title.
1 LISA: Painful
Inspired by EarthBound
LISA: Painful
- Released
- December 15, 2014
- Developer
- Dingaling
Although set in a dark and depressing post-apocalyptic world, LISA: Painful helps make the experience more bearable with hilarious writing that lends plenty of character to the many unique personalities Brad encounters on his journey to save his adopted daughter.
Gamers who want to try a realistic RPG like it EarthBound with a harsh atmosphere will love co LISA: Painful has to offer. A huge cast of playable characters, along with a deceptively engaging storyline, explains why Dingaling's game was praised to the moon and back upon its release.

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