While JRPGs are a fun genre, completing them can take a ridiculous amount of time. We’re looking at this in terms of how long it takes to do everything meaningful in the game. Bonuses, extra content, main story, side quests, you name it.
Sometimes, games are simply made longer by grinding or by having an incredibly lengthy story. Regardless of the reasons, there are some truly lengthy games in the JRPG genre.
There are some honorable mentions though, like the Disgaea franchise. Every game in that series could take 500+ hours, depending on what your ultimate goals are.
Which JRPGs take the longest to complete?
13) The Last Remnant (100+ hours)
The Last Remnant is one of the lesser known Square Enix titles that release back in the late 2000s for Xbox 360. A console that had some exclusive Japanese RPGs. The game has since been remastered and released on multiple modern platforms.
The game when it released back in the day was not really too well received mainly due to the console version having very poor performances. But it garnered quite a fanbase and has since become a cult classic as people find out that it is one of the few titles where they can sink hours in.
The Last Remnant features a plot of political intrigue and conflicts between multiple states. Beyond that the side content is enough to leave people occupied for hours.
12) Metaphor ReFantazio (around 100 hours)
Over or close to hundred hours seems to be the usual soft spot for Atlus JRPGs, and honestly fans are happy with that. This seems to be the similar deal with Atlus’ newest game that moves away from the Shin Megami Tensei umbrella of RPGs (not really).
Metaphor ReFantazio is a game created by the minds behind the last three mainline Persona games. This title is pretty much the culmination of all the previous games that established Atlus in the forefront of JRPGs, and it is reflected in the game.
Atlus has made Metaphor with content that lasts players for hours. All While maintaining an enthralling narrative that goes delves into politics and modern day issues.
11) Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate (1000+ hours)
Monster Hunter is a franchise where people sink in a minimum of hundreds of hours, and that’s like the bare necessity for these types of games. Some can keep playing a singular Monster Hunter game for decades.
But there is one Monster Hunter title that far exceeds any number of hours played on a JRPG, and people would still be scrambling for new things to do. That title is Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate which was released globally for Nintendo Switch.
This game was previously Japan-only for the 3DS and was called Monster Hunter XX. The reason this title has too much content to cover in short-term playthrough is that it is pretty much a greatest-hits type of game.
Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate hand-picks all the best parts from previous console games and merges them all into one. This includes every monster ever introduced, every type of NPC, and location possibly available. It also expands on content with it’s own unique additions.
10) The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV (up to 200 hours)
Nihon Falcom is one of the oldest JRPG developers in existence. But they are famous not for their long-running legacy, but for their catalogue of games. One of these games is the Legend of Heroes franchise, which spans over multiple games and a long running storyline.
The Legend of Heroes games are specifically special for the expansive storytelling. It’s told through the characters, the game’s magic systems, and the setting. This leads to the games in the franchise having some of the longest completion time.
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is the longest game in the series, with completionist routes reportedly taking up to 200 hours. The game was released in 2018 for multiple platforms by publisher NIS America.
9) Dragon Quest VII (150+ hours)
The Dragon Quest franchise is not an unfamiliar series to JRPG fans. It is one of the biggest RPG series in Japan, similar to how Final Fantasy VII is praised in the west.
Dragon Quest VII published by Enix for the PlayStation, is considered one of the longest games in the series. Completionists can over 150 hours to fully complete all the routes and objectives.
The game was remade and released by Square Enix on the Nintendo 3DS in 2013. This version of the game shaves off a lot of the extra hours needed by completionists. So, if you are looking for the longest Dragon Quest JRPG, we would recommend the PlayStation version.
8) The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy (160 hours)
Character designs of The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy may be familiar to many. The legendary Danganronpa artist, Rui Komatsuzaki has contributed his iconic art style to this game.
The game was made in collaboration between Kazutaka Kodaka of Danganronpa fame, and Kotaro Uchikoshi of Zero Escape series fame.
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy is one of the most insane games released recently. The visual novel mixed with JRPG systems allows for over 100 narrative routes in its gameplay. Completing all of them can take up to 100 hours, and completionst routes can go up to 160 hours.
7) Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth (110 hours)
One of the newest JRPGs on this list, it’s also one of the longest. Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth is more than just a really long story.
It has to tell two complete narratives, as it has two main protagonists, and two full parties. Then you pack in all the classic Yakuza side quests and mini-games – of which there are tons.
Half the run time of this game is just the story, though. If you’re going to max out your Sujimon collection, spend time on Dondoko Island, complete all the mini-games, and 100% it in total, it’s still going to run you easily over 100 hours. At least this one’s an enjoyable experience to wrap up.
6) Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth (118-120 hours)
While Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth is one of the best JRPGs of the year, its length is a little on the frustrating side. The narrative is superb, and most of the extra mini-games can be fun – but not all of it.
The side quests are solid, and help give a variety of perspectives, and show off more of the world that the original game did not have the capacity to.
However, where the brunt of this game’s run time comes down to doing mini-games of a frustrating difficulty, and the absolutely baffling combat challenges. It can be soul-crushing to get to round 7 of an 8 round challenge, lose, and start over.
You could easily lose hours to each one of those fights. While it is a fun game, the producer has admitted he was at fault in how some of this content was handled.
5) Dragon Quest XI – (120+ hours)
Dragon Quest games are also quite lengthy, but few of them are quite as big as the latest mainline entry. A few of them are close – Dragon Quest 7 and Dragon Quest 9, as noteworthy mentions.
The DQ3 Remake can also easily cross 70 hours on its own. The majority of Dragon Quest XI’s runtime comes from the narrative as well.
It’s a three-act game, offering an unforgettable, emotional journey. That’s not where all the time comes from though. It’s a Dragon Quest game, so you’ll have to spend a lot of time grinding – efficiently or otherwise.
Then there’s all the Tockington extra content, and the infuriating Superboss. The vast majority of the 120+ hour JRPG is fun, but there are some moments of stress.
4) Persona 5 Royal (150+ hours)
Speaking of long franchises, Persona 5 Royal! This game can easily go from 120-150 hours, or perhaps even longer.
The main storyline of the game is easily 100 hours on its own, and then you have to consider the extra content that came with Royal, which makes it another 20-40 hours, depending on how you approach it.
One thing that makes Persona 5 Royal long is the extra, personal time you will likely have to invest in it. If you want to do everything, it may take two playthroughs.
On top of that, you will almost certainly have a spreadsheet, planning every single day-to-day action. That kind of planning makes it one of the longest JRPGs of all time.
3) Super Robot Wars 30 (150+ hours)
It’s a shame the Super Robot Wars games don’t really come West often. What’s not to love about the biggest and best mecha series clashing in epic turn-based strategy battles?
You cannot 100% SRW 30 in one playthrough, since there are plenty of branching paths. If you don’t keep up with which routes you take, it might require two or more playthroughs.
Just going through the main story is just about 40-50 hours, but then there’s unlocking all the side content, of which there is tons, getting all the hidden mobile suits, and upgrading your ship. You have to play through the game at least twice, since there are two protagonists, as well.
Hopefully, you don’t suffer a painful crash during the final boss, which has happened to some players – this forces you to replay a nearly hour-long battle.
2) Xenoblade Chronicles 3 (180+ hours)
Xenoblade Chronicles 3 is easily one of the best RPGs on the Nintendo Switch – not to mention of all time. In general, the games in this series all run around 200 hours, or they certainly have the capacity to.
Xenoblade Chronicles 3’s main story could easily run you up to 80 hours. You also have tons of emotional side quests, extra fights, and going through all the storylines for each of the 20 characters.
There’s also the DLC, which only adds more to the length of this game’s runtime. Maxing out your party members, experiencing their stories, and then completing all the side content the beautiful Nintendo Switch RPG can feel like a chore sometimes.
However, as you get wrapped up in the story, you may not even notice the dozens of hours that just pass by.
1) Star Ocean: Till The End of Time (200+ hours)
Star Ocean: Till The End of Time is one of the shorter stories in this JRPG list, but why is it so long? It’s all the side content that comes with all Star Ocean games, that makes it longer.
You have multiple planets to explore, a crafting system to complete, huge sidequests, the arena, and everything else in the side-game catalog. You also have to account for Private Actions, and the Battle Trophies. This game could take anywhere in the 200+ hour range, easily.
While not a perfect JRPG, it is a classic, and if you’re looking to do everything in this game, pack a lunch: It’s gonna take a while.
JRPGs often have incredibly intricate stories to tell – that means the run time is never going to be short. In the early days of the form, there was less emphasis on the story and more on gameplay, but as time has moved forward, the game style evolved, now featuring some of the most memorable, emotional stories of all time.
