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For its last edition of this year, Japanese magazine Famitsu interviewed 181 JRPG developers, asking what are their favorite games released in 2024. High-profile and fan-favorite console games, such as Metaphor: ReFantazio, Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, and Zelda, are considered the cream of the crop. But it’s not all homegrown games; Black Myth: Wukong and Stellar Blade are adored by many of them as well. Surprisingly, several mobile games like Wizardry Variants Daphne, Pokemon TCG, and Gakuen iDOLM@STER also made the list. Let’s take a peek at what some of these legendary developers thought worthy of being called the game of the year.
1. Yoko Taro
The mysterious director behind the NieR and Drakengard JRPG series picked dungeon crawlers as his favorite games of 2024.
- Wizardry Variants Daphne (Android, iOS).
- “‘Can I really enjoy today’s Wizardry, I wonder… I am enjoying it!’ or so I felt.”
- Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “Continuing from my No. 1 ranking! It’s also thanks to SuperDeluxe Games for providing a [physical release] package version!”
- Diablo IV (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “The DLC has also been released! I’ve been playing it little by little. This is the year I spent my whole year in a dungeon.”
2. Yosuke Saito
Square Enix’s Yosuke Saito, who’s the producer of NieR: Automata and Replicant, shared his varied picks.
- Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “‘Nostalgic but still feels new, huh…’ is what I thought. I’m glad it comes with elements from Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age.”
- Pokemon Sleep (Android, iOS).
- “For some reason, I’m still playing it! Then, I was surprised by my daily lack of sleep.”
- Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (Android, iOS).
- “It’s important that it kept the feeling of ripping apart the [booster] packs (laugh). And the battles are good enough for an old man like me!? (laugh).”
- Diablo IV (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X).
- “I’m playing it slowly. I haven’t finished exploring all corners of the new expansion, so I’ll keep playing it for a while!”
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X).
- “Is it right to say that it’s an evolution of Persona 5? Including it’s volume [of content] (laugh). I’m currently playing it meticulously.”
3. Hironobu Sakaguchi
Legendary Final Fantasy director Hironobu Sakaguchi chose both console and mobile games as his top 5. His studio, Mistwalker, recently released an RPG called Fantasian which we really like.
- Final Fantasy 16 (PC, PS5).
- I’m living it up in the Final Fantasy Land again this year.
- Black Myth: Wukong (PC, PS5).
- “Gorgeous. The boss scenes are wonderful. It immerses you in the world.”
- Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island (PC, Switch).
- “I saw Famitsu’s Hayashi-san’s X post and played it. I was completely hooked.”
- Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake (PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “Immerse yourself in [Yuji Horii]’s style. The night stealth is thrilling. I left such a good thing in Hawaii.”
- Legends of Kingdom Rush (PC, iOS).
- “A tactical RPG you play on the phone. Easy to play but with just the right amount of difficulty.”
4. Naoto Hiraoka
Naoto Hiraoka hails from Atlus. He’s the executive producer of Metaphor: ReFantazio, Shin Megami Tensei V, and Persona 3 Reload.
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PC, PS5).
- “Worthy to be called a blockbuster title. The way the story is wrapped up in the second half is also excellent.”
- Silent Hill 2 Remake (PC, PS5).
- “The change to TPS perspective is impressive, the combat has been made easier, and the smaller adjustments are great.”
- The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom (Nintendo Switch).
- “The Echoes start with a bed and end with a bed. Such kind of feeling is so Zelda-like!”
- Stellar Blade (PS5).
- “I was engrossed not only in the action, but also in the passionate [sci-fi] story.”
- Gakuen iDOLM@STER (Android, iOS).
- “The way they make playing it over and over not feel repetitive is outstanding. From now on, let’s [play] iDOLM@STER.”
5. Yoshinori Kitase
The producer of Final Fantasy 7 Remake and Rebirth. However, JRPGs aren’t part of the top 4 games the developer played in 2024.
- Silent Hill 2 Remake (PC, PS5).
- “The creature designs are superb. The annoying mannequins are kind of cute when they’re hiding.”
- Astro Bot (PS5).
- “My favorite title during the PSVR era. It’s still as fun on the PS5!”
- Shuriken Survivor (Apple Vision Pro).
- “Thanks to the high-definition [liquid crystal display, LCD] of Apple Vision Pro, [Mixed Reality] games have reached a new stage!”
- Vampire Survivors (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS).
- “I got hooked now. Don’t know when to stop.”
6. Naoki Yoshida
Not sure if he’s just joking or he’s very proud of his work; Yoshida only has one spot for his GOTY.
- Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X).
- “Sorry for always choosing my own game every year! Even though I’m busy, just logging in and watching players’ daily lives feels soothing. Thank you!”
7. Junzo Hosoi
Junzo Hosoi is the producer of the alchemy-themed JRPG series Atelier from Koei Tecmo.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X).
- “The combination between new and Persona 5 mechanics was exquisite and very polished.”
- Stellar Blade (PS5).
- “I got hooked by the characters’ varied expressions and exhilarating action.”
- Zenless Zone Zero (PC, PS5, Android, iOS).
- “Easy to get into and stylish battles that are enjoyable.”
- Pokemon Trading Card Game Pocket (Android, iOS).
- “It has become a part of my daily routine!”
8. Ryosuke Horii
While you might not know his name, Horii has directed many entries of a fan-favorite series. This is the developer behind Yakuza: Like a Dragon, The Man Who Erased His Name, and Infinite Wealth.
- Doraemon Dorayaki Shop Story (PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS).
- “Kairosoft has become a genre of its own. An exemplary combination of a surprising and comforting work.”
- Stellar Blade (PS5).
- “Keeping sexiness at the forefront and not making it vulgar, it’s not something that can be done easily.”
- Snezhinka: Sentinel Girls2 (PS5).
- “Simple, exhilarating, and strategic with a small dose of difficulty. I’m playing it every day during lunch break.”
- Final Fantasy VII Rebirth (PC, PS5).
- “‘This is truly a AAA title!’ considering the overwhelming amount of work, challenge, and quality put into the production. This is like Yokozuna [the highest rank for a sumo wrestler.]”
- My9Swallows TOPSTARS LEAGUE (Nintendo Switch).
- “‘There is a way to do it!’ I thought and it made me shocked. It would’ve been better if she [the main character] could fall in love with Osuna or Santana.”
9. Toshihiro Kondo
He’s not just the president of Nihon Falcom. But Kondo is also the producer of the Trails series and various Ys games. Below are the JRPG developer’s picks for the best games released in 2024.
- Metaphor: ReFantazio (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X).
- “I’ve been waiting for it. A completely new RPG always excites me.”
- No Case Should Remain Unsolved (PC, Nintendo Switch).
- “Bought it because of the title. It might be the indie game I’m most into these days.”
- Gakuen iDOLM@STER (Android, iOS).
- “This is the first time I’m playing iDOLM@STER. The idols’ individuality and charm are dazzling.”
- Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club (Nintendo Switch).
- “I never thought I could play a new entry [of this series]. Rather than feeling nostalgic, it feels upgraded and fresh.”
- Suika Game (Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS).
- “I wasn’t able to play it when it was popular, but I finally got to play it.”
10. Junko Kawano
The character designer of Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes from Rabbit & Bear Studios. Unsurprisingly, she used to work on Suikoden at Konami.
- Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “By the launch date, most of the features that fans have been asking for were able to be implemented, I think.”
- Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven (PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch).
- “I was struggling between Salamander and Onmyoji, and before I knew it, I already playing it over and over.”
- Stray (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “My cat was also glued to the screen and we experienced it together.”
- Doraemon Dorayaki Shop Story (PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS).
- “Like always, I can’t stop playing Kairosoft’s games.”
- Arca Last (Android, iOS).
- “For now, I’m glad the first chapter had a proper ending.”
11. Yusuke Tomizawa
Yusuke Tomizawa is the general producer for Bandai Namco’s Tales of series. Below are the games the JRPG developer likes throughout 2024.
- Astro Bot (PS5).
- “Certain type of ‘XXX All-stars’ projects often comes up in meetings, and it also often abandoned, but I was quietly moved and thought, ‘Ah, this work’s approach and love can blossom into an experience that resonates with the history of a brand as huge as PlayStation.'”
- Like A Dragon: Infinite Wealth (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X).
- “Recently, through Kimura Takuya [actor, Lost Judgment’s Yagami face capture] my family has become a fan of Like a Dragon, and since we can’t afford to go to Hawaii, this game has become our healing.”
- Planet of Lana (PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X, Nintendo Switch).
- “The perfectly constructed art style and direction immersed me in the game’s world. Mu, the partner, is cute.”
- Slitterhead (PC, Nintendo Switch, Android, iOS).
- “Set in the seedy Kowloon, ordinary people are being possessed one after another, being used for brutal battles. I like [Keiichiro Toyama]-san’s games that offer such rugged experiences.”
Those are the highlights of JRPG developers’ top 5 games of the year for 2024. Are you still hungry for more game recommendations? The Nerd Stash crew has also handpicked the 10 best RPGs you shouldn’t miss this year, check them out!
