Introduction

In the late 90s, Pokémon took the world by storm, reshaping the landscape of turn-based combat in JRPGs. However, it wasn’t just Pokémon that brought the genre into the limelight. This article explores how the Pokémon franchise and other classic JRPGs revived an entire genre of gaming that had been waning in popularity.

The Rise of Pokémon in the 90s

Pokémon’s worldwide success was built on a foundation of solid JRPG mechanics. Pokémon’s unique approach to turn-based combat, focusing on monster collecting and battles, revitalized interest in JRPGs. As a result, many players discovered other, more mature JRPGs through the franchise.

It feels strange to say, but there’s no JRPG series more popular than Pokémon. While often omitted from genre discourse, this byproduct of its nascent years would go on to help revitalize JRPGs during their dark era of mainstream irrelevancy.

Now things have come full circle, and the genre that Pokémon once carried has been thrust into the mainstream.

The genesis of the JRPG genre happened a decade prior to Pokémon’s dominance. Dragon Quest and Final Fantasy paved this path with adventures that were grand in scope given the hardware limitations of the late 1980s. Their turn-based combat systems were a stroke of brilliance that presented the illusion of epic battles through strategic mechanics, and this provided an easily replicated framework through which each iteration could further hone its storytelling chops.

There was just one problem: up until 1997’s Final Fantasy VII, they weren’t selling well in the West. And that’s if they left Japan at all.

Pokémon was a sea change for this paradigm. When the series crashed upon North American shores in 1998, it was already a smash-hit multimedia franchise in Japan. This meant its overseas debut was primed with the one-two punch of the first generation of games and the original anime series launching simultaneously. The trading card game, movies, and endless merchandise followed soon after. With the immediately iconic creature designs suddenly appearing everywhere, “I choose you!” swiftly became the rallying cry of a worldwide generation.

Pokémon remixed the idea of turn-based combat to revolve around battling with rosters of six creatures rather than a party of heroes. This resembled something different and more kid-friendly than other JRPGs while still being a byproduct of the lessons learned from a decade of genre history.

People showed up for Pikachu and Charizard, but they walked away wanting similar games. The fraction of users who acted upon that discovered a vast world of games that would continue to grow on the same handheld platforms they bought to play Pokémon.

Other JRPGs That Found Success After Pokémon

• Final Fantasy VII – A groundbreaking title in both storytelling and gameplay.
• Dragon Quest – The franchise that laid the groundwork for all modern JRPGs.
• Shin Megami Tensei – A darker, more mature JRPG that captured the imagination of older audiences.
• Xenoblade Chronicles – A cult favorite that would go on to cement its place in gaming history.
• Persona – A blend of monster collecting and deep narrative elements that found new life on the Nintendo Switch.

Pokémon’s Influence on the Modern JRPG Revival

As Pokémon began its transition to consoles with the Nintendo Switch, the gaming world saw a resurgence in interest for JRPGs. The hybrid nature of the console allowed players to experience games both at home and on the go, a model pioneered by Pokémon’s handheld legacy. Many fans, dissatisfied with the Switch-era Pokémon games, turned to titles like Persona and Xenoblade Chronicles for a richer experience.

It really can’t be overstated just how profound the shift back to JRPGs has been. Nintendo Directs are chock-full of the things, building excitement for revived obscurities that often times couldn’t even find traction in Japan during their heyday (LIVE A LIVE is a prime example of this).

Outside of Nintendo’s ecosystem, new titles like Metaphor: ReFantazio and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth are being released to critical acclaim and award season wins. Even Western developers are looking to tap into this zeitgeist, be it indie hits like Undertale and Sea of Stars or higher-budget efforts like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. There’s one thing all these games share in common, however: much of their fan base grew up playing Pokémon and are more willing to explore the genre thanks to that.

Conclusion

JRPGs are back in a big way. From Pokémon’s massive influence on the genre to the more recent resurgence of classic franchises, the genre has evolved into something that can appeal to both old and new generations of gamers. Whether you’re a long-time fan or a newcomer, there’s never been a better time to dive into the world of JRPGs.