Paper Mariofor theNintendo 64is my heart’s perfect JRPG. Its fun story, amusing characters, active battle sequences, and exploration-friendly world were matched—or even surpassed—in theGamecube’sclassic sequelPaper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door.(Which has a fresh Switch release—no need to pay collector’s prices for an original.)
10 Best Long-Running JRPG Franchises Ranked
JRPGs have been around since the advent of gaming, and they still persist today. Here are the ten best long-running JRPG series.
Still thirsting for a taste of that nostalgic magic? Yeah, me too. Fortunately, a number of games get pretty darn close. Let’s check out seven games in honor of the Seven Stars ofPaper Mario!
10Mario & Luigi Franchise
Don’t Forget These Handheld Heroes
Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga
If your focus is on the big-screen consoles, you may have missed this province of the Mario empire. Beginning withMario & Luigi: Superstar Sagafor theGameBoy Advance,theMario & Luigiseries of RPGs features the action-command battles and whimsical storytelling which also characterizePaper Mario.
Unlike their shared roots inSuper Mario RPG,the Brothers' games step away from the use of companions to focus instead on our main heroes. Later installments in the series expand on this concept until you’redriving Giga Bowser through kingdom-destroying kaiju battlesinBowser’s Inside Story.Hard to top!
Magical, Tactical, Comical, Tragical!
Ikenfelldraws on the action-command battle style ofPaper Mario,but puts atactical twiston the format using an isometric battle grid to play out each combat. This—plus the Hogwarts-reminiscent setting in a magical school—give the game a dash of aDungeons & Dragonsvibe.
Better yet,Ikenfelldoesn’t restrict how often you can use each character’s magical abilities—cast to your heart’s content! You’ll have to use them skillfully to get full effect, rather than cautiously preserving your resources. Combined with a story rife with hope, love, and loss,Ikenfellis an RPG well worth exploring!
10 Best JRPGs On The Nintendo GameCube, Ranked
For what few JRPGs released on the GameCube, it still had its fair share of gems, and we’re going to rank the best those gems have to offer.
8Tales of Symphonia
Adventuring To Save The World
Tales of Symphonia Remastered
OpenCritic
28% Recommend
Release Date
July 24, 2025
PC, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One, Playstation 4
[Note: Getting a “-500” error when I attempt to add theTales of Symphonia Remasteredtag, so table instead. OpenCritic doesn’t have a page for the original.]
If any game contends withThe Thousand-Year Doorfor the crown of “Best GameCube JRPG,” then it’sTales of Symphonia.This game takes you on a world-spanning adventure to save the world in a story of love and betrayal along the way.
Like action commands, but otherwise feel indifferent to turn-based battles? ThenTalesmay be a great fit—it features overworld exploration (and overworld monsters) likePaper Mario,but the battles instead are in real-time. One of my favorite features is being able to program commands for your party members, ordering them to use spells or tactics while mid-battle.
Just likeChrono Trigger,this classic can be difficult to find on the original console. However, an admittedly-clunky remaster keepsTalesaccessible to gamers who never experienced the original. If a better port was available,Taleswould certainly win a higher place on this list.
7South Park: The Stick Of Truth
A “Mature” RPG Only For Hardcore Gamers
South Park: The Stick of Truth
Few games revel in their own immaturity quite as delightfully as South Park’sThe Stick of Truth.Even more surprising was that the game’s not just gross—it’s also fun.
The Stick of Truthshares classic gameplay elements withPaper Mariowhile providing anextremelydifferent narrative experience. New companions and fart-astic spells continuously expand the world you can explore, while summonable NPCs and diverse abilities keep combat engaging all the way to the climax.
Just don’t, uh, play this one with the kids. Obviously.
6Born of Bread
No More Loaf-Ing Around
Born of Bread
73% Recommend
July 06, 2025
PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
Wildarts Studio
Everyone 10+
Not just drawing onPaper Mario’sgameplay for inspiration,Born of Breadalso draws deeply on its blended 2D and 3D aesthetic. You’ll explore the 3D landscape as a 2D sprite, gathering abilities and allies to further your battling prowess and unlocking new areas for adventure.
Unlikecertainmembers of this list,Born of Breadreally captures the childlike whimsy and joy ofPaper Mario. The game’s story lacks the substance ofThousand-Year Doorbut evokes the charm of both Mario classics.
5Beyond Galaxyland
Cosmic Exploration With Familiar Feel
Beyond Galaxyland
BlendPaper Mariotogether withChrono TriggerorFinal Fantasy,and you’ll end up with the indie sci-fi adventure ofBeyond Galaxyland.This game distinguishes itself from the crowd by adopting a real-time turn gauge based on each character’s Speed.
This adds an exciting twang to the back-and-forth rhythm of classic JRPG combat, since you’re never quite sure whether you or the enemy will have the next turn. Further, the 2.5D aesthetic gives a paper-lite feel to each planet you explore on your quest to return to Earth.
Beyond Galaxyland Review
Looking to scratch that JRPG itch? Beyond Galaxyland vies to be the genre’s best in 2024.
4Chrono Trigger
Classic Turn-Based Variant
Chrono Trigger
Chrono Triggeris the classic old-school JRPG which introduced theactive time battlesystem later found throughout the genre (and especially in theFinal Fantasyfranchise). If you like JRPGs, and like howPaper Mariouses action commands to experiment with the gameplay formula,Chrono Triggeris well worth considering.
It’s not just gameplay which has stood the test of time—Chrono Trigger’s time-hopping story also stands out from many other games in the genre. Rounding out the package are character designs byDragon Ball Zlegend Akira Toriyama.
Although the SNES original is a pricy proposition, successful digital remakes for PC, iOS, and Android ensure this legend remains easily accessible to modern gamers.
3Persona 5
Subdue Humanity’s Subconscious
Persona 5 Royal
When it comes to modern JRPGs, few stand out quite likePersona 5.LikePaper Mario,this game combines turn-based battles with real-time level exploration, enabling reactive players to get an edge when initiating a fight against the “Shadows” which lurk within the human psyche.
Add a simulation of the main character’s social life into the mix, and you’ve got an intriguing and memorable gaming experience.Persona 5is great forPaper Mariofans seeking a game with more emphasis on narrative and the companions you meet (or Shadows you capture) along the way.
2Underhero
Can A Lowly Minion Save The World?
76% Recommend
June 11, 2025
PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Paper Castle Games, Stage Clear Studios
Welp, the hero’s been snuffed out, sosomeonehas to return things to normal. Right?
InUnderheroyou play as one of the bad guy’s minions trying to do what the hero couldn’t: merely save the world, that’s all. Emphasizing timing above all else, this side-scroller combines RPG elements with rhythm mechanics likeCrypt of the NecroDancerto craft a familiarly unfamiliar experience.
What really makes it jam, though, isUnderhero’sstorytelling and characterization. Playing as one of Bowser’s minions sounds exactly like a potentialPaper Marioplot—if only the franchise wasn’t obligated to include acertainfamous plumber.
1Bug Fables
Spiritual Successor To Thousand-Year Door
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Sapling
Bug Fables: The Everlasting Saplingperfectly captures the spirit of both earlyPaper Mariogames, along with the spirit of other RPGs throughout the Mario franchise. Yet it does more than provide excellent timing-based RPG battles and rewarding ability-driven exploration.
This game is the spiritual successor to ournostalgiaforPaper Marioas well. It remains a game for children, but it also feeds its adult audience with engaging platforming puzzles and difficult optional challenges.
The story beats and the sense of humor are familiar, but the bugs' world is flush with detail. By the end of the game, I found it hauntingly beautiful.
You want a hot take? I’ve got one for you: I likeBug Fableseven more thanThe Thousand-Year Door.It builds upon the classic’s formula, adds some modern quality-of-life tweaks, then lets you crank up the difficulty, too.
Yes,Bug Fablesis filled with allusions to its inspirations—like an endless desert chapter—but it refuses to be defined by them. And even as it does, the game also manages to feel like “coming home.”
It’s a marvelous indie gem, and to my mind, a must-play for anyone who remotely likesPaper Mario-style RPGs.
