Mini-games are a consistent component of numerous JRPGs across the generations.
JRPGs are usually very dense games, so it’s standard practice to occasionally break things up with a little diversion, either as part of the critical path or just a side activity.
10 Best Games With Addictive Fishing Minigames
It was THIS big!
Many of these mini-games are fairly enjoyable, with some even beingaddicting enough to distract you from the main story.
Some of them, though, can be a bit on the frustrating side.
Notwithstanding the objective quality of the mini-game or the main game, some mini-games can demand a bit more of you than you’re really willing to commit to such a small bit of the game.
10Lightning Dodge
Final Fantasy X
Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Remaster
InFinal Fantasy X, between Guadosalam and the Macalania Woods, the party visits the Gandof Thunder Plains.
The Thunder Plains are named as such because bolts of lightning constantly strike the ground at random.
While traversing the Thunder Plains, you’ll need to be constantly ready to hit the X button as soon as you see a flash, or else Tidus gets struck by a stray bolt.
If you can be bothered, there are prizes to win for consecutive bolt dodges, though you’d need to dodge 200 in a row without missing once to get the best one.
9Massaging Leblanc
Final Fantasy X-2
When the Gullwings infiltrate the hideout of the Leblanc Syndicate inFinal Fantasy X-2, Yuna disguises herself as a minion to scope the place out.
Unfortunately, she runs into Leblanc herself, who is scheduled for a deep tissue back massage.
To “satisfy” Leblanc, you need to constantly adjust your massage spots based on her reactions.
It is an immensely uncomfortable experience, and almost definitely the part of the game you’ll be playing when a family member happens to walk in on you.
Yakuza: Like A Dragon
Throughout the Yakuza franchise, includingLike a Dragon, there aremany recurring mini-gamesfor you to distract and enrich yourself with.
One of these mini-games is riichi mahjong, usually played in a parlor against several opponents.
Whether in real life or in Yakuza, mahjong is an extremely dense and difficult game to learn, and the phonebook of instructions the game gives you doesn’t really make it any clearer.
Thankfully, mahjong isn’t required to progress in the story, though you do need to win consistently if you’re looking to fill out your completion list.
7Bunny Racing
Star Ocean: Till The End Of Time
Star Ocean: Till the End of time
In the thirdStar Oceangame, the fourth-dimensional city of Gemity is home to a handful of mini-games to spend your time on.
One of these games is Bunny Racing, wherein you place bets on a quartet of bunnies racing around a track.
It works the same as a horse race; you choose bunnies to bet on, and place your bet based on one coming in first or a pair coming in first and second.
While there are allegedly tricks you can use to game the system, it’s still an all-day affair if you’re hoping to turn a consistent profit in this venture.
6Puzzle Boy
Shin Megami Tensei 3: Nocturne
Shin Megami Tensei 3
While exploring the ruins of Asakusa inShin Megami Tensei 3, you’ll come across a Manikin boy who’s fascinated with an old arcade machine.
This arcade machine, Puzzle Boy, is based on an actual puzzle game produced by Atlus for the Game Boy. If you can clear it, the boy will reward you with a Magatama.
It’s a series of 20 puzzles where you need to guide a Pyro Jack through various shifting block mazes.
It starts small and easy, but the later puzzles are absolutely massive and require some major brain-wracking.
5Tiger! Tiger!
Xenoblade Chronicles 2
InXenoblade Chronicles 2, Tora’s grandfather created an arcade-style game to aid artificial Blades like Poppi in their development.
Playing this game, Tiger! Tiger!, is the only way you’re able to earn upgrade materials for Poppi andher subsequent forms.
Poppi Is The Star Of Xenoblade Chronicles 2
Stealing the spotlight in every scene
You need to pilot your little submarine all the way down to the bottom of the stage, grab a treasure chest, and drag it back up while being assaulted by enemies and traps.
This mini-game was so difficult at launch, the developers had to add in an easy setting in a post-launch patch.
4Paratroopa Cliff Scale
Super Mario RPG
While traversing the cliffs of Land’s End inSuper Mario RPG, Mario comes across a massive sheer cliff face, too high for even him to jump over.
To surmount it, Mario enlists the aid of Sergeant Flutter and his squadron of Paratroopas, who use their flying shells to create footholds.
This platforming challenge requires some precision jumping, perhaps a bit more so than you can muster with a fixed camera.
You only need to do it once for the story, though you may repeat it for better times to receiveprizes like Frog Coins.
3Treasures n’ Trapdoors
Dragon Quest 5
Nearly every game in theDragon Questseries has a casino full of assorted mini-games to play.
In the PlayStation 2 version of Dragon Quest 5, one of those games is Treasures n’ Trapdoors, also known as “Pachisi” in the game’s earlier localizations.
In this life-sized board game, you have a set number of dice to reach the end goal while avoiding tricks and traps.
If you bumble into a trapdoor, run out of dice rolls, or don’t land on the goal with a precise roll, you lose.
2Ice Cream Beat
Kingdom Hearts: Birth By Sleep
Kingdom Hearts Birth by Sleep Final Mix
The Kingdom Hearts series, particularly from Kingdom Hearts 2-onward, havetheir fair share of mini-games.
InBirth by Sleep, most of these are concentrated in Disney Town, which is in the midst of a big festival.
In Ventus’ story, the mini-game of choice is Ice Cream Beat, a rhythm game where you stack ice cream to various Kingdom Hearts and Disney songs.
It starts simple with “It’s a Small World,” but the later songs and difficulties have a lot of rapid-fire prompts that require quick memorization. It’s not a mini-game you can play while listening to a podcast, to say the least.
1Bind And Divide
Bravely Default 2
InBravely Default 2, the gaming sensation that’s sweeping the nation is Bind and Divide, or B ’n’ D for short.
B’n’D is a hybrid board game and collectible card game, having players use their cards to capture territory on the board and hinder opponents with special effects.
It’s thebiggest side activity in the game, with opponents to be found all over the world. It’s also required to play to unlock the Gambler Asterisk.
If you don’t have the head for these kinds of card games, it can be rather frustrating and time-consuming just to win consistently.
10 Best Mario Party Minigames
Mario Party is one of the greatest party game franchises ever made. Which minigame from the series is the best?
