Some folks say that back in the day, we had more turn-basedJRPGsthan action ones due to hardware limitations. That’s pure buffoonery, but not today’s discussion.
Because if that were the case, what’s the excuse for having so many tactical RPGs? The developers' creative limitations? Because as much as I enjoy one or two strategic titles here and there, let’s be honest, they’re extremely similar to each other.
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That doesn’t mean there aren’t some standouts in the tactical JRPG catalog. I still considerFinal Fantasy Tacticsone of the best games in the franchise, whileFire Emblemremains strong as a Nintendo staple.
Today’s topic, however, is about the best tactical JRPGs on the PS2. Sony’s first console is often regarded as the golden age of JRPGs, but honestly, the PS2 isn’t far behind. Don’t believe me? Then come along.
Japan-only released games won’t be included in this list.
8Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity
Not The Best, But Not The Worst, Either
Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity
One of the perks—and downsides in equal measure—of growing up in Brazil was that the gaming market was practically a luxury. Luckily, there were some… ways to access games without spending a whole month’s salary every week.
Because of that availability, I had the chance to discover tons of obscure games, likeStella Deus: The Gate of Eternity.Yeah, there’s a reason why they never became mainstream, but just likemany indie gemstoday, some are hidden treasures.
Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternityis one of those. Despite being repetitive, this tactical JRPG had its moments. The gameplay is pretty standard, with grid-based battles, assigning actions to each character, leveling up, and learning skills. Its most unique mechanic was weapon fusion, but it also turned out to be quite basic in the long run.
The highlight goes to the story’s premise. The world ofStella Deusis dying from a poisonous fog known as Miasma, and the church claims it’s inevitable.
However, a group of rebels believes that a magical structure called the Gate of Eternity can fight back against this fog. The protagonist, Spero, spearheads the quest to open this gate while facing off against the wrath of an insane warlord. Neat plot, but shallow execution.
7Dokapon Kingdom
Board Game In Video Game
Dokapon Kingdom
To be honest, I playedDokapon Kingdomon my Wii rather than PS2, but since it’s the same game, no harm, no foul, right? Well, ironically, that phrase wouldn’t fly inDokapon Kingdom, a tactical game dictated by board game rules.
I have mixed feelings about this game. On paper, all its features are fun and interesting. Still, in practice, it’sso RNG-dependentthat, God, the only reason I didn’t chuck the controller out the window was because I had just finished ranting about how poor Brazilians were.
Before starting a match, we pick one of three classes: warrior, magician, or thief. Then, we spin a wheel from 1 to 6 and move on the board. Depending on where we land, we can earn items, skills, or money, but again, it depends on the wheel. Sometimes, we land in empty spaces and face monsters or other players if they’re in the same spot.
Combat uses a rock-paper-scissors system but with a few stats involved that dictate the damage dealt and taken. But in the end, yeah, RNG-based again. You see my gripe? Great game with amazing features, but sadly, it’s entirely reliant on randomness. Oh yeah, and the story is negligible. That’s why I didn’t even mention it.
6Suikoden Tactics
Fewer Than 108 Recruitable Characters Here
Suikoden Tactics
Among the veteran JRPG community, there’s almost a consensus thatSuikoden IIstands as one of themasterpieces in PS1’s library. And while no future titles ever quite caught that lightning in a bottle again, they certainly tried, especiallySuikoden V.
On top of that, Konami also tried expanding the series with spinoffs, likeSuikoden Tactics.Despite being a spinoff, it’s a direct sequel toSuikoden IVand continues the storyline about the Rune Cannons, but now through the eyes of Kyril. There’s no exploration here in the game, and every cutscene unfolds after finishing a stage.
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Overall,Suikoden Tacticsplays like most tactical games do while also bringing mechanics typically seen inFire Emblem.For example, characters can talk to each other, build relationships, and gain buffs if they fight side by side. The series' staple Rune system also returns. By equipping them with characters, they unlock new spells.
As far as spinoffs go,Suikoden Tacticsis rather competent but sacrifices one major feature that, to me, is the heart ofSuikoden:the base-building.
There are still 60+ characters to recruit, but this time, the incentive isn’t there since they don’t expand our base or unlock new facilities that broaden the gameplay scope. It’s just to bloat the gameplay.
5Disgaea: Hour Of Darkness
The Rise Of Level 9999
Disgaea: Hour of Darkness
Nippon Ichi Software was founded in 1993, but it wasn’t until 2004, with the release ofDisgaea: Hour of Darkness, that the developer finally stepped into the industry spotlight.
On the surface,Disgaealooks like just another tactical JRPG. Anime aesthetics, a class-based system, level progression, gear, and whatnot. But that’s where the similarities end. There are two thingsDisgaeadid differently from every other tactical JRPG out there.
First, the irreverent and comedic tone of the story. In the game, we play as Laharl, a demon trying to inherit the title of Overlord of the Netherworld after his father’s death. But unlike what you might imagine when hearing the word demon, Disgaea’s race swaps evilness and depravity for nonchalant puns and impeccable comedic timing that never failed to make me laugh.
For those who finishDisgaea’sstory but still want more out of the game, that’s when the second never-seen-before feature kicks in: the ceiling-breaking level system.
Where most games stop at level 99,Disgaealets players go all the way up to level 9999, dealing absolutely bonkers amounts of damage. Future installments pushed this even further, withDisgaea 6cranking it up to a ridiculous max level of 99,999,999.
Featuring Darc The Lad
Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits
Perhaps it was just a teenage phase or a result of hormones, but my younger self was drawn to any character or story involving mercenaries who answered to no one and handled everything on their own. That’s what attracted me to the firstArc the Ladgames. We play as mercenaries, in case that wasn’t clear.
Since I liked the earlier games, I decided to give the others a shot, likeArc the Lad: Twilight of the Spirits.Right off the bat, the first significant change is the jump from 2D to 3D — impressive for its time but awkward for anyonerevisiting the JRPG nowadays.
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The spotlight feature inArc the Lad, compared to other tactical RPGs, is that its exploration works like most JRPGs. Instead of selecting missions from a stage menu, we can explore towns, chat with NPCs, take quests, and buy items. Then, in specific areas, we enter a separate battlefield where the tactical combat takes place.
Instead of being locked into grids,Arc the Lad: Twilight of the Spiritsadapted movement to a 3D perspective, allowing for new mechanics like attacks with different area-of-effect shapes and more freedom to improvise strategies on the fly.
The story follows two brothers, Kharg and Darc, both born from a human mother and a Deimos father — Deimos being a sort of humanoid monster race. While Kharg lives with his mother in a predominantly human environment, Darc doesn’t have the same luck and is enslaved by another Deimos. The narrative jumps between their journeys until their paths inevitably cross.
3Phantom Brave
From Demons To Phantoms
Phantom Brave
AfterDisgaea, a flood of NISA spinoffs started popping up, all following the same formula as their hallmark tactical JRPG. One of the more distinct titles wasPhantom Brave, which still kept the same ludicrous level 9999 cap, absurd stats, and game-breaking mechanics.
WherePhantom Bravesets itself apart fromDisgaeais in its equipment system. Here, we play with Phantoms, and to invoke them in battle, we must confine them into items. These items can range from swords and guns to grass and barrels, which, bizarre as it sounds, can also be used as weapons.
On my first playthrough, I remember grabbing a random patch of grass with horrible stats but insane HP. Since every grass-based attack scaled with HP rather than attack, my protagonist didn’t just become immortal, but also packed quite the punch when throwing weeds at enemies.
The Phantom theme also extends to the narrative. The narrative stars Marona, an orphan who lost her parents when they fought the evil Sulphur. Her parents used their last strength to turn Ash, their friend, into a Phantom. Since Marona was born with the ability to communicate with Phantoms, Ash became her natural protector.
2Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome
NISA Overload
Makai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tome
After NISA realized the cash cow thatDisgaeawas, they went all-in, pumping out so many tactical titles that I could’ve easily made this entire list using just their portfolio. I refrained from doing so, butMakai Kingdom: Chronicles of the Sacred Tomestill deserves a mention.
Makai Kingdomlaunched afterDisgaeaandPhantom Brave, which would’ve been the perfect excuse to take player feedback and refine the gameplay to the max. And they did… somewhat. In battle, it plays largely the same but with a wider variety of weapons and units.Makaifeatures vehicles and even facilities on the battlefield.
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Instead of summoning units directly into battle, they are allocated inside facilities. Thus, we summon the facility and then dispatch units from it. These buildings grant effects in the area around them, like bonus damage or extra experience. Vehicles work similarly to units but must be piloted by a character and come with their own unique skill sets.
As for the story,Makaicontinues the saga of the Overlords. A prophecy says the Netherworld is doomed to destruction, and Zetta, the self-proclaimed most badass Overlord — yeah, the series' comedic tone is fully intact — travels to the Forbidden Library to find a way to prevent his world’s demise.
Makai Kingdomwas pretty much my last NISA tactical JRPG because by then, I was completely burned out. I even tried playingDisgaea 2, but since it was practically identical to the other twelve games from the developer, I dropped it like a microphone.
1Front Mission 4
Big Robot Shoes To Fill
Front Mission 4
Front Mission3is one of my favorite tactical JRPGs of all time. It has everything: an engaging branching storyline, great replayability, deep customization, and glorious not-entirely-RNG-dependent strategic combat.
As you might expect, once I dove intoFront Mission 4, the bar was set sky-high. And while the fourth game didn’t blow me away like its predecessor, it was still good enough to keep me hooked.
InFront Mission 4, we have two protagonists, Elsa Eliane, and Darril Traubel, and we follow their distinct points of view as they become entangled in geopolitical conflicts across Europe and Venezuela, respectively. The game’s narrative starts strong but sort of loses its punch by the end and doesn’t hit as hard as the third game.
In terms of gameplay,Front Mission 4brought everything that worked in the previous tactical system and added new mechanics, like weather-based debuffs, new passive equipment like sensors to increase missile range, and an expanded Link feature, where nearby Wanzers gain bonuses.
All in all,Front Mission 4may not be the best in the series, but it’s definitely among them.
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