I’m really into turn-based JRPGs and RPGs, but I’ve hit a wall with some recent games due to frustrating difficulty spikes that just ruin my overall enjoyment. For instance, I found ‘Unicorn Overlord’ made me completely change my strategy for the final battle, ‘Golf Story’ had an insanely tough last course, and in ‘Monster Sanctuary,’ I’m struggling with the end boss because grinding up a ‘custom’ team feels like a hassle. My gaming time is limited, and I’m playing for fun, not just for the challenge. Can anyone recommend some non-cozy JRPGs that maintain a consistent difficulty without any crazy spikes?
9 Answers
If you’re looking for a chill experience, I’d recommend ‘Dragon Quest XI’ on normal difficulty—it’s pretty smooth sailing! But I did find the combat to be a bit boring, honestly.
Check out ‘Chained Echoes’ and ‘Sea of Stars.’ They’re indie gems that keep the challenge pretty balanced. Plus, they offer options to lower the difficulty if you find it too tough.
‘Chained Echoes’ is amazing! As for ‘Sea of Stars,’ I wasn’t a fan; just couldn’t get into it.
The ‘Atelier Ryza’ trilogy is another good choice. It’s not known for huge difficulty spikes and you can enjoy the crafting mechanics too!
‘Infinite Wealth’ holds up pretty well throughout without grinding issues like ‘Lost Judgment’ did. Also, ‘Saga: Emerald’ and ‘Scarlet Grace’ are great too—they’re fair in their difficulty and the game gives you clear expectations.
‘Xenoblade Chronicles’ is my personal favorite; it has a good balance. Losing battles doesn’t set you back much, and there are plenty of checkpoints. Plus, it’s generally forgiving!
True! You can overlevel pretty easily in the first game if you know where to find the right monsters.
‘Fire Emblem: Three Houses’ has a solid difficulty curve that gradually ramps up. It’s forgiving even in challenging battles, especially if you’re on casual mode—no permadeath! You also get access to some powerful characters later on.
Thanks for the tips, everyone! I appreciate it. I have no problem with games gradually increasing in difficulty while teaching new mechanics. But some feel like they want you to suffer for the sake of it. Had that experience with ‘Octopath Traveler 2’—it was mostly easy but then suddenly hit a wall, and it was frustrating!
Totally feel you! I couldn’t even finish OT2 for similar reasons—got locked into party composition with no chance to grind.
And if you manage to get another console, I’ve heard ‘Clair Obscur Expedition 33’ has a consistent challenge but the spikes are optional, which is refreshing!
I’d suggest ‘Final Fantasy X’—it has one tricky battle you need to strategize for, but overall it’s manageable if you’re not chasing 100%. And if you enjoy turn-based combat, give ‘Shin Megami Tensei IV’ a shot! It gets easier as you progress, even if the start can be rough.
You can’t go wrong with Pokemon games. They have minimal difficulty spikes, making them super accessible and fun.
Exactly! You can just enjoy the journey without the stress of grinding too much.
Yeah, I get that! The combat can be repetitive, but it’s a solid entry nonetheless.