5 JRPGs Releasing in 2026 That Are Worth Keeping Your Eye On

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2025 was a fantastic year for role-playing games, but 2026 is shaping up to be just as impressive for Japanese RPGs, or JRPGs. The genre has been gaining popularity for a while now, and it’s becoming more mainstream thanks to hits like Persona 5, Xenoblade Chronicles, Fire Emblem, and, of course, Final Fantasy. Even games that sometimes spark debate among fans, like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, have helped bring JRPGs to a really strong position.

If you’ve already enjoyed the best JRPGs of 2025 and the all-time classics, there’s still plenty to look forward to! A wide range of exciting new JRPGs are coming soon, from small indie titles to massive AAA games. They all promise the thrilling battles, epic stories, and heartfelt moments that JRPG fans love. Get ready, because the next year looks like it could deliver some truly unforgettable games!

5. Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok (July 2026)

While technically an expansion and not a completely new game, Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok feels substantial enough to deserve a spot on this list. It adds a massive amount of content to an already fantastic, but often overlooked, JRPG. Launching on July 9, 2026, alongside the Switch 2 version, this update includes new characters, quests, and a completely new endgame experience, among other things.

Honestly, I feel like Granblue Fantasy: Relink didn’t get the attention it deserved when it came out in 2024. It launched right around the same time as Persona 3 Reload and Final Fantasy 7: Rebirth, so it was tough for it to break through. That’s a shame, because it’s a fantastic game! There are over 20 characters, and they all feel unique to play, with really awesome, over-the-top combat. Plus, the story is great and the music is just epic. If you somehow missed it before, July is the time to jump in. They’ve added a ton of updates over the past year, and the Endless Ragnarok update is going to be huge!

4. Echoes Of Aincrad (July 2026)

It’s easy to miss that Echoes of Aincrad is a Sword Art Online game. Bandai Namco has largely removed the anime’s name from promotional materials, even though the game takes place during the first part of the series. If you’re unfamiliar with Sword Art Online, that’s actually a good thing! Echoes of Aincrad is set at the beginning of the story and features a brand new set of characters, alongside one you create yourself.

This new game breaks from tradition by letting you play as a different character than the series’ protagonist, Kirito – something even longtime fans will appreciate, though he will still appear. It’s also shaping up to be the most beautiful game in the Sword Art Online series. Despite some issues I have with Echoes of Aincrad, this game has the potential to be one of the year’s best JRPGs. With its fantastic combat, engaging new story, stunning graphics, and tons of content, it’s sure to be a fun experience. Whether you’re a dedicated SAO fan or simply love JRPGs, this is one to watch.

3. Beast Of Reincarnation (August 2026)

Okay, so Game Freak, the team behind Pokémon, took a break from catching ’em all to work on something they really care about, and it looks amazing! It’s called Beast of Reincarnation. It’s not exactly a Pokémon game – it’s more of an action RPG – but it’s still got that classic JRPG feel with turn-based battles, which I love. Honestly, from what I’ve seen, this could be Game Freak’s best game yet – it really looks like they poured their hearts into it!

Okay, as someone who absolutely adores movies like Princess Mononoke, I’m already completely hooked by Beast of Reincarnation! The idea of exploring a ruined world with a cute dog buddy and battling massive creatures in a really cool way? Sign me up! Honestly, the announcement trailer blew me away – it looks way better than anything we’ve seen from the recent Pokémon games. You can just feel the love and effort that went into making it. I’m really drawn to the game’s themes about life, loss, and finding connection, and I’m already planning to grab it the moment it releases. I really hope you’ll check it out too!

2. Edge Of Memories (2026)

Midgar Studio, known for their excellent but overlooked JRPG Edge of Eternity, is back with Edge of Memories. Like their previous game, Edge of Memories is an ambitious project. It boasts beautiful, expansive environments that evolve with the story, fast-paced action combat, and a gripping narrative with no wasted moments. The game’s soundtrack is a major highlight, featuring music by Cédric Menendez and vocals from Emi Evans (famous for her work on NieR: Automata), as well as a final theme composed by Yasunori Mitsuda, a frequent collaborator on the Xenoblade Chronicles series and the composer behind some of his best work on Edge of Eternity.

I’m incredibly excited for Edge of Memories, possibly the most of any JRPG coming out this year. That’s because Midgar Studio consistently delivers impressive games, and their previous title, Edge of Eternity, was fantastic. Memories feels like the studio is putting everything they learned from Eternity into this new game, and that’s really promising. If you haven’t played Edge of Eternity yet, I highly recommend checking it out while you wait for Memories to launch.

1. Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave

It’s no surprise that Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is on this list – it’s one of the few confirmed exclusive games for the Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026. As a sequel to the highly acclaimed Fire Emblem: Three Houses, Fortune’s Weave promises to build on everything fans already enjoy. While the game’s visuals seem a bit too polished for my taste, I’m really looking forward to seeing how the story unfolds and meeting the new characters. And of course, I’m excited to dive back into Fire Emblem’s excellent turn-based combat system.

While the story in Fire Emblem: Engage wasn’t the strongest, its gameplay was some of the best the series has ever offered, which makes me optimistic about Fortune’s Weave. If the new game can successfully blend the best features of Three Houses and Engage, it has the potential to be the best Fire Emblem game yet – and that would be fantastic for fans. It’s still early days, but I definitely recommend keeping an eye on Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave when it comes out later this year.

What JRPGs releasing in 2026 are you excited about? Share your thoughts and discuss them with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-03-29 04:41