Turn-Based JRPGs Make a Comeback: Industry Insights and Awards Galore

Games like Baldur's Gate 3, Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 have scooped up GOTY awards like XP in a dungeon, showcasing the staying power of turn-based JRPGs.

Former PlayStation boss Shuhei Yoshida has expressed amusement at his past advice to Sandfall Interactive to avoid describing Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 as a turn-based JRPG, fearing it might lose consumer interest. 'I advised them that if they described the game as a turn-based JRPG, they might lose the interest of many consumers,' Yoshida says.

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Despite some debate about what constitutes a JRPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 largely fits the bill from a gameplay perspective, with its unique combat system labeled 'reactive' turn-based. Yoshida notes that 'a lot of developers are now pitching new turn-based JRPG-like games to publishers.'

Larian's upcoming Divinity and Persona 6 are expected to change the landscape, but for now, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 stands as a testament to the enduring popularity of turn-based JRPGs.