Summary

  • Action JRPGs can be lengthy like turn-based ones, with games like Dragon's Dogma 2 taking over 30 hours to beat.
  • Kingdom Hearts 2 feels longer due to revisiting worlds, while Yakuza 5 and Dragon's Dogma provide rich narratives in 36-36.5 hours.
  • Final Fantasy 16 offers a unique character action experience, lasting 37.5 hours, while Star Ocean: The Last Hope delivers 44 engaging hours.

When people think of JRPGs, the first thing that comes to most people's minds are turn-based games like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest. However, plenty of games under that umbrella utilize real-time combat systems. Even the aforementioned series dabble in them from time to time.

Action JRPGs tend to be shorter than their turn-based kin, but a few beefy ones surpass a lot of turn-based JRPGs in their length. The shortest game on the list below takes 30 hours to beat. The games closer to the top are impressively long and offer a lot of depth in addition to the fast-paced combat.

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All times are taken from howlongtobeat.com

9 Dragon's Dogma 2

30.5 Hours

Systems
Released
March 22, 2024
Developer(s)
Capcom

This is a sequel many people wanted, but never thought would happen. Thankfully, it did, and Dragon's Dogma 2 retains the quirks and unique systems that made the first game so special.

The game comes in a few hours shorter than its predecessor, but most people will spend more than 30 hours in this game as they tackle side quests and the new game plus mode. Two console generations passed between the first and second games, and it is not necessary to need to play the first to understand the successor.

8 Kingdom Hearts 2

32 Hours

Systems
Platform(s)
PS2, PS3, PS4, PC
Released
March 28, 2006
Developer(s)
Square Enix

The sequel to the surprise PS2 mega hit adds a lot of polish to the core gameplay and includes even more Disney worlds and characters. The game feels a lot longer than its sequel, since players end up visiting many of the worlds at least twice.

It is good that Kingdom Hearts 2 is such a meaty adventure, since the third entry in the series did not come for more than ten years. At least the spin-offs like Birth by Sleep and Dream Drop Distance were great additions to the series and still expanded the lore in the meantime.

7 Yakuza 5

36 Hours

Systems
Platform(s)
PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox One
Released
December 8, 2015
Developer(s)
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio

The series, now known as Like a Dragon, is as epic of a tale as gaming can get. There is a throughline all the way from the debut entry up until the recent games. Fortunately, it is possible to jump in at almost any game and get a satisfying experience, even if some narrative nuances fly over newcomers' heads.

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The main stories are usually great in Yakuza, but things get a bit zany off the beaten path.

After all, Yakuza 5 alone takes 36 hours to beat, and that does not include side content. Throw the other games in, and players are looking at well over 100 hours of gaming at a minimum to catch up.

These games in particular can inflate in length thanks to the varied and diverse side-quests.

6 Dragon's Dogma

36.5 Hours

Systems
Platform(s)
PS3, Xbox 360
Released
May 22, 2012
Developer(s)
Capcom

Dragon's Dogma is almost on par with Demon's Souls with how it perplexed gamers upon release. Players slowly discovered how to utilize the game's systems and deal with its odd mechanics, discovering a genius RPG within.

The time spent in Dragon's Dogma's world will involve a lot of trial and error and experimentation, but it is all a blast. The game never felt like it belonged in the gaming landscape when it first came out, which has only helped it age gracefully in the years since.

5 Ys 8: Lacrimosa Of Dana

37 Hours

Systems
Released
September 12, 2017
Developer(s)
Nihon Falcom

The eighth entry in this oddly named series stands as a particularly long and beefy one. The other games are at an average length for the genre, but Ys 8 takes its time and stretches its run time to 37 hours.

This is almost twice as long as some of the other games in the series. The game has a long runway to get going, so do not expect to get pulled in right away. It is a rewarding adventure for those who stick with it, though.

4 Final Fantasy 16

37.5 Hours