ThePlayStation Portablewas Sony’s first foray into handheld gaming, which they followed up with the PS Vita in 2012. Altogether, these two handheld devices have been responsible for sometruly remarkable games, but it’s the PSP’s turn-based JRPG library that is still a massive standout, as genre icons likeFinal FantasyandPersonacalled this delightful little system home.
In terms of turn-based JRPGs on the PSP, the system was able to cultivate a fantastic library of titles. The PSP felt like a handheld PS2 in many ways, so the style of most of the games on the platform echoed that, and the JRPGs were no different. This wonderful machine featured a terrific software selection across all genres, but the turn-based JRPGs were some of its absolutebest experiences on the PSP.
The portable nature of the PSP meant that it was a perfect place for JRPGs, as consuming these often enormous titles in bite-sized chunks is a great way to make progress. And, in the case ofJeanne d’Arc, that’s even more true, as this tactical turn-based JRPG (developed by Level-5 loosely based on the story of Joan of Arc) is a stellar game to experience on the PSP. It’s similar to something likeFire EmblemorFinal Fantasy Tactics, with grid-based combat unfolding through turns.
Taking control of Jeanne during the period leading up to the Hundred Years War, the game is set in a world that merges fantasyand semi-historical fiction. As time goes on, Jeanne’s party grows from a few allies to a larger army, as the battles get more complex and more advanced tactics are required. It’s one of Level-5’s most overlooked JRPGs and has recently been announced as a part of the PS Plus line-up, making it easier than ever to enjoy on modern hardware.
7Persona 2: Innocent Sin
Demon-Catching Franchise Shines On PSP
First released on the PS1 in 1999,Persona 2finally made its way to the West via a PSP port in 2011 known asInnocent Sin. Though it wasn’t the absolute monster IP that it is today,Innocent Sinstill remains one of the demon-catching franchise’s standout entries.Persona 2: Innocent Sinputs players in control of Tatsuya Suou, as a sinister figure named Joker forces the party into a quest to uncover his true identity and face some nasty demons along the way.
Innocent Sinfeatures traditional starting Personas, but gaining more over the course of the game is the real draw and what keeps battles as interesting as they are. Battles unfold from a top-down angle, as does the rest of the game, and feature the player making use of the demons they’ve caught against all manner of foes. It’sone of the PSP’sfinest JRPGs, and one that is due for a remake on modern hardware.
Square has been known to release multiple iterations of a singleFinal Fantasytitle, as ports have made their way from the home console it originated on to multiple handhelds and PCs. And, in the case of the fourth mainline entry, Square launched it on the PSP asFinal Fantasy 4: Complete Collection, which was based heavily on the Game Boy Advance version. The PSP version also includes two other scenarios:The After YearsandInterlude.
Foras good asFinal Fantasy 4was on the SNES, the PSP version is easily the best way to experience it today. It features the same excellent turn-based ATB system thatFinal Fantasy 4pioneered, where the pace and speed of battles feels excellent.FF4is one of the franchise’s best entries and is available on modern hardware thanks to theFinal Fantasy Pixel Remaster, but the PSP version is the greatest way to play this turn-based JRPG today.
For as long as games likeFinal FantasyandDragon Questhave been dominating the JRPG scene, it’s easy to forget that theTrailsseries has been one of the longest-running franchises in the genre since 2004. First released on PCs, theTrailsfranchise made its handheld debut on the PSP in 2011 and continues to be one of the finest JRPGs ever created.
InThe Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky, players are treated to a traditional turn-based battle system that feels like it would be right at home in the genre’s PS1 heyday. The unique, diverse party is tremendously fun to control, and the way the battle windows feel alive was fairly remarkable for an RPG of its era. It is still one of the PSP’s best JRPG and is readilyavailable on modern platformstoday.
4Valkyrie Profile: Lenneth
Remaster Of PS1 Classic Is One Of PSP’s Greatest JRPGs
AlthoughValkyrie Elysiumwas not quite the masterful return that fans had hoped for, the originalValkyrie Profilehas been ported to several different consoles and got a PSP release in 2006.Valkyire Profile: Lennethis an enhanced port of the PS1 game, featuring the same spectacular battle system and fascinating world.
Heavily influenced by Norse mythology,Lennethassigns the face buttons to each party member. Pressing one of them triggers their turn, asthe 24 playable charactersweave in and out of the party to create a sense of freshness that other JRPGs may suffer from. This absolutely spectacular turn-based JRPG is also available on the PS4 and PS5, making it easy to find.
As strange as it may sound, the outlandish world of stealth-action franchiseMetal Gearwas a perfect fit for a turn-based strategy JRPG. First announced at E3 2004,Metal Gear Acidtook the complex world ofmilitary fiction and stealth gameplaythat series creator Hideo Kojima had been perfecting since 1987 and shrunk it down to fit on the PSP with a totally new style of play.
Metal Gear Acidunfolds via a card-based system, where Snake collects and uses cards as a way to perform actions and battle enemies. It’s easily one of the best turn-based card video games that one can find, as it doesn’t abandon the stealth elements of the original and folds them directly into the cards. It’s a unique game that will hopefully be included on any potential second volume of theMetal Gear Master Collection.
The original version ofFinal Fantasy Tacticswas released on the PlayStation in 1997, adapting the long-running series into a tactical strategy game and cementing its place asone of the best PS1 games of all time. But in 2007, Square put all their efforts into an updated and expanded version for the PSP, where it overhauled the entire experience.
Known asFinal Fantasy Tactics: The War of the Lions, this enhanced version of the PS1 classic added new jobs and new cutscenes, as this outstanding game further expanded the world of the Ivaliace Alliance and retained the samewonderful turn-based strategyof the original. It’s still one of the greatest turn-based strategy games of all time, as the escalating scale of the battles and amount of customization makes it a must-play.
Persona 3originally came out on the PlayStation 2 in 2007, with an expansion known asFESthat launched a year later. But in 2010, Atlus released another iteration known asPersona 3 Portable, which was an abridged version of the PS2 classic that is still the PSP’s greatest JRPG.
Persona 3 Portableadded the 1 More system, where knocking an enemy down with a weakness leads to an action being added for the player. Additionally, P3P added anew playable character in the form of FeMC, a female main character. It’s an altogether fantastic package, one that was recently remastered for modern hardware and also sawa brilliant remake in 2024. This fantastic turn-based JRPG is the best that one can find on the PSP and is still worth revisiting today.
