The Best Action JRPGs That Let You Play With Friends
Description
Summary
- Action JRPGs tend to be solitary, but some games like Dragon’s Crown offer accessible multiplayer options for up to four players online.
- Classic JRPG franchises like Dragon Quest Heroes 2 have incorporated four-player co-op options for a more engaging experience.
- From games like Collection of Mana to Elden Ring, there are varied options for co-op gameplay in JRPGs to enjoy with friends, partners, or strangers.
Action JRPGs are mostly solitary affairs, like Final Fantasy 7 Remake or any of the Yakuza games. Western RPGs tend to incorporate multiplayer more often in their games, like Diablo 4 and Borderlands 2. That doesn’t mean there aren’t any good action JRPG recommendations for those who wish to play a game with a friend, partner, or stranger.
Some examples date back to the SNES days and still come with a few caveats. With that in mind, let’s go down the big list of JRPGs and see which franchises or one-offs had co-op included. Are they worth it, or does multiplayer clutter the gameplay mechanics? Let’s find out.
Collection of Mana
Two Classic SNES JRPGs
- Multiplayer Options: Two-Three Local
Collection of Mana is a collection of the first three Mana games, including Final Fantasy Adventure, which has no multiplayer. Secret of Mana does, though, just like the SNES original, where three players can enjoy the campaign together.
Getting Trials of Mana as part of the collection was significant, as this SNES game has remained officially hidden from the West for decades. Players can choose who they start with in Trials of Mana, and eventually, two-player co-op opens up in the campaign.
Dragon’s Crown
Crossplay Possibilities
- Multiplayer Options: Four Online/Four Local
Dragon’s Crown is one of Vanillaware’s finest action JRPGs, and it emphasizes multiplayer above everything else. Players can take control of typical RPG classes like mages and warriors, and hunt down loot within dungeons. Four players can group up together online or locally, making it one of the most accessible co-op experiences around.
Plus, thanks to the PS4 port that came later on, all consoles can play Dragon’s Crown together, including the past PS3 and PS Vita versions. What it lacks in story it more than makes up for with its gameplay hooks.
Dragon Quest Heroes 2
A Classic JRPG Gets Co-Op
- Multiplayer Options: Four Online
Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is a spinoff of the Dragon Quest series and the Musou games made under Koei Tecmo’s umbrella. It’s one of the few Musou games that offers four-player co-op, whereas most titles typically have two-player co-op, including Dynasty Warriors, Fire Emblem Warriors, Hyrule Warriors, and Samurai Warriors.
Multiplayer numbers aside, Dragon Quest Heroes 2 is just a good game with a lot of clever references to the series, from monsters to heroes. It may get repetitive like most Musou games that throw hundreds of enemies at players, but that’s why co-op can help smooth things out, as battles will clear faster.
Elden Ring
Survive The Lands Between Together
- Multiplayer Options: Three Online
Elden Ring is most definitely FromSoftware’s most successful game, so much so that they even created a multiplayer roguelike spinoff called Elden Ring Nightreign. The original game can be played in multiplayer too, and is a better experience for some because it is not as intense as it is in single-player.
Players can summon up to two friends to explore the open-world environments. After a boss, online friends will typically disappear, but they can be recalled moments later. It’s often better to play a Soulslike with a friend to make things easier, and there aren’t many better options than Elden Ring.
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time
A Casual Co-Op Experience
- Multiplayer Options: Four Online/Two Local
Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time is the latest game from Level-5, and it plays similarly to the first game in the series, which was released on the 3DS. Players take on the role of classes, called Lives, which turn them into noble warriors or handy fishermen.
It takes some time to get going, but eventually, players will unlock a multiplayer mode that is separate from the campaign. They can explore dungeons with friends locally or online, and while that’s not as robust as full campaign co-op, dungeon crawling is still a good time with company.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink
An Under The Radar JRPG
- Multiplayer Options: Four Online
Granblue Fantasy: Relink flew a bit under the radar when it was released in 2024. It’s a shame it didn’t reach the heights of other action JRPGs that year, like Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth, but every great underrated game typically has its comeback moment.
The campaign can only be played alone and offline, with three AI-controlled party members assisting the hero. However, there is a quest counter wherein players can tackle bite-sized quests with three others online to help with their progression. Non-story co-op is always unfortunate, but at least Granblue Fantasy: Relink offers some form of multiplayer.
Monster Hunter Wilds
Hunt Monsters And Look Good Doing It
- Multiplayer Options: Four Online
Monster Hunter Wilds is more inviting than other games in the Monster Hunter series, as it provides AI-controlled partners for the first time. It’s a nice option to have that makes things easier for solo players, but this series has always been about questing together with random people or friends online.
Four players can group together on specific monster hunts, or they can choose a quest option to explore the world together and collect materials if they are feeling less inclined towards fighting. It’s a nice option to have as a diversion, although the main draw will always be taking on monster hunts.
Stranger Of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin
Many Fantasies To Check Out
- Multiplayer Options: Three Online
Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is both a prequel to and a remake of the first game in the series, which was developed as a Soulslike. Unlike other Soulslikes, including Elden Ring, Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin is not too difficult to complete alone, thanks to the difficulty settings.
Players can go into campaign missions alone or with two other friends online. What makes the gameplay hooks fun in this spinoff is the Job system, which alters equipment and skill loadouts for deep customization. The three main Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles games and Final Fantasy Explorers are also good options for players looking for a co-op Final Fantasy game.
