The most satisfying skill mastery systems in JRPGs

Key recommendations

• JRPGs explore fluid class systems that allow players to customize their characters by mastering skills.
• Titles like Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake and Disgaea emphasize acquiring skills within classes to progress.
• Games like Bravely Default 2 and Shin Megami Tensei 5 reward skill mastery with passives that transfer between classes.

Combat is an essential part of many JRPGs, whether they're slow-paced, easy-going titles or challenging tactical experiences. The main question that games have around combat is a difficult one – how does combat relate to progression? Every battle, from simple grunt encounters to epic boss fights, should somehow drive the party forward, push them forward, but is there any way to do that other than following a path linear level?

Many JRPGs have experimented with a more fluid style of coursework that brings with it ways to customize and swap features. As JRPGs become more expansive and open, skills and class systems follow suit. Some titles allow players to keep a handful of their old skills when taking a new class, or reward players who focus on a particular skill set for an extended period of time. These JRPGs approach skill mastery in a variety of different ways, but each rewards the player who becomes proficient with them or the class attached to them.

8 Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake

Players can take skills and spells within classes

The newly released one Dragon Quest 3 the remake revitalized this game in the stunning, iconic HD-2D style. Part of this revitalization is a new class that interacts with the game in new and exciting ways. Of all classes, however, players have the chance to customize them by mastering skills.

Changing classes at a certain skill mastery point allows players to carry some spells or abilities from the old class into the new one, increasing their utility and rewarding those who properly explored the old class before switching further.

7 He was undressing

Mastery of skills and courses is vital to success

First He was undressing the game is iconic for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the incredibly innovative gameplay that has been continued throughout its many sequels since. Part of this gameplay loop is trying to become comically overpowered, with stats that can be limited to five figures.

But getting one's stats to the iconic 99999 isn't as simple as taking a break from the story to do some grinding. Players must master skills and classes, reach their highest point of potential, and then start over with a new class, carrying with them improved stats based on how well they mastered all facets of the old class.

6 Brave by default 2

Mastery of passive skills is a core feature

Brave by default 2 is truly the definitive experience for the unique battle system that Square Enix released on 3DS with the original title. Mastery of asterisks in this game is vital to progression as it gives players passives that can be transferred from one job to another.

From the cunning player to the fearsome Hellblade, the unique and powerful classes available in this game all have powerful passive abilities that, once acquired, can be used by that character in any of the other classes.

5 Shin Megami Tensei 5: Vengeance

A great skill acquisition mechanic

Among some of the heaviest titles in the series, Revenge is a title to watch out for if players are looking for a real challenge. Part of the thrill of this game, however, is overcoming this challenge with powerful skills.

Mastering and learning all the abilities a demon can learn often allows them to learn other abilities from a wider, random pool, which when synthesized with that demon's stats can lead to some incredibly overpowered combos.

4 Legacy legend

A game built around a unique skill mastery system

• Released (Initial): January 22, 2015
• Developer: FuRyu, Cattle Calling
• platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo 3DS

Unlike many titles on this list, mastery of skills in Legacy legend it is not in addition to the leveling system – it it is leveling system. Instead of earning xp to follow a linear path of increasing stats and acquiring moves, skills increase with use in this title.

This means that a character who focuses on the bow will master it over time, learning more skills and abilities to use with that weapon and becoming more effective with it in general. It's essentially the crux of this game that chooses to focus on combat and exploration over story.

3 Alliance alive

A game that innovates over its predecessor

Made by the same people who did Legacy legend, The living alliance it was generally much better received and feels much more like a complete title. The unique skill mastery elements here are augmented with character-specific skills that the player can specialize in over time.

This game is quite challenging, and those who lose at the final hurdle are hit with a bad ending, so it's important that players master their skills early. Giving each character one or two types of weapons – or magical disciplines – to pursue means they'll acquire a range of powerful abilities to use against enemies.

2 Romancing SaGa 2

An iconic skill mastery system

Serving as inspiration for some of the titles on this list, Romancing SaGa 2 is one of the best games in SaGa series and helped launch the skill mastery system that replaces the traditional leveling mechanic.

Individual weapon skills increase with use, so players will need to take a more focused approach to skill mastery and ensure that each character fills a certain niche in the group, complete with a focus on weapons, to ensure they take advantage to the maximum of the abilities offered by this game.

1 Dragon's Dogma 2

Vocations reward skill mastery greatly

Host of vocations in Dragon's Dogma 2 all work in unique and specialized ways and each offers a unique experience of how the world is explored. The mysterious Trickster offers a vastly different gameplay experience to the Swordsman or the Agile Archer.

Similar to the titles on this list, such as Brave by default 2mastering skills through certain vocations in this game gives players powerful passive advantages that can be transferred with the character to any other vocation, allowing them to synthesize passive and active skills in unique and creative ways.