r/JRPG • u/Marinebiologist_0 • Apr 27 '25

News Clair Obscur has achieved the highest concurrent player rate ever for a JRPG on Steam.

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Incredible numbers, this doesn't even include the Xbox Gamepass player count. The last time I remember a JRPG getting this level of attention was Persona 5 and NieR Automata in 2017. It'll be interesting to see how massive Persona 6 will be, if it launches day 1 on all major platforms.

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u/snakeitachi12 Apr 27 '25

This comment section is hilarious. There's no clear overall consensus on what a JRPG is on a JRPG subreddit..

Anyway, Clair Obscur is most definitely a JRPG.

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u/Lady_White_Heart Apr 27 '25

Probably because there's two to three definitions on the term JRPG.

You have the original - Japanese Roleplaying Game(RPG made in Japan) and the newer one "Japanese-Inspired Roleplaying Game"

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u/ManateeofSteel Apr 27 '25 edited Apr 27 '25

Sony PlayStation literally released an official definition this sub conveniently ignores when it wants to lol https://www.playstation.com/en-us/editorial/great-japanese-rpgs-on-ps4/

What does JRPG stand for?

JRPG stands for 'Japanese Role-Playing Game'. They are traditionally story-driven adventure games developed in Japan, featuring a group of pre-defined characters journeying on a quest fraught with danger. Typical traits of the genre include turn-based combat, fantasy elements (especially magic), extensive character and/or squad customization, and character progression or 'levelling' systems.

Are all RPGs made in Japan JRPGs?

Not quite. Dark Souls, Nioh and Dragon's Dogma, for example, are hugely successful RPGs from Japanese studios, but they're not generally considered JRPGs. Likewise, there are games made outside Japan that many would consider JRPGs. It's best to think of JRPGs as a genre with a strong - but not exclusive - footing in Japanese culture.

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u/MagicCancel Apr 29 '25

Baldurs Gate 3 has just about all of that. Meanwhile games like Dragon Quest 9 and Etrian Odyssey have little to no predefined characters. This is why the definition is so stupid.

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u/ManateeofSteel Apr 29 '25

Dragon Quest IX does have pre-defined characters though? As for the Baldurs Gate part of your comment, that's why the definition ends with: it's best to think of JRPGs as a genre with a strong - but not exclusive - footing in Japanese culture.

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u/MagicCancel Apr 29 '25

You make a party out of blank slates, or friends. And with a definition that's "strong but not exclusive", than what the hell is the litmus test? A game has to be "jrpg enough". It's a definition with too much ambiguity and counter examples.

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u/Paenitentia May 02 '25

Are you getting IX mixed up with a different Dragon Quest title perhaps?