Both Kotobukiya and Square Enix make some really high quality statues of JRPG characters that you can purchase. You can do a search on their respective sites for the full list, but highlights include Sorey and Mikleo from Tales of Zestiria for $100 each, and Sora from Kingdom Hearts for $50.
There’s always a huge stream of JRPGs, and 2016 has been especially good for the genre. There are so many games this year that surely there’s a couple to pick up as a gift. Recently released was World of Final Fantasy, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, Dragon Quest VII, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, and more. SMT IV: Apocalypse and Pokemon Sun and Moon would be particularly good choices on 3DS. Find the right system, and you can find any of these games at major retailers.
The RPG maker series are incredibly interesting pieces of software, as they give you the tools to make your own 8 and 16-bit style RPGs. They’re a little pricey and require some learning, but any JRPG fan is sure to find them fascinating. You could purchase a Steam gift card, as RPG Maker MV is $79.99 there. You can also purchase the titles as a download online on Amazon, like RPG Maker VX Ace for $69.99.
These brilliant pieces of shadow box art take scenes right out of your favorite games, and let you hang them on your wall. Etsy user Decor8bitart has a wide variety from titles like Zelda, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and more. They range in price from about $30, up to $70.
A huge part of every JRPG is its music, and the soundtrack to a game will always make a great gift. You could go with the Persona 4 soundtrack for $33 on Amazon or find tons of JRPG soundtracks to import on sites like Play-Asia. The Square Enix Store also has tons of soundtracks from the Final Fantasy series and others.
Job systems are nothing new to JRPGs, and like Final Fantasy, Bravely Default has a whole selection of jobs called asterisks. Each asterisk has a little icon in the menu, and Etsy user Clinkorz has recreated all of them as pins. Each one costs $8, so pick up a handful or the entire lot if you want.
The Tales series is one of the best known JRPG franchises around, celebrating its 20th anniversary in Japan this year. There’s plenty of memorable heroes from the games, and this collection transforms some of them into cute chibi form. It’s perfect for any fan of the series. You can pick them up from RightStuf.com for $41.99.
This is an incredibly unique art piece that any JRPG fan could hang on their wall and display proudly. Etsy user GeekBurn has quite a few options from JRPGs including Cloud from Final Fantasy VII, and this beautiful piece from Dragon Quest VIII. Cloud runs at $35, while the Dragon Quest VIII. Dragon Quest VIII one is $43.50.
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The Games
There's always a huge stream of JRPGs, and 2016 has been especially good for the genre. There are so many games this year that surely there's a couple to pick up as a gift. Recently released was World of Final Fantasy, Pokemon Sun and Moon, Tokyo Mirage Sessions, Dragon Quest VII, Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse, and more. SMT IV: Apocalypse and Pokemon Sun and Moon would be particularly good choices on 3DS. Find the right system, and you can find any of these games at major retailers.
RPG Maker
The RPG maker series are incredibly interesting pieces of software, as they give you the tools to make your own 8 and 16-bit style RPGs. They're a little pricey and require some learning, but any JRPG fan is sure to find them fascinating. You could purchase a Steam gift card, as RPG Maker MV is $79.99 there. You can also purchase the titles as a download online on Amazon, like RPG Maker VX Ace for $69.99.
Strategy Guides
Strategy guides are always a great addition, especially to JRPGs. There are guides available for nearly any game, and quite a few Collector's Editions too. Most can be found on sites like Amazon, like the Collector's Guide for the upcomingFinal Fantasy XV for $39.99, or the Collector's Guide for Tales of Zestiria, or Star Ocean: Integrity and Faithlessness .
These brilliant pieces of shadow box art take scenes right out of your favorite games, and let you hang them on your wall. Etsy user Decor8bitart has a wide variety from titles like Zelda, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy, Kingdom Hearts, and more. They range in price from about $30, up to $70.
16 and 32-Bit Refrigerator Magnets
It's always nice to have a few magnets around to stick notes to your refrigerator or anywhere else. These classic magnets are just the visual trick too. Etsy user carl895 has an enormous selection of 16 and 32-bit magnets. Xenogears, Lunar, Chrono Trigger, Final Fantasy Tactics, Earthbound, and many more are on selection. They run between $10 and $30.
Custom Text Boxes
Here's an easily personalizable gift for that JRPG fan. These custom dialogue boxes look like they were ripped straight out of games from the 90s. You can snag them from Etsy user Pixelaser for $8 apiece.
Kotobukiya and Static Arts Statues
Both Kotobukiya and Square Enix make some really high quality statues of JRPG characters that you can purchase. You can do a search on their respective sites for the full list, but highlights include Sorey and Mikleo from Tales of Zestiria for $100 each, and Sora from Kingdom Hearts for $50.
Soundtracks
A huge part of every JRPG is its music, and the soundtrack to a game will always make a great gift. You could go with the Persona 4 soundtrack for $33 on Amazon or find tons of JRPG soundtracks to import on sites like Play-Asia. The Square Enix Store also has tons of soundtracks from the Final Fantasy series and others.
Persona 4: Official Design Works
Persona 4 is one of the most well known and beloved JRPGs ever made with its unique mix of everyday life and dungeon crawling. The Persona games have always had interesting designs, and this book will take you behind their creation process. It features character artwork by Shigenori Soejima and interviews the game's creators. Pick it up on Amazon for $30.
Bravely Default Asterisk Pins
Job systems are nothing new to JRPGs, and like Final Fantasy, Bravely Default has a whole selection of jobs called asterisks. Each asterisk has a little icon in the menu, and Etsy user Clinkorz has recreated all of them as pins. Each one costs $8, so pick up a handful or the entire lot if you want.
Tales Series Petite Figures
The Tales series is one of the best known JRPG franchises around, celebrating its 20th anniversary in Japan this year. There's plenty of memorable heroes from the games, and this collection transforms some of them into cute chibi form. It's perfect for any fan of the series. You can pick them up from RightStuf for $41.99.
Battle Menu T-Shirt
Any JRPG fan has spent countless hours wading through both battle and party members. This T-Shirt can appeal perfectly to that nostalgia and let them wear it. Etsy user TheGoreKitten has this throwback T-Shirt available in multiple colors for $10.
Wood Burned Art
These make for incredibly unique art pieces that any JRPG fan could hang on their wall and display proudly. Etsy user GeekBurn has quite a few options from JRPGs including Cloud from Final Fantasy VII and this beautiful piece from Dragon Quest VIII. Cloud runs at $35, while the Dragon Quest VIII. Dragon Quest VIII one is $43.50.
The Legend of Heroes Art Books
The Legend of Heroes is a long running JRPG series by Nihon Falcom that has recently seen surging popularity in the U.S. due to Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel. These gorgeously drawn art books are essential for any fan of the series, and a great display piece. There's one for Characters and one for Illustrations, that both run $38 on RightStuf.
About the author
Hayes Madsen
A connoisseur of all things RPG related, and always looking for the artistic expression in gaming. His love of Gundam is only matched by his love of Pizza. Playing Games Since: 1991 Favorite Genres: RPGs, JRPGs, Strategy,
