So with a huge new game in my fav Sony exclusive franchise - God of War - coming out for PS4 (plus TLoU 2 this year or next), I could no longer resist the system and finally caved! Especially once those reviews for GoW hit!! I just got a pretty good deal on ebay for the ps4 slim Uncharted 4 bundle. I'm obviously getting GoW next week, but I need help deciding which JRPG I should get? I'm incredibly torn between these 4: Nier: Automata, Ni No Kuni II, Monster Hunter World, and Persona 5. I really only have time and money for one of these for the time being. I'm sure I would enjoy all four considering the praise they've all garnered and all look appealing to me.

I played and loved the first Ni No Kuni on the PS3 and am a huge Ghibli nut, so loved the homage.

Nier looked very intriguing to me last year and made me want a PS4. I know it's more in the action vein than RPG, but I absolutely love the Bayonetta games as far as PlatinumGames goes.

I've never actually played a Monster Hunter game extensively, but I did have 4U on the 3ds and I know it's something I would have enjoyed had I not had too much going on at the time and been able to really invest the time.

I've also never played a Persona game, but I'm always a fan of a good JRPG and both Persona 4 and 5 got some of the best reviews ever in the genre. So, suggestions appreciated on your favorite of these from anyone. I know I'm not making it easy since I'm prone to like any of these honestly. 

They are all different and unique, it depends what you want out of the game.

NNK2- easy to learn hard to master combat I hear
Nier: Automata- a very unique game with the way you must beat this game
MHW- Great with friends, intense and satisfying combat
Persona 5- Also satisfying combat, great story and music.

I also recommend Nioh, great JRPG mechanics and fun combat system.

All of those are great, I don't know if you ever played the original nier, not many people (or even knows it exists) have which saddens me since if you played the original nier I feel you would have a better appreciation for nier automata, granted the original nier gameplay wise gets completely obliterated by nier automata but Music wise, Story wise, character wise, emotionalness and in uniqueness the original game is perfect to me. But honestly you cant go wrong with any game you mentioned, if you want bang for your buck it should take atleast close to 100 hours to beat persona 5 your first playthrough.

Also while not as critically acclaimed or popular as those games I would you should give digimon cyber sleuth a try, they are pretty similar to shin megami tensei games with a mix of pokemon and you dont really have to be a fan of digimon to play it, it's also got a pretty good and surprisingly adulterated story at times.

Can't go wrong with any of them. I finished all but ni no kuni 2(30 hours in) I personally like persona 5 the most. You should consider Final fantasy 15 royal edition and World of final fantasy

Out of those 4 I only played Persona 5. While I did find it enjoyable, it also got to the point where it dragged on, so keep that in mind if you're playing that.


Here is a list I made of the top of my head if you want to dive in more, though:

Final Fantasy X/X-2 HD Collection
Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age
Final Fantasy XV
Tales of Berseria
Nioh
Dark Souls II: Scholar of the First Sin
Dark Souls III
Bloodborne
Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir
Disgaea 5
Valkyria Chronicles Remastered
Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX
Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue

You beat me to it.

Anyway, out of all of the games you listed, I'd go with NieR:Automata first. Also, I recommend playing the Digimon Story Cyber Sleuth (and Hacker's Memory). A series of Digimon game made for adults and it delivers.

Get everything everybody has mentioned, but buy Demon Gaze 2 and Megadimension Neptunia first. They could surprise you.

Is Nier considered a JRPG?

I havent played Nino Kuni 2 but out of the other games Nier Automata is in my opinion the best of all of them, dont get me wrong Persona 5 and MHW are top tier games but Automata just got to me in a way no other game has done so since... god i dont think i have something even similar to compare it too.. it was truly a unique, interesting, emotional and overall really fun experience, and one that im sure will remain with me forever.

Nier Automata
Nioh
Monster hunter world
Ni no kuni 2
Persona 5

That should get you started nicely.