Ooh La La! Meet the ‘J’RPG’ – How a Dash of French Flair is Brewing a Deliciously Unique Gaming Subgenre
Get ready, RPG fans, because a single, elegant apostrophe is heralding an exciting new wave in gaming: the ‘J’RPG’! This refreshingly French spin on classic Japanese turn-based roleplaying games is captivating players with its undeniable je ne sais quoi, and the good news is, there’s plenty to explore.
A shining example of this burgeoning subgenre is Sandfall Interactive’s Clair Obscur: Expedition 33. Imagine saving a dark-fantasy Paris from a series of increasingly unhappy birthdays, complete with whimsical mimes, stunning Belle Époque architecture, and an English voice cast that can drop a merde or putain with authentic Marseille grit. This debut isn’t just French-influenced; it’s spectacularly, proudly French, and it’s leading a charge of incredible ‘J’RPGs’.
But Sandfall’s creation isn’t alone. Last year’s beloved Sea of Stars (which recently launched its free “Throes of the Watchmaker” DLC) hails from French-Canadian Sabotage Studios. While you might not find pixel-art replicas of Québécois landmarks, you’ll encounter Gaëtan Piment, a character speaking entirely in regional French dialect, poutine as a life-saving revive, and a delightful barrage of French puns with every new enemy.
These ‘J’RPGs,’ while sharing Francophone roots, offer distinct flavors. Clair Obscur channels the spirit of 3D JRPGs like Final Fantasy 7–10, Lost Odyssey, and later Persona entries with its dynamic combat and kaleidoscopic UI. Sea of Stars, conversely, pays homage to the 16-bit golden age, evoking Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG with lush pixel art and timed attacks, all while modernizing elements like MP management.
What’s behind this wonderful divergence? A fascinating piece of gaming history known as “The Great JRPG Divide.” While Sabotage Studios’ Canadian team grew up immersed in the SNES JRPG classics, European developers like Sandfall Interactive often had a different experience. Due to the high cost of translating text-heavy scripts, Europe and other PAL regions like Australia missed out on many iconic 16-bit titles. Gamers there often encountered Final Fantasy with its seventh installment or Dragon Quest with its eighth on the PS2. They were, much like Clair Obscur’s city of Lumiere, culturally separated.
This meant that when North American indie developers began creating nostalgic 16-bit JRPG homages (think Cthulhu Saves the World or Omori), they drew from a well of SNES inspiration that many Europeans hadn’t directly experienced.
However, French-speaking Europeans still made a significant mark, particularly through the accessible 2D game engine, RPG Maker, which fostered a strong Francophone community. Without the same formative 16-bit influences, their creations often took wonderfully unique paths. OFF, a 2008 surreal masterpiece from Belgian team Unproductive Fun Time (and admired by Undertale’s Toby Fox), boasted unusual combat and eclectic influences from Killer 7 to Silent Hill 2. Good news – a remaster is slated for 2025!
More recently, 2023’s black-and-white timeloop RPG, In Stars and Time, by French creator Adrienne Bazir, showcases influences like Tales of Symphonia, Undertale, and the elusive Mother 3, resulting in a truly original and moving experience.
Clair Obscur’s ambitious AA take on the 3D JRPG stands out, partly due to its impressive production values (motion-capturing Gallic shrugs doesn’t come cheap!). It’s a point of pride that European developers, once on the periphery of JRPG history, are now crafting such compelling experiences, particularly in the 3D space where some earlier Western JRPGs faltered.
Back in the ’90s, being a JRPG fan in PAL regions could feel like watching a fantastic party from outside the window. Decades later, those very quirks of regional distribution have blossomed, cultivating wonderfully distinctive and innovative takes on a classic genre. The Great JRPG Divide may be a thing of the past, but its creative influence is a gift that keeps on giving – a truly exciting development for RPG lovers everywhere!
