What's the lowest stakes JRPG?

[Megaton Punch]

We're all familiar with JRPGs where the fate of the world, if not the universe, hangs in the balance. Only a plucky group of underaged children can save humanity, etc.

But what about games where the stakes are much lower? The world isn't in danger. Maybe nothing is in danger. This thread is my quest to find the JRPG with the lowest stakes.

Note: to count, games have to have been sold for money at some point. Newgrounds joke games don't count. Whether or not a game qualifies as a "JRPG" is subjective, but I think you know what I mean.

My contribution: Paper Mario. Bowser has become invincible thanks to the star rod or whatever and you've gotta stop him. But all he really does with it is steal the Mushroom Kingdom's castle. Maybe he plots to take over the world, but he doesn't want to destroy it. He just wants to be a figurehead people bow to. Not great, but not that bad either.

 

[XL xQgg?QcQCaTYDMjqoDnYpG]

all he really does with it is steal the Mushroom Kingdom's castle. Maybe he plots to take over the world

Pokemon Red and Blue have lower stakes than that
the only real "peril" is thirsty city guards, gangsters infiltrating a corporation headquarter, and two roads being blocked by Nicocado Avocado Snorlax

 

[Flopper]

Adventure Bar Story. From what I remember, you're just going for the position of top-rated restaurant in the kingdom.

 

[Megaton Punch]

Pokemon Red and Blue have lower stakes than that
the only real "peril" is thirsty city guards, gangsters infiltrating a corporation headquarter, and two roads being blocked by Nicocado Avocado Snorlax

You're forgetting the highest stakes of all: if you don't beat that asshole Gary (he's Gary I don't care what anyone says) to the Elite Four then he gets to be a dick about it forever. Makes Sephiroth look like a joke, honestly.

 

[wtfNeedSignUp]

Going with games that try to go to actual stakes rather than any sim game with RPG elements - Atelier Ayesha. Your task in the game is to save your sister and you have a time limit. But if you fail the time limit a party member will save your sister for you.

Maybe FF13 since your task is causing the apocalypse so the stakes is you dying or turning into crystal before everyone else dies.

 

[We Are The Witches]

Maybe Robopon.

It would be like Pokémon, but I think they don't have a Team Rocket trying to take over the world (could be wrong though, has been some years), but it does have some antagonists.

 

[Calandrino]

Sweet Home takes place among one small group of people in one house. It still has people dying and stuff, but for a "serious" game with actual mortal threats that definitely counts as a jrpg, that's pretty small.

 

[Buttigieg2020]

I was going to say atelier, but someone beat me to it.

Star Ocean 3, if you know, you know.

If it counts, Golf Story. The only stakes are your pride in your golfing ability. The entire game is just a shitpost.

 

[Caligura]

Eternal Sonata. It's not really a spoiler since the premise is obvious when you start the game, but you're basically just in a dying man's dream so no matter who wins or loses... I mean, it's a dying dream. Best outcome is making ol' Chopin rest easy as he ascends to the big sky above.

 

[Colon capital V]

Probably The Binding of Isaac.

Yeah I know you said "JRPG", but rougelikes are still a sub catagory of RPGs.
Ultimately you're already a dead kid imagining his fate and traversing through poop monsters while getting power-ups that could and would destroy the universe at any given moment.

 

[Nobunaga]

Pandora's tower
The stakes are you either get raped to death by your girlfriends cucked ancestor or you make out infront of her making her seethe to death

 

[Dagoth AMOGUS]

The “chosen one to save the world” gets pretty old. Gotta agree.

Eternal Sonata. It's not really a spoiler since the premise is obvious when you start the game, but you're basically just in a dying man's dream so no matter who wins or loses... I mean, it's a dying dream. Best outcome is making ol' Chopin rest easy as he ascends to the big sky above.

I have not heard that titles name in years. Very underrated game. The sights and sounds were stellar for the time but that was about it sadly lol. Plot was a mess.

 

[The Evil Midnight Bomber]

I guess Recettear because the fail state is just you defaulting on your loans and ending up homeless. The world is perfectly fine without your item shop.

 

[X Prime]

Note: to count, games have to have been sold for money at some point. Newgrounds joke games don't count. Whether or not a game qualifies as a "JRPG" is subjective, but I think you know what I mean.

Will you allow RPG Maker games? If so, Demon King Chronicle. To explain the actual stakes, which are pretty low objectively, would be spoilers. The initial premise is you being asked to "give this story an ending." Nobody is really in any sort of danger once you get rid of the serial killer early on.

Uh, maybe the Adventure of Hourai High School? It's just wacky school adventures.

I suppose Helen's Mysterious Castle qualifies due to being sold on Steam. You're just escaping a magical castle. It's all very lighthearted.

 

[quisquiliae]

Pokemon Red and Blue have lower stakes than that
the only real "peril" is thirsty city guards, gangsters infiltrating a corporation headquarter, and two roads being blocked by Nicocado Avocado Snorlax

I was going to say this as well, there is kind of a threat of world domination by Team Rocket and their now rogue bio-weapon Mewtwo but its presented with very low urgency.

Final Fantasy Tactics Advance was the next one that came to mind. Your goal as the main character is to get other people to stop living their isekai fantasy. Convincing cripples to leave a place where they can walk again proves to be a challenge though,

 

[Daddy's Angry Juice]

One of my favorites is MOON Remix RPG Adventure

You are literally just some kid that's been sucked into a video game and the stakes really just boil down to making the fake video game people happy and going home.

 

[dreamworks face]

Yakuza: Like a Dragon. A group of midde aged homeless dudes fight gang members.

 

[rat fucker]

I was going to say this as well, there is kind of a threat of world domination by Team Rocket and their now rogue bio-weapon Mewtwo but its presented with very low urgency.

What about gen 2 though? Since its a sequel to RBY Team Rocket is kind of semi-smashed and at their peak they take over a Radiotower and look for their boss, who sent himself into exile.
I mean they actually get some shit done without him, but still seem adamant in needing him back to restore Team Rockets glory. Don't think that the protagonist would have been the only person capable of defeating him, but was probably just the first person who tried. Can't remember if there were any other urgent stakes at hand...

Then again if i remember correctly the remakes of Gold and Silver had an optional and limited event that revealed that Giovanni indeed considered returning, but the player stopped him with Celebi timetravel shenanigans. No idea if thats canon though, since it was a limited event?

 

[Megaton Punch]

View attachment 6905505
One of my favorites is MOON Remix RPG Adventure

You are literally just some kid that's been sucked into a video game and the stakes really just boil down to making the fake video game people happy and going home.

That game is weird as fuck and I always forget it existed.

 

[Elysian]

The Lost in Blue trilogy were lower stakes than the average JRPG, you just had to survive as a castaway on a tropical island long enough to escape back to civilisation.