List of JRPGs with Difficulty Settings

As a new mom and someone who doesn’t have a lot of free time these days, it’s nice to be able to sit down and play a JRPG and not have to worry about excessive grinding or having to redo the same hour long boss three times over. Due to this, I love playing JRPGs that have difficulty settings so you can choose to play the game at the pace and challenge of your liking. While everything I just said is true, I am also super lazy and despite playing JRPGs for approximately 25 years, I still kind of suck at them. For that reason, I do like to play on an easier setting and just take in the story. I also realize that many people are looking for an extra challenge and appreciate the more difficult modes that can sometimes be chosen. Either way, difficulty settings in JRPGs are great and allow seasoned veterans, newbies, and everyone in-between to enjoy them.

For these reasons I have compiled a list (that is still ongoing) of all the JRPGs that have difficulty settings. Please keep in mind that if you are looking for an easier game, there are easy and extremely difficult JRPGs that do not have difficulty settings. Perhaps that is another post!

Without further adieu, here is a list of JRPGs that give you the option to choose your level of difficulty. I hope this helps those looking for extreme challenges and those looking for something a little easier. All dates are from the North American releases.

  • Akiba’s Beat (2017)
    • PS4, Vita
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Imagine
  • Atelier Sophie: The Alchemist of the Mysterious Books (2016)
    • PS4, Vita, PC
    • Has difficulty settings, but at this time I am unsure as to what they are
  • Atelier Lydie & Suelle: The Alchemists and the Mysterious Paintings (2018)
    • PS4, Switch, PC
    • Has difficulty settings, but at this time I am unsure as to what they are
  • Atelier Ryza: Ever Darkness and the Secret Hideout (2019)
    • PS4, Switch, PC
    • Has difficulty settings, but at this time I am unsure as to what they are
  • Blue Dragon (2007)
    • 360
    • Normal, Hard, Impossible
  • Bravely Default (2014)
    • 3DS
    • Easy, Medium, Hard
    • Can be changed at any time
  • Bravely Second: End Layer (2016)
    • 3DS
    • Easy, Medium, Hard
    • Can be changed at any time
  • Cosmic Star Heroine (2017)
    • PS4, Switch, Vita, PC
    • Tourist (easiest), Agent, Heroine, Super-Spy (hardest)
    • Can be changed at any time
  • Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth (2016)
    • PS4, Vita, Switch, PC
    • Normal, Hard
  • Digimon World: Next Order (2017)
    • PS4
    • Easy, Normal
  • Etrian Odyssey Untold: The Millennium Girl (2013)
    • 3DS
    • Picnic, Standard, Expert
  • Etrian Odyssey 2 Untold: The Fafnir Knight (2015)
    • 3DS
    • Picnic, Standard, Expert
  • Etrian Odyssey IV: Legends of the Titan (2013)
    • 3DS
    • Casual, Normal
  • Etrian Odyssey V: Beyond the Myth (2017)
    • 3DS
    • Basic, Advanced
  • Fairy Fencer F: Advent Dark Force (2016)
    • PS4, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Final Fantasy Origins (2003)
    • PS1
    • Contains Final Fantasy and Final Fantasy II
    • Easy, Normal
  • Final Fantasy VII (2019 version)
    • Switch, XB1
    • This version offers a ‘Battle Assist’ mode that maxes out HP and ATB
      • I will note that despite having your HP maxed out at all times, you can still die if an enemy’s attack does more damage than your total HP
    • You can buy FFVII on several platforms; however, this is the version that contains the Battle Assist mode (ie. the Vita version would not contain Battle Assist)
  • Final Fantasy VII Remake (2020)
    • PS4
    • Easy, Normal, Classic, Hard (unlocked after a playthrough of the game)
  • Final Fantasy VIII Remastered (2019)
    • PS4, XB1, Switch, PC
    • While there are no difficulty modes, you can play the game with ‘Battle Assist’ on, which has HP and ATB maxed out
      • I will note that despite having your HP maxed out at all times, you can still die if an enemy’s attack does more damage than your total HP
  • Final Fantasy IX (2019 version)
    • Switch, XB1, PC
    • This version offers a ‘Battle Assist’ mode that maxes out HP and ATB
      • I will note that despite having your HP maxed out at all times, you can still die if an enemy’s attack does more damage than your total HP
  • You can buy FFIX on several platforms; however, this is the version that contains the Battle Assist mode (ie. the Vita version would not contain Battle Assist)
  • Final Fantasy XIII-2 (2012)
    • PS3, 360, PC
    • Easy, Normal
    • Can be changed at any time
  • Final Fantasy XIII: Lightning Returns (2014)
    • PS3, 360, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
    • Hard mode is only available after completing the game once
  • Final Fantasy XV (2016)
    • PS4, XB1, PC, Stadia
    • Easy, Normal
    • Can be changed at any time
  • Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates (2008)
    • NDS
    • Normal, Hard, Very Hard
    • Must play Normal mode first to unlock Hard mode, then Hard mode to unlock Very Hard mode
  • Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift (2008)
    • NDS
    • Normal, Hard
  • Final Fantasy Type-0 HD (2015)
    • PS4, XB1, PC
    • Cadet (easiest), Officer, Agito, Finis (hardest)
    • Difficulty can be changed mid-playthrough but not mid-mission
  • Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance (2005)
    • GCN
    • Easy, Normal, Difficult
  • Fire Emblem: Radiant Dawn (2007)
    • Wii
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (2009)
    • NDS
    • The difficulty settings allow you to choose the enemy level: Hard, Brutal, Savage, Fiendish, Merciless
  • Fire Emblem Awakening (2013)
    • 3DS
    • Normal, Hard, Lunatic (difficulty)
    • Casual, Classic (these modes are also chosen to indicate whether or not your units permanently die)
  • Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright (2015)
    • 3DS
    • Normal, Hard, Lunatic (difficulty)
    • Phoenix, Casual, Classic (these modes are also chosen to indicate whether or not your units permanently die)
  • Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest (2015)
    • 3DS
    • Normal, Hard, Lunatic (difficulty)
    • Casual, Classic (these modes are also chosen to indicate whether or not your units permanently die)
  • Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia (2017)
    • 3DS
    • Normal, Hard (difficulty)
    • Casual, Classic (these modes are also chosen to indicate whether or not your units permanently die)
  • Fire Emblem: Three Houses (2019)
    • Switch
    • Normal, Hard, Maddening (difficulty)
    • Casual, Classic (these modes are also chosen to indicate whether or not your units permanently die)
  • God Wars: Future Past (2017)
    • PS4, Vita, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Gungnir (2012)
    • PSP
    • Basic, Advance
  • Kingdom Hearts HD Remix I.5 (2013)
    • PS3, PS4, XB1
    • Final Mix: Beginner, Final Mix, Final Mix: Proud
  • Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance (2012)
    • 3DS
    • Beginner, Standard, Proud
  • Kingdom Hearts 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue (2017)
    • PS4, XB1
    • This includes Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance HD
    • Beginner, Standard, Proud
  • Kingdom Hearts III (2019)
    • PS4, XB1
    • Beginner, Standard, Proud
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky (2011)
    • PSP, PC / PS3, Vita (PSN)
    • Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC (2015)
    • PSP, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky the 3rd (2017)
    • PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel (2015)
    • PS3, Vita, PS4, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II (2016)
    • PS3, Vita, PS4, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III (2019)
    • PS4, Switch, PC
    • Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Lost Sphear (2018)
    • PS4, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Mary Skelter: Nightmares (2017)
    • Vita, PC
    • Dream, Normal, Horror
  • Mind≒0 (2014)
    • Vita, PC
    • Beginner, Normal, Expert
  • Natural Doctrine (2014)
    • PS3, Vita, PS4
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Lethal
  • Nier (2010)
    • PS3, 360
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Nier Automata (2017)
    • PS4, XB1, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard
  • Ni No Kuni: Wrath of the White Witch (2013)
    • PS3, PS4, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal
  • Ni No Kuni II: Revenant Kingdom (2018)
    • PS4, PC
    • Normal, Hard, Expert
    • Can be changed at any time
  • Oreshika: Tainted Bloodlines (2015)
    • Vita
    • Keen, Serious, Dedicated, Fanatical, Fortunate (these appear to be more than just difficulty settings and affect the pacing of the game)
  • Persona 3 (2007)
    • PS2
    • Easy, Normal
  • Persona 3 FES (2008)
    • PS2
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Persona 3 Portable (2010)
    • PSP, Vita (PSN)
    • Beginner, Easy, Normal, Maniac
  • Persona 4 (2008)
    • PS2
    • Beginner, Normal, Expert
  • Persona 4: Golden (2012)
    • Vita
    • Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, Very Hard
  • Persona 5 (2017)
    • PS3, PS4
    • Safety, Easy, Normal, Hard
    • All modes except for Safety can be changed at any time
  • Persona 5 Royal (2020)
    • PS4
    • Safe, Easy, Normal, Hard, Merciless
    • I assume all modes except for Safe can be change at any time but I cannot confirm this
  • Persona Q: Shadow of the Labyrinth (2014)
    • 3DS
    • Safety, Easy, Normal, Hard, Risky
  • Persona Q2: New Cinema Labyrinth (2019)
    • 3DS
    • Safety, Easy, Normal, Hard, Risky
  • Radiant Historia: Perfect Chronology (2018)
    • 3DS
    • Friendly, Normal, Hard
  • Rainbow Moon (2012)
    • PS3, PS4, Vita
    • Normal, Hard
  • Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure (1998)
    • PS1
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Shin Megami Tensei IV (2013)
    • 3DS
    • Fellow (Easy), Prentice (Normal)
  • Shin Megami Tensei IV: Apocalypse (2016)
    • 3DS
    • Skirmish, Conflict, War
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked 2 Record Breaker (2015)
    • 3DS
    • Blessed, Apocalypse
  • Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux (2018)
    • 3DS
    • Casual, Standard, Expert
  • South Park: The Stick of Truth (2014)
    • PS3, 360, PC, PS4, XB1, Switch
    • Casual, Regular, Hardcore
  • Star Ocean: The Last Hope International (2010)
    • PS3, 360
    • Earth Level (easiest), Galaxy Level, Universe Level, Chaos Level (hardest)
  • Star Ocean: The Last Hope: 4K & Full HD Remaster (2017)
    • PS4, PC
    • Earth Level (easiest), Galaxy Level, Universe Level, Chaos Level (hardest)
  • Tales of Graces f (2012)
    • PS3
    • Easy, Normal, Moderate, Hard
    • Evil and Chaos modes can be unlocked
  • Tales of Xillia (2013)
    • PS3
    • Easy, Normal, Moderate, Hard
  • Tales of Xillia 2 (2014)
    • PS3
    • Easy, Normal, Moderate, Hard
  • Tales of Hearts R (2014)
    • Vita
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Tales of Zestiria (2015)
    • PS4, PC
    • Simple, Normal, Moderate, Hard
  • Tales of Berseria (2017)
    • PS4, PC
    • Simple, Moderate, Hard, Chaos
  • Tales of Vesperia DE (2019)
    • PS4, XB1, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE (2016)
    • Wii U
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore (2020)
    • Switch
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Tokyo Xanadu (2017)
    • Vita
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Tokyo Xanadu eX+ (2017)
    • PS4, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare, Calamity
  • Trials of Mana (2020)
    • PS4, Switch, PC
    • Beginner, Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Valkyria Chronicles 4 (2018)
    • PS4, XB1, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal
  • Xenoblade Chronicles: Definitive Edition (2020)
    • Switch
    • Casual, Default, Expert
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 2 (2017)
    • Switch
    • Easy, Normal
    • Bringer of Chaos and Custom modes are available with the expansion

  • Ys Origin (2012)
    • PC, XB1, PS4, Vita, Switch
    • Easy, Normal, Hard
  • Ys: The Ark of Napishtim (2005)
    • PS2, PSP, PC
    • Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Ys I & II Chronicles (2009)
    • PSP
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Ys: The Oath in Felghana (2010)
    • PSP, PC
    • Very Easy, Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Ys Seven (2010)
    • PSP, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Ys: Memories of Celceta (2013)
    • Vita, PC, PS4
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare
  • Ys VIII: Lacrymosa of Dana (2016)
    • PS4, Vita, Switch, PC
    • Easy, Normal, Hard, Nightmare, Inferno

Know of any other JRPGs with difficulty settings? Please let me know and I will add them to the list!

(If any information on this list is incorrect, please let me know ASAP and I will remove it. I am only human!)

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