Nippon Ichi Software is back in the hot seat thanks to their newest release,Poison Control. The developer is mostly known for the long-running TRPG staple seriesDisgaea. Most of their output is contained to the turn-based strategy genre, but they’re not afraid to branch out. And, judging by Metacritic scores, they’re pretty consistently good.
RELATED:10 Nintendo Switch JRPGs With The Best Combat System, Ranked
For the sake of variety, only one version of each game is included on this list, as NIS is very fond of re-releases. If taken as-is, the top ten would include three versions of the originalDisgaea. However, even without remakes, Nippon Ichi has a pretty daunting library, and here’s the cream of the crop.
10Yomawari: Midnight Shadows (PS4) - 75/100
Visually,Yomawari: Midnight Shadowsseems like one of Nippon Ichi’s many RPG titles. Not so - it’s actually a survival horror. A sequel to the Vita gameYomawari: Night Alone,the story follows Yui and Haru, two young girls trying to survive a night where spirits are on the hunt.
The game was praised for its visual direction and creative scares. However, the puzzle elements were more divisive. Some found them too obtuse and frustrating, while others thought the game was too easy compared to its predecessor. Still, most agreed that it was a good experience all around, and a great pick-up for fans of J-horror.
9Disgaea 3: Absence Of Justice (PS3) - 78/100
The third installment ofDisgaeafalls lowest on the list. With a critic score of 78, it’s not a bomb by any means, but it’s far behind the other games in the franchise. It’s exactly what fans want out of the series - six-digit stats, mind-achingly complex strategy, and small anime women. So what’s the issue?
Most reviews blast the game’s graphics. Apparently, Nippon Ichi used the same engine here they did in the PS2 games. The 2D sprites, while charming, weren’t really cutting edge the last generation, and on the PS3, they looked bad enough to be distracting. Many also argued that the interface was overall clunky and that the formula was stale.
Mad Rat Deadis an odd duck in this developer’s catalog. It’s not an RPG at all; rather, it’s a rhythm-platformer. Players control a lab rat who has come back from the dead to exact revenge on the cruel scientist who killed him. To make it to the end of each level, he has to time all of his movements with the background music.
NIS’s most recent title was a welcome change of pace for many. Critics agreed that thehigh-octane soundtrackand colorful visuals were the game’s strongest points. Others, though, found the control scheme clunky and frustrating.
7La Pucelle: Tactics (PS2) - 79/100
La Pucelle: Tacticsis one of the more obscure entries in Nippon Ichi’s library. It’s very similar toDisgaea, but with a greater focus on defense. The most noteworthy mechanic is purification, which prevents monsters from spawning and can even convert them to the player’s team.
RELATED:10 Turn-Based Tactics Games That Are Perfect For Newcomers To The Genre
Despite being released before the firstDisgaeain Japan, it onlycame to foreign shoresafterDisgaeawas an international success. The two titles are similar enough to be companion pieces.Disgaeais more polished, but there’s no reason for TRPG fans to not check outLa Pucelle.
6Z.H.P. Unlosing Ranger vs Darkdeath Evilman (PSP) - 81/100
That’s a mouthful. The over-long title isn’t the only thing setting this game apart – it’s also NIS’s only roguelike title. There’s only one character to control, maps are randomly generated, and losing resets the player back to level one. The game’s main selling point is Body Modification, where players can boost stats by replacing their hands with drills and whatnot.
Losing isn’t a complete waste inZ.H.P. There’s an element of permanent progression similar toHades. It’s still a very punishing game and involves a lot of level grinding, which was off-putting to many reviewers.
5Phantom Brave (PS2) - 81/100
Phantom Braveis the highest-rated non-Disgaeatitle on the list. It’s the same genre – a TRPG – but it throws a few curveballs. Units are brought to the stage by transforming objects, and they only last a few turns before disappearing. Most importantly, there’s no grid. Character movement is calculated in decimeters and is affected by slippery or bouncy terrain.
The game’s innovation is also its downfall. It’seven more hardcorethan theDisgaeagames, and many critics found the gridless combat awkward. It’s definitely not a gateway into the genre, but a treasured title nonetheless.
4Disgaea 5 Complete (Switch) - 81/100
As of April 2021, this is the most recent entry in the series.Disgaea 5added more new features than any installment before it, breathing some life into a very “samey” franchise. Players get to trek across a variety of Netherworld environments and deepen character relationships for powerful tag-team attacks in battle.
Originally released for the PS4,the Switch versionincludes extra content that was previously paid DLC. If players thoughtDisgaeawas a timesink before, try playing it in Handheld Mode.
3Disgaea 2: Cursed Memories (PS2) - 84/100
Cursed Memoriesis the first in a long legacy ofDisgaeasequels. It follows a completely different cast of characters (although with substantial appearances from Laharl, Etna, and others) on an adventure to reunite the Overlord with his daughter.
RELATED:15 PS3 Games With The Best Storylines
The sequel doesn’t really shake up the firstDisgaea’s formula. Gameplay is the same, and new mechanics are pretty minor. Still, it’s a monster TRPG with eight endings and hundreds of characters. It’sDisgaeathrough and through. Gamers either love it, or can’t play it without getting a migraine.
2Disgaea 4 Complete+ (Switch) - 85/100
Disgaea 4: A Promise Unforgottenwas a rebound from the disappointment ofDisgaea 3. The graphics engine finally got an update, and the story leans more into political intrigue than previous titles' school hijinx. It was also the first entry to introduceonline featureswhen it debuted on the PS3.
The Switch remake includes some features fromDisgaea 5to improve on a game that was already very strong. Games in this series get remade and re-released a lot – there aresixversions of the first game. Thankfully, this seems to be the definitive version of this entry.
1Disgaea: Afternoon Of Darkness (PSP) - 87/100
Some franchiseshit their peak with the first game, andDisgaeamight be one of these.Afternoon Of Darknessis a one-to-one port of the original PS2 game, with a few extras like an Etna side story. It has all the highs and lows of the first release, with even more content.
Any game that spawns four sequels and a bundle of spinoffs must leave one heck of an impression.Disgaeais one of the biggest cult titles on the PS2, and the game shot Nippon Ichi to relative stardom. Many critics also found the move to PSP to be a boon, saying that the game shines as a portable title.
