Summary
In a world that has generative AI, chatbots, and subscription services for things that used to be one-off purchases, it’s easy to forget it also has DRM technology too. Digital Rights Management was meant to be an anti-piracy measure, since pirating tech has gotten more complex than copying those floppies. But, from its always-online requirements to its anti-mod updates, it can be annoyingly restrictive when it goes too far.
Still, while DRM has gotten increasingly common, there are plenty of games out there that either don’t have it, have had it removed, or have workarounds to disable it — even on the premier PC game storefront, Steam. So, if any JRPG fans have been looking for some top titles on Valve’s platform, they can give these games a go and see if their DRM-dodging tactics work out well for them.
CallingYume Nikkian RPG, J or otherwise, might be a bit of a stretch as it doesn’t have any combat at all. It’s more of a surreal adventure game where players control a girl called Madotsuki as she explores her strange and often disturbing dream worlds. But it was made inRPG Makerand wasinspired by JRPGs likeEarthbound, and became a cult classic title through its eerie atmosphere. It’s also been freeware since its release in 2004, so people can download it on Steam for nothing, and without DRM.
However, it is a Steamworks title, which means if people tried running it via a Steam client instead of Steam directly, developer-integrated features like achievements, etc., might not work. Being a free game made for old Windows XP machines, this isn’t really a concern forYume Nikki, but it’s something for keen achievement hunters to keep in mind for other titles.
Yume Nikkiwas low because it’s more of an RPG spinoff than an RPG.Star Ocean: The Divine Forceis low because it’s not exactly the best game on the market. It’s not awful, as fans still enjoyed the fluid combat and the charming characters, but it was made on a tight budget, and it shows — which is ironic, as its Limited Edition is now one ofthe most expensive PS4 games out there.
It also originally came with Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM (until it was removed in April 2023). Now, it can be played without DRM getting in the way at all! Kind of. To be completely sure, players either have to install the game with a Steam client instead of directly through Steam, or when the steam_appid.txt is in the directory containing the number “1776380”. It’s an odd workaround, but it works out.
Technically, players could get their hands on a DRM-free version ofTrials of Manaby using an original SNES cartridge with a Retrode — or take to the web’s high seas and emulate a ROM. But, the game got a fancy remake back in 2020, letting players take down the Benevodons in 3D, complete with a new post-game chapter that adds a little bit more to the story.
LikeSO: TDF, it originally had Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM, which was then removed four months into the game’s run back in August 2020. Though, it also means players need to run it without Steam installed to be absolutely sure, or when the steam_appid.txt is in the same directory as the executable file. At least this time, it doesn’t need to be put in one with a specific number.
If players don’t want to fiddle with the directories or their Steam installer, they could alwaysgive theYsgames a try.Ys 1+2 Chronicles+,Ys: The Oath in Felghana,Ys Origin, andYs 6: The Ark of Napishtimwere all confirmed to be DRM-free by its localizers, skipping even Steamworks’ built-in CEG DRM. They just need to be installed with a Steam client than through Steam itself to avoid its oversight.
Of the bunch,Ys: TOFis generally regarded to be the best of the bunch. It’s a remake of the originalYs 3, which took out the old game’s platforming sections with a more streamlined, traditional JRPG experience based onYs 6. Players no longer need to sacrifice inventory space for their healing and stat bonus, and they get more story for their buck with expanded scenes too.
TheYsgames are some of the most famous JRPGs made by Nihon Falcom, though nowadays, players might be more familiar withThe Legend of Heroesand itsTrailsseries, which has been going on for 20 years now — even longer if players were lucky enough to get in on its earlierGagharvandDragon Slayertitles. But, if they just want to stick totheTrailsseries, they’re in luck.
Trails in the Sky 1,SC, and ‘The 3rd’had their DRM removed, while the first twoTrails of Cold Steelgames never had it installed to begin with. Like theYsgames, they use the same executables as their GOG releases, but they do have Steamworks. This means players can boot the game up without needing to open Steam, but they won’t unlock any achievements if they do so.
Like theToCSgames,Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrectionskipped the DRM process altogether and just uses Steamworks and the GOG executable. It must’ve been Nihon Falcom or Xseed Games’ way of streamlining their PC releases, as it gives both sides less fuss and no muss. That, and it gives players more access to their underrated titles.
For example,Zwei: TIIis a unique action RPG that seems similar enough to the 3DYsgames, as the treasure hunter Ragna helps the vampire princess Alwen get her castle back. But in a twist, players have to eat food to earn XP, where they can combine dishes to earn bonuses. Then, they can get a pet (cat or dog) to automatically pick up post-battle spoils, or craft gadgets to make dungeon exploration easier.
Given theFinal Fantasyseries is one of the biggest names in JRPGs, if notthebiggest outside Japan, one would think its PC releases would be locked down tight with DRM or similar protective measures. But, the HD Remaster ofFinal Fantasy 10 and 10-2skipped past it entirely, until an update added DRM that made it impossible to play offline — subsequently followed by another update that removed it after players complained about it.
So, people can now get through Tidus’s dream quest and Yuna’s pistol-swinging sequel without needing any workarounds. The game is one of the more fondly remembered titles in the series, but players might want to add a few mods to the HD remaster anyway. While it did make the games look much crisper, they also gave Tidus & co some Botox, as their faces got touched up in ways fans didn’t care for, and they’re not as expressive as they were before.
One of the nastiest kinds of DRM turns offline single-player games into ones that require an always-online connection to keep them going. The backlash against it caused Square-Enix to freeFF10/10-2andFF12: The Zodiac Agefrom its clutches, whileFinal Fantasy 9never had DRM to begin with. Kind of.
LikeSO: TDFandToM2020, if players run the game without Steam installed or with the steam_appid.txt in any numbered directory, they’ll skip any DRM process altogether. No Steam oversight or anything. The PC’s faster load times make battles less of a slog to get in and out of too. But, players might want to use mods to replace the low-res backgrounds withsomething more HD, as the game is based on its iOS/Android port.
Final Fantasymay be the biggest name in JRPGs across most of the world, but in Japan, the series plays second fiddle to theDragon Questseries. Without it, JRPGs as a whole would be very different today. If players want to see what the fuss is about, they could check outDragon Quest 11 S: The Definitive Edition, an enhanced version of the latest, highly acclaimed game in the series.
The Hero’s quest to save Erdrea from a looming threat on the horizon got enhanced with a few extras, like an orchestral score and the 3DS’ 16-bit mode for fun. Even better, it doesn’t have any DRM involved, built-in or otherwise. The game had its Denuvo Anti-Tamper DRM removed back in 2021, and players don’t need to fiddle with directories or clients either, as they can boot the game up without needing to load Steam first.
