Modern Hidden Gems YOU WILL LOVE! ft. JRPG YouTubers! 

Unlike previous collab videos, there are a lot of contributors who I haven't heard of before. Way to promote more of the community!

Thanks for having me in this one, David! I'm glad I could put a new game on your radar too :)

What a fantastic video!!! So glad to be a part of this and loved everyone's picks too! Really cool pick from Emily - never heard of it!!! Gotta look into that for sure. Thanks again, David!!! :D

Thank you for having me on David! And thank you for the compliment! That made my week haha

Great list from the collaborators! I'll be honest, I did NOT expect to see ANNO: Mutationem mentioned! It's a hidden gem that hardly gets brought up and I'm glad to see it bathe in the limelight a little bit here. Otherwise, great vid!

I love these collab videos! They help me find lesser-known (AKA hidden gem, if you will) channels to follow. Not to mention learning about new (to me) games!

I put so much time into Atelier Marie. I'm excited about the product to finally getting a localization of the entire Salburg trilogy. It took a while for the Atelier series to grow on me. It wasn't until Ircha Gaming turned me on to it. As a result, I'm never running out of Atelier titles to play. I'm working on playing through them all

Strongly agree with Voice of Cards, Eastward and Chained Echoes being on this list (I still need to play Chained Echoes). But I think Emily nailed the best "hidden" title since I've barely heard anything about Anno Mutationem beyond the title.

Such a wonderful comp with such wonderful people🧡 loved hearing everyone’s opinions and different takes! Definitely changed my mind on a few

cool one for bringing exposure to these creators

Monochrome Mobius. Rights and Wrongs forgotten. Sure, it's based on the long running Utawarerumono franchise, but thankfully, you don't need to play the other ones to understand this one. What I love about it is the ancient, Edo, Japanese aesthetic, based on something you'd see in anime like Inuyasha, and many others. The story is nothing to write home about, but for what it is, it gets the job done in a decent manner. The four party members play off each other in very funny and heartwarming ways, that annoying doll notwithstanding. Sometimes, the wheel doesn't need to be reinvented, nor does everything need to be big budget AAA, photorealistic graphics. All you need is a bright, colorful, eastern atmosphere with a simple samurai adventure tale.

I got a few picks, Scarlet Nexus, Blue Reflection Second Light and Oninaki (god i hope we get more TokyoRPGfactory games in the future). Glad to see somebody pick Voice of Cards, although the one gripe i have with that series is i found it to be too easy and there wasn't any higher difficulty setting.

I'm super glad ANNO: Mutationem got brought up. One of my favorite cyberpunk titles with stylish action and really engaging story. Check it out if you haven't, it's incredible.

One of the best hidden gem I ever played (and is a SRPG) is the indie game "Halfway" on STEAM. sci-fi srpg in 2D sprite taking place up in a space ship as its been hijacked the marine survivors has to stock up on healthpacks, ammo and weapon to survive this horror story. I really mean it, look it up!

Your knowledge about JRPGs is so vast and detailed, it is always a great pleasure to find some hidden gems through your channel! Thanks also to your friends who helped with your video!

It’s awesome getting to hear all these different JRPG RU-vidrs share their hidden gems as I get to find new channels and also new hidden gems 💎 awesome video David!

Also, thank you for an awesome collabotation video!

Thanks for hosting this, David! Great picks all around! Just shows how great 2023 was for RPGs, and games in general!

Great video 👍 What a great lineup of guests and games! Harvestella arrived in the post today coincidentally. Will have to check out some of the others!

Hidden gems, and diablo 4 in the same list. Yeah, I don't get it.

Great collab David, good to see Femtrooper and Taylor from The Gaming Shelf in the mix! Hope this video does well for you guys ❤️

Neo world ends with you deserves more love. Such a phenomenon beautiful game with a touching storyline.

Love seeing so many great youtubers collabing together. This time I already know most of them. :) Also glad to see Chained Echoes getting more love, credit to HellFireRPGs. :)

Thank you very much to missbubble and overleveledgames, I really love your picks and wrote them down. I'll play them in the next month and will have a great time! For the Chained echoes pick: I played it already it was great too and I can say u dont do anything wrong with this title!

David, first I love your channel. I am a lifelong RPG fan as well. They are my therapy. What a great idea to bring in other RPG RU-vidrs for this video! Awesome collaboration!

Chained Echoes is really up there with almost being a masterpiece to throwback jrpgs

Amazing video David! I think "moden hidden gems" should be an annual topic.

My hidden gem: Radiant Historia Perfect Chronology. Best battle system ever made.

New fan here! I am so happy that the youtube algorithm decided to recommend your channel to me about a month ago. I love your charisma, energy, and the passion you have for RPG’s and have been enjoying watching all your videos. Keep it up and expect to see me around here often!

Can triangle strategy count?! So glad voice of cards got some love.

Chained Echoes is definitely my favorite RPG I've played in the last few years so I'm glad to see it get a shout out.

I love the callab from other gaming channels. Some of these games I see as hidden gems and the others I want to explore. Some really great suggestions. Thank you. ❤

What I like the most about these videos it's to discover other/smaller jrpg content creator. And also of course the games ahah. 😁

I love these collab videos. Thanks David and everyone. I am always looking for games to add to my backlog.

I think Eternights is good game, though Ive seen David's opinions on it. It's very rough around the edges, no question, and I wouldn't say the combat is anything amazing, but it didn't overstay its welcome and I had an ok time with it. It was a decent first game for the single dev, and as a bright side it gave them the support and funding to start a team and put a lot more into their next project and I have faith that with the extra support they'll make something special.

Thanks for having me! There's some other really awesome looking games that I haven't played yet!

Love collab videos like this, nice and cosy while turning us on to others who also like rpgs. Good stuff

My hidden gem of the year wasn't a JRPG, but more of a puzzle adventure game: A Space for the Unbound. An incredible pixel art journey through an amazingly detailed version of late 90s Indonesia. It has one of the best and heartwrenching stories I've ever played, and some great puzzle and gameplay elements. It is a true 10/10 game, and my personal favorite of 2023.

Voice of cards needs a physical

Loving these collab videos David.

Ohhh I'm definitely going to checkout Anno Mutationem! I was looking for that kind of games. Thanks for the video as usual David!

Loved this collab! Awesome picks from everyone! ☺️

Excellent video from some of my favorite community channels in JRPGs. Awesome Job David!

David, thanks for letting us know about those games, buy mostly the other youtubers. I subscribed their channels thanks to you.

Best choice of thumbnail

ANNO: Mutationem was amazing absolutely stunning loved that game so happy it’s got some love 😊

Love the Chrono Cross music playing behind this video!

Completely agree about Voice of Cards! ... Only the final battles were too difficult for me and I rage-quit, but hey. It was a wild adventure up until that point.

This was such an amazing video. Thank you so very much 🙌🏻

Good mentions in this video!

That's right! I'm representing a hidden Yoko Taro gem! Thanks for having me again! Also, have to edit this and give a shoutout to the Fisherman dude from the first game hahaha

Just added Anno to my wishlist. That looks interesting

An entire video of games to add to my backlog? I’ll take that as a yes

ive been watching this channel for years but this is my fave video you've done yet! happy new year!

Love me some hidden gems 🤩 GO PLAY DIOFIELD!

Some really good recommendations here. I want to check out Harvestella and Diofield Chronicles. I also have Tactics Ogre Reborn and Disgaea 7 in my backlog though so maybe I'll start there.

"The Longest Five Minutes" looks good also. Another hidden gem?

Pleased to see both Harvestella & Chained Echoes, 2 of the best discovery I made in the last few years. And it's good the video is actually about hidden gems for real, especially the last (1st time I'm hearing about this game). Very nice video.

never been a fan of tactical RPG's with a few exceptions as I have never liked seeing small characters whacking each other in a small grid but I do immensely enjoy those that has great animated battles like Fire Emblem and Shining Force been playing those since the SNES and Genesis era but right now my absolute favorite is the Super Robot Wars series as Alpha and anything that came after that was pretty awesome.

this video is so good! the list is many i have played and a surprising few i have yet to that i was unsure of

Tactics Ogre reborn is awesome. The other three Ogre Battle games could use a remaster collection since everything else is getting one, theyre a pain to find.

My hidden gem game last year was monochrome mobius Rights and wrong. I absolutely love and enjoyed the game. I hope we get a part 2.

Hey David you absolute unit, you total beefcake, have you heard about Final Fantasy Renaissance yet? The original Final Fantasy on NES but recreated pixel for pixel in Unity and adding all new classes and abilities from future games in the series? It was totally up my alley, considering I was a 7yo who played the original back in 1990, and I know you're close to my age.

Always love seeing everyone come together in these collab videos. Man, just need to go ahead and buy Chained Echoes xD

My hidden gems would be 9 years of Shadows and Lost Eidolons. Both have an estimated 45k steam purchases, one is a metroidvania (I consider most metroidvania's to be a type of action rpg) with a lot of color and elemental swapping. The other is Fire Emblem but using an ancient Chinese myth between two legendary generals only the setting is medieval Europe instead of China.

Thanks so much for having us, David! This list is awesome 😊

Diablo 4 on a hidden gem list? Really? What else, Minecraft? Next they’re gonna tell me Diablo 4 is a JRPG? Absolutely no hate for you David, I like your stuff, and you’re often the guy I watch for jRPG news! But that Diablo 4 slot could’ve been for another actually hidden gem, but they really used it to promote Diablo 4.

I like these collaboration videos!

Wow, I really like the way you let other people express themselvs on your channel. This video was really fresh and interesting and the reviews were all different but full of care and passion for the games. It's great to be a part of such community. Hope I can be a part of it too.

Thank you so much for having me, David 🫧🫧

Great list. People dont realize how spoiled we rpgs fans are right now compared to ps3/wii U era..

Some great picks on this list. I'm mortified that no one gave the Fuga games a shout-out though.

Loving the collabs

Ooo a collaboration video nice

I'm really surprised not to see Irchagaming. Big bummer. I'd love to hear her take on this as well. Out of the ones shown here, Chained Echoes is amaaaazing.

Chained Echoes is a great game. If anyone out there is on the fence, I highly recommend it for what it's worth.

Have you ever played the dragon age games? If you havent i def recommend them. Solid rpgs

No offense to the folks involved but how is Diablo IV a hidden gem exactly?

I own most of these and should finally get into them. I DID finish Chained Echoes, and completely agree with that one. So good, and the battle + boss music are in my Spotify rotation.

Most of these weren't really "hidden" I think, even if they may be good, but a few of these people understood the assignment at least. Eastward and Anno Mutationem look interesting - apparently I already own the latter on steam, must have been in a humble bundle. I'll have to check it out some time.

This is exactly the kind of thing I love about your channel. Its great hearing you talk passionately about RPGs but you give others a voice too

i love your videos :) They are so informative!

You’re not alone @justTheGems! I like too Ethernights! 😅

Hey it’s Femtrooper!!!! Now that’s a cameo I can get behind

whoa dang what a collab

JRPG Time

Tactice Ogre is not an hidden gem, is just a remake of an epic old game that was well know for its compelling story, being released in multiple consoles since the 90's. There's even a mod called One Vision for the PSP version of the game that changes and balances quite a few things. I did play this game back in the SNES, PS1 and PSP for long time.

That fisherman WAS amazing 😍

I love these lists :D

For me, a true hidden gem of the last two years would be Astlibra Revision. Yeah, it looks pretty ugly at times and could have a better localisation, BUT literally everything Else is top tier ARPG goodness. The story alone is insanely good!!

I'll go out on a limb and say that Mato Anomalies is a hidden gem. It has about a 50/50 ratio and probably leans more toward the negative side for a lot of people but dang man, it really tried to do something different and I feel like it'll become a cult favorite later on and one of those deep picks from the Switch library once the console is long over and collectors come about. Also there was the Baten Kaitos 1&2 Collection, Dragon Quest Monsters Dark Prince, and all the amazing Trails / Kiseki games we've gotten.

One for the jrpg fans would be the snack sized “Jack Move”. Neat art, easy to jump in combat. Snappy story. Doesn’t overstay its welcome. That said, chained echoes may be the greatest rpg in the last ten years.

My hidden gem from last year was Monster Menu: The Scavengers Cookbook. Definitely a interesting game from Nis and one I enjoyed immensely. Very unique jrpg for sure. Another one I am mentioning because I absolutely love it is Raphsody The Marl Kingdom Chronicles.

It's a little older, having come out in 2021, but I'll never stop pushing Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi as a true hidden gem. It's so hidden, in fact, that it doesn't even have a Wikipedia page. So, why is it good? Well, it's a first person, party based dungeon crawler. Not all that remarkable at first glance, but it's everything around the core gameplay that caught my attention. For starters, it's set in 1979 Tokyo, at the beginning of Japan's economic dominance... sorta. You see, the main premise is that an enormous structure called Yomi appeared in the city (and several others around the world) sometime in the late 50s. For the last few decades teams of mercenaries called Undernauts have been venturing into Yomi on behalf of mining companies to clear out the resident monsters, allowing the extraction of a new form of energy called Argen. For the most part this is all setting fluff as the game takes place solely within the dungeons of Yomi, but it lays the groundwork for the second thing that sold me on the game: it's atmosphere. For all it's stereotypical location, Undernauts has this seedy, morally grey feel of corporate greed and questionable ethics. Everything from the threadbare suits some characters wear to the faint, discordant saxophone that forms the core of the soundtrack, the game OOZES that vibe! It's really cool! Finally, there's the fact that it's a JRPG that let's you create your whole party! That fact alone was enough to sell on me this game as I come from a Western and Tabletop RPG background. Round it all out with some quality of life features that elevate a lot of the annoyances of dungeon crawlers and you've got a pretty little package. It's on every modern platform so the only barrier to entry is your wallet.

Some excellent games but there's no timeline I'd ever put Diablo 4 and Chained Echoes on a hidden gem list. CE was one of the biggest indie RPGs in years.

Femtrooper with the Harvestilla love! I just picked it up off Amazon last week and it was below 30 bucks. Looking forward to that one

I have a video collaboration idea. Get with another (or multiple) content creators and have a debate. For example, you and The Gaming Shelf have sometimes opposite tastes. Some games you put on the best games list, he's put on the worst games list and vice versa. Have a debate on why they are the best vs worst games.

What a great video ❤❤

Chained Echoes is the best jrpg I have played in a very long time, really want part 2 🤩

Great list! I wanna try Disgaea now.