6 great JRPGs for the Nintendo 3DS

If you're Nintendo 3DS owner and a fan of JRPGs, you're probably excited for the upcoming releases of titles like Fire Emblem: Fates and Sqaure Enix's Bravely Second: End Layer.

While those games can't come soon enough, there are quite a few JRPG titles available for the system that you can pick up to tide you over. We've chosen six of our favorites to share with you.

Honorable Mention: Xenoblade Chronicles 3D

Xenoblade Chronicles 3D gets a shout-out here, even though technically the game released for the Nintendo Wii before making its debut on the Nintendo 3DS.

Nevertheless, Xenoblade Chronicles 3D is a great title, with a large open world to explore, and plenty of monsters to take down - not to mention an expansive story, and an array of interesting characters.

Crimson Shroud

If you're a fan of tabletop, you'll be right at home with Level 5's Crimson Shroud. Its unique battle system hearkens back to the original role-playing games, utilizing dice-rolls and and a touch of luck to progress the game's unique enemy encounters.

While the game ism't particularly long (you can finish the story in about 7-8 hours) there is a lot game packed inside this little package. Coming from the mind of Yasumi Matsuno - the man behind such titles as Vagrant Story, and Final Fantasy XII - you can expect to be wowed by Crimson Shrouds' overall quality.

Bravely Default

Bravely Default takes the best of old-school JRPG's - most notably the Final Fantasy series - and combines new-age video game design decisions to produce a title that shines in some of the best ways.

Though the story can drag on bit -- and the game overstays it's welcome a bit by the second half -- the moment-to-moment gameplay is a great adaptation of old turn-based battle conventions. 

The Etrian Odyssey Series and the Etrian Odyssey Untold series

Since the series of dungeon-crawlers started on the original Nintendo DS, the Etrian Odyssey games have always been a niche franchise; indicating that the games weren't necessarily for everyone. 

The newest titles in the franchise, however have improved their accessibility to appeal to a wider range of fans while still maintaining the hardcore nature of their gameplay.

While the early games were light on story elements, the newer Etrian Odyssey Untold games serve as remake of the earlier titles in the series with more story moments, character interactions, and even animated cutscenes.

Shin Megami Tensei IV

The long-running Megami Tensei continued its run of excellence with the 2013 release of Shin Megami Tensei IV.

The game lets you explore a ruined future landscape populated heavily by rampant demons - demons that you collect Pokemon-style, to help you battle through a ravaged world.

There's a terrific narrative to be found in the game as well, with multiple endings depending on who ally yourself with.

(Sidenote: This is only one of the few Megami Tensei titles you play on 3DS. There's also the spinoff Persona Q, as well the Devil Survivor games.)

Fire Emblem:Awakening

Fire Emblem: Awakening is one of the best JRPG's released so far on the Nintendo 3DS -- and may also be one of the best titles on the system period. 

The turn-based battles are a joy to take part in, and the wide variety of classes and characters give you plenty of options to take down the opposing forces.

While the games story is presented very well, the characters interactions are what really shine in this game. You can allow many of your allies to talk with (and even marry) their counterparts, which leads to fantastic results on the battlefield -- results which potentially lead to future effects.

Fantasy Life

Take the Animal Crossing and Rune Factory formula and apply it to a fantasy setting, and you get Level-5's Fantasy Life. 

The game features a quirky setting, and a variety of jobs to take so you can live life the way you want. From cooking to exploring, tailoring and even fishing; you can pursue a life however you see fit. 

There is a rather robust story mode that can be completed in about 30 hours, but there are almost endless hours of content to enjoy.

The Nintendo 3DS is a fantastic destination for those looking to get their JRPG fix, with tons of games already released and even more on the way. These were only a few of them, but they're some of the best.

What JRPG's were missed from the list? What JRPG's are you looking forward to in the coming year?

Let us know in the comments below!