JRPG's that should be in someones library.

[Andy Shandy]

The only one that I definitely recommend that I don't think has been named so far is Lost Odyssey.

I also really enjoyed The Last Remnant but I can realise that it isn't a game for everyone.

 

[Darks63]

With parasite eve make sure to get only the first one since after that it turns from a Action rpg into a mostly action series and the story after one is kinda poo.

 

[Shoggoth2588]

Nobody seems to have mentioned Tales of Phantasia. THIS IS A CRIME! If you have a GBA or SP kicking around (or a DSlite) you can get this overlooked gem on Amazon for less than a modern triple-A console release. If you're into JRPGs that were on the SNES (like Chrono Trigger) then you owe it to yourself to grab a copy of Tales of Phantasia.

 

[dimensional]

Well a lot of good ones have been mentioned alreadybut my top 3 would be:-

Final Fantasy VII
[Valkyria Chronicles] (I would not call this a JRPG but whatever, some do)
Xenoblade Chronicles
Persona 4

Shadow Hearts Convenant! I freaking love that game so much. Fun battle system and a gay wrestling superhero vampire who fights with a telephone booth in the 1920's. (I'm not making that up)

I loved Shadow Hearts covenant 2 it was so frikkin good although the wheel did grate after 40 plus hours. All I used to do was get the fire demon form charge next attack to 300% and then release as long as you didnt mess up the wheel it would carry you throughout almost the entire game including Solomon. Or just use the ultimate form which was ofc awesome but it was quite late until this was possible. Also dont forget the giant pink kitten boss

 

[TakeyB0y2]

I think anyone who classifies JRPGs are linear, un-customizable single-route stories that feature annoying whiny characters with slow turn-based combat should play Shin Megami Tensei Nocturne.

Nocturne isn't perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it does feature a very deep world despite having a very low character count. It has a morality system of sorts that effects the ending, but the various ending are all varied and aren't just your standard "good, evil, neutral" endings. The combat does feature random encounters and turn-based combat, but Atlus is awesome at taking turn-based combat and making it into something that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Also, each encounter is practically like a puzzle, which keeps all battles interesting.

 

[Tanis]

Chrono Cross:
While Chrono Trigger maybe the one that gets all 'the love'...
I think, in some ways, CC is the better game.

The story, characters, graphics, music, even the overall world is a LOT more 'casual friendly'.

It's one of the VERY few JRPGs I can play for either half a hour or twenty hours straight.

 

[Ryan Hughes]

Suikoden. Warren Spector's (Deus Ex, System Shock) favorite game of all time, and the primary inspiration for his work.
Suikoden II. The Citizen Kane of video games.
Suikoden III. The best PS2 game hands down.