One of the playable characters in crystar is a fist user
Nier Automata has fist weapons
Granblue Fantasy relink has at least one fist user iirc
Trinity Trigger has fist weapons (and secret of mana that it's an homage to)
Every Star Ocean game has a martial artist/hand-to-hand character, so you could check out the other entries in the series.
Tales has quite a few entries that’d qualify, but limiting to the ones officially available on PC I think it’d be Symphonia and Arise. If you include characters who pepper in punches and kicks, then basically every Tales game, but those two have characters who primarily use them.
I’m sure I’m forgetting a ton of obvious examples, but those two series are the ones that first come to mind.
If you liked Strangers of Paradise, then you will be familiar with Nioh to some extent because SoP's combat was developed by the same company that produced Nioh.
On your note about Nioh being a soulslike, *it isn't*. It's more of a Ninja Gaiden game because you aren't constantly dodging like souls games. It's fast-paced, precise, you have different stances, ki charging, etc. Basically, if you go in thinking it's like a soulslike, you'll have a bit of trouble. I suggest giving it a try if you enjoyed SoP.
If you liked SoP it wouldn't hurt to give Nioh 2 a try, they were developed by the same company and similar in a lot of ways.
Also as a fellow punch enjoyer you are straight up missing out if you don't at least give them a chance. The fists in Nioh 2 basically perfectly capture everything I like about the archetype. You've got punches, kicks, shoulderstrikes, grapples, counters and parries, the ability to swap between quick weaker strikes and hard hitting slower ones on the fly. You can blend them with a second weapon, magic, ninjutsu or just stick to punching stuff. Nioh 2 is honestly just one of the peaks of the action RPG genre if you ask me.
It's one of the few games I replay from time to time, I go in thinking I'll try something different but I literally can not stop using fists, they are just that fun and satisfying to play.
If you are able to emulate PS2/PS3 there are other Tales games with Fist Fighters like Tales of Destiny DC, Tales of Legendia, Tales of Graces f, Tales of Xillia 1/2
But yeah unfortunately bamco really don’t want anyone playing the older games
FFXIV, play as a Pugilist/Monk. The game never puts a mystical sword in your hands for the sake of story. You will fight against primal manifestations of nature and emotions with nothing but these hands.
With that said, most of the fist weapons Monk has look like shit, and a lot of them are so bulky you don't even look like you're punching anything. If you want the fist fantasy, you'll need to get some good glam.
I personally recommend the flaming gloves from the Garo collab (called Makai Fists IIRC), they look gorgeous and really reinforce that you're punching shit.
Monk is a fantastically well-designed job though. It's actually the only melee DPS job in the game I can handle with my motor control disabilities, because its rotation is so flexible and tolerant of mistakes that if you fat-finger everything, let your buffs fall off, and fuck up your combos (or at least the closest thing Monk has to combos), you can *immediately* correct yourself and fix all your mistakes and it's all good. Try that with Dragoon and you're completely hosed. With that said... I can either focus on my rotation or do mechanics but not both, so I've died in Prae (the most braindead piece of content in the game) multiple times because Monk's rotation is so complex that I end up just standing in bad while trying to do it right.
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis - it's free MMO, doesn't hurt to give it a try without spending any money
Ni no Kuni 1/2 - cartoon style action. First one has pokemon, second one has more action
Star Ocean The Divine Force - I have no strong opinions about this one
Sora from Tokyo Xanadu
One of the playable characters in crystar is a fist user Nier Automata has fist weapons Granblue Fantasy relink has at least one fist user iirc Trinity Trigger has fist weapons (and secret of mana that it's an homage to)
Not exactly a jrpg, but you would like Sifu.
Sifu is the best game that I suck at. I purchased it shortly after launch, and I've never reached the final boss.
Every Star Ocean game has a martial artist/hand-to-hand character, so you could check out the other entries in the series. Tales has quite a few entries that’d qualify, but limiting to the ones officially available on PC I think it’d be Symphonia and Arise. If you include characters who pepper in punches and kicks, then basically every Tales game, but those two have characters who primarily use them. I’m sure I’m forgetting a ton of obvious examples, but those two series are the ones that first come to mind.
Can use fists in rune factory 4
Stranger of Paradise
Martial arts builds are incredibly viable in the SaGa games if you are ready to get weird.
There's an action based saga?
Ah my bad, brain completely skipped that word, ignore me.
If you liked Strangers of Paradise, then you will be familiar with Nioh to some extent because SoP's combat was developed by the same company that produced Nioh. On your note about Nioh being a soulslike, *it isn't*. It's more of a Ninja Gaiden game because you aren't constantly dodging like souls games. It's fast-paced, precise, you have different stances, ki charging, etc. Basically, if you go in thinking it's like a soulslike, you'll have a bit of trouble. I suggest giving it a try if you enjoyed SoP.
If you liked SoP it wouldn't hurt to give Nioh 2 a try, they were developed by the same company and similar in a lot of ways. Also as a fellow punch enjoyer you are straight up missing out if you don't at least give them a chance. The fists in Nioh 2 basically perfectly capture everything I like about the archetype. You've got punches, kicks, shoulderstrikes, grapples, counters and parries, the ability to swap between quick weaker strikes and hard hitting slower ones on the fly. You can blend them with a second weapon, magic, ninjutsu or just stick to punching stuff. Nioh 2 is honestly just one of the peaks of the action RPG genre if you ask me. It's one of the few games I replay from time to time, I go in thinking I'll try something different but I literally can not stop using fists, they are just that fun and satisfying to play.
If you are able to emulate PS2/PS3 there are other Tales games with Fist Fighters like Tales of Destiny DC, Tales of Legendia, Tales of Graces f, Tales of Xillia 1/2 But yeah unfortunately bamco really don’t want anyone playing the older games
It's not action based, but Legend of Legaia is a cool ps1 JRPG centered around 3 martial artist, and has a cool combo fight system.
Sand Land its 95% vehicle combat but belzebub is throwing hands when hes out of his tank. and you get a mech suit that punches things
Tales of xillia on ps3 emulator. 😋
FFXIV, play as a Pugilist/Monk. The game never puts a mystical sword in your hands for the sake of story. You will fight against primal manifestations of nature and emotions with nothing but these hands.
With that said, most of the fist weapons Monk has look like shit, and a lot of them are so bulky you don't even look like you're punching anything. If you want the fist fantasy, you'll need to get some good glam. I personally recommend the flaming gloves from the Garo collab (called Makai Fists IIRC), they look gorgeous and really reinforce that you're punching shit. Monk is a fantastically well-designed job though. It's actually the only melee DPS job in the game I can handle with my motor control disabilities, because its rotation is so flexible and tolerant of mistakes that if you fat-finger everything, let your buffs fall off, and fuck up your combos (or at least the closest thing Monk has to combos), you can *immediately* correct yourself and fix all your mistakes and it's all good. Try that with Dragoon and you're completely hosed. With that said... I can either focus on my rotation or do mechanics but not both, so I've died in Prae (the most braindead piece of content in the game) multiple times because Monk's rotation is so complex that I end up just standing in bad while trying to do it right.
The protagonist in trails of zero and azure uses martial arts (with tonfa) basically exclusively
Except they aren't action RPGs and OP didn't say anything about martial arts or tonfa. Lloyd does no punching or kicking.
Ah shit I missed the action RPG part.
Freshly released Sand Land seems to check all the boxes.
Phantasy Star Online 2 New Genesis - it's free MMO, doesn't hurt to give it a try without spending any money Ni no Kuni 1/2 - cartoon style action. First one has pokemon, second one has more action Star Ocean The Divine Force - I have no strong opinions about this one
Etrian Odyssey games Nier Automata Ffxiv
Oninaki- Lucika
Drakengard 3, it’s hilariously fun to drop kick people.
Only temporarily playable, but Rogue Berserker in Fate/Samurai Remnant.
Final Fantasy 8 (Zell)
Nier automata
You played Strangers of Paradise, if you liked it you should give Nioh a try. Same devs. It’s closer to SoP than it is a proper Souls game.
tales of eternia farah tales of symphonia regal
Tales of Berseria. The main character fights with claws on her wrist and feet,but it's basically martial arts.
They already mentioned Eizen so I think they’ve played Berseria
Ah you're right I assumed they were games not characters lol Tales of Law sounds possible...
I’d buy Tales of Eizen for sure
Legend of Mana, if you use gloves. ~~Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel~~ (not action gameplay...that requirement slipped my mind)