Is playing the previous games recommended?

[Kana]

Haven't played a Disgaea game since the PS3 era.

[NoPJag]

Hi Kana, I don't think it is necessary to play the previous games. Stories have never been linked to one another. You still will probably get some characters of the previous installment as well with this new game.

[murometz]

Consider playing Disgaea 5--before or after D7 isn't important. There's no connection, but D5 has all the bizarre humor, complexity, and QoL improvements made to the series over the years. Forget D6: it was a streamlined, far less interesting game, and the first time in the series (which I've played save D3) that the writing sounds forced. Just my opinion, mind. It will be interesting to see how D5 and D7 compare.

[NoPJag]

Originally posted by murometz:

Consider playing Disgaea 5--before or after D7 isn't important. There's no connection, but D5 has all the bizarre humor, complexity, and QoL improvements made to the series over the years. Forget D6: it was a streamlined, far less interesting game, and the first time in the series (which I've played save D3) that the writing sounds forced. Just my opinion, mind. It will be interesting to see how D5 and D7 compare.

I share the opinion of murometz that D5 might be a safer bet than D6, also curious about D7.

[Larzech]

I would strongly recommend Disgaea 1 with the most memorable characters and story (best in the series imo). It has the least features, making it the simplest and cheapest game to begin with. The game evolves rapidly from it so it is hard to return to Disgaea 1 later. The story is not tied together with each entry, just like Final Fantasy series.

Summary: Disgaea 4 or 5 for the gameplay. Disgaea 1 for story, price and simplicity.

[Miim]

I suggest playing Disgaea 1 first, mostly because those characters are fan favorites and they show up again in every other game so it's probably worth being familiar with them. Some of them are actually relevant to the story in 4 of the games too (including Disgaea 1 and Disgaea D2), not just post game like most characters. The mechanics are very dated but it kinda sets the bar for Disgaea story and humor and gets you familiar with the main recurring characters. You can't really go wrong with any of them though, including Disgaea 7. You don't need to play any of them to understand any of the other stories.

[Michel Baie]

Disgaea 5 for the gameplay. It has one of the worst story and most of the main cast is unsufferable IMO, but the gameplay is great.
Story wise, Disgaea 1 is the best.

If you only have time for one game tho, I suggest managing to find and play Disgaea D2. It combines refined gameplay seen in later games, with the returning cast of the first one.
That say, this one stayed as a PS3 exclusive so far, so you may have to, erm, "jump through some hoops" to play it if you don't have the hardware or a copy available somewhere.

[NoPJag]

Originally posted by Hibachi:

I suggest managing to find and play Disgaea D2.

Good entry in the series for sure, but not on PC I'm afraid.

[Almea]

Originally posted by Kino:

I suggest playing Disgaea 1 first, mostly because those characters are fan favorites and they show up again in every other game so it's probably worth being familiar with them. Some of them are actually relevant to the story in 4 of the games too (including Disgaea 1 and Disgaea D2), not just post game like most characters. The mechanics are very dated but it kinda sets the bar for Disgaea story and humor and gets you familiar with the main recurring characters. You can't really go wrong with any of them though, including Disgaea 7. You don't need to play any of them to understand any of the other stories.

Feel like it's worthy to note that when this person says recurring characters, they just mean they show up in DLC and have no real part in the story other than than a few short non-canon DLC levels which you play to unlock them. Knowing Disgaea 1's characters (or any others) is absolutely not needed to understand the story of any disgaea game.

[NoPJag]

Originally posted by Vis:

Originally posted by Kino:

I suggest playing Disgaea 1 first, mostly because those characters are fan favorites and they show up again in every other game so it's probably worth being familiar with them. Some of them are actually relevant to the story in 4 of the games too (including Disgaea 1 and Disgaea D2), not just post game like most characters. The mechanics are very dated but it kinda sets the bar for Disgaea story and humor and gets you familiar with the main recurring characters. You can't really go wrong with any of them though, including Disgaea 7. You don't need to play any of them to understand any of the other stories.

Feel like it's worthy to note that when this person says recurring characters, they just mean they show up in DLC and have no real part in the story other than than a few short non-canon DLC levels which you play to unlock them. Knowing Disgaea 1's characters (or any others) is absolutely not needed to understand the story of any disgaea game.

You are right to mention it and it is true.

[Michel Baie]

Originally posted by NoPJag:

Originally posted by Vis:

Feel like it's worthy to note that when this person says recurring characters, they just mean they show up in DLC and have no real part in the story other than than a few short non-canon DLC levels which you play to unlock them. Knowing Disgaea 1's characters (or any others) is absolutely not needed to understand the story of any disgaea game.

You are right to mention it and it is true.

Only to a point.
While I agree playing previous games aren't necessary to understand the stories, it's always nice to have the references... and no, recurring characters aren't (or at least, *weren't*) always DLC.

Etna is one of the MC of Disgaea 2 and the rest of the gang shows up in post-game.
Flonne is part of the story of Disgaea 4.
And obviously, Disgaea D2, being a direct sequel, also benefit from knowing the characters and events of Disgaea 1.

And that's not counting the large amount of cameos from everyone.

... but, yeah. F*ck DLCs, seeing old characters returning in post game was way more fun than paying for them to appear from nowhere.

[NoPJag]

Originally posted by Hibachi:

Originally posted by NoPJag:

You are right to mention it and it is true.

Only to a point.
While I agree playing previous games aren't necessary to understand the stories, it's always nice to have the references... and no, recurring characters aren't (or at least, *weren't*) always DLC.

Etna is one of the MC of Disgaea 2 and the rest of the gang shows up in post-game.
Flonne is part of the story of Disgaea 4.
And obviously, Disgaea D2, being a direct sequel, also benefit from knowing the characters and events of Disgaea 1.

And that's not counting the large amount of cameos from everyone.

... but, yeah. F*ck DLCs, seeing old characters returning in post game was way more fun than paying for them to appear from nowhere.

This is true equally, I didn't play the 1 althought I have it on steam because the gameplay is just a bit dated to me, but for sure I did enjoy playing D2 with these characters, who indeed are funny.

My favorite remains Valvatorez though! Sardines!!!! Maybe because that was the first entry I have ever played.

[Almea]

Originally posted by Hibachi:

Originally posted by NoPJag:

You are right to mention it and it is true.

Only to a point.
While I agree playing previous games aren't necessary to understand the stories, it's always nice to have the references... and no, recurring characters aren't (or at least, *weren't*) always DLC.

Etna is one of the MC of Disgaea 2 and the rest of the gang shows up in post-game.
Flonne is part of the story of Disgaea 4.
And obviously, Disgaea D2, being a direct sequel, also benefit from knowing the characters and events of Disgaea 1.

And that's not counting the large amount of cameos from everyone.

... but, yeah. F*ck DLCs, seeing old characters returning in post game was way more fun than paying for them to appear from nowhere.

Forgot Etna and Flonne there, whoops.

[Prinny]

Recommended? Yeah.. play 1, 2, 4 and 5. or basically the whole Makai collection. (Disgaea, Makai Kingdom, Phantom Brave, Soul nomad, LaPucelle Tactic, etc etc etc)
Mandatory? nah. pick up any of the games and start playing. All you are missing are some inside-jokes or easter-eggs/reference to the previous games. Nothing major. You can always infer what the character are talking about even if you have no idea what happened in the other games. Most of the time, extra character from other games are dumbed down to a "spoiler free basic rendition of their personality or role". They never influence the story... except for Etna and Flonne. But you pretty much get what you see from them and they are very vocals about how or why.
Imagine picking up CoD MW2... you don't need to have played the first one... same for Rainbow six, need for speed, Etrian Odyssey etc. don't get intimidated by the "7", it just means it's the 7th mainline core game... like ff7... you're not missing anything important to the game you're about to play if you didn't play ff1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10.... etc. It's the same here.

I'd still recommend pretty much any disgaea game if you can get your hands on it. If you want a fun challenge, the 5 is absolutely fantastic for beginner. Disgaea D2 and Disgaea 2 are perfect to grasp the humor and silly shenanigan you might encounter playing any Makai Senki game. Disgaea 3 is widely loved in the west, not so much in the east (cultural I guess). Disgaea 1 might feel clunky but it is a SOLID pick for the lore and story. Especially to get to know Etna more deeply. Any other are also fine. those are just my personal pick/thoughts.

quick edit: just don't play 6. avoid it.

[Rogue Medic]

Avoid 6 I will say 6 was not that good but 7 I played the japanese demo on PS4 and the full game in Japanese on PS4 this game will be worth it I promise

[Neonivek]

The thing I find oddest about 6 is... it is the worst Disgaea in every way. It has the worst story, worst cast, and worst gameplay.