I'm going to suggest the same Extra Credits videos I just suggested to Egon regarding the core engagement of JRPGs

Narrative is the core engagement of JRPGs but its not the only engagement. The combat is still there, part of the game, and if the game is good then it will be engaging as well (sometimes it isnt and I admit in that case the game would have been better as a movie or maybe a kinetic novel or something, though also reception of JRPG combat can vary by taste). In fact EC actually does argue that abnegation through grinding is a core engagement for many (just isnt for me, I like JRPGs when either the grind isnt necessary because the progression is well balanced, or when the grinding is fun because I find the battles engaging in more than an abnegating way).

I mean I've argue for awhile that the owner of JRPG IPs should make animes of their games so people who dont like them can still experience the stories. Because I get theyre not for everyone. But for me, the mix works perfectly when its done well (even if I skipped battles as a kid).

ETA: It should be noted that i originally wanted to tell my stories through the JRPG medium, then decided that KNs (Possibly with coroegraphed JRPG combat to express the battles, still figuring out how action scenes will work) was the way to go about it. So I totally get how a story is better told that way.