Stranger of Sword City

Stranger of Sword City can be a little archaic as far as mechanics go, and it certainly isn't very welcoming for those not already accustomed to the slow first-person, dungeon-crawling style. It is, however, very deep in the gameplay department and showcases new mechanics to complement a rather long campaign.

Ultimately, it’s a pretty hardcore DRPG with enough charm, polish and challenge to get fans of the genre fired up and chomping at the bit. It may not be a great entry point for newcomers to the genre, due to its unforgiving difficulty, but those with a penchant for punishment will be satiated by, what is, Xbox One’s newest and best DRPG.

Stranger of Sword City is a stellar, and surprisingly unique example of a dungeon crawler. It's dark, grim and gothic at times, and revels in the same difficulty that Experience Inc was able to throw at players in Demon's Gaze, but its unique mechanics and themes make it one of the most boundary-pushing dungeon crawlers we have seen in recent years.

Suffice it to say, Stranger of Sword City is a must-play for JRPG fans who own an Xbox One.

A definitely unusual game for Xbox One: an old-school first person dungeon crawling JRPG, with a dozens hour story and an highly charming art style. It could have done without some questionable design choices like its unstable difficulty and way too long walls of text but everyone looking for a good JRPG on Xbox One won't be disappointed.

Having played on both Xbox One and Vita, I find that the big-screen experience really shows off Sword City's amazing artwork and provides a more immersive first-person experience.

Dungeon crawlers are rare, and even more so on Xbox consoles, and this one is definitely worth unwrapping for players that have the time and patience.

Experience has the dungeon crawler formula down, and their gradual incline in quality is a promise of great potential for reinvigorating the genre.

Stranger of Sword City is an extremely solid dungeon crawling RPG. Fans of the genre will likely lap this straight up due to a lack of options on Xbox One. However, whether it deserves a place up with the genre leaders such as Etrian Odyssey is open for debate.

This old-school dungeon crawler will give you enough content to spend a long time in the depths hunting for loot. But you should bring patience and a high tolerance for stale, dowdy presentation.