You could do better within the Ys series, but it's still near the top of the pack as far as retro-styled action RPGs go.

It took me roughly fifteen hours to play Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn, but I could see it taking someone else either longer or shorter, depending on how they approach the game world, battles, and quests. I enjoyed every moment I played it and was astounded whenever I uncovered something new about one of its massive areas or thrilled when I came up with a winning strategy for a tough fight. Regardless of your thoughts on soulslite games, I think Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn succeeds at being an engaging action RPG. Nor and Enki are fantastic characters with whom I immensely enjoyed traveling. There’s more than enough black powder charge left in this pistol to make a spark happen if you decide to pull the trigger.

Majora's Mask 3D is a game worth experiencing, even just for its bizarre and unsettling themes. However, while enjoyable, it's not among the best the Zelda series has to offer.

Rune Factory 4 Special is a fairly underrated game from the 3DS library that I'm glad got another chance on Switch. If you were ever curious about the Harvest Moon/Story of Seasons games but perhaps farming wasn't your thing, you should check out Rune Factory 4 Special. It's the most polished game of the Rune Factory series, and if they can improve on Rune Factory 4's formula going forward, I'm looking forward to the future of this series.

It's no secret that I thoroughly enjoyed Analogue: A Hate Story. The writing is stellar, the music and graphics are stylish, and the interactive gameplay elements are immersive. I also appreciate its unapologetic attitude toward mass appeal, instead opting to please a very specific kind of gamer. Those who want to see a fine example of elevated video game storytelling would do best to check this game out. It may not be a long ride (5-7 hours for a single playthrough), but it is a satisfying one.

What French developer Enigami has managed to achieve with Shiness is admirable considering its humble beginnings. It's clear that a lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into making this adventure a reality. It's also clear that the developers fell victim to the same bogeymen that typically hinder most ambitious indie projects: time and money. Albeit flawed, Shiness is an indie gem that doesn't quite live up to its potential, yet still puts many big budget games to shame.

An above-average action RPG, but not the best the Ys series has to offer.

It ranks as my favorite installment in the trilogy. The gameplay brought nothing new to the table, but playing it for the plot and characters has left me more than satisfied.

Ultimately, I can only review what’s in front of me, and as it stands, this game shows promise that isn’t fully realized yet. Given the strength of its foundation, I’m excited to see where it’s headed in two years. If Capcom delivers, the expansion could very well be the best Monster Hunter yet.

While it may not be hailed as a classic, genre-defining game, Riven was a very strong sequel, a difficult thing to do considering the widespread popularity of Myst.

Fate/stay night Remastered holds onto several 2000s trappings that may not appeal to contemporary sensibilities, but playing it most certainly brought me back to my younger days. The moment I saw the slick anime intro following the lengthy prologue, I knew this was the kind of game I would have absolutely devoured twenty years ago. Fans laud Fate/stay night Remastered for good reason and I am glad I finally got to play it.

Neo Cab is a short but altogether engrossing and clever game that offers players a lot of replayability. Lina's journey in Los Ojos was ultimately very fulfilling once I reached one of the game's better endings, and I regretted none of my time behind the virtual wheel. Those who crave an original cyberpunk setting might find this creative, independent title worth playing.

Easily the best domestic RPG on the PSP to date. The game itself is incredibly unique and fun to play. The portability is both a blessing and a curse, allowing one of the PSOne classics to be played on the go, but limiting you to a four inch screen.

As for weaknesses, just like in its predecessor, there’s a relative lack of enemy variety in The Caligula Effect 2. I found myself fighting the same foes over and over. Also, sometimes, the game delivers several lengthy story scenes before finally letting you save your progress. If you’ve played a prior port, the PS5 port offers little incentive to replay. However, you will get the benefit of swift loading times. I’m hard-pressed to find much else to list as a weakness. The Caligula Effect 2 exceeded my expectations and is a much-improved sequel. I particularly enjoy the heartfelt exploration of its themes of empathy and understanding. I’m glad I gave this game a chance and hope others will do the same. The Caligula Effect 2 had quite a cathartic effect on me.

My final thought on The World Ends With You is that it's a grower. I was not initially sold on the game, but as I sunk more time into it, the more it grew on me.

Endlessly light and easy to play with untold improvements over the first game, this is a simple and easy blast for any players looking for something a little mindless to put on their PC.

Chroma Squad, while not perfect, is, undeniably, the best Super Sentai-based game around.

Full Metal Furies is full of charm, life, expert design, and few missteps. The story won't revolutionize the industry and the controls could be crisper, but the sheer quality in gameplay sets a higher bar not only for the genre, but for puzzle design. Period. Given Cellar Door Games' work on Rogue Legacy and FMF, I cannot wait for the next title they come up with, as their excellent game design is something they not only offer to the gaming community, but to the industry as well.

The plot is compelling, the combat is exciting, and the aesthetics are excellent as always.

While it may be a little easy and a little childish, Brave Story: New Traveler is an RPG that will appeal to an incredibly wide audience and is one of the first titles to truly take advantage of the handheld hardware Sony has provided.

It’s a shame precisely because Amnesia’s cast and setup are gripping to the point where players want to explore all the endings, to take in as much as they possibly can. Its drawbacks may reveal its age, but it’s clear that Amnesia’s renown is well-earned. While some plot elements, character tropes, and simple mechanical components also serve to date it, its story and cast make everything worth it. It’s a must-play for any otome fan, with a legacy and cast that rightly won’t be forgotten.

PSP owners who want a solid, fun, long-lasting, no-nonsense, traditional turn-based RPG will be served quite well with Crimson Gem Saga.

Muramasa is a fun game, but it's not for everyone. If you are bothered by minimal story, repetitive fighting, and a fairly short length, then it's not for you. For all other action RPG fans, Muramasa succeeds in delivering pure fun factor that's addicting and highly accessible with excellent aesthetics to complement it.

Checking off the seemingly endless number of quests and challenges on the world map is just as satisfying as scrubbing out all the waves of red representing enemies on each level’s mini-map, and I found myself unwilling to set the game down even when the going got rough. Thankfully, all you really need going into Age of Calamity is a love of cleaving through armies and the patience to see its more monotonous segments through to their end. So long as you know what you’re getting into, it’s far more exhilarating than sluggish — and prior knowledge of Breath of the Wild isn’t among the necessities.

Although a weak ending and a frustrating lack of tutorials up front limit Pope's latest release, the vast majority of his work more than makes up for these setbacks. Whether you're looking for something truly unique, thick vibes, or an excellent mystery, Obra Dinn is for you.

Sometimes brutal, but always fun, Overfall will give you hours worth of roguelite enjoyment.

There’s a wealth of single-player content in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax, not only with the extensive story mode but various other modes such as Arcade, Versus, and Golden Arena Mode, where you fight through dungeons and build stats. Unfortunately, the Switch port is lacking in the online compartment as it doesn’t offer the rollback netcode, unlike the other releases. I’m also hard-pressed to recommend the title to anyone who isn’t a fighting game fan and who isn’t familiar with both Persona 3 and Persona 4. But those who happen to fall under both umbrellas will undoubtedly find an entertaining, solid fighting game experience with some surprising RPG undertones in Persona 4 Arena Ultimax!

I love the main cast of characters and many of their allies, with every new scene featuring a particular character making me want to know them just a little more. The fact that the routes themselves skew more towards heartwarming, non-problematic stories is also a nice touch. Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights is a sentimental romantasy VN I can easily recommend to fans of the genre!

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV has been a long time coming. Not just because of the cliffhanger Cold Steel III ended on, but because it’s the conclusion to the Cold Steel arc and a convergence point for all three arcs. The game is truly at its best when it’s resolving long-standing plot threads and nodding to previous events and characters in the series. Unfortunately, it spends a lot of time spinning its wheels, and this can be frustrating given how long we’ve waited for this conclusion. It’s not a bad experience, though — just an unnecessarily long one. If you’ve come this far and want to know how it all ends, then settle yourself in for the long haul and keep going forward, relentlessly.

As excellent a conclusion as we could hope for.

We Are OFK came out of nowhere and immediately captured my attention. While the game’s concept has been done before on TV, this is, to my knowledge, the first time a video game has told the story of a fictional (or perhaps I should say, virtual) band that makes and releases real music. Really good music that I may or may not be listening to as I write this review. The plot has a few pacing issues and the gameplay is limited, but the art style is undeniably attractive, the writing is great, and I love the cast. If a future sequel — shall we say a season two? — means more time with these messed-up goofballs and more great music, I’m all for it.

Episode 4 manages to up the ante in modest ways, and continues to indicate that Telltale knows what they're doing.

Switch is definitely not the best platform for it, but the gameplay is still good and the Obsidian writing team is still top-notch.

The Oracle has shown me that Phoenix Online is in it to win it, and is working to make this series something special. Therefore, I feel no compunction whatsoever in recommending it to any discerning adventure fan.

Although their intentions may have been to reach a wider audience, Daedalic has created a children's game, and there's nothing wrong with that. Most children's games are far too innocent and insultingly dull — commercial characters giving teacherly instructions for inane tasks involving 1-2-3 and A-B-C — but The Night of the Rabbit teaches curiosity, the benefits of exploration, environmentalism, and the importance of stories: all virtuous lessons.

The content is fantastic, though the timing between episodes holds the game back.

So in the end, Laxius Force III provides a satisfying conclusion to this epic trilogy, and fans of Aldorlea's grand-daddy series will certainly be hooked for days, weeks, maybe even months.

It’s still an enjoyable romp: a world filled with brutal combat encounters, a slew of arcane mysteries, and diverse sights that can be achingly gorgeous, powerfully harrowing, and even bizarrely psychedelic. But in the course of my playthrough as Feivor, I feel that I’ve received Valhalla as it should have been. My previous praises are kept intact, and the experience is only enhanced by a narrative that subverts Norse mythology while slashing the tether that binds executive misogyny to a world where supposed viking culture has been adopted by an ahistorical, androcentric right-wing. Assassin’s Creed Valhalla can be great, but if you want an inferior experience, don’t worry: Ubisoft has you covered.

Its trio of heroes is memorable, truly standing out in a compelling and detailed narrative. In particular, this fifteen-plus hour game’s last few entertaining hours just flew by. I give the title credit for being an unexpectedly enjoyable gaming experience.

Episode 2 affirms my confidence in Telltale's ability to respect the source material.

I was happy to have the chance to revisit Ys SEVEN with fresh eyes. Falcom and XSEED have pulled off an excellent port that runs like a dream even on my (far-)below spec laptop. As far as Ys titles available on PC, we're spoiled for choice, and this is an especially fine one to revisit.

The game presents a unique mix of visual novel and puzzle gaming, with a distinctive puzzling setup supported by a fair learning curve.

In the end, Sakuna left me aglow with a warm nostalgia reminiscent of PlayStation 2 favourites like Okami, Odin Sphere, or Dark Cloud. Sakuna is a solid title with a lot of fun to be had. It has ambition, charm, and a whole myriad of interlocking systems to dive into. Despite some tedium in the early game and a dearth of content in the late game, the overall package is strong. The rhythm of the gameplay loop never loses its ability to calm and easily leads to a state of video game zen. One part beat ’em up RPG and one part farming sim, Sakuna truly excels in how well it blends these two genres. As far as I am concerned, Sakuna: Of Rice and Ruin is worth playing not just for those interested in either genre, but for people who want a taste of what indie titles can be.

Harvestella is ambitious as hell and punches way above what I suspect was a limited budget. Yes, I wish Quietus would feel like more of a threat during the game or that time management offered more of a sense of urgency than it does, but this game is going to linger in my mind. It is undoubtedly one of my favourite games of the year and gets bonus points for running perfectly on Steam Deck!

Danganronpa fans should still love this entry, even with some subpar elements.

Fate/Samurai Remnant is an all-around great game, and I can only hope we see more fantastic collaborations like this from Type-Moon and Omega Force. My imagination is already running wild as I consider what this duo might achieve with a Fate game focused on heroes such as Jeanne d’Arc, and I can’t wait to see what’s next. Fans of Fate, action RPGs, samurai games, or Japanese history in general should give Fate/Samurai Remnant a look. It’s well worth the time and serves as a rewarding experience through and through.

If you enjoy action RPGs and seeing the different ways a story can play out based on your experience, Stories: The Path of Destinies is an easy choice.

If you liked "Aria of Sorrow," pick up DoS. If not, steer clear.

Gaming enthusiasts whose time is too limited to sample every hot Nintendo classic might want to move along. However, those among us who can still devote ample hours to our favorite franchises (and can tolerate a few terribly repetitive angles) will find a lot to love here. That’s the most I could hope for from Skyward Sword HD, and indeed, it has delivered.

I was quite pleasantly surprised by the fun I had with Terra Memoria. I found it thoroughly entertaining from start to finish, mostly based on how snappy the game felt to play and how joyful it was to look at and listen to. As a fan of RPGs, it’s put the development studio, La Moutarde, on the map for me, and I will eagerly anticipate any future projects of theirs. I could tell that the game’s director, Francois Bertrand, had a clear vision for what he wanted the game to be. I can excuse that this title isn’t a romping deep epic because it never tries to be. It is the studio’s own take on classic JRPGs, and it’s surprisingly rare to see such a successful attempt. They’ve avoided creating a stale rehash by designing a modern game that neither wears the clothes of an old game nor stumbles over the mistakes of its senior games. Terra Memoria is a taste of something great and wraps things up before it loses momentum.

Imitation is the greatest form of flattery, but Salt and Sanctuary is truly inspired.

Great characters, fun story, witty script.

The Dwarves is a game that came out of a Kickstarter campaign, and it's absolutely the type of success you'd hope for as a gamer. It's a fun game with a really good story, thanks to a solid adaptation of good source material. It looks good and it sounds good, and my few frustrations with menu controls and a couple of battles I had a hard time surviving really don't diminish my appreciation for the game as a whole.

Overall, Final Fantasy IV: The Complete Collection is a solid package, especially with an MSRP of $29.99. Even though it isn't the definitive version of the game, it is a solid way into the franchise and the best way to experience The After Years.

A good clean fun, no nonsense, SRPG.

With the new content included and a controller in the USB port, Dark Souls: Prepare to Die Edition is the best version of the game – just not by as much of a margin as some might've hoped for.

On its own, it is a nice little adventure in a new area that begs to be explored. It improves Forbidden West’s already outstanding visuals and introduces a great new character who is more than a match for Aloy, something the series has arguably been missing. However, the overall plot and primary antagonist feel like a retread of the main game, there are only a few noteworthy gameplay additions, and there’s less to do than you might expect. Despite these issues, I still had a good time exploring the ruins of Los Angeles, and the hints dropped at the end of the DLC definitely lead to some interesting speculation about the direction of the next game. So ultimately, I would say the pros outweigh the cons. Burning Shores might not tide over everyone, but I think most fans will enjoy it.

It's more Fallout. If you liked Fallout 3, you'll probably like this.

A perfectly proportioned adventure in a colorful land where you are the only one who can solve the mystery of the end of the world.

That said, if you like graphic adventures and poor controls are not generally a dealbreaker for you, don't let that one issue stop you from trying Gemini Rue. It's got logical puzzles that require thought but don't have a lot of red herrings to guide you away from the correct path, great voice acting that complements a worthwhile story from start to finish, and just the right atmosphere.

If you've never been impressed with Pokémon games the newest entries will likely not change your mind, but if you enjoy visiting the world time and again and wouldn't mind revisiting the land of Johto, you can't go wrong with Heart Gold and Soul Silver.

Yakuza 0 is a lot of Yakuza, showing a great deal of excess, brilliance and occasional frustration in equal fashion. There's lots and lots to do, a great story to breathe in, and wonderful characters who play well off each other. At the same time, 0 lacks some of the innovations and gameplay conceits that came with later titles, and it's also just as frustrating in places as some of the franchise's more egregious offenders.

Octopath Traveler 0 reminds us that what we chase often changes who we become. The game asks you to consider what it truly means to rebuild: whether it is a town, a life, or even yourself. I very much enjoyed this journey, particularly for its incredible story. However, I recognize it’s not a game for everyone, with its repetitive battles and remnants of its mobile origins. But for those who have the patience, this is an adventure well worth taking; just make sure you bring a comfortable chair and a strong cup of tea.

There's murder, intrigue, babysitting, and thoughtful contemplation on what it means to be a man and a father in these changing times.

I certainly had no objections to playing through Spirit of Justice, and I wholeheartedly recommend it to fans of the series. And to those who have never touched an Ace Attorney game before, I suggest that you start way back at the beginning. You won't regret it!

There’s not much negative I can say about Trials of Kokoro without falling into extreme nitpicking territory. It’s a very well-polished game that does what it sets out to do. Those who aren’t the biggest fans of RPGs with VN presentation might not be as keen to pick it up, but those who don’t mind VN/RPG hybrids will find much to appreciate. The game’s linear progression might also be off-putting, but I had so much fun with the combat, party management, and plot progression that I didn’t mind that aspect. For those that Trials of Kokoro will appeal to, this is an entertaining journey to Vitaria and a trial worth overcoming.

With Sea of Stars, Sabotage set out to create a spiritual successor to 16-bit JRPGs of yore, succeeding in some ways but failing in others. With this DLC, you will find the exact same strengths and weaknesses as in the main game. Throes of the Watchmaker is a very good piece of DLC for a very good game! Though the combat system and visual presentation are triumphs, the story and characters might leave you feeling underwhelmed. It would be interesting to see how Sabotage could improve on this solid RPG foundation, but I suspect they plan to move on to other pastures. Much like how they declined to make a sequel to The Messenger, my money says that their third game will also be a completely different genre and likely outside of our coverage. Given the baffling number of Super Punch-Out!! references present (yeah, the game is still meta), maybe they will be diving into a new take on that classic SNES title! But as this studio consistently delivers mechanically engaging, visual treats to the eyes, I am willing to explore whatever direction they take next!

Doesn't do much of anything RPG fans haven't seen countless times before-but it does everything we've seen time and again well.

If anything about what I described here sounds intriguing and you’re not inherently opposed to a little jank, I implore you to check Fading Afternoon out. Despite some clear inspirations, there’s really nothing else out there like the games Yeo has put out—and this might be his most intricate and compelling work yet.

While Triangle Strategy isn’t the second coming of Final Fantasy Tactics, it carves out its own identity as a title that is stylistically similar, yet certainly distinct. Serious pacing issues hurt it, as I’m not sure everyone wants to wait twenty hours for a game to be what it should have been at the start, but once it got there, I couldn’t stop playing or thinking about it. With New Game+ staring me in the face, I’m eager for a new challenge and to explore roads not yet walked. I also have a newly discovered appreciation for food seasoning.

I really hate comparing one game to another in games criticism. But, with anything Eiyuden Chronicle, it’s inevitable. We’re all hoping for the next Suikoden with Hundred Heroes. To be clear, Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is not working on that level. But it doesn’t need to. It does get one part of Suikoden just right: the feeling of progression as you build a community. Taken for what it is, a wonderful little townbuilding Metroidvania-like title, it’s stellar. Time will tell if Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising is truly necessary before playing Hundred Heroes, but it stands tall as a delightful little game all on its own.

Despite lackluster music, Hakuoki is an enjoyable visual novel that could actually make gamers rethink their perception of Idea Factory.

Tales of Graces f Remastered presents the ideal way to experience this enjoyable entry in the Tales series. While I can’t promise Graces will revolutionise your view of the genre, I can assure you of an enjoyable time in the company of an entertaining group of characters, coupled to a battle system that gets your adrenaline flowing. Just like Sophie, the memories you create in your time here will be worth the journey.

If you are looking for an entertaining, if somewhat brief, Xenogears and Xenosaga inspired JRPG, then check out Sanctus Mortem. This lovingly crafted and highly polished game made me want to enlist in Thrasik Prime's spacefaring program and join Captain Hector's crew aboard the Rhoube. On the other hand, it sometimes colored a little too neatly inside the lines and ended well before I was ready for it to end. I would love to see Kisareth Studios' future projects strive beyond the RPG Maker pale and incorporate more subversively unique content.

With addictive, entertaining action RPG gameplay and an effective gothic atmosphere, Order of Ecclesia is a ridiculously fun game.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger has a lot to offer as a monster-taming RPG. A heartfelt story lies at its core, despite some dissonance regarding its target audience, and the gameplay mechanics are polished and thoroughly entertaining. You could find yourself spending hours and hours playing the game and experimenting with customization alone! I had a great time playing the primary story campaign in particular, and found myself growing to care about the characters. As far as an interactive Digimon experience goes, I think that sentiment proves just how much Digimon Story: Time Stranger ultimately delivers.

I had never played these games before, and it's possible that those darn kids we all hear about these days might not enjoy the decidedly retro gameplay and so-bad-it's-good translation. On the other hand, if you've got an eye for classics that have aged better than fine wine and been given the premium porting treatment, I see no way you could go wrong picking this one up.

The Vanishing of Ethan Carter could have been a much more exciting and violent game, and many would probably have enjoyed that more, but I like it how it is: quiet, relaxing, and pensive. The Astronauts understand that a little subtlety goes a long way.

Trails in the Sky the 3rd is one for the fans; it's for those of us who are in deep, who devour every morsel of lore and character development because we can't get enough of this world. It's also notably inaccessible, requiring easily upwards of 100 hours of investment in previous titles to fully appreciate. But isn't worrying about that sort of missing the point? The 3rd is a heartfelt goodbye to a trilogy that has become dear to my heart, and I am deeply grateful that more adventures exist in this world, because I don't know if I'll ever be ready for the Trails magic to end.

The Eyes of Ara succeeds in providing just the right balance of difficulty in its puzzles while expertly weaving them into the environment.

Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance is everything gamers have come to expect from this series, for better or worse. I can't recommend it to newcomers in any way, but for those who have followed it this far, they'll find a flawed game that occasionally reaches some great highs.

If you've been hankering for a good 2D Action RPG that lets you dash around as a half-vampire in a massive dungeon, maybe it's time you go back and check out the game that really started the modern Castlevania phenomenon.

This is the Disgaea you know and love, but with a fresh coat of paint and enough new features to warrant another trip through the Netherworld, dood.

While this game will not end gamers quest for an irreplaceable Nintendo DS RPG, it can certainly entertain them for 15-20 hours.

Where To the Moon spoke to me when I struggled with the looming risk of my father’s death, Fishbowl speaks to me as I struggle to come to terms with it. I’m thoroughly impressed that two first-time designers made such a good game, especially during a pandemic, and I hope to see more in the future.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is a wild ride which will leave you feeling both hope and despair, and that's exactly what I was looking for

Despite its technical issues, Game of Thrones has strong content.

Though it comes with some bugs, ample load times when entering or leaving a dungeon, and an English localization that shows some evidence of the developer's Spanish roots, Moonlighter presents well. While some may shy away from the repetitive formula, I am certain fans of the roguelike genre will find a lot to play with in Moonlighter. That being said, the scant story is not so demanding that players need commit fully to it in one continuous playthrough. Thus, Digital Sun has developed Moonlighter into something that feels as timeless as its role models and will welcome back players delve after delve.

With stellar combat, a nuanced story that keeps things interesting, stunning art design, and a killer soundtrack, The Alliance Alive HD Remastered is a worthy addition to the incredible line-up of Switch RPGs.

Sweet Fuse is not the most emotionally arresting visual novel I've played, but it executes on everything it promises to deliver.

Throughout my Relayer playthrough, I thoroughly enjoyed every moment, even the overly long battles near the end. It’s a challenging, fun, and charming game with a lot of great systems and unit design. Relayer is a game that I’d recommend to anime, mecha, and SRPG fans alike. Though it’s a little on the long side, it feels completely worth the time investment. The game has a solid ending, and after the credits roll, an entire post-game opens up with 35 more episodes of content covering the aftermath of the game’s events. Relayer is a game that continually upended my expectations. It ended up being far more vast than I thought, and I eagerly look forward to a sequel.

An easy recommendation for those looking to munch on some popcorn while you get the crap scared out of you.

Banishers: Ghosts of New Eden grabs you by the soul and drags you through Hell. It’s a harrowing story that takes some turns you might not expect from the premise. Despite the lackluster combat, it’s easy to want to get lost in the woods and the gorgeous and frightening world of New Eden. It’s another common win for DON’T NOD, and it will continue to haunt me.

Overall, Death’s Door is an enjoyable homage to 2D Zelda games with some additional quirky flair thrown in. It is a satisfying experience whose main drawback is its overall safeness, plus a lack of replayability. Some may also be turned off by the lack of extreme difficulty, which can be another source of replay value for many similar games. I would recommend Death’s Door to those looking for a nostalgia fix that won’t try your patience or just want to enjoy a memorable and contemplative audiovisual style.

The thing is, routine will always get disrupted, and it’s often difficult to come back from that in real life, too, for some people. Perhaps that’s what Loop Hero‘s endless apocalypse is all about. Learning to try again, try something different, or approach something in a different way to get back on track and re-experience the familiar. It’s easy to get lost going in circles, but once you find something you’re comfortable with, it’s easy to slip in, forget about your problems, and focus—even if the world’s secrets are enshrouded by an apocalypse.

I didn't love this chapter quite as much as I loved the first, but I'd still happily recommend it to anyone who likes point 'n' click adventure games.

An incredibly addictive gameplay experience that ropes you in, dazzling you with its unique world and storytelling, that you will quickly lose sleep over.

Rune Factory 4 is a game I did not expect to like as much as I did, proving that it's nice to be wrong about things from time to time. Its addictive blend of farming, fighting, and friend-ing makes for a fun, lighthearted experience that's easy to get lost in for hours at a time.