The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II is an enjoyable RPG experience, especially from a character stance. It isn’t the most substantial sequel within The Legend of Heroes: Trails series’ lineup, but it’s far from a terrible game. I enjoyed playing it and eagerly await the next adventure to hit the Zemurian continent. We should heed the lessons of the past, if only so that brand-new possibilities might emerge, and I feel The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II encapsulates that message well.

Scott Pilgrim EX appeals to me in many ways, mostly in how it lets me reflect on my life in and out of gaming. It’s endlessly entertaining on the eyes and ears, and it has the best belt-scrolling combat this side of Streets of Rage 4. The swings it takes in terms of pushing its genre or reaching towards a new audience don’t always connect, but it’s still a quick, joyful experience I’m happy to continue playing both solo and with loved ones (and you random people online, I guess).

From its engrossing and entertaining plot to the detailed and multifaceted gameplay, I had fun throughout my entire playthrough of the original Ys: Memories of Celceta, and I also had fun picking up this enhanced Switch version years later. Adol’s story has always been about the excitement and sense of adventure one gets when losing themselves in a journey, and Celceta captures that feeling poignantly. Ys Memoire: Revelations in Celceta might not be the most extensive remaster, but the original was such a solid ARPG experience that it still stands strong, despite its more dated graphics. Returning players may or may not be convinced to replay the game, but Ys Memoire: Revelations of Celceta is certainly worth newcomers trying out if they haven’t yet experienced the Celcetan journey.

Once you get over the fact that it’s not Pokémon, Yo-Kai Watch is sure to delight adventuresome types looking for a good laugh.

A good game that retreads a lot of old ground and uses its last few hours to squander the good will it's earned up until then.

When we hear the word masquerade, we usually think of a social gathering where people wear masks and other fancy attire. But this word is much more than a mere event. As a noun, a masquerade can also signify a false pretense or show. And as a verb, a person who masquerades is a person who pretends to be something they are not. With definitions like these, masquerada is a truly fitting title for this game. Underneath its guise of political machinations, Masquerada: Songs and Shadows is a mirror depicting the ever-present shadows in society while also reflecting the societal masquerade that humanity subconsciously participates in.

A really decent RPG. This is the game you were looking for, I promise. It's lengthy, but not 80-hours-lengthy. It's hard, but not impossible. It's engrossing, but not so much that it will ruin your life (unlike "World of Warcraft.")

Ever Oasis is a competent blend of simulation and action RPG that revels in its celebration of nature's bounty.

While the game is available on mobile devices and the Sony family of handhelds, I feel confident that the Switch is the definitive system to play this title on the go, especially since it allows you to seamlessly throw it up on the big screen at will. Whether you are a returning fan or someone new to Final Fantasy IX, this port is the best way to play a classic from a beloved RPG series.

If you can deal with the kiddie atmosphere and lackluster graphics, Final Fantasy Fables: Chocobo's Dungeon provides an enjoyable gameplay experience.

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 not perfect and certainly has its share of hiccups, but if you go in expecting to tear up some mean guys and rock out to some great music, you'll definitely be happy. And with a $20 price tag, you really can't go wrong.

Cat Quest II feels like the perfect game for a parent and child to play together. This is likely a growing market, so I applaud the publisher for being on top of this. The game hides enough potentially mature jokes to keep adults chuckling along, while the kiddo may fall in love with the adorable atmosphere. Although never too difficult, Cat Quest II seems to hit the sweet spot of demanding one's attention while never being too frustrating. I think anyone could actually enjoy this game, if one doesn't mind a chill, cozy excursion into the land of meows and ruffs.

If you're looking for a fun time, a happy time, or a smooth ride, this isn't your game. If you're looking for something to chew on and to learn about a person or people you might not be able to truly see in our real world, then Stillness is here. I wish more games tried to communicate these kinds of messages.

7th Dragon III Code: VFD rewards those who are dedicated to its unique brand of role-playing and feeds the rest to the dragons.

Twelve Minutes is an exercise in patience and the thrill of discovery. Many will tap out before discovering all of the endings or the true ending, whatever that is. I tossed in the towel after about six hours because I passed a point-of-no-return that the game alluded to but didn’t make it explicitly clear to me. The idea of having to redo everything I had already done was unthinkable, so I quit. I had gotten a couple of endings at that point, so I was satisfied enough. I imagine this will be a title that enthusiasts will speculate on and theorize over for a long while, while others will pass on it in frustration as it leaves a bad taste in their mouths. Although not totally satisfying, I’m glad I played it, and I think for the right person, this is a rewarding and thought-provoking adventure.

Overall, Rise of the Ronin is assuredly a case of the pros outweighing the cons, but the cons can be tough to brush aside when they arise. For its first major open-world action game, Team Ninja has done a fantastic job here, and the amount of quality-of-life additions present that many similar games add after launch with patches is truly commendable. Having an abundance of fast-travel points and the ability to sprint in and out of combat without draining your stamina, for instance, may seem trivial but they make all the difference.

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.

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

An honest insight into the tragedy of loss and growth in youth. I'm torn, because I want so much more of Chloe and Rachel — what a beautiful duo — but I know that all good things must end — some sooner than others. This one, as we all know, will be coming to an end too soon. I'm just not sure I'm emotionally ready for it.

Entertaining for what it is, I don’t think Veritus is going to knock anyone over, but it doesn’t have to. The world was built for sevens, and if you want an old-school game that is reasonably fun, that’s what you get here. I love that the team made such an attempt to change up the formula from most games we see, but I wish more of it felt fun or engrossing. Storytelling’s tricky because going through the motions and delivering a ham-fisted story certainly feels tired, but if it lacks clarity, it’s going to be hard for earnest individuals to buy into your world. Still, Veritus charms, and those chasing nostalgia may actually be met with a tight, creative adventure.

Quite possibly one of the greatest RPGs ever made, Nocturne has stood the test of time and demands to be played.

If you don't enjoy experimental games or those that refuse to handhold, or if you simply have no interest in the tabletop roots of RPGs, forget about it. Crimson Shroud's unique concept and esoteric execution make it a perfect match for my RPG desires, however, and one of my favorites of 2012.

Despite (or because of) Attentat 1942's short duration, there's nary a slow moment. A small thread quickly expands to a tapestry of narratives that weaves around the protagonist's grandfather. For those who love exploring history or simply resolving an investigation, Attentat 1942 provides a fascinating intersection between history and gameplay. Given that there's still plenty of room for more games like this to emerge, I look forward to seeing what else the Czech Academy of Sciences concocts in the future.

Wild Hearts is another great monster-hunting title that suffers the most from comparisons to the well-established Monster Hunter series. The developers have promised that DLC is on the way in the coming months with more kemono and karakuri, and it’s all going to be free with no paid updates in the plans (not yet, at least), so there’ll be more to bring you back to Azuma. Even after finishing the main game, there’s plenty left over in the endgame to challenge hunters hungry for more. It’s an impressive effort, with a world that continually beckons hunters to return. Gear up, for the hunt is on.

A Telltale-esque title set in suburban America that hints at maturity.

Overall, despite some of my criticisms on the game's presentation, I do think Operencia was a fun experience. The main plot was fairly unengaging, but I enjoyed seeing the character interactions and came to know them as the game went on. While some of the exploring and puzzles got frustrating at times, there were other times when I did not want to turn the game off before fully exploring a floor or clearing an area. The game was not particularly difficult or long, around 20 hours of playtime, but there is definitely potential replay value with the difficulty settings (including permadeath and map-less options) and protagonist creation. Operencia can be inconsistent in presentation and difficulty, but I would lightly recommend it to anyone looking for a traditional RPG experience with emphasis on exploration.

As Dusk Falls is a gripping tale of fate, chaos, and a storm of desire from several strong characters; everyone wants something, and not everyone is going to get what they want. Fortunately, you have the ability to steer the ship, but the thing about storms and ships is that sometimes the laws of nature have more sway. That’s how life goes — a reality which is expertly communicated in this solemn story.