So, does Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii deliver the madcap pirate-y quest starring Majima we were promised? Almost! It certainly isn’t the gold standard of Like a Dragon, or pirate games in general for that matter, but it delivers a solid representation of both. It features one of the series’ best protagonists, tells a pretty compelling story, and fills in many of the blanks left over from Infinite Wealth. I certainly enjoyed it more than The Man Who Erased His Name. Pirate Yakuza might not be the treasure we were hunting, but with its solid plot and a delightful cast of characters, maybe the real treasure was the friends (and enemies) we made along the way.

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.

By Afterlove EP’s closing moments, I was happy to take the needle from the vinyl and put the record back in its sleeve. I will file it away in the collection, an imperfect album, with some standout tracks that make the filler worthwhile.

Final Fantasy XVI is phenomenal if you enjoy action RPGs, especially if you appreciate well-written stories that build upon themselves, teeming with memorable characters and poignantly emotional moments. I’m glad I finally got to play it in its entirety, even if it wasn’t remotely close to its recommended specs. The final boss fight and ending scenes left me with so many feelings, and those on the fence about Final Fantasy XVI for any reason should at least give the game a chance. Like me, they might find a hidden gem underneath.

Suffice it to say, Shujinkou is one of the most ambitious indie games I’ve ever played. It not only satisfies the DRPG craving, but also rivals the industry and genre giants in delivering a complete experience. Whether you’re a longtime fan of the genre or just curious to try something new, this is the one.

If you’ve previously played Tokyo Xanadu eX+, there probably isn’t enough new here to warrant a revisit. If you are a new player or have only experienced the original Vita release back in 2017, then give this Switch version a second look. It’s rare for a Switch port to have few significant compromises, and even rarer still for that port to be the best version of the game, but Aksys and Falcom did a great job with this release.

While later games in the series may better realize the cowboy flavors of the setting in terms of visuals — trading 2D sprites and 3D chibi renderings of our heroes for new casts and new Filgaias unique in all but name — Wild ARMs stands as a unique gem nestled in the shadow of PlayStation JRPG giants, waiting to be explored by the more patient of players. For all its constant availability across five generations of PlayStations, Wild ARMs deserves the quality-of-life enhancements of its peers to make it feel like less of a chore.

Genso Manège is an otome that I, admittedly, had a preconceived notion of what it would be like given its “soft and sweet” appearance. Underneath its pastel visuals, I was pleasantly surprised to find a gripping and emotional story about overcoming hardships and loss populated by a memorable cast. Genso Manège certainly adheres to “don’t judge a book by its cover” due to its hidden narrative depth alongside finely-tuned traditional visual novel elements and a fun optional puzzle mechanic, providing fellow romantasy junkies a new game to adore.

Despite fundamental similarities between the two games, Starward Vector builds on its predecessor in a way that feels perfectly logical: a reframing and culmination of the design philosophy that defines the series thus far. You could easily look at screenshots of either Citizen Sleeper game and think them a niche interest, but I don’t think that’s true. It may resemble a visual novel in some ways, but the overall experience it offers feels like a full-fledged RPG. As long as you aren’t opposed to reading a lot of good writing, Citizen Sleeper 2 is an indie investment worth considering. With an endearing and well-rounded cast, tight and expressive game systems, and a visionary sci-fi world to get lost in, this is an early frontrunner for 2025 RPGs.

Coridden, while lacking polish, also shines like a diamond with its wealth of ideas, theming, and creative setting. Almost better as a proof-of-concept, my intention isn’t to steer the developers away from success, but to highlight that the hard part’s been done: good game design. All that’s needed is some QA. For you, reader, you may enjoy seeing what’s being chewed on here, but don’t go in expecting a crisp experience.

While it’s still a promising effort by a clearly talented studio, that promise seemingly could take several post-launch patches to show through fully. If you’re at all interested in Eternal Strands, I would personally recommend waiting several months to a year before picking it up.

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero may not be the most unique JRPG in recent memory, but there’s still not much out there that can capture the specific charm of its gameplay. It’s a delight if you’ve never played a Nippon Ichi RPG or if you’re a veteran, and as one of those veterans, I’m so glad that this series has returned from the dead. Seems to be a theme.

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.

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.

So long as those flaws don’t seem like deal breakers, Dynasty Warriors Origin is the easiest recommendation I’ve had in the mainline series. It’s got a more substantial format, more potent storytelling, and more engaging combat than the series has seen before. While individual elements of other games may stand out, Origins is the most complete package currently, even though it’s not the full Romance of the Three Kingdoms story. It’s the starting point for a direction we’ll almost certainly be seeing more of, and it’s a direction we’re lucky to have sitting ahead of us. As it stands, Dynasty Warriors Origins is the top of the mountain. It’s not to be missed.

The sad thing is, there are glimmers of something better. The four main characters have the potential to be appealing, with interesting backstories and some good interaction between them. This is aided by some competent performances by their respective voice actors, although undercut by the messy translation. There is a grandeur hiding behind the failure, like finding the gilt edges on some faded theatrical scenery. For all my displeasure, I would like to see this studio approach similar subject matter again, but this time with more respect for the audience. It would take some serious persuasion to bring me back into the fold. I cannot see that happening for a very, very long time.

While the additions to Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana are slight, they make this already excellent action RPG marginally more enticing. For those who have played previous versions, I wouldn’t say the changes make this edition essential beyond the convenience of being available on modern platforms. But for everyone else, Oath in Felghana is a classic that deserves to be played, and it’s now more accessible than ever. So, take a pointer from Adol and go have yourself an adventure!

Mario & Luigi: Brothership has you covered if—and only if—Mario RPG mechanics are your favorite thing and you want the largest mass of them yet. If they aren’t, you’re probably going to struggle to get over the initial five-hour hump before the game truly begins. While I didn’t outright hate most of my time with the game, would I have even seen it through to its conclusion if I weren’t reviewing it, even as a fan of Mario RPGs who wants to see Nintendo make more? Possibly not. Perhaps the best thing to do about Mario & Luigi: Brothership is to hope Nintendo realizes the missteps here and has the resolve to try their hand at the franchise once more instead of abandoning it again.

Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated is a delightful remake of a good game. The original Breath of Death VII is a favorite among indie game fans for a reason, and this version is even better. With lovely graphics, solid gameplay, fantastic music, amusing writing, a manageable length to fit into any busy schedule, and a satisfying RPG experience for half the price of a movie ticket, Breath of Death VII: The Beginning: Reanimated is worth your time.

Beloved Rapture is a memorable indie gaming experience that admirably captures the feel of classic traditional RPGs throughout its twenty-plus hour playtime. I especially enjoy the story’s focus on Aiden and Johan’s evolving bond and appreciate the underlying message of love and perseverance. The rushed components near the end lessen the impact the narrative might’ve otherwise had, but I still enjoyed playing Beloved Rapture by the time the credits rolled. Those desiring a traditional RPG homage should consider giving Beloved Rapture a try for themselves.

Truthfully, there isn’t anything Paper Perjury does that’s inherently negative. It’s a solid VN experience, albeit with a more straightforward and relaxed gameplay loop than the Ace Attorney games. The script is error-free, and I like how the plot is mainly self-contained but still manages to hint at further stories to tell in Azure City. For those craving another Ace Attorney-like experience, Paper Perjury delivers. Justina’s sleuthing makes for an entertaining adventure in its own right.

It’s disappointing to say that Neon Blood is dripping with unrealized potential. Clearly, the developers put effort into the impressive visuals and the quicktime events, but equal effort was not extended to the writing in a game that so heavily depends on its narrative. It’s not like there’s so much cyberpunk-style media that there isn’t room for more, so it’s too bad this one doesn’t come together. Maybe someday, someone will flesh out Neon Blood to make it as human as it is machine.

Flint: Treasure of Oblivion has many sound strategic ideas, and its commitment to pirate themes runs deep. The combat revolves around using the terrain and ganging up on folk in all the underhanded manner you’d expect from a rag-tag bunch of criminals. The comic strip storyboards work really well, and Flint and the main characters become real personalities throughout the journey, which is a credit to the story design and artists. It’s a shame the game combat and crew systems are not well-explained and that its difficulty and progression systems can be frustrating as they currently stand. For those who like a challenge and don’t mind taking the time to learn some obtuse systems, hoist the mainsail and raise the Jolly Roger: it’s a pirate’s life for you.

Serpentcoil Island, for all its systems and quality-of-life features, can feel stale after a while. At the end of the day, this is a roguelike on the simpler side. If you’re like me and love meaty, dense, and complex systems in your roguelikes, this isn’t it. That said, it’s still fun and engaging when played in spurts. I praise the developers for making an accessible yet strategic roguelike because this subgenre often has a steep learning curve and barrier for entry. While I’ve beaten the game, I can tell that I’m going to do my routine 90% completion on this game, even after investing 20 hours. The post-game is the game.

Fairy Tail 2 is a decent action RPG in many respects, though the game’s appeal will probably be limited to shonen anime fans and Fairy Tail fans in particular. It’s a shame that the game’s scope is limited, because the content here shows a lot of heart and appreciation for the source material and its colorful cast. I’d still argue there’s magic burning in Fairy Tail 2, especially for fans of the anime/manga, but one could say it feels more akin to a candle’s flame than a bonfire.

Whether or not you choose to invest time in Fantasian: Neo Dimension comes down to your priorities. Are you willing to sit or speed through a bland story to get to the meaty gameplay? Or is a more gripping narrative necessary to get you through a game that clocks in at a few dozen hours? It’s hard for me to say what I personally find more important, but I ultimately came out of Fantasian glad that I’d played it. And if I had to guess, I think that its flaws are forgivable enough to be worth it for most others.

Broken Sword – Shadow of The Templars: Reforged takes a game that has always deserved its status as a treasure and polishes its jeweled facets, making it ready to go on display once more. In a developing medium, we need to take the time to revisit our most important titles, so we can better know how our history informs our future.

VED deserves credit for its gorgeous graphics, workable combat, and underlying lore, but there are significant caveats. Although it proposes to take you on a journey between two worlds and at every point in between, the game makes staying on any path difficult, and trying to find the links between them takes more work than it should. You can find a dozen or so hours of playtime with VED, and many more to explore every possible route or action of consequence. (And if you’re on the fence, there is a free prologue, VED: Purification, available on Steam.) Perhaps with a few patches targeting the script and the wonkier translation, this could be something quite pleasant in the genre. But much like Cyrus, you just might find yourself struggling to understand what’s going on in either of its worlds.