I’d recommend this trilogy for anyone that really enjoys laid-back, slice of life titles. Rarely are you going to go out there and save the world, but you’ll enjoy a happy life creating items and making people happy… and sometimes, that’s all you can ask for.

In every way, Intermission is simply more of the same - just with an exciting new character to get to grips with.

If you own the PS4 version of Disgaea 5, there isn't a strong reason to get the Switch version unless you want to play it on a handheld device. Now if you haven't picked it up yet and need a dose of an amazing strategy game, I would highly recommend picking up this version over the original release. Disgaea 5 Complete also doubles as the best portable experience of any Disgaea game to date. Unlike the Vita version of its predecessor where certain things had to be removed to fit in the cartridge, nothing has been cut. You get the full experience wherever you decide to play it.

Danganronpa V3: Killing Harmony is destined to be a title the fans are going to be split over. The game has a very clear message it wants to rub off on the player, and it’s the sort of thing you’re going to have to mull over for a while to determine whether or not it earns its thesis. For me, it all just felt like desperation laced with fatigue. When the game wasn’t dragging me through incredibly long-winded exposition and plot bits, it was disappointing me with the direction the story took. If Spike Chunsoft wanted me to get a sense of closure from the series, they may have succeeded, because I’m not sure I’m up for another one.

The game didn’t wear out its welcome with my playthrough, taking me about 23 hours to get all the endings. Live A Live brings with it some of the best qualities a game can have, a sense of discovery and adventure. With the option to play some chapters completely differently, or tackle on extra hard enemies, this is definitely a game I’ll replay, sooner than later.

Mario & Luigi: Superstar Saga + Bowser’s Minions a weird game to review. It’s a safe and fine remake of a good game that didn’t really need a remake - although new features like fast-forward are still certainly appreciated. It adds a new mode that isn’t very interesting and doesn’t offer much. Superstar Saga is still a fun game and I enjoyed reliving a little nostalgia, but I can’t help but feel the whole thing was unnecessary.

In the end, I believe Tokyo Mirage Session is a wonderful game and anyone that is into JRPGs should give it a try. Players that have already played and beaten the original Wii U version might find that there isn't much reason to get this game other than that you can play on your Switch. If you haven't played this before, it's a great addition to your library, especially for fans of Fire Emblem and the Shin Megami Tensei series, although I do feel that it’s quite the missed opportunity for not restoring some of the deleted content from the original Japanese version.

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza is difficult for me to evaluate. The aspects of the main narrative it chooses to dwell on seems unevenly paced, and strangely misguided at times. Its combat system is slick, especially with all the tools that the brand-new Sea Dog style brings to the table - yet the balance of power feels lopsided in Majima’s favor to the point that enemy AI can’t keep up. A lot of its pirate-oriented systems feel like a jack-of-all-trades; they’re all competent and serviceable, though only provide a surface-level layer of satisfaction. I like a lot of what Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is putting down, but I can’t ignore the numerous significant misfires either.

Fire Emblem Echoes: Shadows of Valentia is unlike most other game in its series and offers a fresh take on the series' usual formulas. It's an interesting mix of seemingly weird components that all come to together in a delightfully satisfying way. It may not be for everyone, but Echoes is definitely an intriguing entry in a great franchise that might be just up your alley.

All in all, it was a great time. Playing Rune Factory 4 Special reminded me of why I was so attracted to these games as a kid and reinvigorated my love for the franchise again. While it does lack some features that other games of a similar genre have added, such as the much needed same-sex marriage or further character customization, it was still a great play. I had so much fun engaging in community events and festivals, exploring wonderful bite-sized dungeons, and getting to know the citizens of Selphia that it’s hard not to recommend this game. There is so much to do and so many different ways to engage with the game that it truly became my favorite time sink of the month.

Cold Steel II is the latest game of the overarching Kiseki series of games that been localized for western audiences so the future from here on is a little bit murky. We know that the first two games are getting PS4 re-releases in Japan in the coming months, but details concerning the future of the series for the west are sparse at best. We’re hopeful this isn’t the last time we’ll be able to write about the series for the western audience and that fans who invest into the games, on any platform, will be able to see the story continued someday soon.

Middle-earth: Shadow of War resoundingly beats to the sound of its own war drum to result in an experience that is iterative rather than revolutionary. Bold and resolute, its strength in character stirs when leading the charge into battle to create sweepingly epic moments that thrill in their dark and violent chaos. It’s a promising return to Tolkien’s world, even if the journey isn’t without its meandering fumbles.

Persona Q2 is a solid entry to close out Nintendo's dual-screen handheld. It doesn't shake up any established formulas, but with a satisfying gameplay loop and charming presentation, this dungeon crawler fills that hole for those looking to get their Persona fix.

Despite everything, I enjoyed my time with Borderlands 3. Not to say that the game as a whole isn't good – but rather despite all of the game’s numerous technical troubles, I do believe that once everything is said and done, Borderlands 3 will be a game that most series’ fans will be more than happy with, and a title that is more than worthy of recommendation. I just don’t think that day is today.

Final Fantasy XV brings back some of what made FF special to begin with - it's bold and brave, throwing caution to the wind to try to make a statement about what big budget Japanese RPGs can be going forwards. It's rough around the edges, but that's okay: where it counts, it's got plenty of heart.

I was, if not confident, hopeful that the lingering issues that I found myself grappling with in Cold Steel I and II had been mitigated when I played through Cold Steel III. However, now that I've seen the whole story, I can only say that those issues never went away. Even if they appeared fixed for Cold Steel III, they were always there, just below the surface. At this point, if I wasn't already in too deep, I'm not sure if I would even want to continue playing the Trails series. I have very little confidence that Falcom will learn their lesson with how to pace their games, and with the scope of both the world and the series as a whole constantly growing I have no confidence that future games won't run into these self-same issues, but to an even greater degree.

Jagged Alliance 3 is an excellent game, merging squad-based tactics and classic computer-style roleplaying in an entertaining veneer of cheesy action movies. There's a little bit of a learning curve to get acclimated to this style of game if you are new to it, but once you get the hang of managing your mercs, money, and ammo, there's a lot of fun to be had in the tropics.

Assassin’s Creed: Origins offers an engrossing and deeply satisfying open world in the lands of Egypt. Gorgeous visuals make it a lovely place to explore with rich environments. Still, the excessive amount of bugs at launch are devastating and hampered my experience significantly. Add to that a poorly paced narrative devoid of substantial character development and a battle system that fails to meet its full potential and I can't help but feel something important is missing, Regardless, Assassin's Creed: Origins has a lot to offer new and old fans alike - though the state of its technical performance at launch is highly questionable.

The Disgaea series offers a slightly different flavor of strategy RPGs that you can't find anywhere else. The sheer flexibility available is staggering, and anybody interested in this genre should give these Disgaea ports a try, as long as you don't mind the cookie-cutter story and characters.

The gameplay is honestly perfect, the story is touching, and the soundtrack still hasn’t been topped by an Atelier game since. The entire Dusk series felt like GUST flexing their talent for three whole years, and I hope these ports coming out means the release of a fourth game in this trilogy like with Atelier Lulua and the Arland Trilogy.

For any fans of the original game, or anyone who wants to experience The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for the first time, should pick up this remaster. Given its high price point for a remaster, anyone on the fence should either wait, or ignore the game altogether. The quality of life changes are greatly appreciated, but they are not going to change anyone's long standing opinions on the game, besides perhaps criticisms about the motion controls.

The Outer Worlds 2 is much like its predecessor in that it is a witty, smart, and energetic adventure. Its highs threaten to touch the stratosphere as easily as the protagonist's spaceship - but its lows mine as deep as some of those poor, slaving Auntie's Choice workers. From this site's more specific angle of interest, its role-playing feels more meaningful and satisfying than in its predecessor or Avowed, Obsidian's other recent action RPG. In a vacuum, it's an enjoyable romp - but no entertainment or art exists in a true vacuum, really. Just as The Outer Worlds 2's scathing commentary on consumerism and blind faith reflects on our real world, so too does our real world reflect on it at the time of its release. Like the game's moral quandaries, it's all about player choice - but in the real world, the consequences are real.

Moonlighter is a refreshing take on the rogue-like that not only adds to the genre with the use of its shopkeeping mechanic but makes use of its rich environments and items to tell a truly interesting story. Despite some performance issues my experience with Moonlighter was extremely positive, and I can’t wait to return to Rynoka and revisit the story of Will and Moonlighter once again.

Ultimately, Atelier Yumia is a great game with a combat system that leaves a lot to be desired. While the exploration is a highlight, with the game drawing clear inspiration from modern open-world games, those familiar with the open-world genre might not find much innovation here. Despite that, Atelier Yumia is a fantastic starting point for newcomers to the Atelier franchise.

The new story is worth it for fans of the PS2 original as well, since players can jump right in without having to replay the whole main story again. Unless you’ve owned every version of Phantom Brave before this one (and maybe even if you do), Phantom Brave PC is worth picking up for any Nippon Ichi or strategy RPG fan.

Thanks to its incredible soundtrack and a wonderful dose of gameplay variety to help keep everything from becoming monotonous, Ys Origin is still and will forever remain a solid action RPG well worth your time no matter the platform it winds up on.

Going through Baldur's Gate for the first time is a reminder of what makes a classic RPG -- It’s hard to miss the ways it influenced the genre two decades years ago and how its impact can still be seen in games today, but as a modern experience, it does require a new player to meet in the middle a bit in terms of quality-of-life and the slightly-dated presentation. Despite that, this is the perfect game for a fan of the genre like me to finally play and having an updated version of the game available to a wide new audience is an opportunity for new fans to see exactly why it remains so highly regarded to this day.

Narrative nitpicks and shortfalls aside, Stellar Blade is an action RPG that excels where it matters most: Looking gorgeous and facilitating supremely satisfying combat interactions. Bolstered by the capable fusion of its inspirations, its weaknesses keep it from transcending them. But those willing to make their peace with those disappointments will find a nearly stellar experience.

A delightful RPG experience. Though there are problems around its edges with prolonged battles and a weak overall narrative, its ability to maintain a deck-building card game inside a RPG in inventive ways continually is nothing short of awesome. Once it clicks with you, it’s hard to not stop theorycrafting, experimenting, and optimizing your deck.

Etrian Odyssey Nexus embraces nearly everything that the series has established so far in one final farewell package. It doesn't do anything new or unexpected, but it's a nice nostalgic bow on what has been a standout series on the DS and 3DS, and the systems are as solid as ever.

The effort put forth by Konami pays off in dividends. The end result is a project that, like another Pixel Remaster project before it, has the best of both worlds. These are games that play and look just like you remembered them, but somehow even a bit better. Slight QOL changes complement, rather than complicate, the gameplay. Suikoden I&II HD Remaster Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars might be a mouthful of a title, but it’s one that reaches for the stars - and knocks it out of the park.

A game with peaks and valleys like this is, as I've stated throughout the review, frustrating. I can see a 10/10 in this game somewhere, but multiple questionable-level design and game design choices combined with a hefty amount of performance issues and bugs unfortunately drag it down. Black Myth: Wukong is a beautiful, somber, fascinating tale to experience — you just have to muddle your way through a forest of problems to enjoy it.

Dragon Quest VII is a leisurely adventure full of memorable vignettes and and locations. While it is very much a classic turn-based RPG, the style and tone of the game's narrative is something not often seen within the genre, even 16 years after its original release. Despite a handful of problems, DQ7 is well worth a playthrough if you can set aside the time for it.

Even those more dubious might find something to love thanks to a frantic and fun battle system, incredible music and a masterfully crafted world setting. I for one am left eagerly waiting to see what this series has in store in the future.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes is a great piece of expanded lore for people who loved Fire Emblem: Three Houses. It has a new and interesting take on the story of Fire Emblem: Three Houses, and it expands on the relationships of these established characters. It also makes a number of improvements regarding performance and graphics, which is a promising sign as Koei Tecmo continues to improve how well their games run on the console. Whether it's just for reuniting with your favourite house for 40 hours or taking on the entire three-route adventure, Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes should satisfy your journey back to Fodlan.

Like a Dragon: Ishin is an excellent revitalization of an already solid entry in the Like a Dragon series. It has a compelling story that somewhat falls apart in the last stretch, but the journey that leads to it is captivating. Adding in new likenesses from recent Like a Dragon / Yakuza series from several iconic characters was a change I welcomed, because I loved so many of those characters. The gameplay feels refreshing thanks to Ryoma’s unique arsenal and there is just a sheer amount of optional side content to dive into that all feel fun, partially due to the Bakumatsu time period it’s set in. I ultimately finished my playthrough in 34 hours, but I still have a ton of optional content left that will easily consume dozens of more hours.

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined still encapsulates much of what makes Dragon Quest VII resonant, but with every possible edge sanded off. It succeeds at streamlining a lengthy adventure at the expense of player discovery and friction. Besides being able to reach the credits more quickly, I find it difficult to declare this version as an improvement on what came before.

Fire Emblem Engage is a good tactical RPG with a paper-thin story, shallow characters, and a kitchen-sink approach to far too many subsystems that don't synergize well. If you come to Fire Emblem primarily for its tactical elements, you may have an absolute blast building your perfect team of colorful combatants and their Emblem counterparts. I come away from Fire Emblem Engage satisfied with its tried-and-true gameplay and unique Emblem twist, but I wish the narrative elements made more of an impact on me.

Digimon Story: Time Stranger is an excellent game that carries the spirit of a PS2-era JRPG in its heart. The sheer amount of care put into portraying the Digital World: Iliad and all the Digimon that inhabit it clearly shows the passion that the developers had when developing Time Stranger throughout the years. Its narrative has its fair share of ups and downs, but I think it goes into some wild places and finishes very strong with a finale that will have Digimon fans screaming in joy. There’s certainly a handful of unrefined aspects, such as how its fast travel is handled and the disjointed feeling brought about by its unvoiced protagonist, but it can’t be denied that this is not only one of the best Digimon games ever – it’s just a damn good game on its own.

Tyranny is another showcase of Obsidian’s penchant for quality world-building and writing prowess, but limitations in the game’s scope and length as well as repetitive gameplay prevent Tyranny from being a must-play title even for fans of western styled RPGs. That said, it is an interesting enough experience that those who decide to undertake the role of Fatebinder will experience a mostly memorable tale of conquest and rebellion.

Slightly underwhelming combat aside, it is a pretty small blemish on the face of a work that might be the best Fate game to emerge in a long while. By reframing the core context of a Holy Grail War and establishing it in a new setting and with a new, fresh cast of characters, Fate/Samurai Remnant manages to grasp and elevate the fundamentals of the Fate series in a way that makes it all approachable, while not skimping on fan service for those who’ve stuck with Fate all this time.

In its current state after the first major post-launch update, Assassin's Creed Shadows is worth your time handheld on Switch 2 all things considered. If you already own it on another platform, I recommend it on Switch 2 to play on the go and complement the TV experience you get elsewhere. I hope to see some of the performance issues when playing docked addressed and will be revisiting this for the Claws of Awaji expansion in the future.

I thought about giving Guardians of Azuma a 7, because what game is here isn't strictly terrible, but unfortunately it is extremely disappointing on a wider scale. Boring dungeons, bland combat, lackluster progression, and thin customization are propped up by a fun cast of characters, pretty good voice acting, and pretty good village editing tools — but it's not enough to make the game fun to play. If you only care about the character interactions and marrying the love of your Azuma life, then the combat and village management is a tedious means towards that end, and if you're looking for engaging progression systems, you'll have to look elsewhere, I'm afraid.

Ys IX: Monstrum Nox is another excellent addition to the Ys series. Its darker tone and gloomier atmosphere help it to stand out from the rest of the series, but it somehow works in its favor. The character writing and narrative framing is a remarkable step-up from previous titles, yet still preserves the thrilling intense action that the Ys series is known for. Some of Monstrum Nox’s sidequests stand among the best in the entire series. I have a few qualms with its repetitive structure, though what truly stings is the frequent crashes I experienced on the PS5. I loved my time with Adol’s adventure throughout Balduq and look forward to his next big adventure.

There’s a ton of content here to make your way through, especially if you take the time to just explore the city streets and indulge in side activities. If you’re a newcomer to the series, this is an excellent jumping on point, and it’s a steal at only $30. So if you only have even a passing interest in the game, just know that there’s no better time to lose yourself in the neon glow of Kamurocho.

Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux is still as great and robust a game as ever, now more accessible for those not looking for something quite as demanding. Several quality-of-life additions are certainly welcome to have, and the new content sufficiently bolsters what was already in place. Whether you are new to Strange Journey or are looking for a good reason to revisit it, this release is worth checking out.

As much as I enjoyed Disgaea 7's original release last year, I hate that I'm conflicted about Disgaea 7 Complete. On the one hand, this is a great package for newcomers when it comes to value, but it also is annoying to see the free patch and DLC that were released in Japan not be made available at all to the existing base game owners in the West. It is a shame that a re-release of a great modern Disgaea game has a few too many caveats attached to it right now.

All of these elements combine to create a game that is a jack of all trades, and master of none, but that’s a happy outcome considering how many different things it tries to do. A lot of what I’ve described so far probably sounds like a mashup of several different things that other games arguably do better, but Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy does everything with so much heart and charm that it overcomes some of the elements feeling a little empty and results in one of the best gaming adventures I’ve been on in 2021. Considering how much of a let-down the previous big Marvel game was, I am more than happy to shout how great this is without any conditions put on top.

While long load times and jarring localization decisions hold it back slightly, #FE is still a unique cross-over that Fire Emblem, Shin Megami Tensei fans and newcomers alike won't want to miss.

There was a chance for these games to be some of the best in the series, and it’s just depressing that the final product that we’re left with is so utterly flawed. What was cut from the experience wasn’t worth what sparse improvements that the games received, and what we got feels like it should match the 3DS games’ price-point, and not a $60 Switch game’s. Pokemon deserves better, and I don’t think that’s greedy to hope for.

While many of its gameplay systems remain the same, Monolith Soft did a tremendous job tweaking battles to make them a bit faster-paced and more digestible all at once. Even though the expansion has its share of problems, like gating progress with forced sidequest thresholds, I still found it a lot of fun and people who loved the world of Xenoblade Chronicles 2 will have an absolute blast with this new perspective of the stories they’ve heard before.

Gundam Breaker 4 is like watching an old friend rebound from tough times. It may not be as great as its mainline predecessors in some regards, but it is a solid course correction from the last few dire entries. The repetitive stages and diluted weapon options are a noticeable step back, yet so many quality-of-life improvements to this new entry in the gunpla action RPG series make it much a smoother experience to play. While completing the main story took me roughly around 17 hours, I'm just about to reach the 60 hour mark because I keep making entire new gunpla builds to take on the highest difficulty stages on their own. It takes virtual model kit building to the next level and the potential of crafting something truly masterful, or horrific, is only limited by a person’s imagination.

Expeditions: Rome is an easy recommendation for any fan of turn-based tactical RPGs. The variety of gameplay environments, the depth of the combat system, and a surprisingly compelling story with unexpectedly strong characters all carry the experience above the few shortcomings of clumsy UI and underwhelming strategy elements. Even if you have no attachment to the setting of ancient Rome (I sure didn't), the overall scope and level of ambition are worth experiencing first-hand.

There was a chance for these games to be some of the best in the series, and it’s just depressing that the final product that we’re left with is so utterly flawed. What was cut from the experience wasn’t worth what sparse improvements that the games received, and what we got feels like it should match the 3DS games’ price-point, and not a $60 Switch game’s. Pokemon deserves better, and I don’t think that’s greedy to hope for.

I’m cautiously optimistic for the rest of the season--far too many episodic adventures have strong starts and mediocre finishes--but this first episode promises a solid and tense story for the season. Let’s just hope that Dontnod can keep this momentum for the other four episodes.

Octopath Traveler 0 is the type of game that sneaks up on you. Maybe it isn't immediately obvious what makes it great, even if the deficiencies are impossible to ignore; every now and then something will stick out like a sore thumb that betrays what the game originally was, even if that's not necessarily what the game is now, in its current form. When taken on its own merits, Octopath Traveler 0 is the type of RPG you'd be hard-pressed to find anywhere else - and a fascinating case study in how, much like Final Fantasy prior, Octopath Traveler can reinvent its core elements while still maintaining an identity as a franchise.

Etrian Odyssey V knows what it does well and sticks to it. There are enough small changes from previous entries to give the game its own flavor, but it's not going to reinvent the core framework that makes the series tick. Fans will definitely want to check out this latest entry, and quality-of-life improvements make the game accessible to newcomers as well.

Remnant II is an excellent sequel that smartly improves upon what Remnant: From the Ashes did best. Its story is lackluster, but its moment-to-moment gameplay is superb. There will inevitably be a sense of deja vu with repeated environmental layouts as players run into the same realms again and again the more time they put into it. Above else, it is easily one of the best action RPGs when it comes to in-depth character-building options and encouraging exploration this year.

If you're new to the Monster Hunter series, it still stands that I wouldn't recommend starting with Monster Hunter Generations Ultimate. But even if you're a longtime fan, I don't feel comfortable giving a flat recommendation either way on whether you should pick the game up. For all intents and purposes, it's still a great game, but MHGU definitely magnifies the flaws of the original release just as much as it may polish some of them. It's more of the same, whether or not that makes it worth returning to will depend on your own personal preference.

The Visions of Four Heroes story DLC for Dynasty Warriors: Origins capitalizes on what made the game great. It constantly throws players into battles against overwhelming odds, and they have to find a way to lead their allies to victory. Grand army versus army confrontations never got old in Origins, and this DLC serves them up regularly. The constrained and isolated nature of each DLC campaign does make its fanfiction story beats inherently hollow, though its skewed perspective on alternative “what-if” scenarios does provide some amusing moments for those tapped into the Romance of the Three Kingdoms narrative.

Despite being woefully ignorant of most things about League of Legends going in, I found myself at no real disadvantage when it came to enjoying most aspects of Ruined King. A distinct and deep combat system with a unique mechanical hook, interesting puzzles and stylish art, and a well-defined cast of characters and setting were enough to get me invested in an IP I had largely ignored up until this point. Despite some issues with a lack of polish, Ruined King deserves a look-in for any fan of RPGs, independent of how familiar they are with the source material.

There was a chance for these games to be some of the best in the series, and it’s just depressing that the final product that we’re left with is so utterly flawed. What was cut from the experience wasn’t worth what sparse improvements that the games received, and what we got feels like it should match the 3DS games’ price-point, and not a $60 Switch game’s. Pokemon deserves better, and I don’t think that’s greedy to hope for.

Fantasian is a fantastic RPG, and will probably be a strong contender for GOTY deliberations later this year. Though it might not hurt to wait for a few patches for lingering issues to be resolved, and to consider if you’re up for the challenge that the game will provide.

In the end, I can’t give enough praise to Trails of Cold Steel. It is an excellent port of an excellent game that finally arrives to a modern console. If for some reason you don’t have a PC that can run it, then this is the version to play. It’s extremely easy to recommend this game to anyone, whether they play RPGs or not, and it is also a good first step into the Trails series, which is well worth your time.

I come away from Final Fantasy 1, 2, and 3 looking forward to the remaining games more than I did before. I appreciate the new features like the enhanced bestiary, the auto-combat feature, making grinding friendlier, and I LOVE the new soundtracks. But I hope they manage to address issues like the screen tearing and especially the font before the last three games release.

Octopath Traveler was a pretty good game on Switch and a mediocre game on PC. It's so clearly tailored for Nintendo's portable system that plunking it anywhere else is just going to exacerbate the flaws that it has. Yes, this port "works" okay, but that doesn't mean it works best here. For all Octopath Traveler's promises of harkening back to JRPGs of yore, it forgets we loved those games because we loved to see their characters share the load.

Persona 3 Reload for Switch 2 should've been the easiest win for Atlus, but it is lacking in some key areas. If you've not played it before and mostly play docked on Switch 2, it is a good but conservative port, and P3R remains worth your time. The real issue is how Persona 3 Reload for Switch 2 doesn't feel great to play at all right now on the go, the real draw of this new port. Had Atlus included all DLC, it would've been a good excuse to replay the game with different costume and music options, or even made it so those who played the base game last year could experience Episode Aigis on the go.

Pokemon Let's Go might not be what I wanted next from the series, but I can't say I was left disappointed with it. Gamefreak's latest adventure manages to cut a lot of the franchise's fat while injecting something new into the formula. While I definitely don't want to see everything it changes brought over to Generation VIII, Let's Go acts as a refreshing change of pace for bother newcomers and longtime fans of the series.

Microbird Games delivered a strong debut project with Dungeons of Hinterberg. While limitations to maneuverability may seem off-putting at first, its numerous dungeons have been carefully designed to utilize different magical spells’ environmental interactions to traverse them. There are some understandable design constraints, such as a lack of variety in its enemy designs, that help illustrate where Microbird Games’ priorities lie - and there’s a beauty in that. This is a development team that had a clear vision in what they wanted to achieve with Dungeons of Hinterberg and I think they succeeded brilliantly.

All in all, I found my time with Dragon’s Crown Pro immensely enjoyable and worth the re-visit. While the main scenario can be completed fairly quickly, I felt as though that didn’t detract from my experience at all, as I could still play the game with friends or even start a new campaign with a class I had yet to experience in full. Coupled with beautiful backgrounds and a lovely soundtrack, this homage to early RPGs is practically perfect.

The Division has a solid basis from which to build, and as with many RPGs of this type its post-launch support and the addition of high-level content such as raids will come to define it. What's there is good, and easy to recommend, but not without caveats and a long list of improvements that'll hopefully be made over the coming updates or in future iterations of the series.

Although Life is Strange: Before the Storm will contain just three episodes, this first episode is a satisfying three-hour ride that has left me filled with anticipation for the next episode. Despite my caution regarding a different developer, my hesitations about a game without Max, and my worries about the game overall, I am so happy about the opportunity to continue exploring Arcadia Bay and its mysteries. It’s flawed but contains so many of the things that made me laugh, cry, and fall in love with Life is Strange. Episode One is not only reassuring; it feels like coming back home.

The main story quest is appetizing and gives way to a robust, whimsical, and flashy multiplayer component that can entertain for hours. After a delayed development, Granblue Fantasy: Relink finally arrives, and it simply sings.

Ys Seven is not a bad game but it misses the highs of what makes the Ys series great. It disappointingly conforms to more ordinary JRPG stylings and structure which work to blend the game in with its peers rather than distinguishing it from the crowd. The PC port is done well enough, and Ys Seven will work to whet your appetite for more with Ys VIII coming up on the horizon.

NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139… is one of the most carefully constructed re-releases in recent memory. I was delighted to see just how much of the original experience remained intact, with the bulk of alterations focused on its visuals and combat. While I am happy that NieR: Automata remains a resounding success, its influence over this updated release of NieR hasn’t robbed it of its unique identity; this is, by and large, the NieR that I fell in love with. I think all the new content that has been added to Replicant ver.1.22 is all worth seeing. Looking back at my journey once more with Nier, Kainé, and Emil, I am so happy that one of the most underappreciated games gets another chance to show why it is so special again.

Scarlet Nexus is an easy game to enjoy and a hard one to hate. It’s so unabashedly earnest about everything it set out to do that even with my issues I couldn’t help but reflect fondly back on my time playing. Most of what it tries to accomplish is done so adequately or successfully, which means a majority of what I had to discuss were parts that broke me out of the vibes presented to me. The combat is free form and incredibly creative, the visuals might be some of the finest to ever come from Bandai Namco, and the story is dense yet largely satisfying. There is fantastic framework in place now for a sequel, and I hope it sells enough so this team can continue to flesh out their vision.

Overall, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon, has the framework necessary to be an excellent game, and provides a sort of different flavor of fantasy setting than a lot of its contemporaries. For those willing and able to put up with rough spots and a general feeling of unfinishedness, there are still 50+ hours of an enjoyable RPG experience here. It just might take some additional time and tweaking in order to fully deliver on its potential.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails invokes a feeling of an earlier era of Falcom in some of the best ways. With a charming presentation and commendable gameplay, this is a satisfying game and an easy recommendation to anyone looking for a light-hearted action RPG romp.

With one of the most endearing casts in the genre and an enduringly strong take on action combat gameplay, Tales of Vesperia remains as the series peak and I easily recommend it for fans to revisit and newcomers to experience for the first time.

The Origami King doesn’t offer a role-playing experience or an intricate storyline. Instead, it offers a charming, clever, and silly world where Mario must collect crumpled up Toads and patch holes in the ground with confetti. I’m not sure if it has much staying power years down the line, but it’s the best 'adventure game' Paper Mario, at least.

I come away from Ys X: Nordics more than satisfied with its renewed battle mechanics, but unfulfilled with most of the rest of the game that surrounds it. Ship navigation and island exploration never manage to become compelling, and the narrative largely falls flat. If you come to the Ys series primarily for entertaining combat, you'll have a blast - I just wish it was a little less lopsided.

Judgment is perhaps, in my opinion, one of the best titles Ryu ga Gotoku Studio has to offer. If you’re interested in a narrative-heavy game that involves similar elements to many Japanese paralegal or noir films and dramas, this is absolutely for you. And for those that are familiar with the Yakuza franchise I would also heavily consider giving Judgment a shot as it retains all of the character and drama-heavy stories you’re already familiar with. While it does have its weaknesses and combat can be fatiguing at times, Judgment stands atop as perhaps one of the best narrative experiences yet to release this year.

Despite the game's struggles in localization, polish, and elsewhere, I decidedly enjoyed playing through Wandering Sword. The skill and progression systems are unique & captivating, the visual style is excellent, and it's an exceptionally cohesive game all around. If The Swordman Studio can polish up some of the lingering issues, this could be a real gem of an RPG.

Looking beyond the technical hitches, Jedi Fallen Order is an extremely strong, confident Star Wars adventure that shows how much potential the universe still has in gaming. If this is the A New Hope of Star Wars games, then I can’t wait to see the Empire Strikes Back.

Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden does do enough to stand out on its own, mostly due to the narrative. If you weren’t impressed with the first faux tabletop experience, the minor combat changes won’t be enough to persuade you. Likely, due to the closeness to its antecedent, there aren’t enough improvements in this entry to really qualify it as being notably better than the first. Nonetheless, it is a complementary experience that fans of the first are likely to enjoy just as much.

With Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, Falcom had a chance to deliver the definitive version of a classic, but the end result is just a good portable version of a fantastic game. Newcomers to the game or those who have only played modern Ys games should absolutely get Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana, but I can't help but feel disappointed with what could've been. I'll still be replaying Ys: The Oath in Felghana through this new release on PS5 and Switch, but hopefully Falcom handles a potential future Memoire release better.

I would fully recommend Subsurface Circular to anyone that enjoys purely narrative games. It’s a short game, but one that gives you a fully realized world in its short playtime. The storytelling method is a bit unconventional and is done well when other games could have easily made it too long. It’s a perfect title for a rainy afternoon play, or for a breather in between longer adventures.

More than enough new ideas have been thrown at The Council to make it stand out from the crowd, and, while flaws are clearly evident in the three hours that you will spend with this first episode, it makes for a promising start for what is left to come. Technical issues detract from the grandeur of its setting, but it's hard not to be swept up in the mystery that surrounds it all.

Dawntrail is less a sprint ahead to the game's future, and rather a leisurely pit-stop while we all get to figure out where things go from here.

Prey may borrow heavily from its predecessors but also blends them in a way and tackles a subject that comes across as refreshing and new even if the mechanics underneath are functionally derivative. The systems in place are familiar and recognizable but the machine built from these components is new and worthwhile. In this way, Prey follows up on its own primary theme in the most straightforward way: it takes common ideas and designs but out of these ingredients, still manages to form its own unique identity.

When I wasn’t getting frustrated with New Pokemon Snap, I was having a great time – but I really can’t help but question the thought process with saving the best of the game for after the player has exhausted so much of the game’s content. It feels like I’m being asked to prove I deserve to play more of the game I fell in love with on the Wii’s Virtual Console by finishing a huge stack of work first. For a game that seems so determined to relax the player, I feel like they forgot to consider that there’s a fine line between relaxation and boredom. New Pokemon Snap didn’t have to bore me, and that’s what makes it all the more frustrating.

Pokemon Let's Go might not be what I wanted next from the series, but I can't say I was left disappointed with it. Gamefreak's latest adventure manages to cut a lot of the franchise's fat while injecting something new into the formula. While I definitely don't want to see everything it changes brought over to Generation VIII, Let's Go acts as a refreshing change of pace for bother newcomers and longtime fans of the series.

If you’re wondering if Everhood 2 is for you, there is a demo that gives you a bit of an idea of what to expect. If after playing you’re still unsure, I don’t know if there’s something I can say to give you an accurate idea. Everhood 2 is at times wacky, poignant, frustrating, confusing, high-brow, low-brow, and everything in between. It truly is unlike any game I’ve ever played, and it’s a game that will stick with me forever. But whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing, I don’t really know. I keep wondering that if I were more learned, or perhaps more studied in the topics this game is attempting to engage me with, I’d have more thoroughly enjoyed it, but that isn’t the case.

Indeed, Shadows doesn't solve some of the core issues with the series' design introduced in these later entries. At the same time, I feel like the fact that I did stick with Shadows all the way through and still found it fresh enough that I was inspired to try reconnecting with its predecessors (which I failed to stick with at the time), speaks to how well it has refined that formula. It has also managed to revive some of the focus and distinctive feel of the older titles in the series, and in doing so, recaptured some of what made Assassin's Creed one of my favorite titles of previous generations.

Like with past entries, The Awesome Adventures of Captain Spirit shines brilliantly when it focuses on its story. This episode is as saddening as it is charming, and it balances the two magnificently while making sure to include moments of suspense and mystery.

Despite some glaring flaws around the edges, Shin Megami Tensei III Nocturne HD Remaster is still a decently updated release of one of my favorite RPGs of all time. Much of that is attributed to the strength of the original core game experience, though. In the context of 2021, Nocturne HD Remaster almost feels like the student that does the bare minimum in class to get a passing grade. When I look around and see these great re-releases of SaGa Frontier Remastered, NieR Replicant ver.1.22474487139…, and the work put in for the first Mass Effect in the very recent Legendary Edition, I wish that this re-release of Nocturne was able to finally rectify some of its long-standing problems - especially the audio compression during combat. I also think about the outstanding work Atlus put in for last year’s Steam release of Persona 4 Golden and how this feels lackluster even compared to that. I still quite enjoyed my time with Nocturne HD Remaster, but it is great because the core game is already phenomenal; aside from adding skill inheritance to demon fusions, most of the updates in this remaster aren’t all that remarkable.

These games are great, breezy, and iconic representations of anime-styled fantasy JRPGs in the 1990s. To that end, this is a great compilation, and I am grateful to finally have Eternal Blue released from its prison. However, the lack of options included in the iOS version of Silver Star Story holds this collection back, even if slightly. That said, the love for the series is evident by the care taken to preserve them with these slight updates that still hew to the memory of the PSX classics.

Darkness in the Capital definitely paints a less-than-optimistic picture for the overall narrative of this trilogy. The people who are looking for more story content will surely find some here, but not of particularly great quality. However, if just the act of playing Nioh 2 is enough to get someone back into the game, then this DLC is outstanding. Even if the narrative doesn’t hold its end of the bargain, all of the improvements and additions to gameplay carry the entire DLC on their own. It remains to be seen how the third and final DLC will wrap things up, but if Team Ninja can keep up delivering gameplay of this high quality, then I’ll consider it a success in spite of everything else.