Final Fantasy VIII Remastered showcases the definitive version of a game that has withstood the test of time. The story and characters are still engaging, the score sounds as beautiful as ever, and the art-design looks impressive. The game is much more enjoyable with the remaster’s new features, which help alleviate the issues with the archaic controls and the experimental Junction system. Players who had once despised the PlayStation edition due to its sluggish nature may be enticed to give Final Fantasy VIII a second chance with the remastered edition. I surely enjoyed this adventure more on the second go-round.

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel II hits all the right notes. Combat is outstanding, proving that turn-based battles are still alive and well when done skillfully. The story is great, even if it does take a while to get started up again.

Fire Emblem Warriors: Three Hopes deserves to be thought of as one of the strongest Warriors crossovers so far. The game fully dives into the elements of its parent series and is all the better for it. Although the overall story is eminently forgettable, the opportunity to spend more time with the characters and see them interact with each other again is very welcome, and it’s backed up by strong gameplay that makes fine use of the depth available to it.

When it isn't being a frustrating game, Disgaea 5 can be a lot of fun. Once things slow down to grind, however, the story may be the only thing that will keep players going.

Fire Emblem Engage emerges as a decent but ultimately fairly forgettable entry in the series. It seems like a game undecided whether it wants to spend its time celebrating the past or leaving its own mark on the series, and doesn’t really do either. Combat is definitely its strongest point, and here tactical RPG fans will find much to appreciate, but other systems feel like they are there out of sense of obligation rather than being designed to fully complement it. It’s still a good and enjoyable game, but with a firmer direction it could’ve made more of an impact.

Fantasian Neo Dimension is a tale of two halves. Its first half feels like an homage to the older parts of the legendary catalogue of its creators. The second half, meanwhile, feels like that homage got to flex its muscles and pummel players into submission as they endeavor against boss fights until the adventure reaches its conclusion. Those able to adapt to the shifting changes between halves will find a love letter to turn-based RPGs that could only come from lifelong experts. The pacing shifts cause a juxtaposition between a restrictive feeling start and thematically minimal end, which just goes to show that even experts can find ways to grow in a given field. Where passion, creativity, and talent co-exist in such a lovely harmony always means there’s new avenues to explore and this wonderful game is worth undertaking the journey.

Ultimately, Digimon Story: Time Stranger is a mixed bag. An excellent Digimon raising and customization system is held back by a shaky combat core, and the game’s interesting yet linear plotline is severely hampered by awkward voice acting and dialogue. There’s parts of the game that are enjoyable, but its flaws hold it back from being truly memorable.

Tyranny, is fun little throwback to an older style of game. It does it well and it does it without having to cash in on a particular brand or nostalgic sentiment. It presents a brand new world in a compelling and understandable way. It showcases a much more nuanced take on being the bad guy than games tend to do. I found myself reminded more of Unrest than Baldur's Gate while playing this game and that is a good thing.

Regardless of whether future installments stand or fall, The Banner Saga has done its duty. It may not always give gamers what they want, but it gives them what they need: challenging questions, tactical gameplay, and a strong, fully realized atmosphere.

Ys has always had some of the most entertaining combat married with some of the best soundtracks in the RPG genre. However, Monstrum Nox manages to improve upon that already solid base with the titular Monstrum powers that elevate the exploration and boss battles thereby making both the moment-to-moment gameplay as well as the crowning encounters all the more entertaining. It comes together into an RPG experience that is not to be missed.

Yakuza Kiwami is a very modest remaster with very little new content. What is new is swell, but it's nothing groundbreaking or even necessary. It's more like nice little bonuses to a game that hasn't entirely aged well story-wise and graphically. Still, it was nice to come back and see where the series started without all the rough edges of the original PlayStation 2 release. I will say that Kiwami made me love the first Yakuza a touch more than I did when I originally played it years ago. As a crazed fangirl for the series, even though Kiwami is a solid effort, it still doesn't hold a candle to later games in the franchise.

I enjoyed my time with Strange Journey Redux, and the many things its dungeons offered will stick with me. Its narrative is also interesting and should be applauded for what it attempts, even if the story’s reach is not quite what it can attain. I was also ready to be done by the time the credits rolled and uninterested in starting the whole thing again to see another ending or reach the heretofore-forbidden areas, which keeps Redux from being among the crowning achievements in my RPG experience. It was a worthwhile title to encounter though, and should at least be tried by anyone curious.

The gameplay loop and humor of Disgaea is not for everyone, but for those curious about Nippon Ichi’s flagship series, Disgaea 7 Complete is a demonically good time and a playground for gamers who can’t get enough of seeing big numbers get even bigger. The move up to the Switch 2 remedies the ill performance of the original game, while the added content is sure to please fans who held out for the complete edition. Like an all-you-can-eat buffet, Disgaea 7 Complete will be heavenly for the hungry and hellish for those with weak stomachs, but one way or another, it’s got something you can’t find anywhere else.

For me, this is an ideal remake. It keeps all the hardcore mechanics I love, gets rid of the ones I find tiresome, overhauls what needs to be improved, and leaves the right things alone. Any EO fan who isn't burned out should enjoy this game, and even if you're burned out it might be worth a shot thanks to the reduced rote activities.

In the end, I had a great time with Grandia II. Though there are some issues, the gameplay is such that these are much more easily forgiven than they otherwise might've been. Those who have yet to check out the game have a prime opportunity to enjoy its excellent combat system with the Anniversary Edition.

There are some solid bones in Ishin that I want to see in other Like a Dragon games, such as the inclusion of Another Life in different forms, and its ability to transport players into a different historical timeline is both unexpected and well executed, even if there’s still room for growth. Where Like a Dragon: Ishin shines its brightest, however, is its reminder that video games can be both serious business and absolute fun. It’s what the series has made a name for itself doing, and this newest entry does not disappoint in that regard.

In the end, Disgaea 4 is simply the finest expression of everything that the Disgaea series is.

It has its flaws and its entire premise will have more mileage with some than others, but fans of the genre will find something to like here.

Trails from Zero delivers exactly what it promises: a unique opportunity to visit a story arc most western The Legend of Heroes fans never got to experience. Those who are looking to fill in the notable gap in the series will delight in discovering a plentitude of characters getting their fifteen minutes of fame. As a potential place to start, the Crossbell duology sits in a curious place between Trails in the Sky and Trails of Cold Steel, such that players of either will be better attuned to the setting, with both working as better introductions. Even so, Trails from Zero is an easy, enthusiastic recommend for existing Trails fans.

Torna ~ The Golden Country manages to offer both a similar and distinct experience to Xenoblade Chronicles 2 at the same time. The prequel builds superbly on the main game’s lore, providing a fantastic experience for fans just looking to see more of the world. Meanwhile, those looking for a more mature story and cast will absolutely get on board with Lora, Jin, Addam, and the rest of the crew. It’s almost a shame that the time we get to spend with them is so short in comparison. Monolith Soft has created another excellent experience for Switch owners to get stuck into.

For those looking for an engaging historical RPG, Expeditions: Rome is an easy recommendation. The options for tailoring the difficulty allows players to focus on their preferred elements and make it challenging, welcoming, and rewarding depending on what players want. While the game’s interpretation of Rome may simplify the issues of the time, Expeditions: Rome successfully uses its setting to create a very enjoyable role-playing experience.

It's fun, but grounded in the fond repetition of nostalgia.

Ultimately, while Pokémon Shield could be considered the best Pokémon game in the series, its repeated flubs keep it from being truly excellent. Shield gives the series a much needed rest by limiting Pokémon availability and move set overlap as well as adding some welcome variety to the game’s progression. It’s truly a joy to play, with ample side activities to break up the otherwise familiar gameplay loop. That being said, Shield is still a Pokémon game; anyone not already a fan or tired of the series won’t find a compelling reason to return here.

It's a solid game all-around that takes a good-not-great traditional JRPG and replaces the standard third-person dungeons with good-not-great first-person, tile-based ones, binding everything together with a strong apocalyptic story.

Persona 3 Portable is a classic that all RPG fans should play. Its features aren’t as polished as they are in the latest entries of the series, but it has a peculiar charm that makes it unique and irreplaceable. With an amazing story, great characters to bond with, and an extraordinary turn-based battle system, Persona 3 not only created fertile ground for the subsequent releases, but is back to captivate newcomers.

Saviors of Sapphire Wings is an accessible foray into dungeon-crawling that emphasizes gameplay over stat or party management while mostly avoiding the usual pitfalls of difficulty spikes. The overall presentation is somewhat marred by inconsistencies in graphical style and uneven sound design. However, well-developed characters elevate an otherwise ordinary high-fantasy narrative about a group of heroes who are the world’s second chance at salvation…even if these Wings never truly get off the ground.

Etrian Odyssey V is very much what I expected it would be. That means it won't appeal to anyone who has never been interested in this series, but it continues to showcase impressive dungeons and a rewarding sense of exploration. The series hasn't lost its spark of well-realized inspiration, and that's all many need to hear. It certainly managed to ensnare me for the entirety of the experience.

Though there is enough in the margins to find fault with, Remnant II is still a sequel that only improves upon the first game. While the storytelling leaves a lot to be desired, the rest of the game receives an easy recommendation. Even the difficulty spikes and slower-than-desired rate of obtaining new weapons and upgrade materials can’t get in the way of a fun action RPG with solid combat, wide variety of play styles, and a bunch of secrets to uncover. It’s a positive step in the right direction for the series and makes me excited for what Gunfire Games will do next.

Hero-U: Rogue to Redemption couldn’t get everything absolutely perfect, but no game ever really does. Instead, it got a whole lot of things just right, which was enough to counterbalance most issues. I am looking forward to seeing what the Coles do with their next endeavor into this world.

Wintermoor Tactics Club reminds me a lot of the Persona series: both games sit on that razor’s edge of combining together entertaining combat with social gameplay; both tie into each other in a fluid way that makes the game shine. For anyone who wanted to try the Persona style of mixed genres, but didn’t want to invest over 100 hours into a title, Wintermoor is a tightly paced, well balanced alternative.

Ash of Gods: The Way is a solid strategic deckbuilder; its strength very much lies in its ability to generate a puzzle-solving feel through a straightforward base ruleset and a wide variety of combat scenarios and conditions. While it ultimately may not last too long in the memory after the fact, the time spent with it is enjoyable and it makes for a pleasing mental workout.

Hunt the Night is a great example of what a first-time developer can accomplish. It ticks almost all of the expected boxes, while nailing the balance and cohesion between its melee and ranged fighting techniques, and how one relies on the other. The game is a solid challenge, particularly in its boss fights, without ever feeling unfair. The times it doesn’t fully score a win at least show enough potential to hint at what could have been. Its relatively short runtime offers a tight and enjoyable experience that could do with a little bit more content and world-building to iron out the well-intentioned content provided. With a very solid presentation backing it up, it’s an easy recommendation for dark action RPG fans.

My Time at Sandrock certainly doesn’t skimp on the content, with players able to expect at least a hundred hours before they hit the credits. It uses those hours well enough, with an absorbing gameplay loop that always gives players the feeling that they are progressing in one manner or another, even when it might be categorisable as busywork. Despite a weaker presentation than contemporary titles and a last third that meanders without the urgency of what came before, the game is a pleasing experience and one that those with even just a passing interest in the life and crafting sim genre are likely to enjoy their time with.

This year has already been a strong one for RPGs, and NEO: The World Ends with You just adds to that case. The opportunity to return to Square Enix’s take on Shibuya has been far too long coming, but now that it’s here, it’s immensely pleasing to say that NEO: The Worlds Ends with You does everything I was hoping. Despite some repetitive combat, the rest of the experience more than makes up for it, with the narrative, audio, and visuals combining excellently to make the game enthralling for the length of its forty-plus-hour runtime.

Like its predecessors, Fable III manages to improve upon the last title while simultaneously falling short on the new elements it brings to the table.

Yo-kai Watch 3 will offer most RPGamers plenty of hours of fun. The game makes good use of the 3DS’s dual-screen in its final entry on the system with Yo-kai Watch 4 already confirmed as a Switch title. There are some annoyances, mostly related to a bit of unnecessary padding and a few potential roadblocks, and there’s a bit of sense of quantity over quality in some of its side content, but its general upbeat attitude towards everything is very welcome and on the whole successful.

Far Cry 4 takes the best bits of Far Cry 3, puts a new spin on them and drops its troubling racial politics and constrained mission design. The story and characters a bit more lightweight, but the core remains the same. Overall, this is a leaner, meaner Ubi-style open world experience and the best iteration on the franchise.

At the end of the day, despite some presentation and interface issues, Pokémon Conquest does a splendid job of combining two seemingly uncombinable franchises.

It was and still is an absolute must-play for any JRPG fan, and a master class in slow-burn world-building that should be mandatory gaming, and if a modern-hardware remaster puts it into the hands of even more gamers, I can’t help but be all for it. If the original release was already a modern classic, then this improved version is nothing short of a masterpiece.

Dark Arisen is definite a play to Dragon's Dogma's strengths and it turns out well for it. There is still work to be done for the series, particularly in bulking up the story and world, but there's lots of highly addictive fun to be had from exploring Bitterblack Isle's depths.

Atelier Ryza 2, while not a bad game by any means, did not live up to what it could have been. There are several things that sat wrong, many of them due to fixing things that were not broken to begin with or adding in too many extra features without giving much reason to mess with them. Balance of both gameplay and plot suffered some for this, and it’s sad that this game had enough bleeps on my Disappoint-O-Meter that I can’t say it ends up as much more than an average title review-wise.

Dragon Age: Origins - Awakening serves as a good stopgap between major releases, but it doesn't fully satisfy the Dragon Age craving.

While Lufia II on the SNES might have been a rising star, this title is clearly cursed. The game's problems get in the way of enjoying almost everything.

Persona 3 Reload on Switch 2 is functionally the same game found everywhere else, and though the remaster of Persona 3 Portable is playable on the system, this is a more refined way of experiencing one of the most memorable stories in gaming and a seminal title for the RPG genre. The inconsistent frame rate will be unnoticeable to some and inexcusable to others, but the added perk of portability may be enough to make up for its graphical shortcomings. Moreover, it wouldn’t be right for a game that aims for excellence to be shot down for the few targets it missed, just as how a life of many highs shouldn’t be defined by the times it stumbled and struggled. Persona 3 Reload is a beautiful game, and it being on the Switch 2, imperfect as it may be, means that more people will get to see that beauty for themselves and come away from it with a greater love for what games can really be.

The Last Story's preferred focus on combat and characters puts it far enough apart from Xenoblade, with its focus on exploration and the wider world that there's more than enough space for both games to carve out their own identities and stand proudly together.

While the gameplay provides a strong loop that makes it easy to jump in, it’s the immersive atmosphere that grabs hold and keeps players engaged for multiple runs. The emotional struggles of the characters resonate, and there are important messages about how helpful the support of others can be. Reaching its proper conclusion may require more work than is warranted, but the overall experience of Dreamscaper is such that it remains a strong recommendation for those looking for an atmospheric hack-and-slash title.

I think the largest issue with Pro is its price point. Those who have played Dragon’s Crown in the past will not find anything new here other than it being on a different console. While it’s a solid game through and through, it’s hard to recommend given this game released in 2013 and it’s essentially the exact same title from before.

As it stands right now, the loot-gathering is outstanding and the combat, with the full character progression system supporting it, is faster and more responsive than any other RPG out there.

Perhaps one day gamers outside Japan will be able to appreciate the full scope of this series, which takes time to develop pieces of its world in detail. Until then, at least the two Trails in the Sky games show how rewarding the series can be, and the upcoming Cold Steel shows that more is on the way for non-Japanese speakers.

I have reviewed a ton of life-sim titles here at RPGamer, but I can say with certainty that Consume Me is a unique one. I found myself both completely invested in Jenny’s story, wanting to help her find success, and yelling at myself whenever I failed her goals. While the gameplay has some blemishes, the overall experience is as stressful as it is fun, especially in its short runtime of six hours to complete. Consume Me is a heartfelt look at personal struggles, finding courage, and finding compassion in a world obsessed with physical appearance. Consume Me is a difficult, hopeful experience worth playing, reminding anyone going through these motions that they are not alone.

This game cuts right to the heart of the matter. Ys: The Oath in Felghana is a fun, albeit simple, ride from beginning to end.

Granblue Fantasy: Relink doesn’t offer anything complex, the storytelling is simplistic and combat doesn’t have a ton of depth, but it delivers it all excellently. The presentation is high quality with gorgeous cutscenes, epic battles, easy to pick up combat, and vivid storytelling. There’s nothing that ever knocks the wind out of its sails and always looks ahead to the vast blue skies, wondering what other stories there are to find.

Although Silver Star Harmony is not a perfect remake, it's one that definitely received a lot of tender love and care.

If the original Atelier Rorona's major drawbacks and barriers to entry were its difficulty and time-consuming crafting, then Rorona Plus fixed one and made the other less relevant.

My time with Lies of P was exactly the intense and gratifying experience that I hoped for. As one who holds Bloodborne in the highest regard as one of FromSoftware’s finest achievements, I found myself absolutely enamored with Round 8 Studio’s unique, clever take on the formula. While the game broadly functions similarly to the best the Soulslike genre has to offer, Lies of P‘s tweaks and refinements are so masterfully planned out and implemented that they make every moment of gameplay a pleasure. From the dopamine hits provided by exploring the labyrinthine level layouts, to the extreme elation of finally besting a challenging boss, there’s nary a moment of Lies of P‘s meaty campaign that feels wasted or unsatisfactory. With a post-credits teaser hinting at a second incredible twist on another literary classic lying in wait, the future looks bright for this new addition to the genre. Lies of P, welcome to the top!

Ultimately, Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon succeeds at a lot of what it’s going for, and it cannot be overstated how successful the adaptation of the Arthurian legend is. Not everyone is going to resonate with the creepier, darker tone, and the game’s technical state leaves much to be desired. However, those that do resonate with it will find an interesting, complex, intelligent narrative with the player being used both as a framing device and a driving force.

There’s a lot packed into Ys X: Nordics, making for a thrilling ride. Quick-paced features make sure something exciting is always happening during gameplay, but the cast is given an appreciated chance to breathe and stand out in their own way. Combat gives players many different ways to tackle enemies, with the vast array of skills available making every fight enjoyable. The action choreography during boss fights is breathtaking, making it easy to get fully wrapped up in the battle. Ys has always been about adventure and this injection of added character work just adds a new layer of finesse to this grand stage.

Virgo Versus the Zodiac does a fine job of standing out from the crowd. Its ideas and characters remain engaging throughout, aided by the highly enjoyable music and varied designs. There are times when its inscrutability comes to the fore, but the game pushes past those quickly enough to remain enjoyable. It’s an easy recommendation for anyone who either wants to try something a little bit different or just wants a strong RPG experience.

Paper Mario: The Origami King is a great title that proves bouncing back from a low point in the series isn’t an impossible task. While not the perfect Paper Mario title, it certainly enshrines itself as one of the best. While the lack of traditional leveling may turn off some players, those who are willing to dive in and see what the game offers will be rewarded with a largely satisfying 30-hour experience with plenty to do. If nothing else, The Origami King does show there’s an identity to be had between the core RPG experience of the Mario & Luigi series and the platforming experience of the mainline Mario titles.

The combat continues to improve — it’s incredibly fun taking down huge groups of yakuza — and the story and characters really shine. However, at times the rough edges on the detective elements remind the player that this is the first crack at this sort of gameplay. So it’s not a unanimous decision in Judgment‘s favor, but it is still a ton of fun and the inclusion of English voice acting and lack of an intimidating back cannon makes it a great place for newcomers to see what a Yakuza game is all about.

Scarlet Nexus is an easy recommendation for anyone looking for an exciting action RPG. Though the narrative is varied in its effectiveness, it still complements the rest of the game effectively. Dazzlingly stylish with a superb combat system, Scarlet Nexus is a memorable new title that is huge fun to play throughout. As a new IP, Scarlet Nexus should be considered a great success with lots of potential going forward.

Yakuza 3 has tons to offer for RPGamers of all kinds, and if nothing else, you can at least kick loads of gangster ass while taking names.

Fairy Tail: Dungeons is no Slay the Spire, but in some ways that’s a good thing. It provides an easier to grasp experience that provides a fun dungeon romp for fans and non fans alike. It has enough variety in the form of a good roster of playable characters and other secrets to unlock, but does lack the depth to make the game the kind of long-running obsession other roguelikes have become. The story adds nothing to the long running lore of Fairy Tail, but provides enough fun character interactions to make it worth it for fans. Even non-fans looking for a pixel-art infused card battler will find a fun game to enjoy here.

Devil Survivor 2 remains an addictive experience for a large chunk of its length.

While the balance issues are irritating, to say the least, Eternal Sonata's artistic appeal more than makes up for what the gameplay is lacking. With an excellent story, interesting characters, impressive music, and quite frankly the most beautiful graphics ever produced in a video game, Eternal Sonata is without question the first must-play RPG of the new console generation.

While it'll never be the most technically impressive or original game, its creators clearly understand what works and what doesn't. The excellent music and fun combat combine with the charming characters to create a game that has a certain intangible feel, a spirit that pervades it and makes it more than simply the collection of things seen before it may appear at first glance. As the PSP enters its twilight years, most RPGamers would find few better sendoffs than this.

If you can accept some mechanical quirks in exchange for a torrent of indie exuberance, check it out.

Although DeathSpank is only roughly ten to fifteen hours long, it provides plenty of bang for your buck.

The speedy combat is addictive and goes beyond mere button mashing, so while Ys Seven might not be a AAA release, it is a solid title that deserves a shot.

Dissidia's greatest strength easily lies in its longevity.

For what is supposed to be the next step forward for Pokémon, Pokémon: Let’s Go Pikachu! feels like it has taken a few steps back. While there are aspects of the game I do enjoy, there are also glaring issues that I cannot just ignore. Ultimately, Pokémon: Let’s Go, Pikachu! needlessly simplifies core mechanics in a series that does not require such streamlining.

Rift of the Necrodancer continues finding ways to integrate amazing music into fun gameplay that creates a lovely blend of art and artist interaction that is just a joy to experience. It can be difficult to find a perfect spot of tempo matching hand dexterity for some, but each song ages beautifully as practice matches zip by, with incremental mastering. There’s challenge every step of the way as mini-games and boss battles throw in some curveballs along with the rifts. As a result getting lost in a soundtrack has never felt more fun, challenging, and rewarding then it does here with these well composed tunes leading the way.

Ocean’s Heart is a quirky action-adventure game with a lot of charm added in. It is a breeze to play, but if the controls weren’t always so precise, it would be easy to fully immerse in this archipelago and see where the tides take Tilia. Combat is simple but fun, puzzles are in the same boat, and the game puts an emphasis on exploration and adventure with an easy-learning curve. Jumping in to the game to sail the seas searching for the next upgrade and for clues to what happened to Tilia’s family is an interconnected and wholesome endeavor, leaving the player plenty to enjoy and experience.

While not a revelatory experience that changed my life, the time spent with Stella Glow was fun most of the time.

In the end, the game was very fun to play, very fun to listen to, and very fun to watch, but the frustration caused by the game's inability to give better information ruined the overall enjoyability.

People of Note excels in both of its main promises: it’s a highly entertaining musical and an incredibly tight turn-based RPG. With its solid gameplay structure, it’s clearly tuned in to what makes for outstanding combat, doing quite a lot to distinguish itself and make it interesting. Meanwhile, its jamming musical style, strong cast, excellent puzzles, and musically colorful world layer on top of the turn-based structure to create something so refreshingly original, fun, and passionate. People of Note is overflowing with love for both RPGs and music, pulling out all the stops and blowing the roof off the venue in the process.

The Banner Saga is for those who love having control of their narrative, weighing the risks and rewards, and seeing the outcomes.

While Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii retreads some familiar ground, it is hard to deny what a joyful experience it is. It’s as though Ryu ga Gatoku Studio knew gamers needed a bit more stupidity in their lives, decided One Piece and Like a Dragon should have a baby, and boom — you get this delightful oddball spinoff that is just fun. Much like Monkey D. Luffy in One Piece, Majima is no thoughts and just vibes, on the adventure of a lifetime, and while finding treasure and becoming a pirate king would be a great reward, it really is more about the friends we make along the way. Everything in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is exactly what we’ve come to expect from the Like a Dragon series dialed up to a hundred, and while other series would long ago have gotten stale, sometimes injecting a large dose of stupidity can go a long way.

Overall, XIII-2's more diverse play experience should make it a more palatable game to a larger segment of gamers. Whether or not it's better than Final Fantasy XIII is something I leave for you to judge for yourself.

As the debut title from a very small development team, Path of the Midnight Sun is a fine effort. It manages to find a decent spot where its visual novel and RPG trappings balance out without one overwhelming or undercutting the other, and the story and characters make for an interesting tale with enough that holds up for its length. It’s a game that allows players to take it at their own pace, to its benefit.

It certainly isn’t a title that will gain universal appeal, but it very much finds its home in its niche and will offer those looking for an easy-to-jump-into yet strong narrative will find Arcadia Fallen II is adept at scratching that itch. While it may not be the most thrilling tale at the start and has limited ways to engage with it, there are plenty of fun moments to enjoy from the cast, and the story ultimately satisfies.

Despite all of its environmental detail, scope, and promise of a wider, more exciting space-faring adventure, The Outer Worlds 2 is a disappointment. While it offers divergence and choice, its paper-thin satire, tonal mishmash, and balancing oddities see the experience crumble under the weight. In addition, the review build’s far too many immersion-destroying bugs, blocked questlines, and other sequence breaks ensure that the game’s issues outweigh its redeeming qualities.

Elden Ring Nightreign is not the most unusual game FromSoftware has released in its modern era, but it might be the most dense in terms of experimentation. In the spots where the team got to push at the boundaries of what its games are capable of, it’s easy to spot the new, exciting ideas at play. As a roguelike, it can’t quite support the variety expected of the genre. And yet, the core of FromSoftware’s combat is still strong enough that the game is still a blast with friends and so is still somewhat successful at what it sets out to achieve — just don’t expect it to be a big RPG.

All things considered, Dark Dawn is still the game series fans have been waiting seven years for.

So, Meg’s Monster is not a long game. It could have been, and substantially longer at that, but its creators chose to focus on the presentation of the narrative by paring away all non-essentials, and what is left is an adorable and occasionally heart-wrenching story of loss, regret, and found-family issues with fun combat and puzzle interludes. While it only takes a few hours, the blend of narrative, plot-essential battles, and occasional puzzle elements was fun to work through. Anyone in search of a short but satisfying experience should consider this one at some point.

Persona 5 Tactica offers a captivating tale in a really cute world. The game is solid in every aspect, but the battle system and the soundscape are undoubtedly where the game shines brightest. The simpler mechanics may be initially dismaying for veterans of the series, but they fit the game nicely once the player gets used to them. Persona 5 Tactica is an easy recommendation for both fans of the series, while newcomers who want to dip their toes into its stylings will find it very welcoming.

Overall, Berseria has its flaws, but those feel like nitpicks compared to the solid core gameplay and story, and it marks a strong return to form for an older series that doesn't quite command the same respect it used to. The writing and characters are better than they've ever been, and the skill-based combat is no slouch either. On the other hand, dungeon-crawling can get a little tedious, the crafting system is acceptable at best, and a rushed localization certainly doesn't help either. But despite all that, any fan of the series deserves to check this out, and probably even people who aren't fans yet.

A fun and entertaining roguelike with a few troublesome stumbles along the way. Fans of 16-bit style adventures will certainly enjoy its audio and visual style, and a number of post-game dungeons and challenges will keep players entertained for a long time beyond the game's initial running time.

Fans of the original Half-Minute Hero will undoubtedly be excited to experience more of the unique franchise, but at the same time, the new additions have a tendency to drag it down a bit.

I didn't really know what to expect going into Zwei, but for me, the game quickly became the best surprise of 2017. Fun, quick gameplay, cute characters, and a charming story and world all come together to create a terrific experience that hides its nearly ten year old age surprisingly well. It's not a lengthy game, clocking in at a little over twenty hours, but optional dungeons and a new game plus mode can extend that significantly. While the series doesn't have the same history as Ys and Trails, after playing through Zwei: The Ilvard Insurrection, I would happily welcome further adventures through Granvallen.

On paper, RPG Time: The Legend of Wright is a dazzling love letter to gamers and creators alike. Boasting a unique art style and an audacious commitment to its core gimmick, this is very much a title for gamers that remember doodling in their notebooks all those years ago, dreaming of their own creations. While gorgeous to look at, the game suffers from a bit of an identity crisis, as it is overstuffed with a few too many disparate gameplay systems. However, even those who do not find the gameplay compelling may appreciate the sheer ambition of Kenta’s tale.

Far from an unqualified win, Wo Long does manage to be an entertaining ride. When it leans into the strength of its combat it’s a joy. But much like that combat, there’s a push and pull to the changes that never quite coalesce. The inclusion of jumping makes the levels more fun to explore but the addition of Morale blunts any surprise the exploration might yield. The level of freedom given to customizing weapons is admirable, but when parrying is always the most powerful option everything else feels flatter as a result. Still, with top notch combat and a good amount of player experimentation there’s a lot of fun to be had. Just don’t expect to be blown away.

For those who want to give the series a try, or for those are already invested in this series, Escha & Logy definitely has something for everyone.

River City Girls brought me so much joy, and playing it with my roommate we beat it in two days without taking too many breaks. It’s fantastic to have a couch co-op game that takes all of the classic elements of beat-’em-ups and gives them an upgrade that feels modern and fresh. I can’t remember the last time I played a beat-’em-up that had both a fun and entertaining story, but was also great to play, even with its few frustrations.

Anyone who's interested in the strategic side of classic RPG combat and isn't afraid of the beat should give The Metronomicon a look.

Rune Factory: Frontier can be somewhat tedious at times, but at the least it always gives players something to do.

There are a lot of odds and ends one discovers over the course of the game, for better or worse. The game is packed with content, quite a bit of it extending beyond the main campaign's runtime. Capcom and Marvelous wanted to turn over a new leaf, and Monster Hunter Stories certainly is that, a departure from what has come before, it just wasn't enough of a departure for my taste. The franchise faithful will probably still feel at home here, but others may need to decide if they can stomach the guesswork combat system or rote mission structure before committing to this game.

Overall, Nexomon is just a good, solid monster-collecting RPG very reminiscent of many turn-of-century titles. It pays homage to the inception of the genre, though sometimes it clings a little too heavily to those roots. Players looking for a short romp that doesn’t overstay its welcome will want to pick up this title before tackling the sequel, which has many gameplay improvements that would be sorely missed when returning to the original.