In Stars and Time brought forth one of my fears and forced me to confront it with its premise. While the game has such a fantastic story with wonderful characters and a powerful twist, a lot of the repetitive elements can and will be a turn-off to some. I mostly adored my time with the game, but I won’t sugarcoat my frustration in having to constantly replay the same battles and dialogue. For those who stick with it, In Stars and Time is an emotionally engaging tale that is worth the effort.

Those who want to grow wiser and older should venture into this labyrinth filled with puzzles and varied enemies and face the dragon. With immersive visuals and a great battle system, an enjoyable journey is guaranteed. Though it may not reach the same atmospheric levels as Demon Souls or Bloodborne, action RPG fans would do well to give Chronos: Before the Ashes a chance to test their killing abilities.

While the game isn’t without flaws in terms of the level of recycling from the previous game, it still passes its charisma check without much effort.

Despite the action trappings, Valkyrie Elysium shows deference to its spiritual ancestors in terms of aesthetic, tone, and emphasis on strategic use of allies in combat. Those looking for an expansive narrative will be disappointed as there is polish missing in the presentation and story, but that does not detract from an exhilarating combat system and enjoyable interactions between the Valkyrie and the Einherjar. Valkyrie Elysium may not be the game long-suffering fans have been asking for, but it represents an organic shift for the series that can appeal to fans and newcomers alike.

If you had a brother or sister growing up, then Costume Quest will speak to you whether you like it or not, much like that pesky sibling. Not only does it capture the spirit of Hallowe'en, but it perfectly encapsulates the brother/sister relationship into a short, six hour period.

It should be said that for all of the criticism to be made about Dragon Age: The Veilguard, there’s nothing it outright does poorly. It is absolutely lots of fun in the moment, and the cast is worthy of note. However, when all is said and done, there’s little that sticks in the memory. Combat is heavily diluted by a lack of variation and strategy in its encounters, while the locations have little that draws them to life outside of their general premise. The quest to emulate Mass Effect 2 is all well and good, but there’s very little that The Veilguard does that it makes its own. The game will certainly garner plenty of highly satisfied fans, but in a time of much greater competition it’s far from a must-play recommendation.

Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth is a game that should greatly appeal to any who were fond of the series at any point in its history, and has plenty to offer to those unfamiliar with it.

If you had a brother or sister growing up, then Costume Quest will speak to you whether you like it or not, much like that pesky sibling. Not only does it capture the spirit of Hallowe'en, but it perfectly encapsulates the brother/sister relationship into a short, six hour period.

Thirsty Suitors is a game made for those who love comedy and storytelling. Outerloop Games has made such an enjoyable love letter to IPs such as Persona and Scott Pilgrim, while still crafting a game that stands on its own two feet. There is so much personality and honesty that feels refreshing, and Jala is a winner of a heroine because her growth is so important and integral to the story being told. While the combat is serviceable and the game can be completed in under six hours, don’t let it detract you from giving Thirsty Suitors a chance. There is a lot of heart and soul in this game, and that alone makes it worth experiencing.

Ultimately, GreedFall is another step forward for Spiders and is its strongest entry to date. Its previous releases may elicit some skepticism, but GreedFall, while not perfect, is a welcome addition to the gaming canon. It is a fine example of what smaller developers like Spiders can offer to complement the other experiences out there. Even with its faults, RPGamers should welcome GreedFall into their personal collections.

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity is a strong title with plenty of appeal to both Zelda and Musou fans. The enduring gameplay strengths of Omega Force’s titles are present and its interesting approach to being a prequel ensures there is some narrative interest. It doesn’t deviate far enough from the formula to stand out among its siblings, but there’s a good twenty-plus hours of enjoyment to be had from the game.

While it is far from perfect, Death end re;Quest has some refreshingly honest qualities about itself. On a story level, it promises a twisted trip of mystery and conspiracy, and delivers on this and more in spades. The narrative is presented well in terms of both audio and visuals, with a high-quality localization to top it off. However, its gameplay stumbles with good ideas that weren’t given enough time and balance to gel into something special. It may even be a tad too lengthy, as quantity slightly edges out quality towards the very end. At times spooky, at times brutal or corny, on the whole this rabbit hole is one that casual and hardcore fans alike should feel comfortable diving into.

Dragon Fantasy Book II is still a lot of fun. Dungeons are highly enjoyable to explore and the new battle system is very strong despite its few flaws. However, it doesn't upgrade Book I as much as it might've done.

Soul Sacrifice is a noble first effort from Inafune and company to fill the Monster Hunter void, but it can't quite match the addictive depth of that series.

I had no idea what it was about or how difficult it would be, and Batbarian proved to be a welcome surprise on both counts. It felt like an adventure from beginning to end, and there’s no way to fault that. The level of challenge won’t be to everyone’s liking, but for those who do like this sort of thing, then Batbarian is a game that will give the player a run for their money. It’s hard, but never unfair, and it lures the player onward with an interesting plot and retro graphics. This one stands as an example of what a good indie developer can do with a classic game genre, breathing life into it and making it their own.

Skyward Sword HD should be commended for its attempt to improve on the original. Having a new control scheme and making a good deal of Fi’s advice optional make it a more palatable experience. However, the game still suffers from pacing issues that made the original feel too bloated as well as a disappointing deemphasis on exploration. This remaster could have realistically improved upon a lot, yet it would still fall short compared to the series’ strongest entries. There is still enough for those looking for a more traditional 3D Zelda experience on the Switch provided they keep their expectations in check.

While it isn't a monumental triumph like the last couple of main-series Tales games we've received, Tales of Hearts R is still an enjoyable, if somewhat unimpressive, entry to the Tales franchise, one that's more than welcome in the wake of the incredibly disappointing Tales of Xillia 2.

Fans of the Mana games will enjoy many staples of the series developed in original ways in Legend of Mana Remastered, and newcomers will encounter a beloved classic that includes an unconventional adventure and a remarkable soundtrack. I love the game and recommend it without hesitation, but there’s always going to be a sense of a missed opportunity for Square Enix to have given it the full remake treatment, with the voice acting, 3D visuals, and a more-polished battle system that Trials of Mana received.

Cairn: Mathair’s Curse is a game that’s well worth the time invested in it. While its gameplay might not push the boat out very far, it provides a solid foundation for an engaging storyline and entertaining setting. Heartfelt events, a good balance of zaniness and challenge, and a strong soundtrack ensure that those looking for another strong retro-styled RPG, or even just a fun RPG in general, are well catered for.

Those with an appreciation for the tabletop games and classic PC games this pays homage to will likely have an enjoyable experience. The learning curve is a bit steep, the seas may get choppy, and the deck can get rather slippery, but with some patience and perseverance, even the greenest sailor can go from lowly deckhand to decorated captain.

Fire Emblem Echoes provoked a multitude of emotions from me, not all of them positive. It's different than anything else in the series, and shows what happens when a developer feels like veering away from the established path. It's to the game's credit that I found it quite addictive and sank a lot of hours into it, plus much of what takes place is genuinely interesting. Yet some of the nasty tricks it pulls in the last battles were just infuriating. A somewhat mixed bag, but absolutely worth investigating by series stalwarts.

Ys: Memories of Celceta was and continues to be a highly engaging action RPG that makes a great addition to the franchise. Its best selling point is its combat system, which offers up a compelling and smooth flow of button-mashing fun, highlighted by boss battles that stand out with higher difficulty and require a defter handle on the system’s more intricate aspects. Nice graphics, a tuneful soundtrack, and an interesting supporting cast, each with their own compelling stories, round out the package that should be a no-brainer for those who haven’t yet played it. Those looking for an expanded revisit from previous iterations, however, should know that there isn’t enough new content added to this release to make it worthwhile of a whole new purchase.

There are two schools of thought for Dark Deity 2. The game will feel very familiar to tactical RPG fans, and it plays things quite safe. However, there’s poise and polish to everything, and a single playthrough is easily enjoyed through its gameplay options alone. Despite the lack of bells of whistles to make it feel unique, the game deserves reward for how it utilizes its strengths. Dark Deity 2 is like picking up comfort food in that it’s perfectly enjoyable as something easy to digest for tactical fans.

Soulstice is a strong entry to the action RPG market, and a great showing for its young development studio. It manages to ride a fine line of providing a considerable yet fair difficulty to players of varying skill levels while also including many options for die-hards to ratchet up the challenge far beyond what a standard campaign requires. At the same time, it establishes an intriguing new gameworld that provides a satisfying first outing while leaving the door wide open for future adventures. It may not immediately aspire to the same household-name status as some of its sources of inspiration, but fans of the genre would be hard-pressed to not find plenty to enjoy here.

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

The Count Lucanor covers a lot of material for its brevity. Experienced puzzlers may not appreciate the familiar nature of the puzzles, even with the novelty of the light and stealth systems to modify them.

Even more than 20 years after its original release, Moon: Remix RPG Adventure remains an eccentric and refreshing experience, but its oddities may not be for everyone. Some quality-of-life improvements, such as a turbo mode to make time transcur faster when needed or more save options, would have been a great addition. Recommendations for the game come with caveats, but if nothing else it’s worthwhile checking out to see how it influenced later beloved titles such as Undertale. Moon serves as a great reflection upon the genre and is ideal for those who want something different than a traditonal RPG.

Replaying Valkyrie Profile after a decade of dear memories was such a joyful experience for me, and I’m elated for everyone who will finally get the chance to play this classic. While I wish Square Enix had put more effort into this release, I also recognize that it was a pack-in with Valkyrie Elysium. While the difficulty isn’t perfect and the platforming is consistently frustrating, the shortcomings are balanced by an enjoyable combo system and one of the most timeless stories found in gaming.