As soon as Star Ocean: The Second Story R released, I was glued to my recliner and I didn’t want to stop playing. Not only is this a favourite gem from my childhood, but this edition is definitely the definitive one. Everything Gemdrops has produced in Star Ocean: Second Story R shows a lot of love and respect towards the original game while making it much more accessible and fresh to newcomers. While I will always cherish my memories of the cheesiness that is PSX edition, the joy I felt replaying a favourite game was strong throughout. Star Ocean: The Second Story R is the best Star Ocean game hands down, and every RPGamer owes themself a chance to enjoy this amazing remake. You won’t be disappointed.

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.

Given the amount of time between Lords of the Fallen’s initial outing and its reboot, this new release feels far less like an attempt to right the ship and more like its own thing. This is a positive, as it certainly forges a strong identity of its own, and provides a robust amount of content to back it up. But much like its predecessor, it struggles to push past its self-imposed limitations, in this case revolving around its combat system and dual-world gimmick. With frustrating encounter designs and a need to fine-tune some aspects, the game veers from joyful to jarring and back again far too frequently to let a sense of fun be its main takeaway.

The base gameplay of Dave the Diver is so engaging and addictive that Mintrocket really did not need to go the extra mile by crafting such a diverse and creative adventure, but doing so takes Dave the Diver from being a great game to a wonderful and memorable underwater adventure.

Did Kazuma Kiryu need another game? The short answer is both yes and no. It’s great that this side story exists as it does bridge some plot points from previous games together, and offers some interesting lead-ins for Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth. On the other hand, the narrative overall doesn’t have the same strength that we’ve seen from this series time and again. There is a lot to love here for fans of the series, but there are also some noticeable issues that keep it from being an easy recommendation. The Man Who Erased His Name is a decent addition to the series, but it misses the mark in being a truly memorable experience.

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.

Silent Hope is an adorable romp through some dungeons. There are some detractions with the Princess trying her hardest to chat the player’s ear off as they try to navigate the frustrating menus in the base camp. But, each dive into the Abyss feels fun. Customizing the characters, obtaining more loot and punishing the too cute enemies is addicting. Many players should be happy to dive in to the Abyss and hit those adorable critters even if they might want to leave the Princess on mute.

In a year dominated by sequels to franchise favorites, there was a hope that Starfield would carve its own path to success. While the team at Bethesda should be commended for taking such a big swing, there’s no denying that the game doesn’t feel like a cohesive work. Maybe continued support and future sequels will make something more meaningful out of a work that is clearly deeply enamored with both science fiction and space exploration. Unforunately, this first launch has had far more mixed results than desired.

Fate/Samurai Remnant makes its mark with a strong story and setting, though the gameplay isn’t quite enough to make the most of it. It’s still enjoyable to work through, but the repetitiveness of everything begins to grate by the time a first playthrough is done, running counter to the game’s clear intention of getting players to revisit it for the additional story elements and endings. Fans of the series will certainly be able to appreciate its take on the formula and how it connects to the wider series, and despite the game’s weaknesses, its story should be more than strong enough to get new fans into the franchise.

While I was expecting to turn tail and run during my experience with World of Horror, I am happy to report that I couldn’t put the game down. I adore the dark elements in the game’s presentation and storytelling, but the experience forced me to confront some of my personal thresholds, reminding me that pushing boundaries is what I signed up for. Although I wasn’t incredibly keen on the game’s combat and UI, I cannot deny how often I kept crawling back to my computer to play just one more round. World of Horror is a compelling game that begs the player’s attention, providing an addictive experience that one cannot easily run away from.

I wanted to love Fae Farm, but honestly, the full package was mostly disappointing. It is a game that tries to compete with the popular farming sims, but never quite does enough to stand on its own feet. While there are kernels of good ideas, they are marred by questionable design choices, with quests and goals that never feel satisfying. I am all for the coziness revolution, but Fae Farm, unfortunately, feels anything but.

Forspoken has plenty of other glaring issues like its occasionally janky platforming that results in Frey falling off buildings or its less than memorable soundtrack. It also has a number of additional points to praise like the scale of its cities and the cast of cute cat chimeras that Frey can lay down and cuddle with. This duality of fantastic ideas with less-than-stellar execution places Forspoken in a place where very few games end up — smack dab in the middle. It’s not so bad that it should be burned by fire, but not nearly good enough to make anyone’s game of the year list.

Long Gone Days is ultimately a case of tempered expectations. The combat and visuals have little details that show a lot of care has gone into everything. The scope of the story is where the snag comes in, as too many hard-hitting moments get lost in the brisk pace that it attempts to juggle everything, making many of them fall flat in execution. This can be disheartening as there’s a nearly constant feeling of wanting them to do more with what they’re providing. It can be a lot to get past but, taking the game at face value the story beats still flow well enough and tell a good story providing moments that players can reflect on. The adventure is quick and has fun gameplay moments, so it is a perfectly satisfactory way to experience a well-intentioned story.

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails is a fun, breezy action RPG with an interesting story and great cast. Though combat can become repetitive and frustrating, it’s never enough to significantly detract from an addictive gameplay loop. Its boss battles and visual performance are excellent highlights, even if its simplistic look alludes to its decade-old portable origins. Trails veterans should enjoy some of the references to the main series and lore-building, while any action RPG fan will find lots to love about Falcom’s latest effort to bring the entire series to English-speaking audiences.

Sea of Stars is a perfectly balanced modern RPG with a beautiful world to explore. The game’s story is full of heart and charismatic characters that push it forward in emotional and meaningful ways. There is a plethora of amazing music and sounds that contribute to its classic vibe, and some great minigames. Its retro RPG inspirations are used only as a foundation; it comes into its own through clever storytelling ideas and vivid world interactions. Although it never quite reaches the heights of the classic RPGs it takes inspiration from, Sea of Stars stands out as a superb, modern turn-based RPG due to its incredible polish and refinement.

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!

Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten is an enjoyable game with a good story and a couple of interesting ideas in its battle system. It is an easy recommendation for fans of the series and those looking for a traditional RPG that does not try to invent the wheel. Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten does nothing wrong yet nothing remarkably right to make it memorable.

While Marvelous hasn’t exactly done anything except add polish to the original Rune Factory 3, it picked a great game to port to modern systems. All the charm and the excellence of the original game shines through, with only a couple of decade-old gameplay elements sticking out. The game offers a great jumping on point for those not experienced with the series while staying quite accessible to those used to the gameplay of later entries. It is an easily recommended blend of life-sim and RPG that many RPGamers can find enjoyment with.

I adored Rhapsody and Rhapsody II, but Rhapsody III feels like an unnecessary addition to this fun series. The game feels like more of a cash grab, offering mediocre stories regarding the series’ wonderful cast of characters, and it’s accompanied by uninspired dungeons and question combat design. Rhapsody III was a rollercoaster I was begging to get off because the constant ups and downs felt like whiplash. Two out of six short stories are not enough for me to recommend Rhapsody III, even for series fans, but one could say its presence for a bundle helped finally give Rhapsody II its welcome western release.

Affogato was an entertaining romp for me to end my summer gaming season with, and while I had some hang-ups with the late-game battle maps, I only experienced one major bug–in the final boss battle of all places. That bug failed to occur on the second attempt, and overall I’ve enjoyed my time with this game. Like a fresh sip of caffe latte on a cool morning, it’s been a good pick-me-up for the rest of the season.

I had every intention of enjoying Xuan-Yuan Sword: Mists Beyond the Mountains; I quite liked Xuan Yuan Sword 7 when it received a western release a few years back, and I am generally a fan of throwback, pixel-art styles with turn-based combat. But it didn’t take long for the game to tear down any goodwill built up by its predecessor or my personal inclinations. When push comes to shove, there’s just no way to ignore the terrible blow dealt to the game by its one-of-a-kind translation, evident in everything from the philosophical musings of the plot to how character arcs unfold. And if that alone wasn’t the deathblow, then the frustrating and plain unfun balance issues that made me beg for credits certainly did the trick. There’s no two ways about it: Mists Beyond the Mountains would have fared better staying shrouded in the fog of ancient obscurity.

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.

Atelier Marie Remake: The Alchemist of Salburg offers a refined version of a twenty-five-year-old item-crafting simulator RPG. The game is short and sweet, finishing in around 10 hours with an endless mode option allowing for an expanded runtime with Marie and her companions, ending when the player decides. The game does not attempt to retrofit the title with features from more recent entries; rather, it focuses on presenting a version of the game that matches modern sensibilities while still retaining the core gameplay from 1997. The end result is a short and charmingly dated experience. This refresher course on the game that started a decades-long series may not be sitting at the top of the class, but it still earns high marks. For a student like Marie, that’s a perfect recipe.

There is no game out there like Stray Gods, and while its execution has some flaws, its originality shines through. Summerfall Studios has crafted a memorable experience with loveable characters and catchy songs to boot. It’s been weeks since I completed both my playthroughs, and I’m still singing many of the unforgettable songs because they are unforgettable. Stray Gods casts a spell on the RPG genre, showcasing that risks truly can pay off, and succeeds by being an experience like no other.

Overall, Arcadian Atlas is a good indie game to recommend for fans of turn-based tactical RPGs. Its focus on narrative is the best aspect of the game as the plot twists become interesting to see when characters make unexpected decisions. Combat is not too difficult and provides variety for players to customize their units with job classes to their liking. Arcadian Atlas delivers an intriguing tale of treachery and mystery through the power of the Atlas.

Ultimately, Tails of Iron is a pleasant surprise. The game’s darker tone and not inconsiderable challenge made it a far more engaging title than its “Animal Kingdom” plot might at first brush suggest. While exploration is fun enough, it’s the combat system that is the real standout here, simple enough to be quickly learned but intricate enough to provide plenty of variety, particularly during the fun boss fights. With fine presentation values to boot, it’s an enjoyable overall package that’s easy to recommend.

Final Fantasy XVI is the magnificent entry fans and newcomers needed. This somber take on the series’ traditional theme surrounding magic crystals an imposing Eikons readily evokes nostalgia on longtime fans and nicely introduces newcomers to the series. Its spellbinding story, emotive soundtrack, spectacular visuals, and fast-paced action combat make Final Fantasy XVI a must-play action RPG.

Soulvars will hold limited appeal to turn-based RPG fans. Those looking for a compelling plot and lovable characters will likely want to search elsewhere. The battle system is good enough to entertain players, but offers little to compel them to return to the game once it is beaten as the replay value is nearly zero. Unfortunately, its soulless plot and characterization make it a grind to get through.