Secret of Mana is a strictly by-the-numbers remake of a classic game. It’s disappointing that it could’ve been a lot better if it had more time and effort put into it. As it stands, it’s a decent remake that will likely capture the hearts of younger fans, but it’s not better than the classic.
Half Minute Hero feels almost like a parody or subversion of traditional RPGs. It takes the tropes of slow, methodical gameplay and does the complete opposite with it to create a hyper-fast RPG experience. It is unlike any other game that can be experienced and should absolutely be checked out by any long-time RPG fan.
OMORI is an absolutely excellent game. It sets a brand new benchmark in indie horror RPGs by not only being an unforgettable experience but by going above and beyond with every feature it has to offer. If you are at all curious about what a great horror RPG is capable of, OMORI is one you should not miss out on.
If you are looking for an interesting 2-player game that combines puzzle platforming and tower defense, Aegis Defenders is not a bad choice. It has a lot of niche check boxes to fill, but if you are looking for something that fills all of them, it does the job very well.
South Park: The Stick of Truth is everything I would have ever wanted in a South Park game. It’s ridiculous, it’s crude, and I love it in spite of anything it might be missing. It feels almost exactly like playing through an interactive episode of the show and I could ask for absolutely nothing less.
Absinthia is a great game from a very talented indie developer and I am condifent that Team Bewitched will make a lot more games in the future. I am certain that they have a bright future ahead of them and I eagerly look forward to what they make next.
BioShock is an absolute masterpiece from beginning to end. Every aspect of the game is enjoyable and thought-provoking at the same time. It will likely retain its status as one of the greatest RPGs, if not the greatest games of all time.
8-Bit Adventures 2 is a wonderful homage to the classics. It feels like it was made by and for people with a true passion for the humble beginnings of RPGs. For fans of the original Final Fantasy, it is an incredible game and should not be missed.
Rogue Legacy 2 is a wonderful improvement from its predecessor. It takes all of the most necessary steps forward to making a worthwhile sequel and none of the steps back. It is a fantastic entry for fans of indie games, roguelike RPGs and Metroidvania. Whether you are a fan of the original Rogue Legacy or not, this is an easy game to recommend.
Shadows Over Loathing firmly establishes the Loathing RPGs as a solid franchise. It is yet another weird, surreal and wonderfully entertaining RPG in what will hopefully be a long-running series. It is absurd, weird, strange and incredibly fun and I have no problem recommending it to anyone.
Anuchard has an interesting premise with its story and art style, but under-delivers in a lot of areas, especially in its gameplay. It constantly teases the possibility of expanding on its ideas and growing into something bigger and better and just never quite does. It had a lot of potential, but just didn’t quite live up to it.
Manafinder is a lot more than what you would expect. At first glance, it looks like a rather simple game, but when you dive in deeper, it delivers a whole lot more. It has a very engaging story, well-written characters, excellent combat and a plethora of extras. This is a game I can easily recommend to anyone looking for a solid turn-based RPG.
Dust: An Elysian Tail not only excels in every genre that it fits into, but it improves upon it for an unforgettable experience. It firmly established that 2D games can and should make the most of modern hardware, and helped pave the way for an amazing future. It is. without a doubt, a game changer for RPGs and indie games alike and should be experienced by everyone.
Airoheart is a good answer to the question: “What if Link to the Past was longer and more difficult?” Not every added challenge makes the game better, but it can potentially make completing the challenges more rewarding. If you are looking for a more difficult spiritual successor to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, Airoheart is a good choice. Probably not the best one, but a good one.
Jack Move has a lot of amazing features to it. It has some great characters, designs and animation. Unfortunately, the game is not as good as the sum of its parts. It’s a bit too short, the gameplay is a bit monotonous and could have used a bit more variety. There is plenty to enjoy, especially for fans of cyberpunk RPGs, but it could have used just a little more.
Octopath Traveler is less of an RPG and more like eight mini RPGs rolled into one. The diverse character cast allows for widely different stories and a vastly different experience. It is wildly unlike anything I could have ever hoped to expect, and it would be better if there were more games like it. It is an absolute masterpiece that everyone should play.
Without all of the publicity it received, Golden Sun may well have easily slipped into obscurity. It would have become a hidden gem that people would only play in the days of rediscovering great retro games because Golden Sun has the look and feel of every other classic game that got added to the Game Boy Advance library. It plays like a traditional Super Nintendo RPG with its turn-based combat system, but adds to it in a lot of ways. It’s a classic that should not be overlooked.
Overall, Potato Flowers in Full Bloom feel like a nice blend of two different genres. It mixes the dungeon crawling and turn-based combat well to form a rather different game. However, sometimes it feels a bit barren and repetitive. It’s a bit too easy to forget what you’re trying to do or to figure out what you’re supposed to do next. It’s not bad, but there could have been a bit more variety in where you explore and what you do. Still, not a bad game.
CrossCode is a wonderfully well done homage to classic 16-bit RPGs. It does everything right and exceeds every possible expectation. It’s an incredibly heartfelt story, it has wonderful characters, the gameplay is fun and engaging, and the whole experience is fun from beginning to end. This is not a game you should miss out on.
Anyone who is a fan of Castlevania II, Zelda II or Faxanadu will love Infernax. It gets the look and feel of a retro throwback just right. It’s not perfect by any means, but neither were any of the games it’s drawing inspiration from. It’s a bloody good time and I mean that in more ways than one.
Overall, Cute Bite is an interesting game that combines a cute vampire art style with simulation and RPG gameplay. It’s a relatively simple game, but it has a lot of variety. It can’t quite be pinned down as just one thing, so it’s a good game to play to mix things up now and then.
Unsighted is not a game you want to miss. It mixes nearly every type of action-RPG style imaginable into something amazingly fresh. It manages to be heartfelt and heartbreaking at the same time while also being fun and challenging. Definitely worth checking out.
Struggle for Talyria is a broken glitchy mess. It’s a collection of cobbled-together assets that barely passes for a game. I’m still surprised that this was made in the Unity Engine because I feel like most games made in RPG Maker would have been better than this.
Chicory: A Colorful Tale is a masterpiece, and not just because it provides you with all of the tools you need to create your own within the game. I found myself wanting to savor every minute of this game as if I was eating a gourmet chocolate dessert. This game is an absolute wonder and I could not recommend it enough.
I don’t know if I can expect Mind Scanners to be a ground-breaking game, but it’s fun, it’s harmless and it could potentially raise awareness about mental health, which means we’re moving in the right direction in more ways than one.
Pecaminosa is an odd game. The parts that are good are really good and the parts that aren’t are too noticeable to ignore. There is a lot of clever writing and great character design that went into this project. However, it’s undercut by repetitive combat and a plot that goes all over the place. I feel like under better circumstances, developer Cereal Games could make something truly incredible. Hopefully, they can do better next time.
Coin Crypt is interesting because it is just a very unusual game. There isn’t anything else like it and I find it fascinating that something so unique exists. It’s a game that I find myself coming back to now and then for that alone. I have no problem recommending it.
Pixelot is a game that does a lot with very little. It’s well put together, challenging, and a welcome entry in a classic genre. While it can come across as a simple game on the surface, there is plenty of substance underneath its pixelated exterior and it’s definitely worth taking a look to see all the passion that clearly went into this game.
Brave Fencer Musashi feels like it tried to do a bunch of things, but bit off way more than it could chew. The action, platforming and RPG elements don’t mesh well and a lot of the ideas are either too simple or aren’t as refined as they should be.
Ikenfell is unapologetic in its representation of a colorful and diverse cast of LGBTQ+ party members, as it should be. It presents a meaningful story and gameplay that makes every character stand out as an individual. It is a wonderful game that I can easily recommend.
West of Loathing is a very silly take on a Western RPG. It is filled with tons of strange moments and plenty of unpredictable scenarios that are hilarious and unforgettable. It is an experience that will satisfy anyone looking for a western, a comedy game, an RPG, or any combination of the three. I absolutely recommend it.
