Trials of Mana is unapologetically traditional and, yet, still makes itself accessible to all JRPG fans, both new and old. The dedication that the developers show as they retain the fantasy appeal of this classic title with updated systems is what ultimately shines during every moment of this adventure.
Resident Evil 3 is a heart-pounding nightmare that blends survival horror and action elements perfectly with the help of its two protagonists. There’s so much to explore and discover during every moment of this thriller that it’s easy to forget about the horrors that await just around the corner. However, the limited puzzles and short length make it tough to justify the full price. But, like a zombie hungry for brains, I can’t seem to get enough of this game.
Hero Must Die. Again is a unique non-linear JRPG that takes chances on players being capable of learning and navigating through its systems, without much handholding. Each playthrough enables the player to become more capable of handling whatever the game throws at them, even if that comes at the cost of dying multiple times.
Daemon X Machina doesn’t end up getting too creative with its mission structure, but it makes up for it with some incredible set pieces and systems. There’s so much here for fans of mech action games to customize and explore that kept me entertained for hours
Katana Kami: A Way of the Samurai Story is a must-play for roguelike fans. The game loop of earning money by day and fighting monsters by night creates a fantastic gameplay experience. Still, there are some features that could use some clarity and confusing menus do more harm than good to its accessibility.
Banner of the Maid is a decent tactical RPG that is as easy to follow as it is approachable. Hardcore fans of the genre might miss some of the more in-depth systems offered by other titles, but I believe there is enough here to satisfy any player, no matter their skill level.
Azur Lane: Crosswave is for the fans, plain and simple. The game might hold over a newcomer for an hour or two, but the repetitive nature of the gameplay won’t keep their attention. Still, there are some rather attractive ship girls here that make it all a little easier to digest. This game knows its audience and doesn’t cater too much outside of that.
The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Tactics ends up doing just enough for fans of both The Dark Crystal and fans of tactical RPGs. It has enough features that allow it to stand out when compared to other titles available. Sadly, the pacing of the story and battles are relatively fast, which means that you’ll continually feel rewarded, but you won’t have an attachment to the characters.
I rarely find myself playing escape room games for longer than an hour at a time, but Prison Princess held my attention for more than 11. The game’s intelligent design and inergetic princesses had me wishing that we could get caught in more castles together.
There’s a lot of things that frustrated me while playing Arc of Alchemist. Throughout the entire adventures, there’s a variety of things that just make the game unpleasant. Had I played this game ten years ago, I might forgive it a bit more because of the unique mechanics that it introduces, but it just doesn’t work today.
If you’re longing for more Kingdom Hearts, then Kingdom Hearts III Re:Mind is what you’re looking for. The developer has provided the player a new look at the conclusion of the game to hold them off until more questions are answered, they are ever answered.
The Coma 2: Vicious Sisters brings the series to a whole new level of quality. The adventure is tense and nervewracking as you are forced to utilize whatever tools you can find to avoid timely death. While the pacing of difficulty is a little off at times, there are more than enough items to get through the game.
Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE Encore has some amazing RPG systems with a lackluster story. It’s nearly impossible to care about these characters and their relationship within the first ten hours of the game, and that’s more than enough time for players to just give up from disinterest.
As great of a collection as Psikyo Shooting Stars Alpha is, shmup fans would probably already own each of the titles on Switch. However, this does allow them to own them all in one physical collection. There isn’t anything added to the collection either, so you’re pretty much just getting the games.
SD Gundam G Generation Cross Rays offers some fantastic moments of gameplay for fans of Gundam and strategy RPGs. There’s so much in terms of content here that the game feels endless.
Star Ocean First Departure R turns out to be the best way for newcomers to discover the Star Ocean series. Those returning to the game won’t find too much new here, but hey, if you’ve never added Pericci to the party, then now is a perfect time.
There’s so much to Black Future ’88 that makes it more than just a typical roguelike. Each run presents new challenges and different items at the player’s disposal, but the game does a bad job of explaining its features to the player.
Last Labyrinth does some amazing things with VR. The way it tells a story through themes of death had me eager to press on through this nightmare of a game. Instructing Katia came naturally, but I do wish I could understand her thoughts about some of the later puzzles.
DEEMO: Reborn is more of an experience than a rhythm game. The exploration elements and world-building far outway playing music in this title, and in the end, I was okay with that. Sadly, the conversion to a standard controller just never felt right to me, and I was stumbling on every song, which I wasn’t at all used to.
When it comes to a non-linear JRPG experience, none have done it better than Romancing SaGa 3.