Audra Bowling
The Definitive Edition is certainly the strongest version of the game out there and offers one more gameplay mode to explore with local co-op, but it isn’t without its problems either. Given the anime and notable JRPG influences of the series, I hope that RWBY fans will one day get a stronger RPG-adjacent outing to play through. As it stands, RWBY: Grimm Eclipse is simply a game for fans to play in short, diversionary bursts. Playing for much longer can diminish the little bit of fun there is to be found.
I found myself immensely enjoying the time I spent playing Dark Deity. It particularly reminded me of playing some of the more recent Fire Emblem titles like Awakening and Fates, but I arguably found myself becoming more invested in the plot and caring even more for its characters. The gameplay, while somewhat reminiscent of those Fire Emblem titles, also provides some key differences that help greatly emphasize the strategy component of the game’s campaign. To SRPG fans looking for another Fire Emblem-esque experience, I’d wholeheartedly recommend giving Dark Deity a chance. It is a truly enjoyable addition to the genre, and one I’m glad I got the chance to further peruse.
Overall, I spent well over one hundred twenty hours playing the Switch port of Trails of Cold Steel IV. While I certainly felt that the game dragged at times, it was ultimately still a solid JRPG experience. At times, “the end of saga” might have felt like it was going out with more of a whimper than a roar, but the conclusion of the True Ending more than makes up for the game’s pacing struggles. I’m glad I got the opportunity to experience the ending of the Erebonian story arc, and even with some Switch-specific flaws, The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV is yet another truly solid addition to the console’s JRPG lineup. If you picked up the Switch’s port of Trails of Cold Steel III, then the fourth game is certainly worth playing on that system as well.
Biomutant is a clever, quirky, and fun title with a ton of player choice.
Steam Prison is an extremely enjoyable visual novel in several respects, especially if you don’t mind romantic undertones in well-crafted fantasy stories. The Switch port includes the Fin Route DLC that was sold separately on PC and some general upgrades to music and art. This probably makes it the “ultimate” version of the title. If you haven’t yet played the game and are an otome fan, it is easy enough to recommend even at its hefty price for the sheer amount of content and replayability you get. However, I’d be hard-pressed to say if it is a sure-fire purchase if you’ve already played another version of the title since you’ve probably seen most of the content before. That said, as far as VNs go, Steam Prison is another solid addition to the Nintendo Switch lineup.
Overall, an enjoyable port of a great game.
Utawarerumono: Prelude to the Fallen has some flaws, but is an excellent starting point to an epic tale.
Despite some flaws, Celestian Tales: Realms Beyond is an enjoyably short(er) RPG experience with beautiful visuals and surprising depth.
Dragon Quest XI S easily earns its title as the definitive edition of an amazing traditional JRPG.
Planet Stronghold 2 is a nuanced, well-crafted sci-fi RPG/visual novel hybrid that offers a lot of choice and replayability.
Langrisser I & II are solid SRPGs for those looking for a well-rounded, old-school challenge.
A successor to the extremely unique action game El Shaddai: Ascension of the Metatron, The Lost Child is a decently average dungeon crawler that plays it almost too safe.
Cindered Shadows, while not a vital piece of DLC, is an entertaining side story that rewards Fire Emblem: Three Houses players patient enough to partake in it.
Mercenaries Wings: The False Phoenix is a serviceable SRPG that brings little new to the table but might satisfy an old-school itch.
GreedFall does nothing exceedingly harmful in terms of gameplay and its BioWare-esque elements had me enjoying the time I spent playing it. This title is certainly a step in the right direction for Spiders, and I hope that they continue to improve from here. Spiders is an RPG developer with a lot of potential that could very well take BioWare’s WRPG crown one day.
Nightshade is an excellent shinobi-focused otome game with strong character development and growth.
Overall, while I can't say that God Eater 3 does much to step away from the paths of its predecessors, I enjoyed my time with it. I had fun devising strategies and gathering crafting materials, so much so that I never once backed down from doing even optional missions when playing.
Shin Megami Tensei: Strange Journey Redux's challenging gameplay might not be for everyone, but those it does appeal to will find a well-crafted dungeon-crawling experience with a thought-provoking narrative.
London Detective Mysteria is far from the worst otome out there, but I wouldn't call it one of the best either. Huge otome visual novel fans will likely get some enjoyment out of this title, but other gamers or those new to the genre might just find it tedious.
While it struggles to figure out which audience it actually wants to appeal to, World of Final Fantasy Maxima is an enjoyable spinoff with a wealth of gameplay content.