Matt Masem
For those who have previously enjoyed the tales of Neptune and her crew, it's possibly worth a try, but for those uninitiated, this won't create any new Nep Nep fans.
From gorgeous graphics to deep crafting and combat systems, Lulua is an impressive game.
While those looking for a deep, story-heavy RPG might find Octopath Traveler lacking, the game is a hugely enjoyable modern take on traditional turn-based games of yesteryear with a collection of short story, rather than novel-length, narratives.
In taking a standard save-the-world RPG tale and populating it with fascinating characters dealing with relatable issues in a beautifully rendered world and adding an addicting, customizable battle system, developer Image & Form has created a true gem of a game for the Nintendo Switch.
Adhering to the phrase “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”, Nexus takes the tried-and-true Etrian Odyssey formula and does well with virtually all of its components: music, battles, interactions, and world-building.
While Tavern Story might never reach the level of fandom that the Atelier series enjoys, its entry into the crafting RPG sub-genre should not go unnoticed.
While Dancing in Moonlight feels like half a game, the half it presents is quite good.
While never achieving the “great” part of its title, the game at least isn’t too far from hitting the “good” part.
Stardew Valley is an excellent game that let me quietly relax and enjoyably lose myself in for hours on end.