Cullen Black
Persona 5 Royal isn't just my favorite Atlus re-release, it might just be my new favorite Atlus game of all time.
Dragon Quest XI S is a near unrivaled masterpiece, one I wish I could erase my memory of and re-experience for the first time.
AI: The Somnium Files is a sureal new murder mystery game by Kotaro Uchikoshi, and might just be his finest work yet.
Another great and content-packed SPRG lands on modern platforms.
The best way to play the best Atelier games to date, now on a system you actually own!
A modern classic reborn on Nintendo Switch, this is the best version of the best game from Monolith Soft.
I think calling moon a “parody” of the RPG genre is both slightly fitting yet doesn’t give it enough credit. It’s rather impressive that a smaller budget game released over 20 years ago has aged as well as it has. In so many ways it feels incredibly ahead of its time, with a focus on minute details so extensive that most modern games can’t even match.
Just like its predecessor, AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative is full of heart, hilariously self-aware, and reflective on the style of writing that built the foundation that built the Somnium Files series. Both AI games are deeply personal, subversive, and reflective works, some of my favorite games in the genre. Now that we have one miracle sequel that ended up great, I could go for another one in a few years.
Octopath Traveler II is the rare sequel that manages to improve on the original without changing too much, finding success by expanding and polishing.
This light-hearted spin-off of Steins;Gate offers fans something they never knew they wanted.
All in all, I had a fun time revisiting Trails of Cold Steel III on Switch. I still wonder who this release is even actually for, given how it's hard for me to recommend newcomers play this, and most fans who really wanted this would likely have bought it on PS4 last year. Even with the issues, due to my preferences, I find this to be my favorite way to play the game. I hope there are further balance patches released to iron out any of the issues I found, but given how rare the serious ones were, I still recommend this for those looking to play the latest English Trails release on the go. It’s such a big improvement on Ys VIII’s port, and I wish in hindsight that it could have gotten the same treatment. This port gives me a lot of hope for the upcoming switch releases of Cold Steel IV and Ys IX. Time will tell if Engine Software manages to improve on what they have here, and I’m excited to see where they go from here.
If you enjoyed Breath of the Wild's story and characters, and like musou games, this is a great combination of the two that's worth checking out.
Its flaws are plain to see, and your mileage will vary depending on what you value in RPGs. But if you're willing to spend time looking for the best of Bravely Default II, you'll find a great, rewarding experience.
Harvestella is Square Enix's endearing first attempt at a farming sim RPG, only slightly held back by its budget.
Final Fantasy XVI is a confident game with amazing combat, an earnest narrative, and unbridled spectacle. Faults in pacing, RPG depth, quest design, and all those other nagging criticisms be damned - this game is special.
The Dragon Quest Monsters series makes a great return on Nintendo Switch, but in regards to its story it does very little to properly honor the legacy of the game it takes inspiration from.
I hope GungHo supports the collection after launch with patches to polish things up, but even in its current state, I find this to be a solid Remaster.
Scarlet Nexus contains just about everything you'd want to see from a new game IP. Clear ambition, innovative gameplay, gorgeous visuals, and room to improve. A lot of room to improve, but it's still a commendable effort.
While its tactical combat is wonderful, issues with the branching narrative and morality systems hold Triangle Strategy back from true greatness.
The Radical Dreamers Edition brings back two classics for the first time since their debut, but the Switch version leaves a lot to be desired.