Initially perceived as redundant, Persona 3 Reload transcends its predecessor by integrating the artistic flair and gameplay sophistication of Persona 5, presenting a visually and mechanically enhanced version of the iconic title. This remake revitalizes the original's darker narrative and roguelike dungeons with significant aesthetic upgrades and gameplay innovations, offering both veterans and newcomers an immersive experience that arguably surpasses even Persona 5 Royal in visual and interactive depth.
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth serves as a worthy continuation to the Final Fantasy VII Remake project, building upon its predecessor's foundation with vast maps, refined combat, and a compelling narrative. However, the game is not without its faults, as it suffers from technical performance issues in its visual-focused mode. Despite this, the game innovates with semi-open world exploration, improved gameplay mechanics, and an engaging story, setting a high standard for the series.
SRPG fans have limited choice on Nintendo Switch and this is where the Disgaea series truly shines. Disgaea 4 Complete Plus might not be a new game, but it doesn't need to be one. It has the perfect blend of everything from the likable cast, addicting gameplay, to a deep customization and combat system.
Super Mario 3D All-Stars is a flawed port but includes an exceptional collection of games. It offers a good stopgap between the next 3D Mario and should be a delight for fans of the Italian plumber.
Ys IX Monstrum Nox is one of the most ambitious games in the series. It is laser-focused on crafting a better narrative but also innovates the gameplay with new concepts.
Scarlet Nexus succeeds in offering an interesting story and characters to establish its roots as an exciting new action RPG despite the overly anime aesthetics that are felt in its story as well.
Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio has proven once again in Lost Judgment that they know how to create a game with enjoyable side content, a compelling plot, and overall fantastic gameplay.
Pistol Whip offers an immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience, making it a fantastic addition to anyone's gaming library. Its excellent use of PSVR 2's features and its diverse soundtrack and cinematic scenes make it an exceptional game that stands out among other arcade-style shooting games.
Moss and Moss Book II offer a unique and immersive experience for players on the PSVR 2, with some minor flaws in navigation and combat. Overall, they are must-play titles for adventure game enthusiasts on the platform.
The Walking Dead: Saints & Sinners - Chapter 2 is an outstanding sequel that has improved on its predecessor with exceptional gameplay, despite some technical issues and a weak story.
Live A Live is a captivating anthology of short JRPG stories with diverse settings and unique gameplay mechanics. Remade in HD-2D, it offers an engaging grid-based combat system and a fantastic soundtrack. Despite some complexity and convoluted storylines, the game's multiple endings and quality-of-life improvements provide a satisfying experience for classic JRPG fans.
Dragon Ball Z Kakarot is a solid action game with an enjoyable customization system and fun battles. It lacks in innovation with the story repeating events from the popular anime, but this is merely a design decision and has no bearing on the overall quality of the product.
Yu Suzuki might not have delivered a perfect continuation of Ryo Hazuki's journey but the work he has done in making Shenmue III is admirable. It is a good game once you dig underneath it, warts and all, especially considering the expectations of making this sequel after all these years.
The Alliance Alive has been given a second chance with this HD remaster. It is another great addition to the existing JRPG library of the Nintendo Switch. It offers multiple characters with colorful personalities and a battle system that feels like a spiritual successor to the SaGa series.
Pokémon Sword and Shield: The Crown Tundra is a solid expansion that culminates the expansion pass on a highly positive note with a slew of new features and improvements.
Atelier Ryza 2 is a fun game with a crafting system that easily ranks as one of the best among the series. It doesn't offer any major leap for a sequel and the story is rather lukewarm, but the engaging cast and addictive gameplay loop makes it easy to recommend to others.
Ghosts 'n Goblins Resurrection has a brutal difficulty curve but offers a wealth of options to tweak the difficulty of the game. For newcomers, the easy difficulty gives them a chance to be better at the game, while for veterans, they still have plenty of challenges to overcome.
Story of Seasons: Pioneers of Olive Town is an ambitious game that suffers from some technical shortcomings but has no shortage of content.
While not a traditional JRPG, SaGa Frontier Remastered is the perfect game to play if you prefer narrative over gameplay with complex character development.
Samurai Warriors 5 not only reinvents the franchise's wheel, but it also sets out a formula that should give the Warriors series fresh energy.