Chained Echoes Reviews

Chained Echoes is ranked in the 99th percentile of games scored on OpenCritic.
Evan Norris
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Jan 8, 2023

A modern RPG classic; a game that would have made a splash on SNES, even surrounded by all-time greats like Final Fantasy VI and Chrono Trigger.

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9.2 / 10.0
Jan 2, 2023

Chained Echoes is simply one of the best games of the genre, worthy to be remembered like the others iconic classics.

Review in Italian | Read full review

7 / 10.0
Feb 10, 2023

Chained Echoes‘ worst quality is that it concludes with several unresolved loose ends hanging. Getting past this is easy since so much of the experience is a very finely crafted JRPG that one man poured his soul into. The story moves quickly and the cast never stays in one place too long. It is an incredible adventure about the indomitable human spirit.

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GBAtemp
Top Critic
8.5 / 10.0
Dec 14, 2022

If you’re a fan of JRPGs and/or turn-based games, Chained Echoes is a must of a time sink. It’s not only an impressive work of solo developer Matthias Linda but a well crafted one at that.

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9.5 / 10.0
Apr 25, 2023

Chained Echoes is fantastic. Not only does it capture what made 90s JRPGs special, but it elevates and modernizes it to deliver an unforgettable experience. With an engaging narrative, attractive characters, a well-built world, and a combat system full of good ideas, it has become one of the best JRPGs I've played in over a decade. Chained Echoes didn't copy old JRPGs, it understood them to create something that lives up to their legacy.

Review in Spanish | Read full review

9 / 10.0
Apr 1, 2023

I enjoyed my time in Valandis so much that I experienced as much of the side content as I could. This full length RPG stands as a love letter to the games I grew up with. The inspirations are clear, and yet this is a wholly unique RPG experience that anyone who has an affinity for the style–and 90s' RPGs in particular–owes it to themselves to enjoy.

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Gamefa
Top Critic
9.3 / 10.0
Jan 18, 2023

Chained Echoes is one of the best RPG games in recent years. with creative Mechanics, fascinating narrative and enjoyable combat, you are going to blast playing this amazing game.

Review in Persian | Read full review

10 / 10.0
Jan 19, 2023

Chained Echoes is a fantastic JRPG that captures everything we love about turn-based RPGs on the SNES but improves on everything we didn't love. With a new battle system, no random enemies to encounter, and the ability to have eight characters on your team and switch without using a turn, Chained Echoes is a must-play!

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Oyungezer Online
Top Critic
9 / 10.0
Dec 30, 2022

A product of a 7 years of hard work, Chained Echoes is a very, VERY successful debut game for a game made by a single person. I recommend it not only to JRPG fans, but to anyone who is interested. Who knows, maybe your entry into the JRPG genre will be Chained Echoes.

Review in Turkish | Read full review

95 / 100
Dec 28, 2022

No matter how you look at Chained Echoes, it's undeniable that this is a project whose mere existence impresses. Developed by a single person, it is an exceptional game in everything it proposes to do, from its story to the graphics, passing through the engaging combat and rich universe. It's a must-have game for all RPG fans around the world.

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Dec 16, 2022

There are so many “retro homage” JRPGs these days that I tend to approach them with caution. Even when they’re made well, they rarely live up to the standards of the games that inspired them. Chained Echoes not only meets that standard but, were this released back on the SNES when Final Fantasy IV, V, and VI were flying high, people would have considered them comparable. It’s more than a homage. It’s a genuine and powerful contribution to the genre.

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8.5 / 10.0
Dec 13, 2022

Chained Echoes is a deep JRPG that will satisfy fans of the genre but is easy enough to understand to attract novices. The combat system, centered Overdrive balancing, is interesting and pretty fast for the genre. The universe, with its mix of influences and retro presentation, offers plenty of secrets and details.

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8.4 / 10.0
Dec 28, 2022

Chained Echoes isn't a perfect old-school RPG but it sure as heck is top-tier. I imagine that if it released on PS1 back in the mid-'90s, it would have either been a huge hit or gradually garnered a massive cult following and how many games can you say that about?

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99%
Feb 13, 2023

With magnificent story and gameplay, Chained Echoes has a rich world that deserves your attention. It's a game that must necessarily be on the list of any JRPG fan and is a tribute to the genre with innovation and that taste of wanting more that we haven't had in recent games for years. Very good and cheap, something rare nowadays. In short, play and you won't regret it!

Review in Portuguese | Read full review

Jan 2, 2023

"JRPG with German precision.

Review in Finnish | Read full review

Dec 8, 2022

On the surface, Chained Echoes is an amazing game, but one that offers you an even better experience overall the more you play.

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A
Jan 10, 2023

It's hard not to expect a little hyperbole when people start throwing around comparisons to beloved hits, but boy does Chained Echoes really deliver. Having played through the game on Switch over the course of the holiday season, I was amazed at how well it plays, and while it certainly wears its inspirations on its sleeve, it also does a fantastic job of carving out its own unique mix of mechanics to make for a pretty memorable experience.

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9.1 / 10.0
Dec 13, 2022

This single-developer passion project sets a standard for how the classic 16-bit JRPG can still be improved upon

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7 / 10.0
Mar 21, 2023

Putting aside the distaste from some character depictions and general moments of cringe in the storyline, I enjoyed the majority of Chained Echoes. There's enough mechanical creativity and visual splendour to keep you entertained for the duration, and if you have a hankering for the good old JRPGS of the SNES and PS1 era, this title will be a welcome addition to your collection. Though the game has a very familiar voice, it manages to be much more than just an echo of its inspirations.

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INVEN
Top Critic
8.8 / 10.0
Jan 20, 2023

Chained Echoes is a well-made turn based RPG with 16-bit nostalgia and classic JRPG identity. Although there are some elements that are not quite fitted to the story as it flows, it is a highly recommended title for those who love JRPGs.

Review in Korean | Read full review