Wildermyth
I fell in love with this game. It’s cute, it’s emotional - a slightly more colourful and bright version of the Darkest Dungeon - here also your heroes can get hurt and die in a fight, so you need to be careful.
There is a lot of possibility to customize your characters - you can make them the way you want, customize each character’s looks, clothing colours and name. There is the mechanics of progress for your characters - their skills and gear - but also for your enemies, who get gradually stronger during each campaign!
– Real player with 93.5 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Choices Matter Games.
It’s like lovingly crafting dnd characters and then setting them loose like Sims to do quests, socialize, and die in horribly unpredictable ways.
In a particularly hairy situation my novice tank lost a leg and had to withdraw and I was left with one experienced mage, two apprentice mages and a new hunter. The wise elder mage and hunter were pinned by two gigantic automatons which had barreled through them, nearly killing the hunter and pinning the mage to a wall. Meanwhile my other two mages faced an onslaught of weaker mechs being churned out by another bot. My hunter entered grayplane and hid in the back of the room they had been jettisoned into. The pinned mage was, luckily, a stone mage that gained armor by interfusing with stone objects and was able to fend off attacks whilst whiltling down the automatons health enough for the hunter to bring them down. Meanwhile the nature and fire mage were working in tandem to block the onslaught of mechs with a wall of foliage that would then be set ablaze. The stone mage rallied and soon they were pushing a wall of debris and fire toward the last automaton as it feverishly churned bots into the ever-encompassing flames.
– Real player with 63.5 hrs in game
The Demon Rush: Legends Corrupt
The Demon Rush: Legends Corrupt is an action RPG with fast-paced combat requiring use of strong offensive and defensive mechanics across multiple modes (Story Mode, Endless Dungeon, Onslaught, Conquest, Heist). Fight your enemies up close, use buffs/debuffs/status ailments to gain an advantage or place effects like tornados, fire, water, death forests, black holes and more onto the battlefield.
The Mittu star system enjoyed a long period of prosperity, and was watched over by three powerful beings who shared their unique skillsets and technologies across three worlds for millenia. From out of nowhere, a Demon Army of immense power appeared suddenly and began invading these planets, slaughtering countless innocents and causing fear and paranoia in the godlike rulers of each world. On the planet of Altair, the first spacecraft in Mittu’s history has been constructed, with the hopes that its crew can find something in the Mittu star system to end the war against the Demon Army.
Read More: Best Story Rich Dragons Games.
Creatio Ex Nihilo: Aition
OMG BATTLE THESE SHITTY GODS IN THIS ShITTY GaME
– Real player with 10.0 hrs in game
Read More: Best Story Rich Turn-Based Combat Games.
***Before beginning, I would like to give a special thanks to my brother, Cold Dingo [33rd], for proofing this lengthy review so early in the morning when I am certain he would have preferred sleep. Your selflessness was not overlooked.
Creatio Ex Nihilo: Aition-literally translated from Latin as, “creation from nothing: cause”-is a turn-based strategy roleplaying title depicting the inception of the universe from a being known as Uros. As an avid fanatic of Dungeons & Dragons, this title struck my interest considering much of the former lore from the tabletop game stemmed from Greek mythology as does CEN:A. Even though the concept of this project is intriguing, the execution does appear to lack polish.
– Real player with 1.9 hrs in game
Super Army of Tentacles: (Not) A Cthulhu Dating Sim
Humanity was destined to fall. Your people, the Great Old Ones, were legends among the humans. Tales were told about their might, and whispers rose of how they would one day claim the entire human planet as their own. Of how mankind would simply go insane at the very sight of their malevolent beauty. Finally, the day came for the armies of the unspeakable horrors to rise.
Like, that was it, though. They got their butts kicked. Humanity won. Somehow. It was really, really embarrassing.
Play as a young monster who has only ever known life under human rule. Between finals for University and figuring out who to take to the winter prom, not to mention memorizing your lines for the big school play, you already have a lot of pressure to deal with. Now add the destiny of freeing the Dreamlands from an occupying army. That’s rough. In addition to the school year, now you have this whole giant RPG adventure to go on, complete with quests and stats and skills and party members and blah blah blah!
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Word Battles: Combat done via dialogue, with topics ranging from jokes to philosophy to how much wood could a Woodchuck chuck
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A party of millions except not!: Recruit a varied group of outcasts that will provide hilarious commentary to life and situations! As well as help you out in Word Battles! They all have different skills! Yay, teamwork!
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STATS!: People love those!
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A stand alone Army of Tentacles game that could be played either as a sequel to the prior ones in the series or as its own thing
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RPG/Visual Novel hybrid action! Well, Word Battles. But action!
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8-Bit Adventures 2
A Retro RPG That’s More Than a Throwback!
8-Bit Adventures 2 is everything you love about NES, SNES and PS1-era JRPGs - with all of the charm, heart and soul, but none of the inconvenience.
That means an earnest, engaging storyline; relatable, easy-to-love characters; strategic turn-based battles; deep party customisation; bizarre monsters; an unforgettable soundtrack; and a large, fantastical world, traversed by Airship, and filled with people full of personality – all brought to life by vibrant 8-Bit inspired visuals.
Our modern approach to design ensures no random encounters or mandatory grinding, the freedom to save your game anywhere, and precise pacing which never bogs the player down with pointless filler, and ensures you’re always doing something fun and meaningful over the 20+ hour playtime. From beginning to end, 8-Bit Adventures 2 is focused on telling an engaging story, not wasting your time.
It may be a sequel, but anyone can jump into this brand new JRPG adventure!
EXPLORE
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12 Towns and 29 Dungeons, every environment featuring its own feel and flavour.
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An expansive World Map filled with secrets and optional locations to discover; both on-foot and by vehicle.
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Take to the skies in your Airship and fly wherever you want, or take a walk on the deck to do a bit of shopping and chat with your party members. It’s your high-in-the-sky home away from home!
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Constant variety – everything from ancient ruins to a robot murder mystery – realised through charming pixel art which walks the line between authenticity and aesthetic.
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Everyone has a story, and you’ll find 8-Bit Adventures 2 full of weird and wonderful people eager to tell you theirs. They might reminisce about the past, offer helpful hints, complain about their daily lives, or just make a joke – you never know what they’ll say!
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Curiosity is always rewarded; the more you explore, the more powerful your characters can become!
BATTLE
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A turn-based JRPG battle system with depth and strategy, inspired by games like Final Fantasy X and Chrono Trigger.
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Build your party from 7 playable characters, who can be freely swapped in and out of battle – without even wasting a turn!
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Unleash 99 unique abilities, including Team Attacks and Omega Burst finishing moves.
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Mix and match between an arsenal of weapons, armour, and accessories, or tap into a flexible Augment system which allows you to customise your characters stats and give them all kinds of special effects!
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Snappy, stylised menus and icons make commands easy to find and execute, even if you’re new to menu-based combat.
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Face down 98 of the toughest and weirdest foes you’ve ever seen – complete with the occasional name pun. They wander the world just like you do, so there are no random battles!
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A carefully balanced experience with a gentle difficulty curve that allows players of all skill levels to enjoy the game, while still encouraging strategy. In 8-Bit Adventures 2, victory requires more than spamming the Attack button!
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Numerous side-quests and super bosses – some of which provide a significant challenge!
STORY
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Become absorbed in an engaging, character-driven tale about living a full life and protecting the things that really matter.
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A feel-good adventure filled with love, laughs, and drama, which deals with the dark stuff but always wants to leave you feeling uplifted over its 20+ hours.
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Meet a loveable cast of characters who form relationships, make mistakes, and struggle with their past, but still work to save the world and overcome their demons.
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Save the world from a vengeful Glitch! A mistreated child with terrifying powers threatens to reshape the world in his own chaotic image. A unique and persistent foe from beginning to end, the Glitch changes and develops over the course of the story like any other character, grappling with what he is…and what he could be.
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8-Bit Adventures 2 has a script the size of a novel, and every line of text has been meticulously timed to make dialogue flow naturally and bring out each character’s personality - just like if they were speaking out loud.
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A focus on tight pacing and providing a consistently enjoyable adventure, rather than dragging things out or artificially extending the length.
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Some fun references and out there ideas, but this isn’t a Meta, fourth-wall breaking story; it’s a heartfelt, character-focused adventure through and through. While the conflict with the Glitch drives the overall narrative forward, the personal struggles and relationships of the party members give the game its heart.
This game features bright screen flashes for certain special attacks and effects. If you are susceptible to these kinds of flashes and bright lights, or have an epileptic condition of any kind, please consult your physician before playing.
Asdivine Saga
Overview
In a world facing a sudden war, a mercenary by the name of Vyse finds himself seeking to uncover the evil machinations operating behind the scenes. Joined by a pair of royal princesses and shinobi, does success lie in the cards for this unlikely band of adventurers when danger seems to lurk at every turn…?!
Master the art of throwing and level monsters to the dust! Get powerful support from spirits that can be equipped to enhance magic, and upgrade weapons and synthesize rings to power up in battle. You can even get special endings by building up trust with other characters, and take on the strongest at the battle arena to enjoy this fantasy RPG in its entirety.
Story
What will Vyse and his trio of lovely companions discover as they seek to uncover the evil machinations operating behind the scenes of this sudden war that is slowly engulfing the world? Come join them in what is sure to be a wild ride full of comical heroics and crazy antics that you will not soon forget!
Master the “Throw” Attack!
As a shinobi, Akane has the ability to combine items, and unleash a variety of special attacks in battle!
Get Powerful Support from Spirits & Create Rare Rings!
By equipping spirits, sub-elementals can be leveled up, and magic can be learned based on their elementals. Spirits also make it possible for powerful skills called “Trust Charges” that can turn the tide of battlefield to be used. In addition, rings that can be equipped as accessories are also able to be synthesized and upgraded.
Increase Trust with Companions and…!
Depending on how he responds to his female counterparts, Vyse can build relationships of trust with them. Moreover, by growing closer to them, who knows what the future will hold…?
The Whole Kit and Caboodle!
Packed with all the usual content fans of the series have come to expectーthe battle arena where Maidame Curie runs the show, a weapon upgrade system used to enhance the party’s weapons of choice, and levels that go all the way up to 999ーplayers can enjoy the world of Asdivine to their heart’s content!
Pillars of Eternity II: Deadfire
This game is awesome! I am replaying it after a few months playing other games right now and giving the turn based system a try. it is great. the combat is different if you play turn based or real time with pause so you can experience two different game styles. i think that it would be a lot better if you had both in one play-through but then again by not having it they make different stats more important for different modes. like dex is more important in RTWP and is absolutely useless in turn based mode, unless you just want to go first every round.
– Real player with 460.1 hrs in game
One of my all time favorite games. A true modern rpg masterpiece.
– Real player with 233.6 hrs in game
START AGAIN: a prologue
Lovely game. It succeeds in making you care a lot about every character even though it’s very short. The writing is masterful, the art is simple but really works, the combat system wants to make you feel like it’s rushed, but actually works perfectly.
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It made me cry big tears while not alone in broad daylight
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Tip: if you get the credits that’s the ““true”” ending, but if you want to get all 4 endings (and you really really should get them), just roleplay, that is to say, feel what the game tells you your character feels at the moment it tells you to. Then go to therapy because it’s a lot.
– Real player with 6.2 hrs in game
Start Again balances sweetness and depression through this short story about a timeloop. The combat is solid and fun, if a bit simplistic. But the real reason to play is for the characters, dialogue and art. You can’t help but fall in love with these likeable, cheesy, heartwarming characters. Overall, for $11 its a good deal if you enjoy short character focused JRPGs. I can’t wait for the next part :)
– Real player with 5.3 hrs in game
Horizon Odyssey
Wonderful game. Challenging and enjoyable throughout. Also excellent script.
– Real player with 94.3 hrs in game
this is a very long and entailed game- you need patience and timing for those puzzles but well worth the effort if playing on normal - graphics are great as are the characters themselves. Hardest part - getting through the prison without getting caught- this game is intriguing in its concept about good verses evil. would recommend it to serious players that like a long and intense game. BTW the guide is very helpful and you certainly can use it throughout the game
– Real player with 76.2 hrs in game
Legends of Astravia
Lost within the turmoil of Astravia’s past, you and your companions must find a way to unite its people before the Cataclysm brings about another age of ruin.
Features
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Exciting, timer-based battle system that relies on quick decision making. The twist: you control the timer; no more waiting for a bar to fill up or for turns to pass.
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A varied cast of playable characters, each with unique combat styles and unique abilities to help you craft the perfect team.
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Vast, explorable world filled with dungeons, caves, and towns. There are challenging puzzles to solve and treasures to find in every corner of Astravia.
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Avoidable enemy encounters. Choose your own playstyle instead of being at the mercy of randomized, repetitive gameplay.
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Modular skill system that allows you to swap abilities between characters, so you never feel locked in to a particular “build”.
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An engaging story supported by varied side-quests. Alongside a fulfilling main quest, meet characters all over the world with their own side-quests and special rewards.
Story
The world of Astravia is in conflict; severed by unrest between mysticians and humans who fear their magic. Once seen as heroes, the flow of time eroded mysticians’ feats into myth, and so anyone who shares their likeness in the present day must instead hide from the ruling country of Valica and its brutal knights.
Thus, the wandering mystician Oliver must tread with caution as he escapes the woods of a Valican territory. Spared by a mysterious assassin and at a loss as to how he got there, the stakes are raised even higher when Oliver realizes he must pass through Valica’s capitol in order to find answers about his own origins.
#### Chapter 2 & 3’s synopses will be revealed prior to their release.