Sea of Stars

Play it on: PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Switch, Windows
Current goal: Beat the Dweller of Woe

Sea of Stars is a colorful three-scoop ice cream cone on a hot summer day for anyone who’s ever loved classic SNES-era role-playing games. It’s the latest game from Sabotage Studio, maker of 2018’s excellent Metroidvania platformer, The Messenger. While that one was a love letter to Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania, this one is an homage to Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG, featuring tight, turn-based combat and beautiful pixel art work.

It’s not everything I wanted it to be, but 10 hours in it continues to grow on me. Its dungeon layouts and exploration are a particular highlight, turning traditional random encounter slogs into a visual feast of moving platforms and hidden paths. Fans are always on the lookout for retro pixel art RPGs that can stand up to the classics, and while Sea of Stars isn’t my favorite so far, it’s 100 percent legit. — Ethan Gach