Fantasian

The Japanese role-playing game Fantasian is undeniably beautiful. And it’s thoughtful, too. Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi made it, and, like that other series, it’s grounded by wide-eyed fantasy and a twinkly soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu that makes you feel like you’re glowing in twilight. You can take that feeling with you as you explore the game’s intricate world—made up of almost 160 handmade, 3D-scanned dioramas—as wide-eyed amnesiac Leo.

Leo has entered another dimension, called the Machine Realm, and you need to guide him through it by interacting with locations and engaging in turn-based combat with looming demons, getting strong before your final fight with Vam the Malevolent. But fighting doesn’t need to get in the way. A “Dimengion” mechanic allows you to stick enemies you already encountered in another dimension’s dungeon and continue your wandering. That’ll show them. And Fantasian will show you the stunning, immersive possibilities of modern mobile gaming.

A good match for: Final Fantasy fans, Guillermo del Toro geeks that get excited by handmade magic.

Not a good match for: The turn-based averse.

Watch it in action.

Download for free (with a $5-a-month Apple Arcade subscription).