This New 40-Hour RPG Is Perfect For Fans Of Persona 5 And Earthbound

JRPGs are a dime a dozen, with Square Enix remastering or remaking the majority of its classics, while other developers like Level-5 and Atlus continue to produce sequels and new IPs, like, and . However, while many JRPGs stick to the tropes of the genre, standout games like the series dare to do something different, offering social sim elements and a more magic realism setting, like no other game out there. Naturally, many may think this would lead to numerous copycats, and while there have been some, few have truly nailed the brilliance of .

There are many things does that other JRPGs don't, which players want to see replicated, or at least utilized in some way in other games in the genre. The life sim/social sim elements, jazzy soundtrack, monster collection, stylish combat, and so much more are the hallmarks of the franchise, but few games have managed to combine them all. That is, of course, until now, as a brand-new RPG offers not just a -like experience across its 40-hour story, but also plenty of and vibes.

is the latest RPG from developer Lazy Bear Games, who players may recognize as the folks behind the popularseries,, and. It has been reviewed extremely positively since it launched on September 24, 2024, withreviewers calling it a cross between,, and , all of which were huge inspirations for the game. Those claims aren't unfounded, as there are a lot of elements from all three of those, and other popular media, that are heavily featured in .

In, players take on the role of Emily and her younger brother Chester as they spend their summer holidays in the definitely-not-creepy titular Bloomtown. There's a day and night cycle and a daily timer that determines when shops are open and where certain NPCs will be, much like. Fans will be able to mingle with their favorite characters, get a part-time job, go fishing, head to the shops, farm in their garden, or, when they feel like it, head into the terrifying demonic underworld where kidnapped children are being