I’ve always been a sucker for RPG games. When I’m feeling down I tend to play Final Fantasy 8 or Final Fantasy 10, they’re like my comfort games.

I’ve had a hard time finding joy in modern RPG games, they all feel very grindy and seem to have an uninteresting plot. I’m looking for something that sparks joy, so I don’t have look for some ridiculous challenge like Khimari only run in FF10 or something.

Things that spark joy:

  • Being able to play on Steam Deck or at least stream from my (linux) desktop
  • Decent graphics, though pixel art is ok
  • Voice acting
  • No random encounters
  • Good plot
  • Good combat

Things that do not spark joy:

  • Too much grinding
  • DnD mechanics
  • Mandatory online requirement

Games that I really enjoyed:

  • Final Fantasy 7 through 10
  • Final Fantasy 5
  • Dragon Quest XI
  • Xenoblade Chronicles 1/2
  • South Park games
  • Stardew Valley

Games that I did not enjoy:

  • Elden Ring - I guess I just don’t have the mental patience for souls games anymore.
  • Final Fantasy X-2 - great combat mechanics, horrendous plot
  • “Modern” Final Fantasy games
  • Divinity: Original Sin 2, Disco Elysium - feels too much like DnD
  • Hogwarts Legacy - It felt amazing at first but then got super repetitive
  • Persona 5 Royal - The game severely overstayed its welcome, very bloated, very repetitive dialog (the characters tell you the same information multiple times)
  • I am Setsuna - The plot resembled Final Fantasy 10 way too much, felt like I had already played that game. Didn’t finish
  • Kingdom Hearts - Severe motion sickness
  • Octopath Traveler - The plot felt extremely disconnected, random encounters were annoying, I got stuck due to an underleveled party and didn’t have the patience to grind it up

Thanks in advance!

  • fulg@lemmy.world
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    4 days ago

    Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is probably one of the best games I played, it has RPG elements and the turn-based combat system is unique and satisfying. But this is not a game that will bring you joy, the atmosphere is bleak and it is a dark story.

    In fact it kind of ruined RPGs for the moment at least, I played Metaphor:ReFantazio right after and the stakes just did not feel serious enough even 10 hours in.

    • pathief@lemmy.worldOP
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      4 days ago

      Clair Obscur: Expedition 33

      Definitely on my wishlist, the only reason I haven’t bought it is because I read the Steam Deck experience is very bad. I can always stream it from my desktop though.

      • Dremor@lemmy.world
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        11 hours ago

        I played it on the Deck. I have to agree that there are rough edges (some ambient color go from A to B with no transition, and some zone have a really strange colorimetry compared to a more powerful device). But it is entirely playable.

      • fulg@lemmy.world
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        4 days ago

        In that case: on a completely different spectrum, Sea of Stars is an absolute masterpiece, taking liberal inspiration from the good old days of SNES JRPGs.

        …and that should run just fine on SteamDeck!

        • pathief@lemmy.worldOP
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          4 days ago

          It’s on my wishlist now, definitely going to check it out. Have you tried the multiplayer aspect of the game? Might be fun to couch co-op.

          • fulg@lemmy.world
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            3 days ago

            I’ve not had the chance to try it, I also hear it’s quite good.

            Cheers!