The 90 Metacritic JRPG that proves turn-based combat can hold its own against modern AAA games (& it’s not Expedition 33)

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Turn-based Japanese Role-Playing Games (JRPGs) used to be incredibly popular, and many all-time favorites fall into that category. While they lost some of their prominence over time, the genre never truly disappeared. Recently, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has been revitalizing the JRPG scene. It’s been praised for confidently blending classic and modern game design, even surpassing some major, high-budget titles. However, before Clair Obscur gained attention, another excellent turn-based JRPG quietly emerged that deserves just as much recognition: Chained Echoes.

As a huge RPG fan, I was really blown away by Chained Echoes when it came out in 2022. It’s incredible to think this was largely a one-person project, a true labor of love by Matthias Linda over seven years! The pixel art is gorgeous, and it clearly wears its influences on its sleeve – think Secret of Mana and classic Final Fantasy games. While it maybe didn’t get the same buzz as Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I honestly think Chained Echoes is just as impressive, especially when it comes to its satisfying turn-based combat. It even holds its own against a lot of today’s big-budget games, which is saying something!

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Might Be the Face of JRPG Turn-Based Combat Now, But Chained Echoes Did it First

While Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 has recently gained a lot of attention for successfully revitalizing the JRPG genre with its unique blend of turn-based and action gameplay, it’s important to remember that Chained Echoes proved the potential of this approach earlier this year. Chained Echoes demonstrated that staying true to the classic JRPG style, but with a few modern updates, could create a really engaging and enjoyable game that resonates with players today.

With Chained Echoes, the developers successfully blended classic RPG elements with fresh ideas, proving that the genre still had a strong following and a future. This approach feels like a forerunner to the impact of Clair Obscur this year. While Chained Echoes might not be as widely known, it offers a valuable blueprint for other game developers, especially those working on larger-budget titles, to study and build upon.

Like Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, Chained Echoes’ Turn-Based Combat and Other Classic JRPG Designs Stand Toe-to-Toe with Any AAA Title

How Chained Echoes Expertly Marries Classic and Modern Sensibilities

Chained Echoes feels like a blend between Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and the high-quality JRPGs made by major developers. Visually, it doesn’t use the same style as those games, but you can definitely see inspiration from series like Square Enix’s Octopath Traveler and the Dragon Quest remakes. While the battle system isn’t a mix of turn-based and real-time action like Expedition 33, Chained Echoes still captures the essence of a well-crafted JRPG through its other key features.

  • Robust roster of recruitable characters with bespoke skills
  • An epic and emotionally engaging story spanning 4 major acts
  • Overworld map composed of large explorable areas
  • Variety of optional side quests
  • Extensive customization and upgrade options, akin to Clair Obscur‘s pictos and lumina
  • Secret locations and hidden items

Although many players will find familiar elements in Chained Echoes, the game introduces some clever new ideas, especially within its classic turn-based combat. The standout feature is the Overdrive mechanic, where players actively manage a meter during battles to boost their characters, lower ability costs, and take advantage of enemy vulnerabilities.

One of the best features of Chained Echoes is that your whole party gets completely healed and regains all their ability points after each battle. This removes some of the annoyance found in older games with limited healing, and makes you feel more free to try out different strategies. Everything in Chained Echoes works together smoothly, and this excellent balance is likely why the game has received such high scores on Metacritic and Steam.

Chained Echoes received a substantial DLC in 2025, Ashes of Elrant, which is also highly-rated.

More AAA Games Can Learn Excellent Lessons From Chained Echoes Too

image via Steam

With its success, Clair Obscur is quickly becoming a major influence on the future of JRPGs made outside of big-budget studios. Square Enix has even mentioned looking at Expedition 33 for ideas on the next Final Fantasy game. However, Chained Echoes deserves just as much attention. Its strong focus on classic turn-based combat and overall design offers developers another excellent source of inspiration for creating compelling JRPGs.

Like the popular indie game Chained Echoes, Sea of Stars, released in 2023, quickly gained praise. Its creators drew inspiration from classic titles such as Chrono Trigger and Super Mario RPG.

Though Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 is currently getting a lot of attention, Chained Echoes deserves just as much praise. It’s just as captivating and well-made, and even more remarkable considering it was largely created by one person. Chained Echoes fully commits to the classic style of JRPGs, making it a truly engaging game. If Clair Obscur‘s popularity encourages larger developers to revisit those classic roots, then Chained Echoes should be recognized alongside it for similar reasons.

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2025-12-31 20:54