Chained Echoes

It's not every day you get to experience a game like Chained Echoes. With an incredible story, excellent writing, characters you can connect with and a combat system that takes a traditional turn-based system and turns it into a strategic, thought-provoking experience. What's not to like about that?

Every now and I then I come to a game with no expectations, and get completely blown away. Chained Echoes is a gift to JRPG fans. It’s an homage to classic 2D titles from the Super Nintendo and PS1 eras. And it’s a near perfect modernizing of all the genre tropes non-genre fans complain about. Chained Echoes is a late 2022 contender for Game of the Year, and a must play for all fans of 2D JRPGs.

Chained Echoes is a new 16-bit JRPG that shines with its visuals, faster turn-based combat, and attention to detail. It also performs near-perfectly on the Steam Deck!

Take up your sword, channel your magic, or board your Mech as you follow a group of heroes on their journey through the war-ridden land of Valandis. PC version reviewed.

Considering the hubris of Chained Echoes, it should not work, but it does, and beautifully. Matthias Linda has created a broad world that is ripe for further exploration. The only worry now is that the bar is set too high, but it's hard to imagine the team creating anything with less passion and polish. After playing through a creative, familiar, yet distinct game that engages players in nearly ev...

Chained Echoes is a 16-bit-era JRPG that lends itself well to the genre. A definite pickup if you are wanting to do a run of more SNES-era games but still have some quality-of-life adjustments of the modern era.

Chained Echoes is proof positive that all-round excellence is achievable regardless of budget. It's a game that can be savored by modern players and those pining for the glory days of 16-bit JRPGs alike.

Many independent RPG creators are inspired by the classics, but few succeed in their genre aspirations in the same way that Mattias Linda has.

Chained Echoes rises above its SNES-era inspirations, crafting an experience that easily stands out for its own merits.

If you're like me, you've been waiting for Chained Echoes to release for quite a while; well, it's finally here and it's great stuff.

The best sequel to Chrono Trigger there’s never been, with a pseudo-Japanese role-player that maintains a delicate balance between retro homage and modern indie game.

It is amazing how much passion was put into this project by its sole developer Matthias Linda and the artists involved. And you can see it permeate through the games gorgeous 16-bit visuals, accompanied by Eddie Marianukroh’s phenomenal score consisting of tempered orchestra and pleasing synthetic melodies. Despite my frustrations with the combat system, there’s a lot of good you’ll find in Chaine...