Lapis x Labyrinth

Nippon Ichi Software has hit a great formula that avoids the worst excesses of repetition or frustration. An addictive mix of 2D exploration and combat, Lapis x Labyrinth is a cavalcade of colour and complex systems that doesn’t outstay its welcome through a sizeable 20-hour campaign.

From the minds within Nippon Ichi Software (and brought to us by NIS America), Lapis x Labyrinth is a dungeon-crawling adventure where treasure is your one goal. Playing as a ragtag group of adventurers, you’re tasked with burrowing deeper in the titular labyrinth, which is said to house untold rewards. Easy, right?

If the thrill of collecting loot and the joy of upgrading your party is enough for you, then definitely make sure Lapis x Labyrinth is on your radar. If you hope for a little depth in terms of narrative development and refined combat, you won’t find it here. But you will find a lot of chaotic fun. With its bite-sized levels and constant rewards, it’s the perfect game to pick up and play in short bursts on Nintendo Switch.

But it’s easy to ignore those complaints when the core gameplay is this fun and flashy. I went into Lapis X Labyrinth expecting a breezy dungeon crawler and that’s exactly what NIS delivered.

The folks at NIS America have released tons of wacky games over the years and their latest has you stack party members on your way to master crazy monster-filled dungeons.

People have loved playing games revolved around exploring dungeons, killing enemies, and collecting loot ever since Gauntlet first came out in the 80’s. Diablo and MMORPGs turned this gaming subgenre into a phenomenon a few years later. There’s just something about these games, the sense of accomplishment when you manage to grab a better weapon than your previous one, making you want to redo the entire level just to see how much easier everything has become.

Nippon Ichi's Lapis x Labyrinth combines 2D sidescrolling action with a type of Japanese sweet. It's an odd combination, but it works well enough to provide good hours of enjoyment.

Lapis X Labyrinth has a lot of flash that just gobbles away any substance it might have had.

Even with these issues that weakened the game as it went on, Lapis x Labyrinth was still able to maintain an addicting grip on me. While some might point to the game's flashiness as being what drew me in again and again, I'd say it was the fun RPG gameplay loop featuring a lot of customization that is at its core. Though it is likely a better fit for Nintendo Switch, if you typically are turned off by more repetitive games but appreciate an enjoyable RPG, you will have a good time with Lapis x Labyrinth.