Sea of Stars

Game-loving kids interested in the nostalgia of renowned RPGs from the nineties will find what they're looking for here. Sea of Stars brilliantly channels the aesthetic, play mechanics, and overall vibe of classics like Chrono Trigger, while taking advantage of modern gaming amenities to make the experience more accessible for today's players. The simple but compelling story of a pair of young heroes fulfilling their destiny never gets too dark or cerebral, opting instead to focus on friendship and duty. And the combat marries old school turn-based action with more active elements that help keep the player's attention, such as tapping a button at precisely the right time to increase the damage of attacks.

The real star of the show, though, is the presentation. The pixelated environments are works of art, creating unique ambience for every location the player visits, from mines and mountains to gravesites and jungles. Each of these settings has its own traversal techniques -- such as climbing or swimming -- to master or puzzles to solve in order to forge a path forward. All of these activities are performed to the tune of a majestic and memorable score that recalls the classic soundtracks of games from the '90s era. In terms of effectively transporting players to a bygone and beloved time in gaming, few modern RPGs do it as well as Sea of Stars.