jrpg

Staff Picks, September 2025: Welcome to Our Video Game Museum (opens in new tab)

The Discord staff’s September 2025 feature celebrates National Video Games Day by asking employees which games deserve a place in their personal “video game history museum.” Their answers emphasize nostalgia, formative experiences, influential design, and the communities built around gaming. Recent favorites include *Hollow Knight*, *Balatro*, *Final Fantasy XIV*, *Oblivion*, and *The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III*. ## Games That Shaped Personal Gaming Histories - **Super Mario 64** - Became a formative experience through childhood play with a neighbor. - Its 3D graphics, controls, music, level structure, and iconic painting-based worlds made a lasting impression. - It helped inspire a later favorite, *Super Mario Sunshine*. - **The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time** - Described as a lifelong comfort game and the contributor’s definitive Zelda experience. - It has been completed 100% multiple times and remains deeply tied to personal memories. - The proposed exhibit would include the original cartridge and a heavily worn official strategy guide. - **Kingdom Hearts** - Represents powerful childhood nostalgia through its combination of Disney and *Final Fantasy*. - Obtaining the PlayStation 2 game and its strategy guide led to hours of play. - Although *Kingdom Hearts II* is the contributor’s favorite entry, the original is valued as the groundbreaking starting point of the series. - **The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel III** - Highlights a sprawling JRPG series with interconnected arcs, countries, and characters. - Its strengths include extensive world-building, large character casts, and constantly updated dialogue for even minor NPCs. - The series’ eventual crossovers are compared to Avengers-style ensemble moments. - **Professor Layton and the Curious Village** - A last-minute purchase made because a strict birthday budget ruled out a new Pokémon game. - Its challenging puzzles and mystery narrative introduced the contributor to the appeal of story-driven games. - The experience encouraged a broader willingness to discover unexpected favorites. ## Games Staff Are Playing Recently - *Hollow Knight* is being replayed ahead of *Silksong*, with one contributor nearing 100% completion and another finally progressing after initially abandoning it twice. - *Balatro* has become highly addictive, with one player only one joker away from completing the collection. - *Final Fantasy XIV* has regained momentum after a partner began playing. - The *Elder Scrolls Oblivion* remake and *Lost Soul Aside* are also mentioned as current or anticipated games. - The contributors’ comments repeatedly connect current playtime to anticipation for *Silksong*. ## Gaming as Nostalgia and Community - The feature presents games as personal cultural artifacts rather than merely entertainment. - Physical items such as cartridges and strategy guides carry emotional value alongside the games themselves. - Several responses stress how games introduce players to new genres, stories, friendships, and communities. - The playful editorial notes about disappearing staff members after *Silksong*’s release reinforce the article’s informal, gaming-community tone. The article’s central recommendation is simple: revisit the games that shaped you, but also stay open to unexpected discoveries—whether through a discounted purchase, a friend’s recommendation, or a long-awaited sequel.

December Staff Picks: It’s Giving Games (opens in new tab)

Discord’s December Staff Picks explores the games employees have been playing recently and the gifted titles that shaped their lives. The contributors highlight a mix of MMORPGs, JRPGs, cozy multiplayer games, card games, and narrative adventures, emphasizing how games create lasting connections with friends and family. ## Scott’s Current Games - Scott, a member of Discord’s Quests team, recently introduced his husband to **Final Fantasy XIV**, a long-running personal obsession. - He is also playing: - **Metaphor: ReFantazio**, reflecting his enthusiasm for JRPGs and Atlus games. - **Marvel Rivals**, while trying to resist spending heavily on cosmetics. ## Games That Changed Scott’s Life - Scott identifies **NieR: Automata** and **Persona 5**, gifted by his best friend in 2018, as his most meaningful gifts. - **Persona 5** rekindled his interest in JRPGs and led him to explore more Atlus titles. - **NieR: Automata** stood out for its excellent gameplay, complex lore, tragic story, and emotional impact. ## Emi’s Cozy Multiplayer Lineup - Emi has been playing relaxed, social games such as: - **Kallax** - **WEBFISHING** - **Jigsaw Puzzle Dreams** - She is also progressing through **Yakuza Kiwami**. - Many of these games serve as a backdrop for chatting with friends. - Emi has recently played **Jackbox Party Pack 3** and **Jackbox Party Pack 6** with friends and family, using voice chat to stay connected across different states. ## Pokémon Blue and Family Memories - Emi’s most memorable gifted game is **Pokémon Blue**, which she and her brothers received alongside their Game Boys. - They spent time outdoors battling and trading Pokémon with link cables. - The game became an early foundation for shared gaming experiences with her family, a tradition that continues today. ## Cody’s Current Games - Cody has shifted from **Marvel SNAP** to the daily routine of **Pokémon TCG Pocket**. - He appreciates being able to open packs quickly without committing to a full match. - When playing competitively, he relies heavily on **Marowak EX**. - He is also playing **Apollo Justice: Ace Attorney Trilogy** and working through the wider Ace Attorney series. - The games’ exaggerated characters, unexpected twists, and bizarre humor have produced reactions ranging from laughter to shock. ## Continuing Through Ace Attorney - Cody plans to play the remaining entries, including: - **The Great Ace Attorney** - **Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth** - He estimates that he is nearly halfway through the full series. The post presents gaming as more than entertainment: gifted games can inspire lifelong interests, while multiplayer and family games preserve relationships across time and distance.

November Staff Picks: When One Door Closes… (opens in new tab)

Discord’s November Staff Picks features employees sharing games they are currently playing and recommending accessible titles for newcomers. The discussion spans Metroidvanias, JRPGs, cozy games, mobile games, and multiplayer party experiences. Overall, the contributors emphasize that there is a suitable entry point for every kind of player and platform. ## Veronica’s Current Games and Recommendations - Veronica, who works on Discord’s Quests team, has been playing: - **Ender Lilies**, praising its art direction and story while pursuing all three endings. - **Hollow Knight**, revisited while waiting for news about *Silksong*. - Her recommendation for new players is **Animal Crossing: New Horizons**: - Relaxing and low-pressure. - Can be played at the player’s own pace. - Has no definitive ending, making it approachable for beginners. - Roald is her favorite villager. ## Emi’s Current Games and Recommendations - Emi is continuing through **Yakuza Kiwami**, completing substories and earning money for abilities. - She is also playing: - **Pikmin Bloom**, which combines walking with growing Pikmin. - **Pikmin 4**, inspired by seeing Pikmin in the mobile game. - **Call of Duty: Warzone**. - **Among Us**, despite occasionally forgetting the game’s task list while playing as the Impostor. - Her recommendations depend on platform and interests: - **Genshin Impact** for mobile open-world exploration. - **MARVEL SNAP** for card-game fans. - **Pokémon GO** for an interactive mobile experience. - **Snipperclips** for Nintendo Switch puzzles. - **Animal Crossing: New Horizons** for relaxation and building. - **Mario Kart 8 Deluxe** for accessible racing. - **The Jackbox Party Pack** for playing varied party games with friends using phones. ## Tyler’s JRPG Playthroughs and Beginner-Friendly Games - Tyler is still playing **Metaphor Re:Fantazio**, recommending it to JRPG and *Persona* fans. - He is replaying **Rogue Galaxy**, a PS2-era JRPG he never finished as a child. - He reflects humorously on how older games such as *The Lion King*, *Aladdin*, and *Toy Story* can be unexpectedly difficult. - For newcomers, Tyler recommends choosing games based on interests in other media: - **Ori and the Blind Forest** helped introduce his wife to gaming through its beautiful presentation and engaging gameplay. - Mobile games can also be a good starting point. - Suggested examples include **Marvel SNAP**, **Pokémon TCG Pocket**, and puzzle games such as **Monument Valley**. The article’s practical takeaway is to match a game to a player’s interests, preferred platform, and desired level of challenge. Cozy games, mobile titles, simple multiplayer experiences, and visually engaging adventures can all provide welcoming introductions to gaming.

October Staff Picks: Monster Season (opens in new tab)

October’s Discord Staff Picks frames the gaming backlog as the season’s real monster, while Discord employees share their recent games and favorite creatures. The recommendations range from long-form JRPGs and precision platformers to cozy building games, action games, and survival horror. Together, they emphasize making time for varied gaming experiences—even if the backlog keeps growing. ## Tyler’s JRPGs and Speedrunning - **Metaphor: ReFantazio** - A high-fantasy RPG with Persona-like systems. - Its “Bonds” feature lets players build relationships with NPCs to unlock and improve classes. - Tyler is about 15 hours into an expected 80-plus-hour adventure. - **Gravity Circuit** - A Mega Man-inspired indie platformer with tight controls. - Movement options include wall jumping, a hookshot, divekicks, and super moves. - Tyler is practicing the “Dog%” speedrun category, which requires rescuing and petting two hidden robot dogs. - The game’s music is memorable enough to linger outside of play. - **Favorite monster: Tonberry** - Tonberries appear cute and harmless but can defeat players in a single hit. - Their combination of adorable design and deadly attacks makes them ideal monsters. ## Serena’s Cozy Creativity - **Tiny Glade** - A relaxing building game with an animated fantasy art style. - Players freely create castles, landscapes, book-inspired settings, and D&D campaign maps. - Favorite features include decorating with flowers, participating in the “Theme of the Day” challenge, and interacting with sheep and ducks. - Serena discovered it through Steam’s Cozy section after friends could not join a *Baldur’s Gate 3* session. - **Favorite monster: Owlbear** - Serena’s favorite is the Owlbear from *Baldur’s Gate 3*, contrasted humorously with her own “scarier” broom-wielding presence in *Supermarket Together*. ## Yakuza, HELLDIVERS 2, and Horror - **Yakuza series** - After completing *Yakuza 0*, the contributor moved on to *Yakuza Kiwami*. - They particularly enjoy the series’ substories, including errands, puzzles, and other optional activities. - **HELLDIVERS 2** - Continued play includes dealing with both bug and bot missions. - Experimental mine use has created more accidental squad deaths. - **Alien: Isolation** - The Alien remains a favorite video game monster because of the contributor’s admiration for the *Alien* films. - Although they are reluctant to play the horror game themselves, they enjoy watching streams and gameplay clips. - They also note that a sequel is reportedly in development. ## The Backlog as the Seasonal Monster - The article treats unfinished games as a recurring “backlog monster.” - The staff’s selections show several ways to approach it: - Commit to a massive RPG. - Master a short, mechanically focused platformer. - Relax with a creative sandbox. - Continue a long-running series. - Enjoy frightening games vicariously through videos and streams. The practical recommendation is to embrace the backlog selectively: choose games that match your current mood, whether that means an ambitious adventure, a cozy creative outlet, or a terrifying game best experienced through someone else’s playthrough.