An Indie Backlog curated overview. We round up the best indie RPGs and how professional critics and players received each one — the scores and quotes below are theirs, linked to the source.
A 16-bit JRPG dream a decade in the making — giant mechs, airships, a war-torn continent, and not a single grind. Chained Echoes is a love letter to the SNES greats that quietly improves on them.
At a Glance
| Developer | Matthias Linda (pub. Deck13 Spotlight) |
| Released | 2022 |
| Platforms | PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One |
| Subgenre | Turn-based JRPG |
| Playtime | ~27 hrs (main) / ~40 hrs (most content) |
| Metacritic | 84 / 100 |
| Steam | Very Positive (89% of 7,800+) |
| Peak players | 2,198 concurrent (all-time, SteamCharts) |
| Steam Deck | Verified |
| Languages | 6 supported |
About the Game
Chained Echoes is a near-solo passion project from German developer Matthias Linda, polished over roughly seven years and published by Deck13 Spotlight. It’s set on the war-torn continent of Valandis, following an ensemble cast caught between feuding kingdoms — and the giant mechs (“Sky Armors”) they pilot.
Combat is turn-based with a clever twist: an Overdrive meter that replaces MP and grinding entirely. Push your attacks and the meter climbs; let it run too hot and you’re penalised, so you’re constantly nudging it back into the green “Overdrive” zone for bonus damage and healing. Battles on foot give way to mech duels with their own rules.
There are no random encounters and no level-grinding — gear and stats scale with progress, keeping the pace tight. The SNES-style pixel art is gorgeous and the soundtrack is widely adored.
Screenshots
Screenshots: Matthias Linda / Deck13 (via Steam).
Why It Made the List
Chained Echoes earns its place because it captures everything fans love about classic JRPGs while quietly fixing their worst habits — no grind, no bloat, just craft.
What the Critics Say
Chained Echoes holds a Metacritic of 84 and review scores to match:
“Chained Echoes is simply the best RPG I’ve played in a very, very long time.”
10/10 — God is a Geek
“A new masterpiece of turn-based RPGs.”
9.5/10 — Noisy Pixel
What Players Say
Players agree: Chained Echoes is Very Positive on Steam (89% of more than 7,800 reviews) and peaked at 2,198 concurrent players. The pixel art, soundtrack, and grind-free combat draw the most praise.
Praise & Criticism
What critics and players tend to highlight:
Widely praised
- Stunning SNES-style pixel art
- A celebrated, sweeping soundtrack
- No grinding, thanks to the Overdrive system
- Huge ambition — airships, mechs, a big cast
Common criticisms
- A large cast can feel thinly developed
- The story gets dense and complex
- The Overdrive meter takes getting used to
Games Like This
If Chained Echoes clicks for you, line these up next:
- Sea of Stars — another modern, grind-free love letter to 16-bit RPGs.
- Cosmic Star Heroine — a snappy, stylish sci-fi JRPG throwback.
- CrossCode — more action than turn-based, but the same SNES-era craft.
Where to Buy
Available on: Steam, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch.
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