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 gorgeous, hand-drawn JRPG where the past, present, and future sit on screen at once — and you act on all three.
At a Glance
| Developer | Dreams Uncorporated · SYCK |
| Release year | 2021 |
| Platforms | PC, PlayStation, Xbox, Switch |
| Subgenre | Time-bending JRPG |
| Length | ~20 hours (main story) |
| Metacritic | 74 / 100 |
| Steam rating | Mixed (~65%, 500+ reviews) |
| Steam Deck | Verified |
| Languages | 12 |
About the Game
Cris Tales is a love letter to classic JRPGs wrapped in one of the most striking art styles the genre has produced. Developed by Colombian studios Dreams Uncorporated and SYCK, it follows Crisbell, a young Time Mage who can perceive past, present, and future simultaneously — the screen literally splits into three panels showing each timeline at once.
That conceit drives both story and combat. In battle you can push an enemy into the future, where poison you applied has had time to ravage it, or into the past, where a knight not yet armored takes far more damage — turning every fight into a small time-travel puzzle. Out in the world, your choices ripple forward and reshape towns and characters across decades.
It is bursting with ambition and visual beauty, and its turn-based combat with timed-hit inputs feels instantly familiar to anyone raised on the 16-bit greats. Its reception was divided — some found the pacing and backtracking uneven — but few dispute that it is one of the best-looking indie RPGs ever made.
Screenshots
Screenshots: official Steam media for Cris Tales.
Why It Made the List
Cris Tales earns its spot on style and ambition. The three-timelines-at-once presentation is unlike anything else in the genre, and as a showcase of what a small studio can do with one bold idea, it’s essential viewing — even where the execution divided players.
What the Critics Say
Cris Tales holds a Metacritic score of 74. Critics widely praised its art direction and time-bending concept while flagging pacing problems and technical rough edges — a classic case of reach exceeding grasp.
What Players Say
Steam user reviews land at Mixed, around 65% positive — a genuinely divided audience. Fans adore the art and concept; detractors cite slow pacing and tedious backtracking. We include it as a beautiful, ambitious swing rather than a flawless one.
Praise & Criticism
Praise
- Stunning hand-drawn art direction
- Inventive past/present/future combat
- Strong voice acting and soundtrack
- Choices that visibly reshape the world
Criticism
- Uneven pacing
- Backtracking can drag
- Some technical rough edges
Games Like This
- Sea of Stars — a modern JRPG built on timed-hit combat
- Chained Echoes — an ambitious throwback JRPG
- Cosmic Star Heroine — stylish turn-based battles
Where to Buy
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