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 love letter to the golden age of turn-based RPGs, Sea of Stars rebuilds everything that made the 16-bit classics sing — and strips out the grind. No random battles, no padding; just a bright, hand-crafted adventure that looks like a lost SNES gem given a modern glow-up.
At a Glance
| Developer | Sabotage Studio |
| Released | 2023 |
| Platforms | PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, Xbox Series |
| Subgenre | Turn-based JRPG-inspired RPG |
| Playtime | ~28 hrs (main) / ~43 hrs (completionist) |
| Metacritic | 90 / 100 |
| OpenCritic | 89 / 100 |
| Steam | Very Positive (89% of 14,000+) |
| Peak players | 8,597 concurrent (all-time, SteamCharts) |
| Age rating | ESRB Everyone 10+ · PEGI 7 |
| Steam Deck | Verified |
| Languages | 11 supported |
| Awards | Best Indie — The Game Awards & Golden Joystick Awards, 2023 |
About the Game
Sea of Stars follows Valere and Zale, two Children of the Solstice who combine the powers of the sun and moon into “Eclipse Magic” — the only force capable of stopping the monstrous creations of an evil alchemist called The Fleshmancer. It unfolds in the same universe as Sabotage’s earlier hit, The Messenger.
Combat is turn-based but never passive: timed button presses boost your hits and soften incoming blows, multi-character combos chain together, and a “locks” system rewards reading enemy attacks and breaking them with the right damage types before a big spell lands. Crucially, there are no random encounters and no grinding — enemies sit on the map and dungeons double as light puzzles.
Around the fighting is a world built to hang out in: sailing, cooking, fishing, a tavern minigame called “Wheels,” and seamless platformer-style traversal. It’s all rendered in some of the best pixel art in the business, layered with a custom dynamic-lighting engine and a soundtrack that features Chrono Trigger composer Yasunori Mitsuda.
Screenshots
Screenshots: Sabotage Studio (press kit).
Why It Made the List
Sea of Stars earns its place because it’s the rare throwback that understands why the classics worked rather than just copying them — and then removes their friction. It’s the best-looking turn-based RPG of its generation and one of the easiest to recommend to newcomers and veterans alike.
What the Critics Say
Sea of Stars holds a 90 / 100 on Metacritic, and on OpenCritic 97% of 137 critics recommend it. A few representative verdicts:
“A throwback RPG laced with modern magic and care.”
4/5 — Eurogamer
“Sea of Stars is simply a really fun, well-rounded game that any fan of RPGs will surely enjoy.”
4.5/5 — Game Rant
“…one of the greatest labors of love I’ve witnessed this year.”
What Players Say
Players are right there with the critics: Sea of Stars is Very Positive on Steam (89% of more than 14,000 reviews), and peaked at 8,597 concurrent players. The pixel art and soundtrack draw the loudest praise, with the no-grind design a close second.
Praise & Criticism
What critics and players tend to highlight:
Widely praised
- Stunning pixel art with dynamic lighting
- Accessible combat with real timing-based depth
- No random encounters and almost no grinding
- A superb, memorable soundtrack
Common criticisms
- The story plays it fairly safe
- Combat depth thins out in the late game
- On the easy side for genre veterans
Games Like This
If Sea of Stars hits the spot, line these up next:
- Chained Echoes — a sprawling 16-bit-style JRPG with deep, grind-free turn-based combat.
- Cosmic Star Heroine — a snappy, stylish sci-fi RPG from the makers of retro throwbacks.
- CrossCode — more action than turn-based, but the same loving SNES-era craft.
CrossCode is on our Top 20 Indie RPGs list.
Soundtrack
Stream the original soundtrack on Spotify.
Where to Buy
Available on: Steam, PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, Xbox.
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