RPG Time: The Legend of Wright

Not the easiest recommendation, despite me loving this to actual tears a handful of times. As other reviews can attest, the structure of this game isn’t a barn burner in the gameplay department, and is “handholdy” in a way that clearly rubs many people the wrong way. It is not a traditional RPG, rather an invite into an excited young mind’s sketchbook. This is why I found myself cherishing my time with RPG Time, though! It works in a way that feels personal, improvised, and, if you let it, genuinely joyful. When it clicked, I was laughing, poking at it, risking smudging the pencil just to see what’s next. You don’t even have to wait until the RPG starts for it to show where its heart is. The game opens in a classroom, where you look down at your desk to see it completely covered with doodles of hypothetical UI elements, story chapters, mechanics and modes of interaction. There’s a childish handmade delight woven into everything here, reminding me incredibly strongly of the times me and a classmate would spend a lesson doodling intricate tank battles on the same notebook. Perler bead sprites, playdough food, papercraft menu elements. Like, to change the settings, you need to unlo…

A very interesting little experiment of a game. If you approach it expecting it to be a traditional JRPG with its own unique visual style, this is not really what it is because it's a very simple, bare-bones game that doesn't pose much of a challenge and is more like a "Kid's First RPG" kind of thing. The game's story itself is deliberately generic (not in a a bad way) because it's a game within game, since what you're actually playing is a tabletop pen-and-paper version of a video game created by a school kid who is playing Game Master to his friend who is playing the game and controlling the main character Wright. And that's what makes the game interesting, because all the visual style and presentation revolves around the game looking like it's made out of paper, cardboard, plastic, and so on, and the story is told by little comic strips, custcenes and actual gameplay that looks like it's drawn by pencil on notebook paper. It's a really creative game, and pretty fun, but I I hesitate to call this a role playing game, since it felt more like an adventure game of the old point-and-click variety.

RPG Time: The Legend of Wright, developed by DeskWorks and published by Aniplex Inc., is a truly unique indie game that invites players into the imaginative world of a child’s hand-drawn role-playing adventure. Released in 2022, the game stands out for its inventive presentation, taking place within the pages of a notebook created by a young aspiring game designer named Kenta. Rather than a conventional digital RPG, the entire experience feels like flipping through a dynamic sketchbook where each page bursts with creativity and personality. This approach instantly sets it apart from typical genre offerings and immerses players in a charming and nostalgic atmosphere that echoes the boundless creativity of childhood. The narrative structure cleverly frames the gameplay as Kenta’s personal project, guiding players through his vision of a fantastical adventure filled with quirky characters, unusual enemies, and inventive puzzles. The story itself is simple but effective, centered around the quest of the titular character Wright, but it is the way the story is told that truly shines. Each level or scenario feels handcrafted, as if you are witnessing a young creator’s imaginative proces…

This is by far one of the most creative and original games I have ever played on pc. Although I would not call it an RPG, it is something remarkable nevertheless. Every time you start the game, new surprises arise. While it is quite linear in terms of story and choices, it does shine through its different game mechanics, distinct art-style and game design. Amazing.

Incredibly charming and creatively portrayed. The way the framing device is done is beautiful.

The game is extremely original visually and manages to be coherent in spite of being, by design I think, made up of a jumble of pieces. The interface of the PC port feels rather messy though. The best part is Kenta, the little Japanese boy narrator, the one who keeps the whole shebang together, literally with paper clips and office glue. My rating: 8/10 gumballs.