Lufia: The Legend Returns

A classic Japanese RPG with sword, magic and a party of heroes — plus an unexpectedly clever battle system that sets the game apart from the crowd. Lufia: The Legend Returns is an underrated gem for those who have already run the main handheld RPGs of the era through and through.

It's the third installment in the Lufia series and at the same time the only one to reach a pocket console. It was created in cooperation between studio Neverland and publisher Atlus, names that tell fans of the genre plenty. The game holds a classic JRPG structure — story, a party of characters, gathering experience and gear, turn-based battles — but adds its own distinctive element that makes it noteworthy.

That element is an unconventional battle system built on a 3×3 grid. Your characters take up positions in this grid and their placement truly matters — position affects whom and how you hit, giving battles a spatial tactical layer you don't expect in turn-based RPGs of the era. Suddenly it's not just about whom to attack, but from where and how to arrange your party.

Visually and in terms of story, it's a solid representative of the genre that didn't quite step out of the shadow of the greatest JRPG legends, but offers an honest and long experience for lovers of classic turn-based games. That's precisely why it's seen today as a bit of a hidden tip — a title worth discovering when you have the biggest hits behind you and are looking for something less well-worn.

For fans of Japanese RPGs who appreciate experimenting with battle mechanics, Lufia: The Legend Returns is a pleasant surprise and proof that a big adventure can be told even on a small screen.

Why play: For a solid classic JRPG with an unconventional grid-based battle system — an underrated tip for fans of the genre.