Phantasy Star Nova

Phantasy Star Nova departs from the rest of the Phantasy Star Online series in the most fundamental way – it's a purely single-player action RPG with no need for a network connection and no persistently evolving online world. The player takes control of one of two main characters and, alongside AI-controlled companions, moves through dungeons full of monsters, collects gear, melee and ranged weapons, and unlocks new abilities, while following a light-hearted story full of humor and friendly banter between characters, quite different from the more serious tone of the series' earlier entries.

The game launched in 2014 exclusively for the portable PlayStation Vita console, and development was handled by Alfa System instead of Sonic Team, which was behind the series' previous entries. This change also showed in the gameplay itself – combat is faster, more focused on combining individual characters' attacks and switching between them than on coordinating with real players over a network. The Vita's touchscreen and second analog stick allowed for finer camera control during battles and quicker access to the item menu, something previous handheld entries in the series lacked, and the game thus makes full use of the console's technical capabilities, helped by the sharp OLED display on which detailed combat effects stand out. Individual expeditions are divided into shorter, self-contained missions with their own objectives and rewards, giving the game a structure well suited to playing in short sessions on the go without the player losing the sense of progress in the side story.

Why play: Phantasy Star Nova is a good choice for anyone who wants to experience the Phantasy Star series' combat system without the commitments of online play and befriending strangers – all you need is a PS Vita console, headphones, and the desire to work through the dungeons at your own pace, in a story lightened by humor instead of the serious cosmic threat known from other series entries, with the option to pause the game anytime and come back to it later exactly where you left off.