Scarlet Nexus

Scarlet Nexus is an action RPG with a striking anime visual style that, on Xbox Series X/S, tells a story set in a future world plagued by alien creatures called Others, against whom players gifted with psychokinetic powers fight as part of a special organization called OSF. The game offers two distinct storylines told from the perspective of two main characters, Yuito and Kasane, which intertwine throughout the narrative and offer different views of the same events, while combat combines fast melee attacks with telekinetically hurling objects from the environment, such as wrecked cars or street lamps, and the ability to temporarily borrow the powers of teammates. This system makes battles a visually striking and strategically varied spectacle, in which the player constantly switches between their own arsenal of abilities and temporarily borrowed team powers.

On Xbox Series X/S, the game runs at high resolution and a high frame rate, which is essential for readability during fast, acrobatic battles filled with on-screen effects. Alongside combat, the game also offers a social element in the form of messages from supporting characters that develop relationships among OSF team members between missions. The art style combines cel-shaded graphics with a bold pink and red color palette, creating a distinctive visual identity, complemented by electronic-orchestral music that underscores the futuristic atmosphere of the city of Suoh and its neighborhoods devastated by the Others' attacks.

Upon release, Scarlet Nexus was praised above all for its distinctive visual style, its refined combat system, and its boldness in offering two different perspectives on the same story, which increases the motivation to complete the game multiple times and piece the whole story together. Although it is a smaller production compared to major Japanese RPG series, Scarlet Nexus managed to build a loyal fanbase, and on Xbox Series X/S it ranks among the titles that show how well a fast, action-oriented take on the JRPG can work on modern hardware without compromising smoothness.

Why play it: For its distinctive visual style, brisk combat system, and the boldness to show two different perspectives on the same story, which is enticing to piece together on a second playthrough.