Scarlet Nexus
At first glance, Scarlet Nexus looks a whole lot like it belongs in Bandai Namco’s long-running Tales series. To be sure, the art is similar. As are the overarching themes and even the music. But Scarlet Nexus is more fucked up than anything in the Tales series, thanks to a twist-packed plot full of rival nations and nightmarish mushroom monsters that love nothing more than a warm meal of human brains. And that plot unfolds across a dual storyline, each seen from the perspective of one of two equally compelling characters. In Scarlet Nexus, both plotlines are essential. Plus, the battle cocktail—a dizzying alchemy of hack-and-slash combat, real-time party commands, and thrilling psychokinetic abilities—is so potent that it remains a delight from start to finish.
Playable On: PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, PC
Rough Average Playtime: 31.5 hours
