Earthbound

If you ever wondered what it would be like to experience the early 1990s as a preteen through the lens of an eccentric Japanese businessman, this game is right up your alley! Either that or you want to experience the cult classic sensation that inspired internet sensations such as Undertale, Homestuck, and OFF.

(I'm not counting Lisa. Play Lisa, but only if you have a VERY strong resistance to disturbing topics).

There is minimal story, but this is genuinely to the game's benefit-- the atmosphere and vibe of the game is helped along by flavor dialogue and game mechanics rather than an especially deep tale. And not to spoil things, but following the classic JRPG formula within this setting works, I'd argue, better than the more common fantasy settings expected of the genre. Battling a demigod/personification of evil with the genuine power of friendship by the end makes sense for a troupe of children such as these.

The settings are colorful and wild, reminiscent of a child's drawings, and the gameplay being understandable even to those unfamiliar with genre conventions gives it that same feeling; of kids outside during summer playing pretend.

Also, ignore what that Mr. Saturn says. You just have to wait behind the waterfall for a few minutes and they'll let you in, *Josh.*