Summary
Sabotage Studio’sSea of Starswas widely hailed as an instant classic upon release. Set in the world of the developer’s also positively received 2018 debut,The Messenger,Sea of Starsmade a big impression when it launched on July 27, 2025, garnering high praise from gamers who were enamored by its retro-styled presentation and emotionally resonant story. The title went on to take home Best Indie at The Game Awards 2023, among some tough competition for the year.
Sea of Starswowed fans and criticswith its updated and refreshing take on many of the original established elements of the JRPG genre. Now, one year on, it’s apparent how well it incorporated what was most liked from the 1990s period, when JRPGs were flourishing, and combined this with a modern-leaning mindset.Star of Stars' approach to invoking the past while providing an engaging and relevant experience for a range of audiences remains noteworthy, and sets the stage for more to come.
Sea of Stars’ Loving Homage to Old School JRPGs Stands Out, One Year Later
Sea of Stars is Rooted in Classic JRPG Traditions
Sabotage was clear aboutStar of Stars' inspirations, citing some beloved classic titles that most shaped its core design. There are certainly levels of nostalgia contained in its DNA, as seen in the pixel art, battle, and progression systems, along with a score composed by the legendary Yasunori Mitsuda, known for his many contributions to ’90s JRPGs.Sea of Starswas not shy about its influences, but it also went well beyond them to serve as a template for similar titles.
While it was by no means the first game that set out to recapture the essence of a bygone era via channelingJRPGs likeChrono Trigger,Sea of Starsis arguably the one that best accomplished it, particularly in the indie space. Others, like Square Enix’sOctopath Travelerfranchise, were well-liked reinventions by an AAA developer, one with itself long ties to the genre.Sea of Stars, though, reintroduced and simultaneously put its own spin on the sense of wonder and curiosity inherent in ’90s JRPGs.
Sea of Starslater received a physical release, something rarer for indies and a bit of a throwback as well.
How Sea of Stars Expertly Bridged the Gap Between ’90s JRPGs and the Current Gen
Though many of its mechanics and designs are pulled from the past,Sea of Starssticks out by having a healthy amount of self-awareness and a modern bent onvideogame tropes, especially within the JRPG genre. There are some moments of fourth-wall breaking acknowledging these, and the game goes on to playfully subvert others.Sea of Starsbrilliantly toes the line between indulging in genre staples while not taking them too seriously, and that compelling mix of humor and seriousness makes its characters and plot far more than a retread.
On top of its post-modernist stylings,Sea of Starsfeatures a number of quality of life gameplay inclusions that can offset the sometimes steeper difficulty and grindier aspects that often marked earlier JRPGs. This accessibility factor allows fans who might not have previously been as familiar with the older-styled titles to still enjoy it. Sabotage has recently revealed more about the upcoming Throes of the Watchmaker DLC, and also has plans to add athree-player co-op mode forSea of Stars. The latter calls back to another recognized title,Secret of Mana, as a fitting salute to other games that contributed to its accommodating vision.
On its first anniversary,Sea of Starsstands as an exemplarymodern JRPGthat honors its ’90s predecessors while not strictly replicating them. By taking into account the evolutions in design philosophies in the decades since, it delivered an experience for both old school fans and newcomers.Sea of Stars' success helps highlight more indie titles doing the same, such asOne Fenix Down, setting up the potential to usher in a new generation of JRPGs.
Sea of Stars
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Set in the same world as 2018’s The Messenger, Sabotage Studio’s Sea of Stars is an RPG that takes inspiration from Japanese classics like Chrono Trigger. Featuring a dynamic turn-based combat system and platforming-based exploration, Sea of Stars is an ambitious and gorgeous addition to the role-playing genre.
