Etrian Odyssey is one of those RPGs that makes you feel like an actual explorer—you’re handed graph paper (well, the DS touchscreen) and told to map the dungeons yourself as you go. At first, it’s a little overwhelming—picking your party from a bunch of quirky classes (Alchemists? Ronin? Hexers?), then diving into this massive, maze-like labyrinth where every step could mean running into something that wipes your team.

The battles are old-school turn-based, but with a twist—you’ve gotta think ahead because enemies hit hard, and your back row isn’t safe forever. And yeah, the mapping thing? Surprisingly addictive. There’s something satisfying about scribbling down shortcuts and secret passages, even when you’re low on HP and praying the next tile isn’t an ambush.

It’s not for everyone—if you hate grinding or getting lost, you might bounce off—but if you love that classic dungeon-crawler tension where every decision matters, this one’s a gem.