Etrian Odyssey III is one of those games that makes you feel like a real explorer—if explorers carried graph paper and fought giant jellyfish. You start by sketching your own dungeon maps as you go, which sounds tedious but weirdly becomes addictive. The first time you step into the labyrinth, it’s just you, a blank grid, and whatever monsters are lurking in the dark. And trust me, you’ll learn to hate those jellyfish.

Character creation is deep but not overwhelming—you pick a class (I went with a pirate because, well, drowned city), tweak skills, and hope your party doesn’t get wrecked by the first boss. The turn-based combat is brutal but fair, and the music? Absolute bangers. It’s the kind of game where you lose three hours just because you *have* to see what’s on the next floor.

If you like old-school dungeon crawlers with a modern twist, this one’s a gem. Just bring extra paper for mapping.