Ever played a Tales game and wished you could just focus on the monster-collecting side of things? That’s basically what Summoner’s Lineage is—a stripped-down, GBA take on the series where you’re mostly recruiting and battling with creatures instead of the usual sword-swinging heroes. It’s set in the Phantasia world, so you’ll recognize some lore if you’re into that.

At first, it feels a little barebones compared to the mainline games—no fancy cutscenes or deep party banter here. But there’s something weirdly satisfying about building up your summon roster and figuring out which weird little monsters actually hold up in fights. (Spoiler: The fire lizard’s way better than it looks.)

If you’re into obscure Tales spin-offs or just like old-school monster battlers, this one’s a neat curiosity. Just don’t expect the usual JRPG spectacle.