Winner: Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island
Writeup by Ben Love
One of the earliest true roguelikes before the genre was mainstream, the Shiren series finally received a new entry after a decade with The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, the sixth game in the series and the first to see a near-simultaneous launch in the West. Shiren 6 takes a back-to-basics approach, removing some of the more complicated elements like the day-night cycle and abilities in favor of a pure roguelike experience, clearing one main dungeon with only the tools you can find along the way. Once you clear that main dungeon, the game truly opens up, offering a bevy of side content, challenge dungeons, and a whole host of post-launch support with new dungeons, playable characters, and mechanics. A celebration of the series and a strong starting place for newcomers, Shiren 6 may not be a traditional RPG, but it’s one of the most unique and engrossing experiences to release in 2024.
Runner-Up: Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure
Writeup by Patrick Gann
Is it puzzle-solving in an RPG, or a puzzle game with RPG elements? I’m not sure it matters. What I do know is that Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure does a fantastic job of blending the elements of gameplay and story. The protagonist, Jemma, works well as a stand-in for players of all ages, as she seeks fulfillment in her puzzle-solving instead of letting the world run on auto (or easy mode) for her. Add the charming 2D graphics and light yet effective musical elements, and we have a formidable game in the “how do we classify this?” category. Cheers to developer Furniture & Mattress on their debut title!
