The Secret of Varonis

About

"The Secret of Varonis" is an indie Gameboy-style RPG that takes you back to the gaming heyday of 1989. Choose a party from humans, espers, robots, and monsters, each with unique leveling schemes. Explore six diverse worlds, employ over 500 combat items and abilities, and uncover the secrets of the sealed city of Varonis. Enjoy retro mechanics without the grind, with optional field encounter mode. What lies beyond the gate? Discover it in this old-school RPG. *323 characters.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

100%

Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews

gameplay18 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The Secret of Varonis is a fantastic homage to the classic SaGa/Final Fantasy Legend games, capturing their spirit while incorporating modern quality of life improvements.
The game features a fully customizable party system with distinct character types, allowing for diverse gameplay strategies and a satisfying combat experience.
Players appreciate the engaging story, nostalgic aesthetics, and the developers' responsiveness to community feedback, enhancing the overall experience.

Some players found the inventory management and map navigation to be cumbersome, leading to moments of frustration during exploration.
There are reports of minor bugs and balance issues, particularly regarding the effectiveness of certain character types and abilities.
While the game is generally well-received, some players noted that the story is basic and not particularly profound, which may not meet the expectations of those seeking a deeper narrative.

gameplay
64 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
67%
5%
The gameplay of "The Secret of Varonis" is a nostalgic homage to the classic Game Boy Saga titles, featuring turn-based battles, charge-based mechanics, and customizable party options, all enhanced with modern quality-of-life improvements. While some users noted occasional bugs with the side HUD, the overall mechanics are praised for their depth and transparency, making the game accessible and engaging for both newcomers and veterans of the genre. The addictive gameplay loop of exploration, battles, and progression, combined with a charming aesthetic, offers a rewarding experience that resonates well with fans of retro RPGs.
- “This game has all the thematic charm of the original Saga/Final Fantasy Legend titles with an incredible amount of mechanical depth and transparency.”
- “All in all, gameplay is superb, with replay value I have only begun to discover the depth of, 20+ hours in.”
- “While nostalgia was the initial draw for sure, what made me stick with the game was the very addictive gameplay loop of battles, progression, and exploration & discovery.”
- “The side HUD can be buggy sometimes in not displaying the right health totals or party members, but it can be toggled off/on. Besides that, I didn't encounter any gameplay-related bugs.”
- “I had Final Fantasy Legend 1, 2, and 3 growing up, but with little explanation of the mechanics, I never made much progress in them.”
- “I've revisited them through the years, but having a game that has all the mechanics explained in-game makes playing the game so much easier than constantly referring to a guide on another screen to make sure what you're doing is going to accomplish what you're trying to do.”
story
44 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
52%
7%
The story is generally well-received, described as a solid and enjoyable blend of original elements and nostalgic references to classic RPGs, particularly the first three saga games. While it may be considered basic, the writing, character development, and thematic cohesion are praised, with several twists that enhance the experience without straying too far from its roots. Overall, the narrative serves as a compelling backdrop to the gameplay, making it a pleasant surprise for many players.
- “It captures the gloomy and sometimes psychedelic mood of the first game, while also featuring a captivating mysterious story, much like the second game.”
- “The story and characters are fantastic and immersive.”
- “Story is definitely basic, but doesn't overstay its welcome, which is appreciated.”
- “There are several twists and subversions of the classic formula, but without altering the feel of the story too much from its classic roots, which I appreciate.”
- “Fortunately, each item has been reimplemented, coming with general bug fixes and quality of life improvements, and a story that's close enough to be a spiritual successor but entirely its own spin on the series' concepts and lore.”
graphics
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
65%
15%
The graphics of the game are praised for their nostalgic Game Boy aesthetic, successfully capturing the charm and simplicity of classic-era visuals while also incorporating modern quality-of-life improvements. While the design and overall feel are celebrated, some players expressed a desire for more variety in monster sprites during gameplay. Overall, the visuals, combined with catchy music, create an engaging experience that resonates with fans of retro JRPGs.
- “It’s an aesthetic and tonal package that, while certainly not everyone’s cup of tea, hits its inspirational mark with picture-perfect accuracy.”
- “The developers nailed the Game Boy aesthetic with the graphics and sound.”
- “It was a simpler time where graphics weren't the end all be all, story wasn't quite the monster it is now, combat was straightforward but complex enough, and music was catchy and toe-tappingly upbeat.”
- “If even a sliver of you enjoys a time where games were simple yet deep, or you crave the aesthetics of monochrome, you owe it to yourself to play Secret of Varonis.”
- “Well strap in, because this game nails the classic-era aesthetic, mechanics, and the overall feel perfectly, all with some nice, modern quality of life improvements thrown in.”
music
18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
11%
72%
17%
The music in the game is a nostalgic homage to classic Game Boy titles, featuring catchy chiptune tracks that evoke the styles of legendary composers like Nobuo Uematsu and Kenji Ito. While the soundtrack is solid and thematically appropriate, it lacks the memorability of its inspirations. Overall, players appreciate the upbeat and engaging music that complements the game's visuals and storytelling.
- “It was a simpler time where graphics weren't the end-all be-all, story wasn't quite the monster it is now, combat was straightforward but complex enough, and music was catchy and toe-tappingly upbeat.”
- “The soundtrack has a decent variety and is pretty solid overall, but nothing quite as memorable as Nobuo (but that isn't a fair comparison haha).”
- “The music captures the feel of older Game Boy games but is usually pretty catchy and thematic.”
- “The secret of Varonis wears its Game Boy saga inspiration on its sleeve, from the 8-bit-styled color palette and over-the-shoulder perspective in battle, to the chiptune soundtrack and effects reminiscent of its inspiration’s legendary composers a la Nobuo Uematsu (Saga I/II), Kenji Ito (Saga II), and Ryuji Sasai (Saga III).”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game effectively reduces the tedium associated with grinding by eliminating random encounters while still allowing players the option to engage in them. Players can experience intense gold grinding, especially with multiple characters, but also have the flexibility to modify enemy appearances or select a "fixed" mode for a no-grind experience, enhancing the challenge. Overall, it balances nostalgia with modern gameplay conveniences.
- “Moreover, while overworld battles are standard, you can also change enemies to appear as NPCs on the map or even choose the finite enemy 'fixed' mode for no grinding and an even greater challenge.”
- “Gold grinding can be intense, especially if you have more than one human or esper in your team.”
replayability
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game offers significant replayability, with players noting a depth that continues to unfold even after 20+ hours of gameplay. Customization options and diverse party loadouts enhance the experience, making it accessible and satisfying for various play styles. Overall, it is praised for its engaging gameplay that encourages multiple playthroughs.
- “All in all, gameplay is superb, with replay value I have only begun to discover the depth of, 20+ hours in.”
- “It clearly aimed to replicate them while also making them more accessible and less obtuse, delivering on a satisfying and highly replayable game.”
- “There is a good amount of customization options based on how you prefer to play RPGs, as well as tons of replayability because of the variety of different possible party loadouts.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is enhanced by quality-of-life improvements to character archetypes, monsters, and espers, making them enjoyable for both casual and optimized playthroughs. Overall, the design strikes a balance between previous installments while introducing features that elevate gameplay experience.
- “From a design perspective, the character archetypes and races sort of split the difference between Saga I and II, but with some quality of life improvements to monsters and espers in particular that make them a lot more fun for both casual and optimized playthroughs.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Overall, the game's stability is generally solid, with no major gameplay-related bugs reported. However, users have noted occasional issues with the side HUD not displaying accurate health totals or party members, though this feature can be toggled off and on as needed.
- “The side HUD can be buggy sometimes, not displaying the correct health totals or party members. However, it can be toggled off/on, and aside from that, I didn't encounter any gameplay-related bugs.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is significant, with multiple users expressing that the ending moved them to tears, highlighting its powerful storytelling and character development.
- “I cried at the ending.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is described as a delightful addition that complements its engaging party building and fast-paced combat, enhancing the overall experience and encouraging players to keep playing.
- “An amazing tribute to handheld RPGs with great party building, fast-paced combat, a bit of humor, and a story that makes me want to play for just fifteen more minutes each time.”

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The Secret of Varonis
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