The Secret of Varonis

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The Secret of Varonis is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Wombat Logic and was released on March 1, 2024. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

"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.

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Single-Player

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100%

Audience ScoreBased on 107 reviews

gameplay16 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

The Secret of Varonis successfully captures the nostalgic feel of the original SaGa/Final Fantasy Legend games while incorporating modern quality of life improvements, making it accessible and enjoyable for both new and returning players.
The game features a variety of customizable gameplay options, including different encounter types and a unique monster evolution system that encourages experimentation and strategic planning.
The visuals and soundtrack are well-executed, evoking the charm of classic Game Boy RPGs, while the story, though simple, is engaging and complements the gameplay experience.

Some players have noted a lack of variety in enemy sprites and a few bugs that can affect gameplay, although the developers are responsive and actively working on fixes.
The inventory management system can feel restrictive, with limited stack sizes that may lead to frustration during exploration and item collection.
While the story is enjoyable, it is considered basic and may not provide the depth some players expect from a modern RPG.

gameplay
53 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
64%
6%
The gameplay of "The Secret of Varonis" is a nostalgic homage to the original Saga and Final Fantasy Legend games, featuring turn-based battles, charge-based mechanics, and customizable character progression. While some users noted occasional bugs with the side HUD, the overall experience is praised for its depth, addictive gameplay loop, and quality-of-life improvements that enhance player understanding of mechanics. The game successfully combines retro charm with modern enhancements, making it a compelling choice for fans of classic 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
40 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
47%
8%
The story is generally well-received, described as a basic yet enjoyable narrative that serves as a spiritual successor to the original saga games, blending familiar themes with original twists. While it may not be the primary focus for all players, the writing, character development, and immersive world-building contribute to a captivating experience that complements the gameplay. Overall, the story is appreciated for its charm, coherence, and ability to engage players throughout the game.
- “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.”
- “It's fairly basic, but the dialogue and characters are competently written, and the themes of each world feel unique yet cohesive with the broader story arc.”
- “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
17 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
58%
18%
The graphics of the game are praised for their wonderful design and authentic Game Boy aesthetic, effectively capturing the charm of older JRPGs. While the visuals and sound are considered a treat, some players expressed a desire for more monster sprites in both exploration and battle. Overall, the game's aesthetic resonates well with fans of retro gaming, making it a recommended experience for those who appreciate classic styles.
- “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.”
- “Music and visuals are a treat, and the story has that old school snap and charm to its writing.”
- “The graphics are a throwback to a simpler time, but they lack the polish and detail that modern players might expect.”
- “While the game captures a nostalgic aesthetic, the graphics can feel outdated and uninspired compared to contemporary titles.”
- “The visuals, although intended to evoke a retro feel, often come off as bland and lacking in creativity.”
music
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
62%
23%
The music in "The Secret of Varonis" is praised for its catchy and thematic chiptune soundtrack, which pays homage to classic Game Boy titles and legendary composers like Nobuo Uematsu. While the soundtrack is solid and varied, it doesn't quite reach the memorability of its inspirations. Overall, the music complements the game's nostalgic visuals and enhances the old-school charm of its storytelling.
- “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).”
- “Music and visuals are a treat, and the story has that old school snap and charm to its writing.”
- “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).”
- “The music captures the feel of older Game Boy games but is usually pretty catchy and thematic.”
- “It's a shout out to the series with decent music, quality of life that can be chosen at the start of each game, and a solid storyline that even has a game over screen that shows the fate of the world when you fail.”
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 offering a more engaging 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.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players have the option to customize their grinding experience by changing enemies to appear as NPCs on the map or selecting a "fixed" mode that eliminates grinding altogether, offering a more challenging gameplay experience.
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 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.”
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional impact of the game is profound, with multiple users expressing that the ending elicited tears, highlighting its ability to resonate deeply with players.
- “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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Frequently Asked Questions

The Secret of Varonis is a role playing game.

The Secret of Varonis is available on PC, Mac OS and Windows.

The Secret of Varonis was released on March 1, 2024.

The Secret of Varonis was developed by Wombat Logic.

The Secret of Varonis has received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its music.

The Secret of Varonis is a single player game.

Similar games include False Skies, SKALD: Against the Black Priory, Cosmic Star Heroine, Chained Echoes, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes and others.

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