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Wander Stars

I love the combat, aesthetics, and banter between characters. I had an extremely rough time in the boss fights due to technical qualms. I tried pushing forward, but losing at an unplayable mess of a boss fight takes you back to the start of the chapter to do everything all over again—a loss of progress. After dealing with this, I gave up and am waiting for fixes. I suggest playing Wander Stars on Steam, because there is something so special here with this RPG teasing well-known anime tropes with a dark-skinned girl of colour lead–a rarity in the shounen genre. But for me, the unplayable mess it became has driven me away from the game’s Nintendo Switch version.
Wander Stars Game Cover
87%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, grinding
94% User Score Based on 110 reviews
Critic Score 65%Based on 2 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5XboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
Buy Nowfrom €24.50
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Wander Stars Game Cover

About

Wander Stars is a single player role playing game. It was developed by Paper Castle Games and was released on September 19, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Wander Stars is a turn-based RPG with roguelite elements where you make your own attacks by combining words! Create your own fighting techniques, befriend your rivals, and explore the universe in this story-driven adventure inspired by 90s anime.

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Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
Wander Stars screenshot
+7
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94%
Audience ScoreBased on 110 reviews
story28 positive mentions
stability3 negative mentions
  • Stunning and faithful 90s anime art style with expressive character designs and animations.
  • Unique and innovative turn-based combat system that involves combining words for strategic moves and exploiting enemy weaknesses.
  • Engaging and charming characters with witty dialogue and nostalgic story elements, creating strong emotional attachment.
  • Excellent soundtrack that complements the anime aesthetic and enhances the overall atmosphere.
  • Good replay value with roguelite elements, different difficulty levels, and a variety of word combinations for combat.
  • The game suffers from numerous bugs and technical issues, including softlocks, UI glitches, and unresponsive menus that affect gameplay experience.
  • Story pacing is uneven with an open-ended cliffhanger conclusion, some filler episodes, and a few chapters feeling less engaging or rushed.
  • Repetitive enemy designs and combat encounters, combined with randomized enemy weaknesses, can make gameplay feel tedious and limit strategic planning.
  • The UI/UX, especially in word selection and menu navigation, is clunky and frustrating, particularly on mouse and keyboard controls.
  • Lack of voice acting and some missing or unfinished character sprites reduce immersion and presentation polish.
  • story
    95 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story is a nostalgic homage to 80s and 90s anime, featuring charming characters and dynamic interactions that many find engaging and fun early on. However, it often feels cliché, with pacing issues, filler episodes, and an open-ended, rushed ending that leaves some players unsatisfied. Despite its weaknesses, the story’s style and character-driven moments provide enough appeal to complement the game's unique gameplay and presentation.

    • “The story really feels like watching a lost 90s anime, a great mix of Latin American influence and silly sci-fi that will have anyone hooked, with enough great character writing, expressive sprites, and charming moments to make you fall in love with the whole cast.”
    • “The story unfolds like an old-school anime series, complete with cliffhangers, quirky side characters, and that mix of comedy and heartfelt growth that keeps you hooked.”
    • “The story is fun and I was so enjoying pointing out every 90s anime reference; the characters and interactions are dynamic and when the game was over, I couldn't help myself but want more.”
    • “I feel like a lot of the story writing gets weaker near the end, and the overall ending, while open for a sequel, feels rushed and unsatisfying.”
    • “Leaving the story on a cliffhanger was a boneheaded move.”
    • “The main plot moves the story along, but I felt like nothing was accomplished in the end.”
  • gameplay
    67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is praised for its creative and unique word-based turn-based combat, strategic depth with mechanics like breaking points and peace/roguelike elements, and engaging customization of attacks. However, some find parts tiring, repetitive, or frustrating due to certain bosses, unclear mechanics, or occasional bugs. Overall, the gameplay is considered fun, rewarding, and the main highlight of the experience despite some uneven pacing and occasional difficulty spikes.

    • “The gameplay nails the format of map-based RPGs and smoothly guides you into understanding the mechanics of words, pep-ups, and stats without much fuss.”
    • “The gameplay is great, the combat in particular is very creative both in the attacks you can 'create' and the incentive to not kill enemies, and finally this game's charm is off the charts.”
    • “The gameplay is a turn-based affair where your moves are assembled by lining up a series of words available to you in the most optimal ways to ensure maximum use.”
    • “The gameplay loop is very tiring though, having to calculate damage and keeping weaknesses in check is fun but exhausting to keep up.”
    • “Some gameplay elements in later chapters though are quite boorish or frustrating, namely chapter 4, 5, 9 and 10.”
    • “The only real complaint I have about the gameplay is one certain boss and one certain enemy, both of which have very unique weaknesses that if you don't have the correct words (like I did) you literally can soft-lock the fight and need to save / quit and change your deck before fighting them again.”
  • graphics
    39 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's graphics are widely praised for their faithful and charming recreation of 80s and 90s anime art styles, heavily inspired by Akira Toriyama and classics like Dragon Ball. The expressive visuals, nostalgic cultural references, and polished animations create a captivating and nostalgic aesthetic that resonates with fans and newcomers alike. Overall, the art style is considered a standout element that beautifully complements the gameplay and atmosphere.

    • “The artwork in the game is fantastic and it cannot be understated how nice it is to look at.”
    • “The animation and art style are strong and dynamic, and there were points I tried to screenshot simply because the framing of the 'shot' was so good.”
    • “Paired with expressive, VHS-style visuals and a soundtrack that flips between retro and modern, Wander Stars nails its anime roots while carving out its own identity.”
  • music
    31 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's music is widely praised as catchy, varied, and beautifully complementing its old-school anime-inspired aesthetic, often highlighted as a standout feature with distinct tracks for chapters and bosses. Many reviewers consider the soundtrack phenomenal and a major selling point, with some even purchasing the game primarily for the OST. Overall, the music significantly enhances the immersive experience and is regarded as an absolute gem.

    • “Genuine underrated gem of a game with phenomenal characters and an incredible soundtrack!”
    • “The music being a major highlight, with each chapter and boss having its own combat music.”
    • “The art and animation is an endlessly and effortlessly charming hand-drawn style that perfectly captures the feel of old-school anime like Dragon Ball or Cowboy Bebop, with music and sound effects to boot.”
    • “In fact, the entire game feels repetitive as hell, as there is little variety everywhere: NPCs, animations, music, sound effects, fights, it's just all way too similar!”
    • “The aesthetic, the art style, the music, the passion is all there, but the gameplay is not good.”
    • “I bought the Steam version for the soundtrack and sketchbook because I wanted to give Paper Castle more money and because I'm impatient.”
  • humor
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is broadly goofy and witty, featuring clever dialogue and playful subversions of stereotypes that resonate well with fans of anime and nostalgic 90s references. Players frequently find themselves chuckling at character exchanges and appreciate the passionate, humorous art style that complements the story’s lighthearted tone. Overall, the humor is a standout element that enriches the fun and charm of the game's narrative and aesthetic.

    • “The story also isn't bad and the dialogue can be pretty funny.”
    • “The writing is broadly goofy, but I found myself chuckling at multiple exchanges, and some of the scenes have genuine wit ("don't worry, nuns are actually a type of witch!").”
    • “The aesthetic is top notch, it takes me back to the 90s when I was a child watching anime on lazy afternoons. The type of humor really clicks with me and I love how there's many little cultural references and wordplays everywhere.”
  • replayability
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Replayability is a key feature, supported by varied random elements and enjoyable gameplay, though some find the randomness detracts from the experience. The game offers strong replay value overall, but the inability to skip cutscenes can hinder repeated playthroughs.

    • “Insane replay value: check.”
    • “Has a great story so far and the gameplay is fun (and replayable).”
    • “It is meant to encourage replayability, but with how runs can be random in what words Ringo are weak against, what words or upgrades you'll find, or what kind of random pep-ups you get, it all underwhelms the experience.”
    • “The game is meant to encourage replayability, but the randomness of runs—such as which words Ringo is weak against, the words or upgrades you find, and the random pep-ups you get—ultimately underwhelms the experience.”
    • “Since replayability is a focus, it would be nicer if you could skip the cut scenes.”
  • character development
    4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The character development is praised for its nostalgic 80s/90s anime-inspired designs, evoking influences like Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon. The unique cultural references and thoughtful artistry reflect a genuine passion, making the characters feel distinctive and well-crafted.

    • “My favorite part about the game is the art and character designs.”
    • “While I'm not huge into late 90's animes, I can still feel the vibe of Dragon Ball and Sailor Moon oozing from this game from the character design, all the way down to the base gameplay mechanic of using words to fight.”
    • “The character designs really are out of 80/90s anime, you can see the obvious influences.”
  • stability
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from notable stability issues, including significant glitches that can prevent progression and buggy menu interactions. However, frequent updates suggest these problems are actively being addressed.

    • “Full of glitches, to the point where I could not complete it because of a bug with the final boss, but otherwise a great game.”
    • “The menus can be slightly buggy at times, but the game is frequently updated so minor errors will likely be patched out soon.”
    • “One thing that I have noticed is that equipping the words can be kinda buggy.”
  • grinding
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Grinding in the game is generally more engaging than expected, especially with the unique, randomized enemies. However, repetitive encounters can become tedious, and managing collected words for abilities may feel cumbersome at times due to excessive scrolling. Overall, the grinding is manageable but risks becoming monotonous.

    • “This would still be fun in an anime where you're fighting hordes of goons like the Red Ribbon Army, but all of these guys are supposed to be different from each other. Because everything is randomized, seeing the same enemies over and over becomes rather tedious and unengaging.”
    • “It can get slightly tedious scrolling horizontally through words if you have a lot of them.”
  • emotional
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game delivers a deeply emotional experience reminiscent of classic anime, blending heartfelt storytelling, quirky characters, and a balance of comedy and growth. Its style, animation, and gameplay all contribute to a refreshing and engaging emotional journey that resonates strongly with players.

    • “The story unfolds like an old-school anime series, complete with cliffhangers, quirky side characters, and that mix of comedy and heartfelt growth that keeps you hooked.”
    • “Its story, style, animation, gameplay, even the characters, everything feels so emotional, refreshing and fun at the same time!”
    • “It's a beautiful and heartfelt game and I cannot wait to play the rest of the game!”
  • optimization
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is well-optimized, running smoothly without requiring high system demands, providing a consistent performance experience.

    • “The game is not very demanding, but I always appreciate a game that runs smoothly.”
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65%Critics’ scoreBased on 2 critic reviews
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25h Median play time
19h Average play time
8-30h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Wander Stars is a role playing game.

Wander Stars is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 19 hours playing Wander Stars.

Wander Stars was released on September 19, 2025.

Wander Stars was developed by Paper Castle Games.

Wander Stars has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its story but disliked it for its stability.

Wander Stars is a single player game.

Similar games include LunarLux, Dice Gambit, ANNO: Mutationem, Dark Deity, Dimensionals and others.