'90s anime-inspired RPG Wander Stars announced for Switch and PC

Publisher Paper Castle has announced Wander Stars, a turn-based RPG that doesn't just draw inspiration from 1990s anime like so many games have done — it practically breathes the aesthetic, right on down to delightfully cheesy attack names.

If the game's announcement trailer doesn't have your fists pumped for some Shōnen  showdowns, perhaps Paper Castle's plot and gameplay overviews will do the trick.

About

Wander Stars is a turn-based RPG with roguelite elements where you make your own attacks by combining words to make your own fighting techniques. Learn new words to collect, combine, and experiment to discover enemy weaknesses, synergies, and strategies that will help you win your battles!

The story of Wander Stars follows Ringo, a young martial artist looking for her brother, and Wolfe, a mysterious scoundrel running from his past, as they join forces in an unlikely partnership to collect the pieces of the Wanderstar Map.

Key Features

• Make Your Own Attacks – Collect and combine different types of words to make your own fighting techniques like a SUPER AWESOME FIRE KICK!
• An Anime You Can Play – Each run plays like an anime episode where you experience the adventure through exciting cutscenes and intense battles.
• Wander into Adventure – Explore every place you visit through a randomized map and find treasures, rivals, special events and more!
• Binge and Reruns – Replay episodes to learn hidden aspects of the story, find any events you missed, and train to earn permanent upgrades.

Until today, I thought for sure I've played plenty of anime. What is Tales of Arise,  if not anime given interactive form? Clearly, I underestimated what it takes to deliver the complete hero-shouting experience.

Should you wield the courage to turn Wander Stars from a developer's dream into a full-blown reality, be sure to keep your watchful eye on the game's pending Kickstarter campaign.

Wander Stars