The Vagrant (v1.466.191119)

A hand-painted fantasy road trip becomes a bruising 2D action RPG as sellsword Vivian searches Mythrilia for answers about her missing father and the troubling legacy tied to her family. The Vagrant carries her from quiet coastal settlements into tangled forests, cursed castles, and battlefields littered with the remains of old wars. Its story mixes a personal bloodline mystery with grim supernatural danger, giving the adventure more melancholy than its colorful, illustrated presentation initially suggests. Vivian is not a chosen hero arriving to save the world; she is a capable traveler trying to survive long enough to uncover the truth.

Combat drives nearly every stretch of the journey, with side-scrolling stages built around enemy encounters, hazards, bosses, and occasional secrets tucked away from the main route. Vivian chains together attacks, charges heavier blows, and spends special abilities to break through swarming enemies, while careful positioning matters when tougher foes punish careless aggression. New weapons, armor, accessories, and skills gradually reshape her build, letting players lean into sturdier defenses, stronger damage, or more efficient ability use. The challenge is approachable for players who want to follow the story, but mastering combos, timing, and equipment choices gives demanding fights more depth than a straightforward button-masher.

What stands out most is the combination of lavish 2D art and a focused action structure: Mythrilia feels like a fantasy painting in motion, yet the game keeps pushing forward instead of becoming an enormous, unfocused exploration epic. Its boss encounters and upgrade-driven progression give it some of the appeal of a lightweight metroidvania, though the emphasis remains on combat and narrative momentum rather than extensive backtracking. Fans of Vanillaware-style visuals, classic side-scrolling action RPGs, and character-focused fantasy stories should find plenty to enjoy here. The Vagrant suits newcomers looking for an attractive, manageable action adventure, while genre veterans can dig into its combat system and gear optimization.