Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
Sorry, Expedition 33: this is what a REAL game of the year looks like.
2025 was a massive year for gaming, filled with tons of juggernaut releases. While the mainstream was dominated by titles like Death Stranding 2, Silksong, or Silent Hill f, there was one unassuming indie game released near the year's end. No, not Skate Story. ... no, not Unbeatable. I'm talking about Angeline Era: a humble, innocuous indie game that appears to be nothing more than a throwback to action RPGs of a bygone era in gaming.
In actuality, it's one of 2025's most brilliant games, and a case study in how having less information in video games can actually enhance & enrich the player's experience. In an era where modern games have commodified secrets and turned them into a formality, Angeline Era dares to harken back to an age where nobody knew what "FOMO" meant and well-kept secrets weren't meant to be laid out on a checklist - and proves it's a better game for doing so.
This is a look at Angeline Era: Analgesic Production's newest release, an action RPG that straddles a fine line between niche and accessible.
TWITTER: twitter.com/Axelayer
THUMBNAIL ART BY: twitter.com/QuariumArts / https://bsky.app/profile/quariumarts.bsky.social
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
- Kuri, for additional script/video feedback
- Matt, Kragor, Corv, & Morph for recommending Angeline Era when the Steam demo initially dropped, as well as (unintentionally) reaffirming several points made in this video through their playthroughs
- Analgesic Productions, for providing the review copy of Angeline Era used for this video
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
1:24 - What IS Angeline Era?
2:57 - Angeline Era's plot & presentation
6:17 - Searching - How Angeline Era Handles Secrets
12:40 - In defense of Bump Combat
15:36 - A game for FREAKS... unless...?
16:35 - The only real blemish
18:45 - Why we NEED games like Angeline Era
21:28 - [ENDCARD]
MUSIC USED:
Stage Selecting (Super Mario Bros. CD)
Field (Ys IV: Dawn of Ys)
Celceta - The Sea of Trees (Ys IV: Dawn of Ys)
Caitlin Morrow - Forgotten Child (Angeline Era)
Sunshine Coastline - (Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana)
JADE WONDERLAND (Angeline Era)
Trading Town of Redmont (Ys III: Wanderers From Ys)
Sailing the Clarst Pavements (Angeline Era)
Limestone Cosmos (Angeline Era)
Farewell, Wanderer (Angeline Era)
Return to Forever (Trials of Mana / Seiken Densetsu 3)
LIST OF SOURCES CITED/FULL CREDITS:
docs.google.com/document/d/1qThxt8ffPZLaiJY18i98rPYo4JtQty9ZlLPFZs_6M2w/edit?usp=sharing
#AngelineEra #Indie #Steam
Sorry, Expedition 33: this is what a REAL game of the year looks like.
2025 was a massive year for gaming, filled with tons of juggernaut releases. While the mainstream was dominated by titles like Death Stranding 2, Silksong, or Silent Hill f, there was one unassuming indie game released near the year's end. No, not Skate Story. ... no, not Unbeatable. I'm talking about Angeline Era: a humble, innocuous indie game that appears to be nothing more than a throwback to action RPGs of a bygone era in gaming.
In actuality, it's one of 2025's most brilliant games, and a case study in how having less information in video games can actually enhance & enrich the player's experience. In an era where modern games have commodified secrets and turned them into a formality, Angeline Era dares to harken back to an age where nobody knew what "FOMO" meant and well-kept secrets weren't meant to be laid out on a checklist - and proves it's a better game for doing so.
This is a look at Angeline Era: Analgesic Production's newest release, an action RPG that straddles a fine line between niche and accessible.
TWITTER: twitter.com/Axelayer
THUMBNAIL ART BY: twitter.com/QuariumArts / https://bsky.app/profile/quariumarts.bsky.social
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
- Kuri, for additional script/video feedback
- Matt, Kragor, Corv, & Morph for recommending Angeline Era when the Steam demo initially dropped, as well as (unintentionally) reaffirming several points made in this video through their playthroughs
- Analgesic Productions, for providing the review copy of Angeline Era used for this video
CHAPTERS:
00:00 - Intro
1:24 - What IS Angeline Era?
2:57 - Angeline Era's plot & presentation
6:17 - Searching - How Angeline Era Handles Secrets
12:40 - In defense of Bump Combat
15:36 - A game for FREAKS... unless...?
16:35 - The only real blemish
18:45 - Why we NEED games like Angeline Era
21:28 - [ENDCARD]
MUSIC USED:
Stage Selecting (Super Mario Bros. CD)
Field (Ys IV: Dawn of Ys)
Celceta - The Sea of Trees (Ys IV: Dawn of Ys)
Caitlin Morrow - Forgotten Child (Angeline Era)
Sunshine Coastline - (Ys VIII: Lacrimosa of Dana)
JADE WONDERLAND (Angeline Era)
Trading Town of Redmont (Ys III: Wanderers From Ys)
Sailing the Clarst Pavements (Angeline Era)
Limestone Cosmos (Angeline Era)
Farewell, Wanderer (Angeline Era)
Return to Forever (Trials of Mana / Seiken Densetsu 3)
LIST OF SOURCES CITED/FULL CREDITS:
docs.google.com/document/d/1qThxt8ffPZLaiJY18i98rPYo4JtQty9ZlLPFZs_6M2w/edit?usp=sharing
#AngelineEra #Indie #Steam
