Fantasy Network
Fantasy Network is a metroidvania with a proper twist. You play as Lyn, whose mum gets kidnapped and the only way to get her back is to win the President’s Race, a chaotic mix of talent shows covering everything from cooking to fashion to straight up dance-offs. It’s daft in the best way, and it’s got a sharp bit of satire running underneath about fame and social media culture.
The world of Holua is gorgeous, all hand-drawn and packed with hidden shortcuts, secret zones, and odd little characters worth chatting to. Movement feels great too, with double jumps, dashes, and somersaults making the platforming genuinely fun, and combat revolves around a multi-configuration umbrella that keeps fights fresh against Holua’s weird enemy roster.
On top of the exploring and fighting, you’re also expected to keep up your influencer image, posting photos and chatting with locals to grow your following and earn Crebits for gear and travel tickets. There’s even a handful of retro arcade games to mess about with when you fancy a break. It’s silly, it’s colourful, and it’s got more going on under the surface than you’d expect.
