Echo Generationis another new indie game in 2021 that is going for anEarthBoundvibe. The other big indie RPG isEastward. Just based on numbers,Eastwardseems likethe better homageto theNintendoclassic. It checks all the boxes and then some. That doesn’t meanEcho Generationis not worth anyone’s time.
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This shouldn’t be a battle between these games althoughEcho Generationcertainly does a few things better thanEastward. It’s far from perfect but this blend ofEarthBoundmeetsSuper Mario RPGis an indie RPG that is something to behold. Let’s go through the positives and negatives ofEcho Generation.
8Best: HD Voxels
The graphics inEcho Generationare unique to the gaming space. Voxels have been done before but not to this degree. Everything looks crisper than other games with this art style. It can really feel like players are setting upLEGOsets and characters.
The environments and buildings are well-stocked with vibrant things to look at. One of the cooler early areas is the bookstore which has an amazing train setup. It’s like looking at atoy come to lifealbeit digitally.
7Worst: Preset Characters
Echo Generationallows characters to choose from a set of predetermined character designs. On one hand, this is nice in that it gives players some sort of customization option. However, if the game is going to go this far then why didn’t it allow players to fully design their characters?
That’s a staple forthe bigger RPGs. More customization with character creation does not always mean the game is going to be better. It still would have been nice to see inEcho Generationall the same.
6Best: The Battle System
Echo Generationis a turn-based RPG with time-based attacks. This means that if players plan their attacks or blocks right, they can boost damage or negate damage respectively. This is a lot likethe RPG gamesin theMarioseries.
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Using special abilities will vary things up further such as asking players to line up crosshairs or to punch in a combo code. RPG systems like this can help keep players on their toes, making games feel more active.
5Worst: The Grind
The downside to this game and RPGs, in general, is the grind.Echo Generationmight have the steepest climb in recent memory. From the very first battle to the last, this game is going to ask a lot from players. It is very challenging which means grinding is a must.
The thing is getting items is rare early on so the only good way to heal is by going home. Players will have to fight one or two battles and then run back home, only to repeat the process. This can feel repetitive quickly.
4Best: Title Screen
A good title screen isn’t necessary to make a game good. However, it certainly doesn’t hurt.Echo Generationis an example of a title screen where players should get hyped at the idea of jumping back into the chaos.
The synth wave is very catchy and fits the early 90s vibe well that was still clinging onto the 80s.Another great exampleisThe Elder Scrolls V: Skyrimwhich is often praised as the best around.
3Worst: The Rest Of The Score
The good music stops at the title screen, unfortunately. The score inEcho Generationisn’t necessarily bad. It’s just not as catchy as the opening music. It fits the role of an RPG and that’s about it.
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On the subject of sound,Echo Generationdoesn’t feature voice acting either. That’s not a huge problem as not all modern games need voice acting to be good. Getting a voice cast couldn’t have hurt though. There just needed to be a little more life injected into the sound design in some way to really makeEcho Generationsing, pardon the pun.
2Best: Raccoons
The very first enemy players will fight are a series of raccoons. They’re adorable and sassy to boot. The raccoons are only one example to showcase how neat the enemy designs are. From creepy clown robots to ghost school girls, the variety inEcho Generationshould be praised.
Seeing enemies on repeat through grinding doesn’t feel as problematic as other RPGs since every enemy is unique, or at least fun to look at. Raccoons are a pretty mundane creature in reality, but their spunkiness really works in this game. Overall the character and enemy designs are as clever as Mario’sRPG spinoff games.
1Worst: The Story
Echo Generationis about two siblings, and their pets, getting into outlandish situations in a seemingly ordinary town. That’s what was so charming aboutEarthBoundand theMotherseries overall. While the character and world designs deserve praise, the story falters a bit.
The writing is not as clever as it wants to be which is a shame. It’s always great to see agame attempt comedyand nail it, again, likeEarthBound.Echo Generationisn’t that funny and the story probably won’t entice players much.
Echo Generationwas released on June 09, 2025, and is available onPC,Xbox One, andXbox Series X.
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