Etrian Odyssey Nexus

About Etrian Odyssey Nexus

Atlus released Etrian Odyssey Nexus on the Nintendo 3DS in August 2018 as the final entry in that specific console era. This title serves as a celebration of the franchise by gathering explorers to the floating city of Maginia. Their mission involves mapping the Lemuria archipelago to find the legendary Yggdrasil Tree. The game lets you recruit from nineteen distinct classes, including a brand new Hero option, and mix them into squads of four. It brings back the core trio of Yuji Himukai, Shin Nagasawa, and Yuzo Koshiro to handle art, monsters, and music. This is a single-player dungeon crawler that relies on hand-drawn maps and strategic party management rather than action combat.

Gameplay

You start by assembling a team from various classes to tackle specific dungeons. Each session involves moving through grid-based floors while manually drawing your own map on the touch screen. You cannot see enemies or items unless you are standing right next to them, which forces constant vigilance. Combat uses turn-based commands where you target individual foes and manage your four-man squad's health and skills. The sub-class system allows you to swap roles mid-adventure for added tactical depth. Auto-mapping is available as an optional toggle if you prefer not to draw every corridor yourself. You complete over a hundred quests ranging from simple fetch runs to complex boss hunts that require precise positioning and resource management throughout the entire archipelago.

What Players Think

Critics gave this title an 81 out of 100 on Metacritic, reflecting solid appreciation for its mechanics. PlayPile data shows players spend an average of 65 hours to finish the main story, but completion rates suggest many invest significantly more time. The community mood leans heavily toward nostalgic satisfaction with a score of 4.6 out of 5 stars from verified buyers. Users frequently cite the 19 available classes as a major draw for replay value. Achievement tracking indicates that only 32 percent of players have unlocked every single trophy, proving the difficulty spikes in later dungeons are no joke. Review snippets often mention how the optional auto-map feature helps newcomers without alienating veterans who insist on drawing maps by hand.

PlayPile's Take

Etrian Odyssey Nexus is worth your money if you enjoy slow-paced strategy games where reading a map is just as important as fighting. The price point on the 3DS eShop makes this accessible for anyone looking to fill their library with dense RPG content. You will need patience to master the combat system and dedication to unlock all achievements since the final dungeons are brutal. This game suits players who like building specific team compositions rather than relying on a single powerful character. Avoid it if you want fast-paced action or games that hold your hand through every step. The manual mapping requirement is the main hurdle, but it remains the defining feature of the experience.

Storyline

"A royal decree from Princess Persephone has prompted the gathering of the realm’s greatest explorers to the floating city of Maginia. Their goal—uncovering the mysteries of the archipelago of Lemuria, home to a great Yggdrasil Tree."