RPGMP: Retrieving the Ruby

About

RPGMP: Retrieving the Ruby is a self-aware indie RPG built using RPG Maker VX Ace. It blends turn-based combat, character progression, and goofy dialogue into a quest where you play as Actor 001, a default RPG Maker avatar. The plot follows him as he’s tasked with retrieving a magical gem that’s literally holding the world together, only to learn his mission is to destroy it. The reason? A joke about declining quality in modern game development communities. You’ll navigate pixel-art environments, recruit oddball allies, and fight enemies while balancing absurdity with surprisingly polished systems. This game leans into its own meta-nature, poking fun at RPG Maker culture and nostalgia. Its humor lands best for players familiar with the tool’s legacy, though combat and dialogue can feel uneven. With a runtime of under five hours, it’s a niche experiment that turns its inside jokes into charm. Some fans on indie forums praise its bold irreverence, while others call it a short but sharp satire of gaming trends.

Storyline

You control Actor 001, the first face you see when making a game in VX Ace. After being called up to his bosses throne room, he's told that the Ruby holding the world together is slowly fading due to nobody making any cult-classic games in RPGMVXA (damn 2000 'n MV), so now it's his goal to... uh... grab the gem and destroy it to get this whole "end of the world thing" over and done with.