Geo Mythica

TLDR: Buy this game. Yes I know Chrono Trigger (at time of writing) is $4 USD but throw this into your cart as well. You won't be disappointed. This is a very easy and strong 'RECOMMENDED'.
And if you aren't going to buy this game now then at a minimum please consider showing the game dev some kudos/love on the Steam forums and Discord. They've worked super hard on making this amazing game!
Disclosure: I am/was a beta-tester of the game and have good relations with the dev 'Chris Guin'. I have NOT been provided any monetary compensation/gifts to post this review nor have I been 'encouraged' to give a review (positive or otherwise) in any way. I'm doing this because I want to and nothing else.
I immediately saw the potential of the game from the very first few minutes. The Chrono Trigger references are numerous and you will likely appreciate them more if you're familiar with retro games (though it is easter-egg stuff, not required knowledge). Chrono Trigger and Deus Ex are both my loves but Chrono Trigger is my first love ;)
Battle system is real-time-with-pause for manually selecting commands/targets, your partner AI is simple but effective (attack my target, attack any target, defensive-only, etc). It takes some practice but the tutorials are pretty awesome :)
Beware: 'Hard for No Reason' (HfNR) is exacly as it says. Don't select it unless you really want a soul-crushing challenge! I would STRONGLY recommend playing on 'Normal' difficulty for your first playthrough, however you CAN still play everything on that 'HfNR' difficulty if you are using consumables and spending your money wisely on buff and healing consumes. Don't underestimate or skimp out on consumes!
Keep at least 1 of every type of food for a sidequest later. There are plenty of foods you want to stock up on but be sure to double-check the 'price per HP restored' ratio on each one; some are clearly better than others and the game lampshades one food in particular.
Music is 100% authentic Famitracker-created music that works on a real Famicom/NES!
Graphics/palette are authentic retro-styled with a few minor QoL adjustments.
Gameplay is a mixed bag, I gotta be real about it. YMMV (your mileage may vary), but I enjoyed it personally.
Story is very much retro-inspired with equal parts silly and serious. Again I enjoyed it but YMMV if you are into this kind of stuff or not.
Content Rating: If I were to give an age rating for the game, I'd say equivalent of 'PEGI 12'. Bloodless violence against mostly non-humanoid creatures. No MTX nonsense: you buy the game and you get the full game; simple and easy! Zero 'lewd' content. A 'save the world' plot. Learn about new languages and cultures in an organic way! A playable dog! What more could you want!? :)

It's a goofy throwback to those Secret of Evermore, Startropics, Earthbound days when you could make a silly RPG set in a cartoonish version of the real world and just have a ton of fun with it. The battle system is fun, the world is richly textured with silliness, and the graphics and music work so well. I really hope this game breaks out.

Fun globe trotting eight bit inspired RPG with a battle system that sort of plays out like a much faster paced Radia Senki: Reimeihen. Worth playing on hard mode, which is an accurate but the game itself is very unpunishing with the ability to escape from any battles plus instantly retry them, and even upon a party wipe (which is not an uncommon experience) will simply set you outside the last battle. With the ability to freely reset your skill point allocations and magic no battle is generally impossible to work out a solution that isn't just pure leveling, though that does help (and comes quickly if so desired). New gear tends to feel impactful and there's generally a decent amount of optional areas that can really help overcome any main story roadblocks available at any given time. Decent characters and story, both which have their moments (including some nice NES style still cutscenes) and good music round out a quality gaming experience. Dev is very helpful and reponsive in the forums as well which is a nice cherry on the top.

Geo Mythica is a thoughtfully-crafted action RPG that blends 8-bit visuals with mechanical inspirations from MMOs and modern RPGs. With “real time with pause” combat reminiscent of Dragon Age: Origins, player-friendly progression systems, and a globetrotting journey across a fantastical Earth à la Illusion of Gaia, it’s a nostalgic—yet modern—experience. While its narrative may lean on familiar beats, and the insistence on real-world language barriers and currency exchange often do more harm than good, it's undoubtedly an adventure worth taking.
What I Liked
Narrative: Sometimes simple is best, and Geo Mythica’s story is a reminder of that. An evil corporation seeking absolute power is nothing new, but the ‘90s setting, eclectic characters, varied locales, and brisk pacing elevate the familiar plot into something far more enjoyable.
Combat: Combat in Geo Mythica appears basic at first, but proves deceptively deep. The inclusion of real-time interrupt windows, MMO-like threat/hate mechanics, crowd control, and the ability to issue commands to your other two party members at any time during the heat of battle makes it much more compelling in practice.
Progression and Unlockables: Geo Mythica strikes a fine balance between time investment goals, and their rewards. Talent points earned on level-up can be freely reallocated, encouraging experimentation without penalty. Each area has a completion tracker, and fully clearing one rewards you with various bonuses. Both map completion and rewarding collectibles are mostly obtained/achieved through natural play, minimizing the need to go out of the way for most things.
What I Disliked
Foreign Exchange: As Geo Mythica takes place all over the world, it’s reasonable to assume that language and currency barriers might eventually become an issue—but this isn’t real life, and here, they mostly serve to slow things down unnecessarily. While the global immersion is appreciated, the need to learn new languages and exchange currencies becomes tedious fast—more chore than charm, and rarely adds meaningful depth.
Consider Buying This If…
You love NES-style RPGs, but prefer deeper mechanics and modern polish. Geo Mythica delivers strong combat, thoughtful progression, and a simple, well-paced story. It’s likely a bit short if rushed (under 10 hours), but completionists and high-difficulty players may find it running towards 20+ hours. The default difficulty feels just about right, with a final boss and optional endgame dungeons that demand an understanding of the various facets of combat, resulting in some tough, but fair encounters. The language and currency systems do interrupt the flow at times, but they undeniably reinforce that global scale of the adventure. Overall, Geo Mythica is an easy recommendation.
Overall Opinion: GOOD
Based on a BAD, OK, GOOD, GREAT rating scale.
Played entirely on Steam Deck.
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Fantastic retro RPG. Art style is very reminiscent of Mother. Combat is very Terranigma. A nice little globe trotting adventure. Hope to see more from this dev!

A wonderful game, full of charming characters with the charm and feel of the old nes games but on a much larger scale.

Geo Mythica is an absolute great game that every RPG fan needs to experience!
With its charming NES-style 8-bit pixel art and energetic chiptune soundtrack, it instantly transports you back to the golden era of gaming. But don’t be fooled—this isn’t just retro eye candy. The gameplay is where Geo Mythica truly shines.
Combat is a thrilling mix of real-time action and strategic, menu-driven (for using magic and skills). The talent point system lets you shape your party exactly how you want, adding a layer of depth and customization that’s super satisfying.
I’m about 4 hours in, and I’m completely hooked. The battles are engaging, the story is really fun (set in the 1990s), and the world feels vast and full of adventure.
If you're even remotely into RPGs or action games, do yourself a favor and give this one a shot.
Don’t sleep on Geo Mythica—this is the kind of game you’ll be telling your friends about!