Indie RPG hit, Sea of Stars, has surpassed over four million players since its launch on August 28, 2023. This impressive player count is partly attributable to the game’s availability on Xbox Game Pass, PC Game Pass, and PlayStation Plus Extra and Premium memberships. Still, it’s a milestone worth celebrating, especially if it gets more players interested in RPGs inspired by classics from the 1990s. In my review, I mentioned “Sea of Stars offers a contemporary twist on a classic formula, potentially convincing gamers to explore the games that inspired it.”
Available on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Switch, and PC, Sea of Stars comes from Sabotage Studio, the same developers behind The Messenger. It’s heavily inspired by classic RPGs such as Super Mario RPG (review) and Chrono Trigger with active turn-based combat and a focus on traversal. Currently, the team is working on the game’s DLC, titled Throes of the Watchmaker.
Sea of Stars has done well this award season, taking home Best Indie Game at The Game Awards, Best Indie Game at the Golden Joysticks, and recognition by the British Academy Film and Television Awards (BAFTA) as one of the best games from 2023. I recently included it on my list of favorite games to play on the Steam Deck.