There is something special about how 90s cartoons hit: the animation, the music, and the endless twists. As a kid I would leap out of bed each morning to catch the next episode of my favourite anime. Wander Stars nails that same feeling.
Episodic Storytelling at its Best
Being a narrative adventure, a gripping story is essential, and Wander Stars had me hooked from the start. Each episode begins with a dramatic title and ends on a “to be continued” cliffhanger, leaving me desperate for the next chapter.
The story follows Ringo on her quest to find her brother Nashi. Years after being separated, she trains in the art of Kiai fighting. One day, while running errands for her grandma, Ringo sees a “shooting star” crash on her sleepy island.
Out of it comes Wolfe, a self-centred mercenary chasing glowing fragments of the legendary Wanderstar Map. When he spots Ringo’s scrap of paper, the chase begins. With her grandma’s guidance, Ringo learns Nashi also has a piece, and she sets out with Wolfe to search for him across space and time.
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Words are Your Weapons
The adventure unfolds across branching maps with a roguelike twist. Battles are turn-based but powered by the words you collect. Each word represents an action (kick), an element (fire), or a modifier (huge). By combining them you create flashy anime-style attacks. Think Dragon Ball Z, but with a dictionary as your weapon.
I am not usually a roguelike fan, but I loved collecting new words and seeing what they do. You can also gather “peps” that boost your stats. These often come from showing mercy in battle, where you defeat an enemy honourably and then make peace.
The choice-driven combat kept encounters interesting, whether I went for a knockout or a truce. On top of that, honour points are tallied at the end of each episode, letting you permanently upgrade Ringo’s skills. It gave a real sense of growth that matched the anime vibe. With different paths and outcomes, I felt tempted to replay episodes just to see how else things could unfold.
The Look and Sound of the 90s
The art and music sealed the deal. From grainy retro filters to perfectly spiky hair, it felt like watching 90s anime again. The soundtrack could have been lifted from Saturday morning TV. While it looked sharp on the big screen, I preferred playing in handheld mode on my Nintendo Switch, it felt natural and snappy.
Not everything was smooth however. I ran into several bugs, especially in the second half of the game. Chapter 7 froze three times, and the game crashed after the final boss. Luckily, I never had issues with graphics or sound, overall the presentation stayed strong.
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To Be Continued…
If you miss 90s anime and want a narrative adventure with a roguelike twist, Wander Stars is worth a look. With launch set for September 20 on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam, it is time to grab your headband, cue the theme song, and “Mega, Ice, Kick” your way to victory. Besides, who can resist a space adventure that also happens to feature hot capybaras?
Quest Daily scores Wander Star:
8/10
A review copy of Wander Stars was supplied to Quest Daily for the purpose of this review.
