Final Fantasy Meets Minecraft In Massive New Open-World RPG

If you throw a figurative dart on Steam, odds are it’ll land on a really cool indie. There are thousands of games coming out every week on Steam, but many of the ones that stand out are unique titles debuting on the platform, free from the hustle and bustle of multi-platform AAA.

Sometimes, you might see mashups between genres or games that aim to elevate the choices of several projects. It’s very common to find a new take on Stardew Valley, for example, as the “cozy” genre continues to thrive, even hosting its own conferences and livestreams at this point.

But over on Steam now, you can find a mix of Minecraft and Final Fantasy, in an incredibly ambitious game that promises a “seamless open world,” with no loading screens or invisible walls. It’s a high bar to clear, but it looks pretty great so far.

Revealed by way of Steam, Crystal Project 2 is set to arrive in the future. It’s an ambitious RPG that blends together multiple concepts, with a focus on exploration.

Here’s the full breakdown from developer Andrew Willman: “Explore a seamless open world and search for keys to unlock your dream, making the land of Sycamore become as promised. Find new classes, learn new abilities, collect powerful equipment, and use your newfound strength and mind to overcome the world’s toughest challenges. Unlock new methods of travel to discover the farthest, untouched reaches of the land. …Or become one of the few that dares to uncover the world’s greatest mysteries. Just make sure not to catch the attention of those that want to keep those secrets buried.”

It doesn’t currently have a release date or window, but we do know that the original game has “very positive” reviews. It dropped in 2022, to rave reviews like this one: “Just an absolute gem of a game. Combat is fun and engaging. It’s the ultimate love letter to what makes the charm of the classic turn-based RPG from the likes of Final Fantasy so engaging.”

While the jury is still out on Crystal Project 2, the series is in a good spot already with the original game. If you’re curious, it’s on sale for $9.09 until June 4.

It’s great to see developers build up franchises within Steam and see the communities that grow around them. Something like Crystal Project is bound to catch some eyes just based on the premise and art style alone.

The variety that Steam offers is unparalleled at times. I can’t wait to see how Crystal Project 2​​​​​​​ turns out compared to the original.

Brand

Valve

Original Release Date

September 12, 2003