For fans of the classic dungeon-crawling genre, Etrian Odyssey Nexus serves as both a grand celebration and a nostalgic farewell. As the final entry in the series to release on the Nintendo 3DS, this title acts as a massive franchise homage, pulling together beloved elements from across the series' history into one expansive package. Whether you are a veteran of the labyrinth or a newcomer looking for a deep, strategic RPG, Nexus offers a wealth of content designed to test your mapping skills and party management.

A Journey Through the Lemuria Archipelago

The story of Etrian Odyssey Nexus takes players to the Lost Islands of Lemuria, a previously isolated archipelago that players explore on behalf of Princess Persephone. The adventure begins in the airship city of Maginia, a bustling hub that provides all the essential services needed for a successful expedition. Players can visit the inn to rest and save progress, utilize shops to upgrade equipment, accept side quests at the bar, and manage their growing guild at the local government office.

While the game is heavily steeped in nostalgia—featuring NPCs from previous titles like Armoroad and dungeons reminiscent of earlier entries—it also introduces brand-new locations. The gameplay loop remains centered on the core mechanics of exploration, leveling, and crafting, as players delve into a massive variety of multi-floored labyrinths to uncover the secrets of Lemuria.

Deep Customization and Combat Mechanics

At its heart, Etrian Odyssey Nexus is defined by its incredible depth of character customization and strategic combat. Players are tasked with creating an adventure guild that can house up to one hundred player-created members. With a staggering 19 different classes available, the possibilities for party composition are nearly endless. This includes 18 returning favorites from previous games and one powerful new addition: the Hero class. The Hero is a versatile front-liner capable of dealing massive damage, utilizing area-of-effect abilities, and even providing much-needed healing.

Key gameplay features include:

  • Expanded Party Building: While you can only take five members into a dungeon at once, an early-game experience-share item allows you to maintain a backup roster, making it easy to swap specialists in and out.
    • Class Mastery: Characters eventually gain access to a second class’s skill tree, effectively doubling their available abilities and allowing for highly specialized builds.
  • Custom Character Creation: Players can personalize their adventurers with various portrait options, as well as adjustable eye, skin, and hair colors.
  • Adjustable Difficulty: To ensure the game is accessible to newcomers while remaining challenging for veterans, developers included four distinct difficulty modes.
  • Unprecedented Content Volume: Nexus features more than a dozen unique multi-floored labyrinths and significantly more post-game content than any previous entry in the series.

Who Is This Game For?

Etrian Odyssey Nexus is a must-play for fans of the "classic" RPG experience, specifically those who enjoy the methodical, high-stakes nature of dungeon crawlers like Wizardry. If you find satisfaction in the loop of mapping out unknown corridors, managing resources, and crafting legendary gear from boss drops, this title will provide dozens of hours of engagement. While the heavy use of recycled monsters and dungeons from previous entries may be noted by long-time fans, the sheer breadth of new and old content makes it a definitive collection for any Nintendo 3DS owner.