I recently started exploring more and more game genres which were previously in my blind spot as a kid. One of these genres I heavily missed out on was RPGs (or Role Playing Games — and JRPGs). This genre spawned straight out of the tabletop RPG scene (from games like Dungeons & Dragons).

I’m currently on a Final Fantasy kick. I played a bit of the original Final Fantasy VII port on Nintendo Switch to prepare for the remake. I beat Final Fantasy VII: Remake (aka Part I), and I’m currently making my way through Final Fantasy XVI. The characters and stories are very different. I plan to tackle Final Fantasy VII: Rebirth (aka Part II) and Dragon Age: The Veilguard at some point. The big one that I’m hoping to make it to one day is Baldur’s Gate III.

I plan to share more about each of these games as I finish each of them. While playing Final Fantasy XVI on PlayStation 5, I also discovered a smaller, charming D&D-inspired game, Worlds of Aria.

What is Worlds of Aria?

Worlds of Aria has quickly become the perfect little RPG when I need a little break from those larger-than-life action RPGs. It is broken up into mini campaigns made up of short acts and even smaller chapters. It’s quite simple to jump in and out of Worlds of Aria.

Just as in any D&D campaign you will come across strange NPCs (non-playable characters) and you must make decisions to help progress the story. After each chapter you get the chance to spend points leveling up your party. Tasks from battle to searching areas are handled by the roll of dice (with modifiers). In Worlds of Aria you want a low roll, while in D&D you are usually going for the high number (a natural 20 with a D20).

I’ve only played Worlds of Aria on my own, controlling all four characters within my campaign. It can also be played co-op (both local and online) with up to four players. I really enjoy taking a little break to complete a quick quest in Worlds of Aria. There are also multiple objectives (some hidden) which leads to replayability.

Babies First RPG

Where Worlds of Aria really excels is as a trainer for those new to the RPG world. Whether you’re gearing up for a tabletop campaign or ready to try out your first digital version, Worlds of Aria can teach new players some of the basics. The game is quite simple to understand.

I myself have been working on creating a new D&D campaign for some newbies (plus, it’s my first time as a Dungeon Master). I’ve been reading through the D&D Dungeon Master’s Guide book as a reference. Playing Worlds of Aria and many of those larger RPGs has also helped me prepare for world-building.

If I were to ever introduce my nephews to the world of tabletop RPGs with a new campaign, I would definitely get them to play Worlds of Aria beforehand. Just to get a basic understanding. After that you can use examples from World of Aria during the tabletop campaign.

Of course, when it comes to a D&D campaign, there are so many options to explore. While games like Worlds of Aria give you a few choices, you can come up with any idea and try it out in a tabletop RPG — leaving your fate to the roll of the dice.

__
*myVGBC.com was given a review code for Worlds of Aria by the publisher.