After finishing a story-rich RPG, there’s always that awkward pause: what do you play next? If you’ve just wrapped up Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 and are craving another deep, tactical experience, you’re in luck. The game’s creative director has a recommendation that might fly under the radar—but it’s one that fans of turn-based combat, visual novel storytelling, and JRPG flair won’t want to miss.
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A Fresh Pick From the Director Himself
Guillaume Broche, the creative mind behind Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, took to social media to share his current favorite: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy. Released just days after Clair Obscur, this genre-blending RPG comes from the Tokyo-based team at Too Kyo Games—a studio already well-known among visual novel enthusiasts.
Broche describes it as “another excellent turn-based RPG, made with love by a wonderful team.” That’s high praise coming from someone whose own game is being hailed as one of the year’s breakout titles. And honestly, after playing through the intense, beautifully illustrated world of Expedition 33, it’s hard to argue with a recommendation from the person who made it.
A Game That Mixes Genres and Surprises
The Hundred Line isn’t your typical RPG. Directed by Kazutaka Kodaka—best known for Danganronpa—and Kotaro Uchikoshi, the mastermind behind Zero Escape, the game mashes together several storytelling and gameplay styles. It blends tactical RPG battles, exploration, and strong narrative progression in a format that sometimes feels more like a dark anime than a video game.
Think of it as a hybrid between Persona and Fire Emblem, with a pinch of that edgy suspense Kodaka and Uchikoshi are famous for. There’s a calendar system, relationship mechanics, and life-or-death decisions, all set in a high-stakes school setting where students must defend the world over 100 days. It’s stylish, a little chaotic, and packed with emotional weight.
From France to Japan, RPG Innovation Thrives
What’s interesting about Broche’s endorsement is how it highlights a trend: RPG developers from different corners of the world are pushing the genre into new territory. While Clair Obscur brought a French artistic vision to the classic JRPG formula, The Hundred Line retools the school-simulation genre into something more psychological and unpredictable.
If you’ve ever felt like RPGs are all starting to feel the same, these two recent releases prove the genre still has a lot of surprises in store.
Available Now on Steam and Switch
The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy launched on April 23 and is available on PC via Steam and Nintendo Switch. It might not have the blockbuster spotlight just yet, but for anyone hungry for a smart, stylish, and slightly twisted RPG adventure, it’s well worth your time.
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Sometimes, the best recommendations don’t come from ads or trending charts—they come from the creators who live and breathe games. So if Guillaume Broche says this one’s special, it’s probably worth adding to your playlist.