13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is full of the sorts of complexities and nuances that make you want to double back and analyze the script, lore, and artwork in every scene. There’s so much going on, but it’s handled in a way where you’re typically never given more than you can handle. Rather, it prepares you for its major moments.

A drop dead gorgeous mix of time travel adventure and mech tactics told from 13 perspectives.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is a phenomenal visual novel — and a surprisingly great strategy game. In trying something different, Vanillaware has crafted one of its best games yet. It's got an engrossing story that's absolutely packed with mind-blowing twists and endearing characters, all wrapped up in a gorgeous visual style. Don't sleep on 13 Sentinels — it's one of 2020's finest.

A game of two halves. One of them is an amazingly detailed and well-told sci-fi story, the other a fun, strategic RPG. And as a whole it works perfectly.

Though its battles are bland, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim still stands as possibly the best game Vanillaware’s made, and a must-play for anyone missing the dense, meaty science fiction of mecha fiction’s glory days.

13 Sentinels is a visual novel unlike any released this year and offers a unique experience that is unlike any other game. It's refreshing to play during a time of first-person cinematic open-world shooters, to find a story unraveled in a non-linear way to draw the tension and mystery of it out. There's no one way of summing up this experience, and that's the beauty of it. 13 Sentinels is something players will have to experience for themselves.

13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim is absolutely a high mark for the studio. It is such a refreshingly unique interactive title that I'd urge everyone to give it a shot. Maybe it won't get its hooks in you, but a game so brazenly different like this doesn't come around that often. You'd be crazy to pass it up if anything here sounds remotely interesting to you.