Manafinder from Ratalaika Games and Wolfsden LLC is a traditional JRPG built around exile, survival, and steady progression. It introduces a harsh world beyond the safety of a magical barrier, but its familiar structure quickly sets the tone for what to expect. Check it out in our Manafinder review!
Manafinder is a RPG with rich exploration, nostalgic turn-based combat, and original pixel art.
In a vast and untapped world, powerful wild beasts roam the dangerous lands. A community of survivors known as the exiles depends on heroes like Lambda to obtain the power of manastones to keep their civilization safe.
Story & Premise
The adventure begins with your character being brought before a king for what is described as a “trial”, though it quickly becomes clear that the outcome is already decided. After a one-sided judgment, you are exiled from the kingdom and cast into the unknown. Outside the mana shield, the world is hostile, and as time passes, fewer and fewer exiles survive, reinforcing the sense that survival is far from guaranteed. While the premise is intriguing at first, the narrative remains fairly simple throughout. It provides enough context to push the journey forward, but rarely evolves into something more memorable.
Combat & Progression
Combat follows a straightforward turn-based formula, with enemies visible directly in front of you. Early encounters are limited to basic actions like attacking and defending, but after about an hour, additional layers such as magic and stronger abilities are introduced.
Character progression is handled at camping sites, where you present points to various entities that grant different types of upgrades. This system allows for some flexibility in how you build your character, which is a welcome touch. However, over time, the progression loop starts to feel repetitive, as the upgrades lack the impact needed to keep things consistently engaging. Visually, combat does its job without impressing. Animations are average, and some enemy designs come across as slightly awkward, which takes away from the overall presentation.
Exploration & Level Design
Exploration is one of the game’s more consistent strengths. Areas are generally easy to navigate, with clear paths forward and occasional branching routes that reward curiosity with treasure chests or useful resources. Healing is tied to a limited number of herbs you can carry, which can be replenished by finding plants in the environment. This creates a light resource management layer that encourages players to explore rather than rush through areas. That said, enemy behavior can be a source of frustration. Since enemies are visible and move quickly, avoiding encounters is not always practical, especially when you simply want to move from one objective to another.
Presentation
Manafinder adopts a 2D art style that is simple but effective. The visuals are pleasant to look at, and the variety in environments helps keep the journey visually fresh. That said, despite being visually coherent, it doesn’t particularly stand out. The overall presentation feels generic.
Trophies
This game features a full trophy list with a Platinum trophy. The list includes 2 Bronze trophies, 7 Silver trophies, and 9 Gold trophies. This list requires a full playthrough, including completing all chapters, finishing sidequests, and collecting every weapon. With an estimated completion time of around 10 to 12 hours, it demands more commitment than the typical quick completion often associated with Ratalaika Games releases.
Conclusion
Manafinder is a competent and enjoyable JRPG that understands the fundamentals of the genre. Its exploration loop and flexible progression system provide a solid foundation, and the overall experience remains consistently balanced from start to finish.
However, repetition sets in over time, and more importantly, the game struggles to establish its own identity. It checks many of the right boxes but rarely goes beyond them, resulting in an experience that feels overly familiar. In the end, Manafinder is good at what it does, but it’s also a reminder that being solid isn’t always enough to stand out. The game is available as a Cross-Buy title, so your $11.99 purchase will allow you to download both the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 versions of the game at no extra cost.
Disclaimer
This Manafinder review is based on a PlayStation 5 copy provided by Ratalaika Games.
