Gacha game ditches anime for wooden puppets but still shows gacha pitfalls

Sea of Remnants surprised me with moments like a gorilla inexplicably piloting a boat and a cast made entirely of wooden puppets. It doesn’t look or feel like the usual anime-styled gacha fare, and during the opening hours it gives no hint that it’s a game built around grinding and gambling for characters.

I almost wished it could have stayed that way. The turn-based action itself isn’t especially groundbreaking: you attack, defend, and try to match skills to enemy weaknesses. Still, the battles are dazzling from the start. Ultimates coat the screen in bright red as a character unsheathes a sword, simple buffs can make someone combust into a rage and let out a tiny battle cry, partners toss bouncing bombs, and a bright smear of pink marks a surprise bonus turn.

Exploration and presentation are where the game truly stands out.

sea-of-remnants, gacha game, wooden puppets, anime, turn-based, grinding, gambling, ultimates, exploration, characters