Various Daylife Adds Fantasy JRPG Genre to Apple Arcade

For Square Enix fans, Various Daylife will have a familiar ring to it. Made by the same team as Bravely Default and Octopath Traveler, Various Daylife for the Apple Arcade pays homage to charming, classic JRPGs while also innovating on game mechanics for a fresh experience.

Players take on the role of colonist of the newly discovered continent of Antoecia. Combat is a staple of the genre, but unlike previous entries, Various Daylife expands on life sim elements found in titles such as Harvest Moon, Animal Crossing and Stardew Valley. Like in other games, there is a diverse Job system with fun costumes-- although by the looks of it, roles have functions both in and out of combat. The 20 jobs includes traditional roles like Warriors and Priests, but also unusual ones like Politicians and Chefs. 

That's not to say the combat isn't well-designed either, as the team has taken measures to innovate on the standard JRPG combat mechanics.

Players can leverage the “three CHAs” to inflict large damage upon enemies: “CHANGE,” or inflicting status effects; “CHAIN,” or working with allies to link status effects; and “CHANCE,” to deliver a final, devastating blow.

Customizability is also emphasized, with the job system providing hundreds of unique abilities. Of course, this was absolutely broken in Bravely Default (Phoenix Flight + Minus Strike, anyone?), but it also made for open-ended combat that rewarded creative players. 

Launch Trailer

Currently, Various Daylife is an exclusive title for Apple Arcade. Luckily the subscription does have a free trial period, so iOS users can give it a shot or free!