REVIEW: ‘Worlds Of Aria’ Is A Whimsical Tabletop Adventure (Switch)

Worlds of Aria on the Nintendo Switch is a breath of fresh air for anyone who loves tabletop RPGs but doesn’t want the hassle of setting up an entire campaign. Developed by Ludogram and published by Ishtar Games, the game embodies a quick D&D one-shot, designed to be easy to pick up and play, whether you’re solo or teaming up with friends. With narration by the always wonderful Laura Bailey and a style that feels like a mix of a puppet show and a storybook, the game offers a lighthearted and engaging experience for couch co-op fans.

At its core, Worlds of Aria captures the essence of tabletop role-playing games: rolling dice, choosing your character’s path, and seeing how your decisions shape the story. But it does so in a streamlined, beginner-friendly way that removes the complexity of traditional RPGs. You pick a character, roll dice for outcomes, and watch the story unfold—all while Bailey narrates every twist and turn.

What sets this game apart is how flexible it is. Don’t like the character you started with? No problem. After each chapter, you can switch to a different one. With 12 unique characters to choose from, each with their own special skill, you’re never locked into playing someone who doesn’t suit your style. For example, the Druid I played could draw animal cards that either boosted or reduced my roll.

Worlds of Aria maintains the feeling of a group adventure.

One card might give me a +50 advantage, while another could impose a -50 penalty, making every use of the ability a gamble. Even the dice rolls themselves are packed with drama. Critical successes and failures come with unique outcomes— good and bad. It’s all about positioning your character smartly, using their skills strategically, and embracing the chaos of the dice.

Where Worlds of Aria truly shines is in its couch co-op mode. While the game supports online and cross-platform play, the local multiplayer is where it feels most at home. Grabbing a friend, diving into the story, and letting the game handle the rest is easy. You only need one other player to enjoy it, as AI characters can fill out your party. The AI is surprisingly competent, making decisions for itself unless you want to step in and take control.

The game also encourages splitting up the party to tackle different objectives, but it smartly brings everyone back together after a few scenes. This ensures it still feels like a group adventure, even when you’re off doing your own thing. And if you’re playing solo, the game works just as well—you can fully control the party or let the AI handle specific tasks while you focus on your character.

This tabletop adventure allows for accessible gameplay.

The game’s story is engaging, lighthearted, and more focused on fun than epic, lore-heavy stakes. Our campaign followed a classic plot of stopping a villain from overthrowing a queen, but the decisions we made along the way added depth and consequence. Characters we encountered early on came back later, with their reactions influenced by how we treated them. It’s a great touch that makes your choices feel meaningful, even if you’re unsure of their impact.

Like any TTRPG, replayability is another big win for Worlds of Aria. Each chapter contains secrets, side quests, and alternate paths, encouraging you to revisit earlier sections to uncover everything. Did you miss a secret quest or fail a critical roll? You can replay the chapter and take another shot. The game’s design rewards experimenting with different characters, strategies, and outcomes.

The art style leans into a whimsical, storybook aesthetic, with NPCs designed like cardboard cutouts and environments that feel like a puppet show brought to life. It’s simple but charming, perfectly suited to the game’s lighthearted tone. The humor is spot-on, with plenty of funny moments throughout the story to keep things entertaining.

The gameplay in Worlds of Aria is also incredibly accessible. You don’t need to be a tabletop expert to dive in—just pick a character, roll the dice, and go. And if you’re the type of player who loves to explore every nook and cranny, the game rewards curiosity. You can click around to find food, items, and even hidden quests, making exploration a key part of the fun.

A delightful blend of tabletop RPG elements and video game convenience.

While the Worlds of Aria runs smoothly on the Switch, there’s one potential hiccup: Joy-Con drift. The high sensitivity of the cursor, likely due to the game’s PC roots, can make navigation tricky if your Joy-Cons aren’t in top shape. This is especially noticeable when selecting actions or items. A Pro Controller solves most of these issues, and button shortcuts help streamline things, but it’s worth noting if your controllers are a bit worn.

The game also allows you to tweak settings like decision timers, which can be helpful if you need more time to strategize or compensate for any control challenges. These little options make the game more accommodating for different playstyles and setups, which is always a plus.

Worlds of Aria is a delightful blend of tabletop RPG elements and video game convenience. It’s light, replayable, and perfect for players who want to experience the thrill of a D&D-style adventure without all the prep work. Whether you’re hosting a game night, playing with a partner, or diving in solo, this game delivers a charming, accessible adventure that’s easy to pick up and hard to put down.

With its whimsical art, fun mechanics, and the ever-lovely voice of Laura Bailey bringing the story to life, Worlds of Aria is a great addition to any Switch owner’s library. Just make sure your Joy-Cons are up to the task—or grab that Pro Controller—and get ready to roll the dice on a new kind of adventure.

Worlds of Aria is available now on Nintendo Switch.