Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity [JP] (Sony PSP, 2011)

Only in Japan could a “portable sequel to a portable sequel” turn into something this massive. Phantasy Star Portable 2 Infinity from Sega dropped on the PSP in 2011 and basically said, “Yeah, the first game was cute — now let’s double the story, double the loot, and throw in a few new galaxies for good measure.” Unfortunately, this absolute monster of an RPG never made it stateside, which is a crime against handheld gaming.

Infinity takes the already stacked Phantasy Star Portable 2 and upgrades everything — new missions, new races, more weapons, and the debut of the mysterious new character Nagisa. The combat is fast, flashy, and smoother than most console RPGs of its time, and the amount of grindable content here could power a small planet. It’s like someone fed Monster Hunter and Mass Effect into a blender and served it in anime form.

Sure, it’s all in Japanese, but that’s half the fun — nothing says dedication like navigating menus you can’t read just to snag that S-rank photon sword. Import fans swear by this version for its improved balance, deeper customization, and absurd replay value. Even a decade later, this one’s still the holy grail of the PSP’s action-RPG lineup.

So if you’re brave enough to take on untranslated chaos and want the best portable Phantasy Star ever made, buy retro games on Retro Games eXchange and experience the import that put other handheld RPGs to shame.