nanoRPG

nanoRPG is pretty much exactly what you'd expect from a game with a name like that. It's a thin slice of role-playing that doesn't offer much more than a few minutes of fun at a time.

Its battles are simple tappy affairs, its world map is little more than a dotted line scattered with encounters and shops, and it unfolds in chunks that are unlikely to fill a bus journey.

At the same time it's utterly delightful, and endearing in a way that po-faced dungeon-crawlers which stuff high-fantasy bibble down your throat could never hope to be.

There might not be much variety here, but there are no cut-scenes or hefty menus to get in the way. It's just you and your potions against the adorable goblin horde.

You play a little knight who's out to smack dragons, stab up bubbly balls of goo, and explore the dead straight world he's been dropped into.

Each level of the game is split into seven chunks. More often than not these little ports of call on the map are scraps against some of the beasts of this tiny fantasy world.

There are goblins and ghouls of various strengths to whomp, and the final castle always contains some dread beast with a number of hit points and a deadly attack strength.

The fights are all about chipping away at your foes. You've got an attack stat that tells you how much damage each swing of your sword will do, a health bar that shows you how long you've got left to live, and a shield that soaks up some of your opponent's assault.

You can swig potions to refill your health bar. When you've killed enough enemies you'll level up and get some more strength and a better shield.

Slain foes also drop cash, and you can use that to top up your potions or splurge on a bar-filling full heal.

Once you've died you start all over again, and any progress you've made with your character is tossed aside. It's basically a toy shop roguelike with a cheeky grin and a gorgeous art style.

There's not much depth, but there's a warmth to proceedings that makes nanoRPG difficult to dislike.

It's a fun diversion with a couple of reasonably fresh ideas that acts as a quick-scratch for any RPG itch. Just don't expect to find anything here beyond that.