• Review

Cassette Boy

One of my favorite things about smaller games is their willingness to embrace off-the-wall mechanics and take quirky concepts as far as they will go. While big and even mid-budget games are so focused on appealing to the largest number of players possible by iterating on proven ideas, small developmโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Review

Steel Century Groove

I love indies because they can do almost anything, any way. Triple-A titles can break from the pack, but most of their qualities are time-tested and safe; after all, there is investorsโ€™ money on the line. Indies come with dreams, vision, and minimal worries about risk. Thatโ€™s how we get titles likeโ€ฆ Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 1/25/26

Hello, fellow RPG fans! This week we have a pair of offbeat indie titles you may want to keep an eye on, plus a decidedly larger title with vampires or something. So whether you’re into open world anime soulslikes, British comedy adventure, or dancing robots, the RPGs coming this week don’t lack inโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Feature

RPGFan Chapters Review: Boss Fight Books ‘Legend of the River King’ by Alexander B. Joy

After hearing about publisher Boss Fight Books from podcasts and reviews (like Alana Haguesโ€™ review of BFB title Final Fantasy VI) over the years, yet somehow never picking up one of their titles, I jumped at the opportunity to review their newest addition to their vast library of documentary-styleโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Feature

Retro Encounter Final Thoughts – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

Aleks Franiczek Itโ€™s been over 6 years since Vanillaware released 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and in that time the game has garnered a reputation as one of the great videogame narrative masterpieces of the modern era. Obviously, I had lofty expectations going in. Cue the first scene: a schoolgirl is erโ€ฆ Read More »
Music Review

Final Fantasy V Original Sound Version

In summer 2000, at the young age of 16, I wrote an embarrassingly terse review of the Final Fantasy V soundtrack. Granted, everything about this entry in the acclaimed series seemed novel at the time, given its lack of official localization until around the same time as Final Fantasy VIII. But thereโ€ฆ Read More »

Max and Chloe Make a Comeback in Life is Strange: Reunion

The PEGI rating leak for the next Life is Strange installment has now been confirmed. During a recent livestream, developer Deck Nine and publisher Square Enix officially revealed Life is Strange: Reunion, marking the long-awaited comeback of fan-favorite characters Max Caulfield and Chloe Price asโ€ฆ Read More »

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Demo Available Now

SEGA and Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio have released a demo for Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties. It is currently available for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC via Steam.ย  Players can sample both halves of the game, playing as Kazama Kiyru in Yakuza Kiwami 3 and Yoshitaka Mine in Darโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Review

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2)

Hey there, sports fans. I have played a sports videogame before; my first was Baseball for the Nintendo Game Boy, a remarkable game for its time because it let you simulate playing baseball outside, you know, where they play baseball and stuff. But this isnโ€™t a review of Baseball on the Nintendo Gamโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Review

TR-49

โ€œBut how can a novel…be fake?โ€ my friend astutely pointed out as I was trying to explain the premise behind inkleโ€™s TR-49. Because the authors never existed? No, there are plenty of instances of pen names and disputed authorship. Because there were no records of these books outside one instance buโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Review

Angeline Era

As a longtime fan of the Ys series, Iโ€™ve often wondered what Ys would look like had it kept the archaic yet charming bump-combat system that defined Ys Books I&II. This bump combat arose when games were more minimal in their presentation and limited in scope; in adapting to the changing times anโ€ฆ Read More »

Sea of Stars Coming to iOS & Android in Early April

Playdigious and developer Sabotage Studios have announced that Sea of Stars will release for iOS and Android devices on April 7th. The port will have revamped controls exclusive to the mobile version of Sea of Stars. Additionally, Playdigious has also confirmed that it will launch with cloud saves,โ€ฆ Read More »

Bel’s Fanfare Brings 3D Exploration, Bullet Hell Battles, & More; Kickstarter Goes Live on Feb 3rd

Developer Chibig has announced their next game in Bel’s Fanfare, an exploratory RPG experience that fuses bullet-hell style combat and shipboard secrets. As part of the announcement, Chibig revealed the short and stylish teaser trailer below. Bel’s Fanfare – Announcement Teaser As seen at the end ofโ€ฆ Read More »

Random Encounter 339 – 2025 Year in Review

In our first Random Encounter of 2026, we’re taking a look back at 2025! While many would describe 2025 as a mixed bag (at best), there is no disputing that it was a banner year for video games. Not only did we finally get two of the most anticipated sequels of all time in Hollow Knight: Silksong anโ€ฆ Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 1/18/26

Hello RPG fans with an eye on the future! We have another week that is small on quantity of releases, but high on quality and content. For many, the Switch 2 (and Xbox) release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is the star this week, as we all look forward to seeing how Cloud’s remade adventureโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Feature

Final Fantasy: Moogle Bounty Mayhem

Final Fantasy: Moogle Bounty Mayhem is yet another iteration of Final Fantasy licensed board games, this one driven by cardplay. In the board game sphere, licensed properties range from all-time greats to harrowingly disappointing. A good intellectual property does not guarantee good board game desiโ€ฆ Read More »

Deltarune Chapter 5 Expected to Release in 2026

Undertale reached its 10-year milestone in 2025, but the gameโ€™s expanded universe continues to thrive.ย Undertaleโ€™s spinoff title, Deltarune, has released four chapters to date, including Chapters 3 & 4 in 2025. The next installment, Deltarune: Chapter 5, is planned for a 2026 release. Creator anโ€ฆ Read More »
Music Review

Final Fantasy IV Original Sound Version

Final Fantasy IV’s OST brings together the game’s 44 tracks across almost an hour of music. This is my first time hearing the soundtrack in full outside of playing the game, and I’ve found it a great listen both from a purely musical perspective and from its ability to trigger reminiscences of my tiโ€ฆ Read More »

Obsidian Moon Brings Detective Work & Danger Together in New Demo

Lost Moon Games has released a demo for Obsidian Moon, its text-based detective adventure, for PC via Steam. The demo is part of the Steam Detective Fest, celebrating a wide array of investigative-themed titles. A new trailer for Obsidian Moon was also released, showcasing its text-based gameplay, sโ€ฆ Read More »

Avowed Coming to PlayStation 5 Alongside Anniversary Update

Avowed is getting a new update and a new platform.  Obsidian Entertainmentโ€™s fantasy action RPG was released for Xbox consoles and PC on February 18th, 2025. One year later, on February 17th, the game will drop on Sonyโ€™s flagship console. At the same time, a free โ€œAnniversary Updateโ€ patch is cโ€ฆ Read More »

Retro Encounter 477 – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Part II

I love you, and that’s why I gotta listen to Retro Encounter. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we chat about the twisty, turny second half of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Do all the plot points land? Who was our favorite character? Is there actually a reason they’re naked in the Sentinels? Lisโ€ฆ Read More »
  • Review

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon

Those valiantly keeping up with The Legend of Heroes: Trails series have long been anticipating the finale of the multi-faceted, interconnected grand saga thatโ€™s arguably Falcomโ€™s magnum opus. As the Republic of Calvard begins preparations to journey into space (the final frontier) for the first timโ€ฆ Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 174 – Music of the Year 2025

Well hello there, and yes, it is time for a super-sized episode of Rhythm Encounter to celebrate many of the excellent RPG soundtracks, arrangements, and more from 2025. That’s right, it’s Music of the Year 2025 time! With four panelists who each brought on three songs, this is certainly our longestโ€ฆ Read More »

Square Enix Reveals Dragon Quest 40th Anniversary Logo

Square Enix has revealed the official logo for the 40th anniversary of the Dragon Quest franchise. The logo itself highlights the cute and iconic Blue Slime, a mainstay monster and mascot since the series’ start in 1986.ย  The announcement came via the series’ official social media, with the added prโ€ฆ Read More »

Atlus Teases Persona 30th Anniversary Updates Through 2026

Atlus has unveiled a Persona 30th anniversary website to celebrate its most popular series and promised updates throughout the year. It showcases original artwork by longtime Atlus artist Shigenori Soejima, fusing all of the previous series protagonists in a stylish tableau. A new teaser trailer forโ€ฆ Read More »
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