• Review
The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV
Rhythm Encounter 55 – Relaxing Rhythm Part 2
RPGs Coming This Week, 10/26/20
  • Feature
Retro Encounter Final Thoughts: Phantasy Star IV

The Alchemist Cagliostro is Granblue Fantasy: Versus’ Newest DLC Character

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 27, 2020

The newest character to be added to Granblue Fantasy: Versus’ roster, Cagliostro, is now available for download. The mighty alchemist can be purchased for $6.99 USD, or downloaded as part of the Character Pass 2 DLC bundle for $34.99 USD. Read on for a summary of Cagliostro’s character, and stay tun… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Darkest Dungeon II Announced for Epic Games Store Early Access in 2021

Posted by Tyler Trosper on October 27, 2020

Get ready to gear up and take an early step into the latest Darkest Dungeon. Red Hook Games producer John Lindvay recently announced that Darkest Dungeon II will be heading to Early Access on PC exclusively via the Epic Games Store in 2021. Watch a new teaser trailer for Darkest Dungeon II below: Al… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda Physical Edition Now Available for Nintendo Switch

Posted by Corey Hall on October 27, 2020

The physical release of the musical mashup title Cadence of Hyrule: Crypt of the NecroDancer Featuring The Legend of Zelda is now available! The physical release features the base game and all three additional paid DLC packs included on one cartridge for your adventuring pleasure. Each DLC pack adds… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

The Legend of Heroes: Trails of Cold Steel IV Release Day Stream [POSTPONED]

Posted by Hilary Andreff on October 25, 2020

Update 10/27/20: Due to ongoing issues with digital pre-orders—which NISA is continuing to look into, cancelling their own launch stream—we regret that we have to postpone our own stream until this issue is resolved and we can access the game. We apologize for the change of plans! The Summer of Cold… Read More »
Review

Collar X Malice -Unlimited-

Posted by Audra Bowling on October 25, 2020

In the original Collar X Malice, Ichika Hoshino was a rookie police officer placed in mortal danger when a terrorist organization known as Adonis selected her to wear a poisoned collar during what is referred to as the X-Day Incidents. The X-Day Incidents were a series of horrific events that r… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Final Fantasy XIV’s Annual “Make It Rain” Campaign Begins

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 25, 2020

Come one, come all, to the Manderville Gold Saucer! That’s right, Final Fantasy XIV’s annual Make It Rain campaign has officially begun, allowing players to earn 50% more MGP from the Gold Saucer. The event goes on until November 20th. Previously seasonal items will be available from attendants thro… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Baroque: Original Version Announced for Nintendo Switch in Japan

Posted by Tyler Trosper on October 25, 2020

The dark fantasy dungeon crawler, Baroque, is making its way to Nintendo Switch in Japan! Titled Baroque: Original Version, this version is a port of the original 1998 Sega Saturn title with a few bells and whistles added to improve the experience. Improvements to Baroque: Original Version include q… Read More »
Review

CrossCode

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 24, 2020

In CrossCode, you are Lea, a player of the incredibly popular massive multiplayer game CrossWorlds. She awakens inside the game with amnesia, not knowing how she logged on or how she can log out. With the help of a mysterious hacker who is in constant contact with her, she begins to uncover her own… Read More »
  • Article
  • Retro Encounter
  • Podcast

Retro Encounter 259 – Phantasy Star IV Part II

Posted by Michael Sollosi on October 24, 2020

Phantasy Star IV is the culmination of a four-game saga that puts the 2,000-year struggle of the Algol System into a context, and in today’s Retro Encounter episode we dive deep into its final battle. We spent plenty of time in Phantasy Star IV’s battles and dungeons, but we forget to go into the ad… Read More »
Feature

EverQuest, Depression, and Recovery

Posted by Mark Tjan on October 23, 2020

Flashback Friday is a weekly column that focuses on fond memories in RPGs. Please be advised that spoilers about the series in question may be present and will not necessarily be marked. A fair note: This one deals with some heavy material regarding depression and family. If you’re okay with that, p… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Square Enix Hosting Live Q&A With Kingdom Hearts’ Yoko Shimomura on October 23rd

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 22, 2020

If you’ve ever had a burning question to ask Yoko Shimomura, the legendary composer for Kingdom Hearts, then now’s your chance! Square Enix is hosting a live Q&A with Shimomura-san on October 23rd (tomorrow as of this writing) at 8:00 PM PDT. The Q&A will take place over on the official King… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Nintendo to Localize Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & The Blade of Light For Series’ 30th Anniversary

Posted by Mark Tjan on October 22, 2020

Rejoice Fire Emblem (and Marth) fans! Nintendo announced today that they will be releasing the first official English-language version of the original Fire Emblem, titled Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon & The Blade of Light. Originally released in Japan in 1990, the game will be available on Switch f… Read More »
Feature

Crowdfunding Chronicles: Scarlet Hollow

Posted by Tina Olah on October 21, 2020

Every October, I spend approximately 16 hours trying to decide which spooky games to play; next year, I hope to add Scarlet Hollow to my list. A horror-themed visual novel from comic creator Abby Howard, Scarlet Hollow takes you to a gloomy Appalachian town featuring exquisitely detailed hand-drawn… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Ciel nosurge: Requiem for a Lost Star DX and Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star DX Limited Editions Announced for Japan

Posted by Tyler Trosper on October 21, 2020

Though announced over the summer, Japan will soon have Ciel nosurge: Requiem for a Lost Star DX and Ar nosurge: Ode to an Unborn Star DX in their hands! To prep for the January release, Koei Tecmo and Gust have not only released new screenshots of the enhanced ports but also details on limited editi… Read More »
  • Article
  • Rhythm Encounter
  • Podcast

Rhythm Encounter 54 – Relaxing Rhythm Part 1

Posted by Mike Salbato on October 20, 2020

Chill out with Rhythm Encounter! This is not the first time we’ve presented a chillout or relaxing topic—though the last time was seven years ago (!) in Episode 6: Summer Chill—but if there’s one thing we could all use right about now is some damn fine coffee… er, relaxation, but coffee may also m… Read More »
Review

Best Friend Forever

Posted by Caitlin Argyros on October 20, 2020

There have been many good video game doggos over the years, but relatively few games are devoted to man’s best friend. Similarly, there are a plethora of dating games out there, but most are only about humans. Developer Starcolt aims to address this imbalance with Best Friend Forever, a visual novel… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Enjoy Tales of Crestoria’s 15-Minute Animated Short “The Wake of Sin”

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 20, 2020

Tales of Crestoria, a mobile entry in the long-running Tales of franchise, is, by all accounts, way better than it has any right to be. Bandai Namco, capitalizing on the game’s success, has released an animated short film tying in to the game’s story. Produced by Kamikaze Douga, “The Wake of Sin” ta… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Latest Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity Trailer Unearths Secrets from Hyrule’s Past

Posted by Corey Hall on October 20, 2020

A brand new trailer has arrived for Koei Tecmo and Nintendo’s over-the-top crossover title, Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity! Unlike the previous trailer focusing on the game’s story, the latest trailer focuses on secrets from Hyrule 100 years before Breath of the Wild. Take a look at the Bokoblin-j… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

New The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope Trailer Offers Secrets and Premonitions

Posted by Corey Hall on October 20, 2020

The latest trailer for The Dark Pictures Anthology: Little Hope shows off the game’s intricate decision-based gameplay, along with a look at secret unlockables, like behind-the-scenes footage and artwork. While poring over every hallway to find ways to save friends and teammates, players will want t… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Bloober Team Remembers Rutger Hauer in Interview About Observer

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 20, 2020

Last year, beloved actor Rutger Hauer (known for his iconic performance in Blade Runner, and many more) passed away at the age of 75. One of his last performances as an actor was in Bloober Team’s psychological horror title Observer, which is getting a next-generation re-release titled Observer: Sys… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Disco Elysium Celebrating its First Anniversary with Discounts, New Language Option

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 20, 2020

It’s been a little over a year since the launch of Disco Elysium, the phenomenal detective-themed role-playing game that took the world by storm with its emphasis on player choice and unique skill system. Now, developer ZA/UM is celebrating the occasion with a steep discount on the game! Until Octob… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

RPGs Coming This Week, 10/19/20

Posted by Quinton O'Connor on October 19, 2020

This week, PC-focused RPG fans will need to keep an eye on their wallets. A substantial number of new games are coming to Steam, with a few supporting Mac-based operating systems as well. Whether you’re in the mood for a broody, medieval-inspired experience or you have a real hankering to fell your… Read More »
  • Article
  • News

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy Launches January 26th in North America

Posted by Peter Triezenberg on October 19, 2020

Atelier Ryza 2: Lost Legends & the Secret Fairy will be releasing in North America on January 26th, publisher Koei Tecmo has announced. The 22nd entry in the long-running Atelier series, Atelier Ryza 2 once again follows the alchemist Ryza as she uncovers the secrets of the Royal Capital. The ga… Read More »
Review

Streets of Kamurocho

Posted by Jonathan Logan on October 18, 2020

Usually, when you see a demake, it’s an unofficial game made by fans of the original. Unfortunately, these projects are typically shut down by the developer, with one big exception. SEGA stands apart as remarkably supportive of these fan passion projects, occasionally allowing them to inspire offici… Read More »
Review

Tales of Crestoria

Posted by Alana Hagues on October 18, 2020

…while Bandai Namco is no stranger to the mobile market, Tales of Crestoria feels different to its predecessors. While it’s another crossover game, with multiple characters from various different games, Crestoria has its own unique story which feels like it belongs in a bigger-budget console game.

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In Case You Missed It
Defending Champions: The Best RPGs of Every Year Since Dragon Quest (1987–1999)
Rhythm Encounter 53 – Feel the Burn!
RPGs as Therapy II: How RPGs (Still) Make Us Better
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