• Review

Metaphor: ReFantazio

Back in 2016, following the release of Persona 5, Atlus announced the creation of a new development team, Studio Zero, tasked with developing an entirely original game. Originally announced as Project Re:Fantasy, the game was to take place in a medieval fantasy world, with only a few pieces of conce… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 145 – Nocturnes & Counterpoint: Michiru Yamane

We are at the beginning of “spooky season,” and while this isn’t (yet) our Halloween episode, October is a fine time to shine a spotlight on composer Michiru Yamane, known in our parts for her excellent work on the Castlevania and Suikoden series. That means some games you may expect, but definitely… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 10/6/24

In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, an RPG more than seven years in the making finally arrives, with a cavalcade of top-quality titles in tow! Like I always say, this week’s got something for everyone, and it’s our duty to help you decide what’s worth your dosh. So let’s dive in! Beloved Raptu… Read More »
  • Music Review

Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode Original Soundtrack

Friends: the main To the Moon trilogy may be complete, but the humbly titled side story Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode suggests there is more on the way. I couldn’t be more excited about that. Until that new title arrives, however, I want to take a moment to let readers in on a surprising t… Read More »
  • Review

Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode

Freebird Games, the small team behind the To the Moon trilogy and the recent standalone story Just a To the Moon Series Beach Episode, have always been top-tier storytellers. The balance of light, carefree humor, nuanced understanding of the psychology of human behavior, and impactful emotional dept… Read More »

HYKE: Northern Light(s) Announced

Akatsuki Games and Aniplex have partnered to publish a new 2D top-down pixel action RPG, HYKE: Northern Light(s). Announced as Project HYKE in September of this year, the game’s official title was revealed at the recently concluded Tokyo Game Show. The developers have committed to releasing the titl… Read More »

Kemco Unveils Werewolf VN Depth Loop

While developer Kemco is known for a multitude of RPGs for mobile devices, the company also has several hard-hitting visual novels under their belt, such as Raging Loop. Now, in collaboration with Jiro Ishii (director of 428: Shibuya Scramble) and Jinrou TLPT, their next visual novel epic is Depth L… Read More »

Action MMO ArcheAge Chronicles Coming to PC and Consoles in 2025

XL Games and Kakao Games have announced a highly anticipated follow-up to their action MMORPG ArcheAge. Formally called ArcheAge 2, ArcheAge Chronicles had a nearly two-minute reveal as part of Sony PlayStation’s State of Play event. The original ArcheAge contained much of what you would expect from… Read More »

Cladun X3 to Release in Japan February 27th

Nippon Ichi Software and NIS America recently provided a new trailer and the latest release details for Cladun X3, the latest entry in the Cladun action RPG series, which releases in Japan on February 27th, 2025. Technically, Cladun X3 is the fourth game with Cladun in the title, and although the se… Read More »

Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut Launches for Consoles October 24th

Your date with the princess is set! Just don’t forget to bring a sword. Slay the Princess – The Pristine Cut, an enhanced version of the visual novel that is about exactly what it sounds like, launches for consoles and PC on October 24th. Will you slay the princess? The fate of the world is in your… Read More »

Retro Encounter 437 — Final Fantasy XIV: Endwalker

And amidst deepest despair, Retro Encounter everlasting. In honor of the recent release of Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail, we decided to get a few of our biggest XIV fans together to discuss the previous expansion, Endwalker. As the end of the Hydaelyn/Zodiark arc that dominated the first decade or so… Read More »

Final Fantasy, Mana, and Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Now on Xbox

No preface needed here; the news speaks for itself: Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, the Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, Legend of Mana, and Trials of Mana are now available digitally for purchase and/or pre-order on Xbox Series X/S and PC via the Microsoft Store. Both Mana games are also availab… Read More »
  • Review

Reynatis

FuRyu is known for taking small developers and linking them up with big names in the industry. The Caligula Effect saw Persona 1 and 2’s main writer Tadashi Satomi taking up the narrative reigns with Aquaria, The Alliance Alive had developer Cattle Call working with Suikoden’s director Yoshitaka Mur… Read More »
  • Review

Emio – The Smiling Man: Famicom Detective Club

It’s hard to overstate how bold a choice it was for Nintendo to greenlight a new Famicom Detective Club game 35 years after the franchise’s last entry. Sure, we got pretty remakes of The Missing Heir and The Girl That Stands Behind in 2022, bringing Western audiences these obscure outliers in Ninten… Read More »

Dynasty Warriors: Origins Launches January 17th

Much to the delight of Three Kingdoms fans everywhere, Koei Tecmo Games and Omega Force have announced that Dynasty Warriors: Origins is launching worldwide on January 17th, 2025. The latest entry in the long-running Dynasty Warriors series also got a trailer (below) at the recent State of Play. Now… Read More »

Triangle Strategy Releases for Meta Quest on October 31st

Publisher Square Enix and developer Frima have announced that Triangle Strategy will release in VR on the Meta Quest 3S, Meta Quest 3, Meta Quest Pro, and Meta Quest 2 on October 31st. The turn-based tactical RPG was originally launched two years ago for Nintendo Switch and PC. What an unexpected tu… Read More »
Article

International Podcast Day: Our Favorite 2024 Podcasts

As everyone knows, September 30th is International Podcast Day. Or maybe this is news to you like it was to some of us! In any case, we are proud of our three podcasts here at RPGFan, and strive to make every episode of Retro Encounter, Random Encounter, and Rhythm Encounter into something you enjoy… Read More »

Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian Coming in 2025

At Tokyo Game Show 2024, publisher Koei Tecmo Games and developer Gust have revealed Atelier Resleriana: The Red Alchemist & the White Guardian, a new title set in the same world as Atelier Resleriana: Forgotten Alchemy & the Liberator of Polar Night. Unlike its predecessor, which was a free… Read More »

Urban Myth Dissolution Center to Release February 2025

During the recent Tokyo Game Show 2024, publisher Shueisha Games shared a new trailer (below) and release window for “psycho-detective mystery adventure” Urban Myth Dissolution Center. Developed by Hakababunko, Urban Myth Dissolution Center will be released worldwide in February 2025 for PC via Stea… Read More »
  • Review

Rogue Waters

Yo ho! A pirate’s roguelike for me! All the buckles be swashed and the poop deck be swabbed. It ain’t a real roguelike without some real rogues, and Rogue Waters has got a whole galley of ‘em! But don’t go thinkin’ it be just another landlubber roguelike with a medically unnecessary eyepatch and a f… Read More »

Random Encounter 306 – Compiling the Compilations

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s time to chat about some recent game compilations! Game compilations are not only a fantastic way to re-experience older games, but they also offer excellent value for your money! Even if the games are a little old, you’re still getting multiple games for the… Read More »

Latest Dragon Age: The Veilguard Trailer Showcases Mages, Blighted Dragons

“Toot! TOOT! Next stop, the Hossberg Wetlands!” The hype train for one of EA and BioWare’s biggest games in recent years continues to chug along, as Dragon Age: The Veilguard showcased a brand-new gameplay trailer during PlayStation’s September State of Play. In the trailer, Dragon Age’s newest hero… Read More »

New Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Trailer Shows Off Aesthetics, Adventure

Square Enix and developer Artdink have released a new gameplay trailer for upcoming retro-RPG rebuild Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake. It showcases some of the classic elements fans have to come to expect from the popular JRPG franchise such as vocations, slimes, and a classic heroic tale. Check it ou… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 9/29/24

First-person Western RPGs have their day in this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, while a hotly anticipated Korean MMO finally reaches western shores. It’s a good reminder that we aren’t just a JRPG website, even though we root from a classic Japanese series (that’s recently been resurrected). Anyw… Read More »

Yokō Tarō on “World-Building in an AI-Integrated Society from the Perspective of Japanese Game Creators”: Keynote at the Replaying Japan 2024 Conference

Beware! This article contains spoilers for NieR: Automata. This August, I had the pleasure of attending and presenting at Replaying Japan, an academic conference bringing together Japanese and non-Japanese scholars to share research related to Japanese games and the culture surrounding them. This ye… Read More »
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  • Persona 2: Innocent Sin (Summer Megami Tensei Marathon)
    Wednesday, October 9
    5:30 pm PT

  • Persona 2: Innocent Sin (Summer Megami Tensei Marathon)
    Thursday, October 10
    4:30 pm PT

  • Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis (Summer Megami Tensei Marathon)
    Friday, October 11
    1:00 pm PT

  • Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis (Summer Megami Tensei Marathon)
    Saturday, October 12
    1:00 pm PT


Please see our channel for a full schedule!

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