On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we run the gamut; from detective mysteries to farming simulators, there is quite literally something for everyone, and we’re excited to deliver them to you. Let’s get on with the show!
One Lonely Outpost (Entering Early Access) – June 26th (Windows)
It’s time to farm… in space! Well, at least on distant and barren planet that is nearly lifeless, except for you and your robot friend, Qwerty. One Lonely Outpost was Kickstarted in 2020, and after a development cycle that seems as rocky as the planet’s surface, launches into Early Access this week. Based on my recent playtime with the title, One Lonely Outpost differentiates itself from its contemporaries with a unique setting and aesthetic, and a focus on life: both in restoring life to the planet, and in keeping your fellow colonists fed and happy. While it’s too early to see if some of the very early ideas like crop gene splicing and ridable mechs are still in the cards, you can see how the game is shaping up come June 26th.
by Mike Salbato
Charade Maniacs – June 27th (Switch)
Charade Maniacs is a futuristic mystery otome visual novel where rumors of a mysterious Other World Stream begin to circulate. Main character Hiyori Sena doesn’t think much of the situation even with the rumor that participation somehow grants a wish. That changes when she’s abducted and actually forced to take part in the stream’s increasingly dangerous dramas alongside nine other people. Can the cast survive long enough to find a way out of the deadly and alien world of Arcadia, even as potential traitors lurk in their midst?
I recently reviewed Charade Maniacs for this very site. This upcoming Nintendo Switch release promises to bring both romance and suspense this week!
by Audra Bowling
Soulvars – June 27th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)
It’s truly amazing what solo developers can pull off. Soulvars, a slick-looking homage to the classic JRPGs of yore, was originally conceived as a passion project by solo dev ginolabo. It blossomed into a fully-fledged game for mobile devices in 2022 and ended up winning multiple accolades. Now, with help from the game division of manga publisher Shueisha, it’s going to be available to a wider audience on all major consoles and PC.
From what I can see, it’s a pretty clean port. The original release was designed for a vertical orientation, and the devs say they took the time to ensure that the experience on your gaming device of choice is a smooth one. Considering I’ve been burned by half-assed mobile ports before, the effort is much appreciated.
It’s worth noting that Soulvars was accidentally available for purchase a few days ago. Shueisha and ginolabo plan to offer a significant launch discount, so if you managed to nab this early, you have the opportunity to ask for a refund and purchase it again when it officially comes out. Get on that!
by Gio Castillo
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life – June 27th (PS5, XSX, Switch, Windows)
Story of Seasons: A Wonderful Life is the long-awaited remake of Harvest Moon: A Wonderful Life for modern platforms. Unlike other games in the series (or most farming sims in general), you play through the entire life of the protagonist from their first days on the farm to their death. There is something immensely satisfying, yet somber, about seeing your digital offspring grow up and flourish as your character grows old. This new remake combines all the elements of the various versions of A Wonderful Life, streamlines some of the mechanics, and overhauled the bachelors by changing up their designs and adding a few new romance options for the female protagonist. Any fan of farming games should keep an eye on this updated classic!
By Ben Love
Noob: The Factionless (Exiting Early Access) – June 29th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)
Alongside Soulvars, there’s another RPG coming this week that professes to be inspired by the classics. Here’s Noob: The Factionless, a turn-based romp from French developers Olydri Games and Blackpixel Studio based on a series of web videos of the same name.
Basically, the game is about a party of four, uh, newbies to an MMORPG that form a guild with the aim of maxing out their levels and getting the best classes possible. Pretty relatable if you ask me.
Noob looks nice! Again, I’m a fan of chibi sprites in games (I miss Nintendo 3DS aesthetics so much), and the game certainly seems to be the complete package (quests, open-world exploration, avatar customization). Look out for this one if you’re itching for a traditional experience.
by Gio Castillo
Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective – June 30th (PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)
Where do I even start with Ghost Trick: Phantom Detective? I remember picking this up around when it came out and finding it dreadfully boring because I was an ignorant high school kid. I picked it up a few years later as a young twenty-something and still didn’t click with it. Randomly, I gave the game one final shot in my mid-twenties and finally turned around on it.
I remember feeling so bad that I couldn’t get into it. I tried to sell my copy (it goes for a sizable sum nowadays), and one prospective buyer straight-up asked me if I was sure about selling it. Thank you, kind-hearted person, for averting a most regrettable decision.
Ghost Trick is arguably Shu Takumi’s (of Ace Attorney fame) finest work. It’s a tight 10-12 hour mystery/puzzle adventure about the spirit of a man who finds himself able to possess objects and manipulate them to cause chain reactions. Like any protagonist worth their salt, he has amnesia and doesn’t know how or why he died, but he’s a good guy, so he uses his powers for good.
This game’s plot goes wild with the twists and turns, and it’s wildly funny to boot. It also features slick electronic music (think the first Phoenix Wright game but heavier on the bass) and distinctive visuals that translate very well to HD. Our own David Silbert wrote a preview for Ghost Trick some weeks back, and you’d do well to check it out if anything I just said piqued your interest.
by Gio Castillo
Master Detective Archives: Rain Code – June 30th (Switch)
When Master Detective Archives: Rain Code was revealed, I wasn’t too sure about it. I’m a huge Danganronpa freak, but I feel that franchise was of its time. (It’s actually miraculous how good V3 ended up being despite coming out years after the first two games.)
Not to mention that World’s End Club didn’t exactly set the world on fire. My appetite for Kazutaka Kodaka games has definitely waned over time.
Well… I might be persuaded to try Rain Code. There hasn’t been any one trailer or promo that warmed me to the game; I just like the idea of navigable 3D environments in the third person. I’ve also heard good things about its narrative, which is the entire point of mystery games. Here’s hoping that Kodaka and his Too Kyo Games crew can make magic happen again.
by Gio Castillo
Also Coming This Week
Athanasy – June 29th (Switch)
Switch players will soon gain access to Athanasy, a visual novel with elements of biopunk, body horror, mutation, and other grotesque concepts. I’m scared and also deeply intrigued. This game is available on Steam, where it’s on sale for pennies as of the time of posting.
by Gio Castillo
Front Mission 1st: Remake – June 30th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Windows)
Front Mission 1st: Remake makes, er…mechs its way onto PlayStation and Xbox consoles, as well as PC this week. The 3D remake of the PS1 classic (which itself was a port of the original Super Famicom title) was previously released for the Switch. Turn-based tactics—with mechs! That should be incentive enough, but for those still unsure, a free demo is available on Steam.
by Jimmy Turner
With that, we finally close out June and enter the second half of the year. I feel like we’ve gained a very clear, very exciting picture of what’s ahead in terms of releases, and I beseech you all to keep visiting RPGFan for even more details as they come! Until next week, readers!
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