RPGs Coming This Week, 9/17/23

The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails – September 19th (PS4, Switch, Windows)

Trails fans, here’s something completely different. It’s probably safe to consider The Legend of Nayuta: Boundless Trails the series’ biggest outlier, and I expect it to serve as a refreshing interlude between the arc-concluding Trails into Reverie and Kuro no Kiseki, which marks the start of the saga’s latter half.

Well, maybe fresh isn’t wholly applicable here. Nayuta is actually a port of a 2012 PlayStation Portable action RPG, and there’s been a fan translation for years, so many Trails diehards are likely familiar with it. Then again, when has that ever not been the case for a Trails game?

Our own Kiyan Mullen wrote up a comprehensive impressions piece for the game a few weeks back. It’s much more detailed than anything I could possibly deliver, and I think it’s a must-read. Definitely give it a peek if more information on combat and overall gameplay is what you seek.

by Gio Castillo

Lies of P – September 19th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

The story of Pinocchio has always been a bit creepy if you ask me. I mean, come on, it’s literally the story of a puppet (creepy enough) magically coming to life. The classic Disney adaptation is no exception, often cited as nightmare fuel for many when they were younger (the Pleasure Island portion in particular). Despite my opinion of the Carlo Collodi classic, I did not predict the tale being reimagined as a Soulsborne-style action RPG. Yet that’s exactly what players will have the opportunity to experience when Lies of P releases on September 19th.

Korean developer Neowiz Games obviously aims to create a much darker and more brutal adaptation of the well-known children’s story. Lies of P follows the familiar formula of other Souls-like games, looking particularly akin to Bloodborne. Veterans of the genre will feel at home with the challenging melee combat and grim, blood-soaked aesthetic. Additionally, the game gives players the choice to lie or tell the truth in certain instances. These choices could lead to rewards or consequences and ultimately impact the story’s ending.

Players looking for the next worthy Soulsborne to sink their teeth into should give Lies of P a look. The game is coming this week on PC, PlayStation, and Xbox consoles, including day one on Xbox Game Pass.

by Jimmy Turner

Mon-Yu – September 21st (PS5, Switch, Windows)

Fans of first-person dungeon crawlers by the dev studio Experience, there’s a new one coming this week: Mon-Yu. Ahem, sorry, it’s Mon-Yu: Defeat Monsters And Gain Strong Weapons And Armor. You May Be Defeated, But Don’t Give Up. Become Stronger. I Believe There Will Be A Day When The Heroes Defeat The Devil King.

I suspect they asked Sufjan Stevens to think up a title for this one. To Experience’s credit though, Mon-Yu really is about defeating monsters and gaining strong weapons and armor to defeat the Devil King(s), so props for accuracy?

If you’ve played the likes of Demon Gaze or Undernauts: Labyrinth of Yomi, you know what to expect: intricate party customization, a heavy focus on exploration, and strong aesthetics.

by Gio Castillo

Moonstone Island – September 21st (Windows, macOS, Linux)

In the sea of “cozy” games being released left and right, one game from Studio Supersoft and Raw Fury could offer more than just a relaxing experience. Moonstone Island isn’t just any other life sim. It surely stands out for having vibrant pixel art similar to EarthBound, card-based combat, monster collecting (they’re called spirits in the game), island exploration, a farming and crafting system, relationship building, and even testing your potion-brewing skills with alchemy training. It’s crazy to think Moonstone Island has all of these elements in one game yet manages to make it work.

Moonstone Island boasts 100 islands to explore and 60 spirits to tame and train. Personally, I’m looking forward to getting my hands on this. I think this is one of those games where I’d be willing to throw in hundreds of hours of gameplay.

by Tin Manuel