RPGs Coming This Week, 11/12/23

Spirittea – November 14th (XSX, XB1, Switch, Windows)

I’ve played a bunch of farm and life sim games, and a lot of them share a similar formula and theme. In Spirittea, the premise is that players will manage a bathhouse up in the mountains, serving various spirits. Of course, there are more than just otherworldly beings to encounter; as you immerse yourself in the community, you also get to know and form bonds with the locals and the friendly animals. The game evokes the vibe of Spirited Away, which happens to be one of my favorite films of all time.

by Tin Manuel

Phantom Galaxies (Entering Early Access) – November 15th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

Note: This write-up was originally part of the RPGs Coming This Week article posted on October 29th, 2023. We are reposting it because Phantom Galaxies‘ Early Access launch was moved from November 2nd to November 15th.

Free-to-play online multiplayer sci-fi RPG Phantom Galaxies enters Early Access on PC via Steam this November 2nd. Early on, the game was also mentioned as coming to PS5 and Xbox Series consoles, but for now it appears to be PC only via Steam and Epic Games Store.

In Phantom Galaxies, there will be four classes to select from, depending on your play style, and a wide range of mecha Starfighter customizations. Players can also team up or fight solo while exploring the vast universe. Color me intrigued. I think it’s cool, but it’s important to note that this is a blockchain game, which is an industry I’m not too familiar with.

[Editor’s Note: It’s also notable that according to the game’s Download page, you must have and connect a specific wallet to be able to play. How that may affect the game’s reach and player base will be interesting to see at this point.]

by Tin Manuel

The Last Faith – November 15th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

So the market is pretty saturated when it comes to Souls-like Metroidvanias. From Hollow Knight to Blasphemous, everyone’s trying their hand at making gritty, sprawling, and hard-as-nails action platformers. What makes The Last Faith stand out in comparison? Well, for one, it’s got an excellent look; watch any trailer and marvel at the glorious (often gory) detail and slick animations. It’s close or arguably on the level of Castlevania: Symphony of the Night, in my opinion.

Another potential draw is the wide array of weapons, guns, and magic at your disposal. The trailer I linked above showcases a few, my favorites being the sword that doubles as a flamethrower and the icey dual blades. Couple that with the signature Souls-like challenge and a foreboding atmosphere, and we might have ourselves a winner.

by Gio Castillo

Small Saga – November 16th (Windows)

One of the lead developers behind the charming mystery visual novel Aviary Attorney returns with an RPG called Small Saga. This new one is a turn-based title set in a medieval kingdom of mice below modern-day London. You play as one of those rodents, one who is bent on revenge against the “Yellow God of Death” for stealing your tail.

Judging entirely by the demo footage, I would wager Small Saga to be another great success. The graphics are an amazing take on the faux-3D style of the 16-bit era, while the dialogue is full of character and plain fun to read. Also intriguing is the developer’s promise of a grind-free experience; always welcome in an industry where every RPG has to be 50 hours minimum.

by Gio Castillo

Anode Heart – November 17th (Windows, macOS)

Now that I think about it, I’m surprised we haven’t seen more indie efforts calling back to Digimon World or Monster Rancher. For me and many others who grew up with PlayStations in the late ’90s and early ’00s, monster-tamer games like those were our bread and butter. Anode Heart is the first title in a while to attempt a spin on such titles, and I’m here for it.

Any monster-tamer game worth its salt lives and dies by how deep and varied its pool of catchable critters is. Anode Heart promises more than 140 “mons,” which could bode well. There’s also an abundance of techniques to learn (at least 350) and some side activities like a card battle mini-game. If it’s anything like the card battler in Digimon World 3, I am so in.

by Gio Castillo

Persona 5 Tactica – November 17th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

Tired of the Phantom Thieves yet? Well, like it or not, Persona 5 Tactica is almost here (or already here, if you’re one of the lucky ones who nabbed it when it accidentally went live on Steam a few days ago). As far as Persona spin-offs go, Atlus going the strategy RPG route is fresh. We’ve never seen the company attempt an X-COM-like before, so I say give ’em a chance.

Tactica picks up after the events of the original Persona 5. (Royal continues to be largely ignored, with Kasumi relegated to DLC. Boo.) Joker and company are transported to a weird, French-ish bizarro world where they have to contend with… ersatz Marie Antoinette? The Thieves also team up with a revolutionary named Erina and a politician named Kusakabe. Don’t ask me about Persona 5‘s politics, okay?

by Gio Castillo

Super Mario RPG – November 17th (Switch)

The last RPG coming this week is the much-anticipated remake of Super Mario RPG. Rumors had been swirling before it was announced, with many expecting a simple remaster (myself included). I’m ecstatic that Nintendo has chosen to recreate the game instead, and faithfully! We recently learned that dev studio ArtePiazza (best known for Dragon Quest VII and several remakes of older DQ games) is behind this game. Other than maybe Grezzo, I don’t know if there’s another studio I would’ve trusted with this SNES classic.

by Gio Castillo

Lake – Season’s Greetings – November 15th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Windows)

Return to Providence Oaks for the holidays in Lake – Season’s Greetings DLC. Play as Thomas Weiss, father of Meredith, going around a snow-covered lake town during Christmas and delivering mail. Featuring five new characters, this slice-of-life title is about to get even cozier.

by Tin Manuel