In this action-packed edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we get the first in a promising series of Tales remasters, plus a new entry in the preeminent musou series. Also, two standout indie releases that are varying degrees of roguelike! Let’s go ahead and dive in, shall we?
Final Knight (Entering Early Access) – January 12th (Windows)
Final Knight looks to synthesize the best elements of beat ’em ups and roguelikes into quite the appealing package. It’s got frenetic action and classic roguelike progression on lock, but what might be my favorite aspect is the party. You can bring three companions with you, and choosing the right combinations of classes and personalities matters immensely. The game’s also got an offline two-player mode, which is great news if you’ve got a couch co-op buddy.
If you’re interested, it might be worth checking Final Knight out while it’s still in Early Access. There’s a free demo on Steam to help you decide.
by Gio Castillo
Tyrant’s Realm – January 16th (Windows)
Tyrant’s Realm is a new Souls-like with a distinctive PS1-era look to it. With its jagged polygons and low-resolution textures, the game pretty much nails that era’s aesthetic, which I happen to adore.
As far as gameplay goes, expect to traverse procedurally generated dungeons, picking up weapons and loot along the way. No two runs will be the same, and making it through will require skill and a fair bit of luck.
Tyrant’s Realm has a demo on Steam. Grab it if the vibes are right for you.
by Gio Castillo
Dynasty Warriors: Origins – January 17th (PS5, XSX, Windows)
Two weeks into the new year and, with games like Dynasty Warriors: Origins (and the one below), we are two-for-two in highlighting some of our most anticipated games of 2025.
If you’re new to this long-running series, then this could be the best jumping-on point… maybe ever? Resident musou superfan Wes Iliff wrote recently that Dynasty Warriors: Origins amounts to a soft reboot in which “characters from legend take a backseat to a newly created hero who travels throughout the story of Romance of the Three Kingdoms and — what else? — demolishes enemies by the hundreds as a human wrecking ball on a crowded battlefield.”
Dynasty Warriors: Origins aims to separate itself from its predecessors by leaning more into strategy and RPG elements. These have always existed within the series, but they certainly weren’t emphasized or expanded on in meaningful ways, always taking a backseat to the more mindless 1-vs-1000 hack-and-slash gameplay.
This game is definitely one that I have had my eye on among our most anticipated this year. I’ve been assured that I won’t be disappointed with the final product.
If you are a fan of the Warriors gameplay style and don’t mind playing it fast and loose with Chinese history — or you just want to hit up a new action RPG early this year — give Dynasty Warriors: Origins a shot.
by Kyle Cantelon
Tales of Graces f Remastered – January 17th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)
Two weeks into the new year and, with games like Tales of Graces f Remastered (and the one above), we are two-for-two in highlighting some of our most anticipated games of 2025.
One thing is for sure: whether your JRPG preference is more Tales or Trails, fans will be eating good in 2025.
Unlike last week’s headlining remaster, Tales of Graces f is a more contentious title within its series. It’s well-known for its epic battle system (arguably the best in the series), but fans are more divided on its story. This means it typically isn’t recommended as a jumping-on point for those looking to try the series out. Between that and it being buried on the PS3, it’s sort of a minor miracle that it happened to be my introduction to the Tales series.
And you know what? I really enjoyed the game back in 2012! I can vouch for how our reviewer felt back then, and although I’ve only finished it once, I have very fond memories of its engaging battle system, quirky characters, and the colorful world of Ephinea in general.
I acknowledge that perhaps there are other, better, jumping-on points for the series, but I would also encourage anyone not to lose heart if they had been looking forward to this release. After all, 2025 marks the Tales series’ 30th anniversary, and fans can expect that Tales of Graces f Remastered is just the first in a long list of titles getting the remaster treatment.
by Kyle Cantelon
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