In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we close out January with a first-rate slate of long-awaited sequels and strong new titles. It feels like I say this every time, but we are so utterly spoiled for choice, and I love it. Nothing lasts forever, of course, but I hope our RPG renaissance endures for years to come. So without further ado, let’s get on with the show!
Tails of Iron II: Whiskers of Winter – January 28th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows, macOS, Linux)
Tails of Iron II: Whiskers of Winter marks the return of the gritty sidescroller action RPG series featuring rodents that are tough as nails. In this sequel, the rats turn their attention from the first game’s formidable frog hordes to an arguably more dangerous threat: bloodsucking bats. It’s easy to sympathize with our protagonists when the antagonists continue to take the form of my least favorite living things. Can the third game feature cockroaches? You know, so I can take extra delight in destroying them.
Much like the first game, Tails of Iron II is a Souls-like, so there’s a ton of moveset variety based on your weapon choices, not to mention the central importance of dodging and parrying.
Also, let us rejoice because Doug Cockle, the legendary voice behind Geralt from The Witcher series, is reprising his role as narrator. The latest trailer is a good showcase for his unmistakable vocal talents.
by Gio Castillo
Coridden – January 29th (Windows)
Coridden is for fans of isometric co-op RPGs à la Baldur’s Gate. It’s very much inspired by the classics, though it adds a cool new wrinkle in the form of metamorphosis. You can transform into all manner of beast (that you’ve defeated) to transport your companions. Doing so lets you and your allies pull off some neat tricks in battle; the example from our hands-on preview is that archers get to be more agile by hopping on their Shifter friends. There are ten monster forms overall, and each has its own skill trees to max out.
While co-op is indeed a key part of the experience, I have to point out that a single-player experience is available, and I see it being a fun experience in its own right. Needless to say, CRPG and action RPG enthusiasts will have a lot to sink their teeth into with Coridden, coming this week to PC via Steam and GOG.
by Gio Castillo
KAMiBAKO: Mythology of Cube – January 30th (PS5, PS4, Switch, Windows)
I can’t help but get pumped about KAMiBAKO: Mythology of Cube, a nearly unclassifiable game coming this week that’s just bursting at the seams with ideas. It’s simultaneously an RPG, puzzle game, and city builder, and somehow it unites all of these elements into something intelligible and uniquely appealing, at least for my taste.
Funnily enough, the topmost layer of KAMiBAKO is map exploration. The player character — called the Restorer — will gradually reveal parts of the overworld as they explore, leading to combat encounters where the objective is to allocate mana to your party members. Instead of engaging directly, Restorers only need to make sure their companions have the juice to fend foes off for them.
The puzzle gameplay emerges when the Restorer comes across so-called fragmented land. By solving colored panel puzzles (that I don’t quite grasp from the previews alone), players can undo the destruction wrought by a calamitous event. Meanwhile, land that isn’t fragmented can be developed into settlements. This is the exciting part for me — purposefully plopping down farms, markets, and enclosures will never not be my jam.
For more on this delightful genre-bender of a game, I direct you to visit its PS Store and Steam pages, where a demo is presently available. KAMiBAKO is also launching on Switch, but there isn’t a demo on the eShop as of now.
by Gio Castillo
Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero – January 30th (PS5, PS4, Switch)
NIS has established itself as one of the premier developers of tactical JRPGs going back to the PS2 era. The Disgaea series is the most notable example, with seven mainline entries to date and a plethora of spinoff titles.
One lesser-known title from the PS2 NIS library is Phantom Brave, fans of which have gone over two decades without a direct sequel. But that all changes with Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero, coming this week on January 30th.
Like its predecessor, players will take on the role of Marona, a young girl who can interact with phantoms and use a variety of spiritual abilities. Like tactics cousin Disgaea, Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero can be quite punishing and hosts a wealth of systems to dive into that will satisfy fans of hardcore tactics. On the other hand, the developers have included various difficulty settings to make the game more approachable to those looking to experience the story. The cel-shaded art style gives the game a vibrant look, and it feels less dark in tone than Disgaea.
Players looking for the next tactical RPG to sink hours into may not have to look further when Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero releases January 30th on Switch and PlayStation consoles. Take a look at our brand-new review to learn more!
by Jimmy Turner
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector – January 31st (PS5, XSX, Switch, Windows)
Citizen Sleeper 2: Starward Vector is a stylish dice-based tabletop RPG simulator set in a dystopian, transhumanist world. As a follow-up to Citizen Sleeper, one of 2022’s most well-received indie games, Citizen Sleeper 2 doesn’t seem to reinvent the wheel but rather aims for refinement.
Playing as a Sleeper, a human consciousness implanted in an artificial body, you will travel the Starward Belt by ship, forging alliances, making enemies, and fulfilling contacts, all in the hopes of survival, and perhaps, freedom. Encounters and tasks no matter how mundane and perilous will be resolved by dice rolls, smart use of which is key to success in this deceptively complex game of sci-fi survival.
This series comes from solo developer Jump Over the Age (Gareth Damian Martin), with support from the excellent comic-style character designs of Guillaume Singelin and the otherworldly ambiance of compositions by Amos Roddy. Martin has expressed that this will be the last game in this series, though a physical Citizen Sleeper TTRPG is in early development.
by Claton Stevenson
Genso Manège – January 31st (Switch, Windows)
Genso Manège is an otome visual novel set in a colorful, more fantastical take on France that places you in the shoes of a young witch named Emma. After a traumatic experience, Emma loses her magical abilities. Unfortunately, those very same abilities could save people currently trapped in a traveling amusement park. Can Emma reclaim her magic by coming to terms with past trauma, and what other mysteries await?
Genso Manège features eye-catching pastel visuals, yet the art belies darker secrets and events. I’m always up for an entertaining otome title, and this one’s imagery and narrative description has definitely piqued my interest! I’m looking forward to finding out how Emma’s magical adventure plays out with Genso Manège coming this week!
by Audra Bowling
Also Coming This Week
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals – January 30th (Switch)
Wizardry: The Five Ordeals is coming this week to Switch on January 30th. This enhanced version of the original game (a Japan-exclusive PC game from 2006) brings a more modern style to the classic hardcore dungeon crawler. To clarify, this entry is part of the Wizardry Gaiden subseries and not related to the five mainline Wizardry games. The Steam release has garnered very positive reviews since emerging from Early Access in 2023, and now Switch owners can experience the challenge on home console.
If you’re looking for an intense challenge, Wizardry might be just the game to scratch that itch. It requires players to take every action cautiously, lest members of your adventuring party fall to any of the various traps or enemies waiting behind every turn. Fans of more recent games like Darkest Dungeon will quickly see commonalities in The Five Ordeals.
by Jimmy Turner
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