RPGs Coming This Week, 2/16/25

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 1) – February 18th (PS5, XSX, Windows)

Life is Strange fans should feel at home with studio Don’t Nod’s newest release: Lost Records: Bloom & Rage. Set to release on February 18th, the game tells the story of four friends who reconnect decades after their childhood, revealing the secrets and changes that have occurred since. Tape 1, a callout to the VHS era, simply refers to the first part of the game (Tape 2 comes out on April 15th). The game focuses on protagonist Swann, whose camcorder serves as a means of documenting the group’s adventures in the ’90s.

Lost Records aims to explore the good with the bad regarding nostalgia. It also explores the contrast between the past and present, prompting reflections on how easily personal histories can be forgotten in a fast-paced digital world. All the while, there is an underlying tension and mystery surrounding the events the group experienced in 1995.

Lost Records captures the essence of youthful anxiety and the significance of preserving memories while also confronting the challenge of maintaining tangible connections in an increasingly disposable society. Fans of Life of Strange or other narrative, choice-driven games should check out Lost Records.

by Jimmy Turner

Avowed – February 18th (XSX, Windows)

Obsidian returns to the RPG landscape this week, bringing a new concept to a familiar setting. Avowed, is a first-person action RPG — much in the style of Skyrim — set in Eora, the same world of the Pillars of Eternity games. Obsidian has forgone those games’ isometric, tactical CRPG niche, for a game that could have a broader appeal to the mainstream landscape.

Avowed features in-depth character creation, complete with numerous background and ability choices. This should allow characters to move away from a predefined class system to more dynamic, unique builds. The game emphasizes exploration across diverse environments, complemented by a party dynamic that enhances combat and dialogue interactions, all while respecting the lore of Eora.

Obsidian is no stranger to crafting excellent first-person RPGs; look no further than Fallout: New Vegas, or the more recent The Outer Worlds. Avowed may appear like a simple Skyrim clone at first glance, but as with their other games, the studio has a reputation for improving upon established formulas.

by Jimmy Turner

Cabernet – February 20th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

Cabernet, a 2D narrative RPG developed by the independent studio Party for Introverts, will be released across major consoles and PCs this week. Set in late 19th-century Eastern Europe, the game begins with a funeral, which serves as both an introduction to the game’s setting and character creation. Players can shape the backstory of the main character, Liza, based on their choices. 

In a showcase of storytelling and game mechanics, we are introduced to vampire society as Liza emerges from a crypt into a posh party. Through interactions with various characters, players will navigate her journey, impacting her perspective through choices that align with either Humanity or Nihilism. Of note is the simple yet informative user interface providing clear information about character stats and objectives. With its engaging narrative and dynamic decision-making mechanics, Cabernet shows significant potential for the ever-growing narrative RPG genre.

by Jimmy Turner

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog – February 20th (PS5, PS4, Switch, Windows)

Developed by Space Colony Studios, an independent dev team led by Welshman Jonathan Durham, Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog is a visual novel that delivers a meticulous homage to 80s sci-fi anime, as well as the splendid audiovisual aesthetic of PC-98 games. The game was originally developed with a wholly green and black palette but has subsequently been given a full-colour mode to be available at launch. Alongside this visual tribute is an equally fitting FM synth-heavy soundtrack, reminiscent of some of Yuzo Koshiro’s early works for Nihon Falcom.

Stories from Sol: The Gun-Dog follows the crew of a patrol ship, the eponymous Gun-Dog, as they investigate mysterious signals against the backdrop of an uneasy postwar peace. Players specifically take on the role of the ship’s security officer, who must investigate and protect the ship from an unknown enemy whose presence sows fear, distrust, and paranoia amongst the Gun-Dog’s vulnerable crew. Expect mecha battles in the blackness of space, melodramatic interpersonal interactions, and anime tropes galore.

by Claton Stevenson

Tribe Nine – February 20th (Windows, iOS, Android)

Danganronpa sickos, take notice. Tribe Nine is a new free-to-play action RPG from the mind of Kazutaka Kodaka, the man behind that franchise with the sadistic bear that goes “upupupu” (“puhuhuhu” in English). The mascot character this time appears to be a round cat, I think? It’s hard to tell what it is, but it’s very cute. I just hope it’s a little less annoying than Monokuma. …I haven’t watched the anime that released a few years back, but it should be fine to jump in without prior knowledge.

The story revolves around a group of teenagers in a messed-up version of Tokyo where everyone plays high-stakes games of the life-or-death variety. I’m expecting brutality in exactly the way Kodaka likes, preferably with his signature pink blood.

In terms of gameplay, it’s got flashy combat with a focus on your party; your effectiveness will depend on who’s on your team and if they can cover all the bases. From my standpoint, it looks a little reminiscent of Zenless Zone Zero, which might bode well for Tribe Nine. Finally, yes, it’s a mobile game, though it thankfully has a PC version.

by Gio Castillo

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii – February 21st (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Windows)

This is the most “I didn’t know I wanted this” game I’ve ever seen. Starring everyone’s favorite geriatric ex-gangster (he’s 60, give or take a year…), Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii brings us back to Honolulu (yay!) for what looks to be another fun and chaotic romp.

Basically, Goro Majima goes full Adol Christin, losing his memory and washing up on a beach somewhere. One thing leads to another, and he’s suddenly the captain of a pirate ship with a ragtag crew that includes a baby tiger. They sail to a wretched hive of scum and villainy called Madlantis at some point. Samoa Joe is there. You know, just Like a Dragon things.

Like a Dragon Gaiden has spoiled me here, but I’m quietly hoping there’s an emotional core at the center of it all. Majima’s character arc pretty much ended long ago, so I’m wondering where his journey takes him in Pirate Yakuza.

Finally, I do want to briefly touch on combat, which I’ve already sampled through the demo that just came out. It’s fantastic and certainly matches the already top-notch systems of Lost Judgment and Like a Dragon Gaiden. My favorite part has to be blasting fools with my flintlock, as seen in the image above.

by Gio Castillo

Peripeteia (Entering Early Access) – February 21st (Windows)

Just to get it out of the way, the promotional art for this game is absurdly great and varied. It’s clearly inspired a ton of impressive fanart too, which tells me Peripeteia‘s already built up quite the following ahead of its Steam Early Access release. I can totally see why.

Peripeteia is a first- and third-person RPG and stealth game set in a cyberpunk version of post-Soviet Poland. It’ll have five levels available at this early stage, as well as two bonus ones with their own modes. The game takes inspiration from the catalogs of legendary developers Ion Storm and Looking Glass Studios, i.e., games like Deus Ex, System Shock, and Thief. Incredible pedigree, and from what we’ve seen (there’s a demo on Steam right now), Peripeteia may well live up to those lofty heights.

by Gio Castillo

RPG Maker With – February 21st (PS5, PS4)

RPG Maker With — the latest release in the longstanding RPG Maker series — comes to PlayStation consoles on February 21st. The game was originally released on Nintendo Switch in October of last year, and offers aspiring developers a powerful and user-friendly tool to create and share their games. With improved accessibility and features, users can easily craft simple or complex assets catering to a wide range of skill levels.

For the first time in a console version, RPG Maker With allows creators to share their assets and unfinished projects, fostering a community where inspiration flows both ways. If you’ve always been curious about dabbling in the RPG Maker series, With could be the perfect time to jump in.

by Jimmy Turner