RPGs Coming This Week, 4/6/25

Battlefield Waltz – April 8th (Switch)

Battlefield Waltz is an otome visual novel that originally released in Japan on the PlayStation Vita. Now, thanks to the Nintendo Switch, English-speaking otome fans will find out if the overall experience, with its character-driven fantasy story, gorgeous artwork and fantastic character designs, was worth the wait!

Battlefield Waltz’s tale centers around Lan, a young woman with a protective nature. Calamity and tragedy strike when her peaceful village is attacked, leading her to inadvertently break the seal on a powerful-but-rather-talkative magic sword. Lan, now bonded to the cursed relic, is later recruited into a prestigious military academy. Facing individuals hoping to use the sword for their own nefarious ends and war looming on the horizon, will she ever be able to find a place to belong? Gamers will be able to answer that question when Battlefield Waltz releases this week!

by Audra Bowling

All in Abyss: Judge the Fake – April 9th (PS5, Switch, Windows)

All in Abyss: Judge the Fake is an adventure game with visual novel elements centered around a city of mystery, witches, and Texas Hold’em. You play as Asuha Senahara, a cocky and determined gambler battling her way through a city where the fall of the cards can mean the difference between life and death. This is a place run by a despotic cabal of card shark witches with seemingly more power over the cards than any normal player. To rise to the top and survive, Asuha must dig into the mystery of the witches’ grip on luck, all while playing flawless Texas Hold’em against a colourful cast of card-crazed competitors.

As a regular and passionate poker player myself, I felt compelled to try the demo on Steam. While the heavy-handed anime aesthetic isn’t really my thing, the character palette is bright and enticing, especially compared to the drab slums that form the backdrop early in the game. The poker gameplay is pretty serviceable, with some clever UI design to make the experience of decision-making and play feel action-packed. The main detractor, from my perspective, is the limited experience inherent to the poker games’ head-to-head format. So much of the thrill is usually in the table battles between multiple players, rather than just the head to head that usually happens late in a hand (or at least after the flop).

Regardless, I think All in Abyss will appeal to many. Whether they come for the anime or the poker, they are guaranteed a unique and entertaining experience.

by Claton Stevenson

Blue Prince – April 10th (PS5, XSX, Windows)

From what I’ve been able to garner online, Blue Prince is the kind of game that’ll hook you a few hours in, once you understand exactly what it is. It’s also a surprisingly difficult game to describe, but here goes. This game is about mapping out a mansion absolutely loaded with puzzles and secrets. There’s a randomized element to it with how the player chooses from cards that determine the next room they enter. You also need to manage your movement; exceed a certain number of steps and your run is over.

The premise is that the player character stands to inherit this bizarre place — on the condition that they navigate its entirety and reach a mysterious 46th room. Along the way, the history of the mansion unfolds, which I suspect will lead to a few mind-bending twists and turns.

Interestingly, Blue Prince is inspired by the classic, famously difficult puzzle book Maze, of which the author Christopher Manson is apparently involved with this game too (in an unspecified role). If you’re in the mood to get sucked into a good mystery, I suspect this is the game for you.

by Gio Castillo

Progress Orders – April 10th (Switch, Windows)

Progress Orders is a new game from the mind of Yoshifumi Hashimoto (Story of Seasons, Rune Factory). Players step into the shoes of a young protagonist who has become an assistant guild master. Their job is to recruit, train, and manage a party of adventurers for dungeon raiding. After choosing between the male or female main protagonist, players will immerse themselves in guild life, starting with an initiation ritual that grants them the power of clairvoyance. This ability allows them to perceive the world through the eyes of others, paving the way for numerous adventures and strategic battles.

As players navigate the world of Legion, players will have the opportunity to support a diverse cast of six adventurers — three men and three women — each with their own stories and aspirations. Many gameplay elements from Hashimoto’s other works return here, such as farming elements and romance. Players will “command” turn-based battles and delve into the complexities of character relationships. Whether guiding partners from the sidelines or letting them take the lead, every decision impacts the growth of the guild and the bonds formed within it. Look for Progress Orders on Switch and PC via Steam on April 10th.

by Jimmy Turner

Promise Mascot Agency – April 10th (PS5, XSX, Switch, Windows)

It’s been about five years since Kaizen Game Works burst onto the scene with the vibrant, offbeat murder mystery game Paradise Killer. I adore this studio for many reasons, not least of which are its unabashed love for Grasshopper Manufacture and city pop. With Promise Mascot Agency, Kaizen has somehow moved even further into my wheelhouse, this time cobbling together an adventure/business management game inspired by the likes of Way of the Samurai and Disaster Report. Between this and Showa American Story, 2025 is shaping up to be a banner year for a very specific type of sicko.

Promise Mascot Agency is about an ex-yakuza who lands a job in charge of a group of misfits (I’m not sure these are just people in costumes…). It becomes his role to find work for these mascots while also helping them work out their issues. All the while, he’s trying to fight some personal demons of his own, in a mysterious town with many secrets. Couple this incredible setup with character designs by Ikumi Nakamura and music by Alpha Chrome Yayo and Ryo Koike (Ninja Gaiden), and my expectations are as high as it gets.

by Gio Castillo

Traveler’s Refrain – April 11th (Windows)

In Traveler’s Refrain, players embark on a thrilling journey as they take on the role of Traveler, a determined hero wielding a magical bouzouki. [Editor’s Note: Well if that ain’t the coolest name for a musical instrument.] This action RPG creatively blends dark storytelling with song-casting mechanics, setting the stage for a quest to reunite Traveler with his long-lost love. As players enter a forbidden, dark forest, the enchanting sounds of their bouzouki resonate with the environment, unlocking powerful song-spells that can turn the tide in battle. Players will need to master the art of musical combat, delivering perfectly timed spell-casts alongside elemental melee attacks to perform combos.

Visually, the game has an aesthetic similar to Supergiant’s Hades. The forest is a treacherous battleground rich with secrets and narrative depth. Players’ choices will shape the game’s soundtrack and influence the world around them. With lush artwork, complex puzzles, an engaging narrative, and a soundtrack uniquely shaped by player choice, Traveler’s Refrain sounds like a fun and unique experience. The game launches April 11th on PC via Steam.  

by Jimmy Turner

Lunacid: Tears of the Moon – April 12th (Windows)

To a certain niche within a niche, Lunacid: Tears of the Moon will be the single coolest game coming out this year. Fans of the King’s Field series will love that this new first-person dungeon crawler is so faithful that it actually runs on an engine developed by FromSoftware. Solo developer Kira has used this more than 20-year-old toolkit to produce a follow-up (not quite a sequel?) to the original Lunacid. Best of all, it seems the game will be free to play judging by the Steam tags, so there’s really no excuse to not at least give this a shot.

Steam constitutes most of we have to go on with regards to Tears of the Moon. There isn’t much information out there, aside from this incredible faux manual that perfectly captures the look and feel of this early 3D era of dungeon crawlers.

by Gio Castillo