RPGs Coming This Week, 4/13/25

Warside – April 14th (Windows)

Warside unlocks this week on PC via Steam, with console ports releasing this summer. This turn-based tactics game began with a Kickstarter in 2023, meeting its funding goal within 32 hours. It offers an epic single-player campaign of over 30 missions. Players can choose from 14 unique Commanders, each boasting their own distinct skills and powers. Whether commanding infantry or controlling tanks, submarines, and aircraft, you must strategize wisely to outmaneuver your opponents on diverse terrain, from lush forests to barren wastelands. One thing players will notice immediately is the stylistic influence of Advance Wars; like that series, Warside is brought to life through charming pixel art.

Aside from the campaign, there’s also a multiplayer mode that allows players to clash locally or online. With over 30 unit types and a rich array of challenges — including classic battles and covert operations — the game promises to keep players engaged for hours on end. For those who wish to add their personal touch, a built-in mission editor allows for the creation of custom maps, ensuring that the experience remains fresh and exciting. Tactics fans may find a new battleground to assemble their forces and fight for victory with Warside.

by Jimmy Turner

Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree – April 17th (PS5, XSX, Switch, Windows)

Metroidvanias and Souls-likes are a dime a dozen these days. God knows I love them, but these days you can’t scan through new releases (like I do for this column) without running into more than a handful. Not necessarily complaining, but it must be said. Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch Tree, though? It stands out, thanks to sick production values (the visuals are clean as hell) and promising gameplay mechanics (class system, deep skill trees). Not to mention the story was helmed by Brian Mitsoda, of Vampire: the Masquerade — Bloodlines fame.

Apologies in advance to anyone allergic to Zoomer slang, but they cooked with this. At least, I suspect they did. If you’d like to put my assertion to the test, a demo is available now.

by Gio Castillo

Lunar Remastered Collection – April 18th (XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

Who among us believed Lunar would get the remaster treatment? When Lunar Silver Star Story Touch got that random Android port last year, I had zero expectations it would lead anywhere — not even a hypothetical Eternal Blue mobile port. Such is my cynicism, despite far stranger things happening in this industry.

Nevertheless, thanks to some enterprising minds at GungHo and Game Arts, we now find ourselves on the cusp of Lunar Remastered Collection, which bundles together modern ports of the PlayStation games Silver Star Story Complete and sequel Eternal Blue Complete. What’s new? Well, we’re getting fancy-schmancy HD graphics, quality-of-life features and a completely new voiceover. That last one has surely stirred some controversy among purists, but it likely won’t bother newcomers, and I do hope there will be plenty.

OGs know RPGFan sprang from the fansite LunarNET, which makes the release of Lunar Remastered Collection extra significant for us. If you’d like a deeper understanding of the first Lunar game, check out an extensive conversation some of us had about it on Retro Encounter. If you’d like to explore the series’ excellent music, our Rhythm Encounter podcast has you covered.

by Gio Castillo

Lost Records: Bloom & Rage (Tape 2) – April 15th (PS5, XSX, Windows)

DON’T NOD’s adventure game Lost Records: Bloom & Rage is getting its second half this week. Tape 1 has its fair share of issues, yet there are plenty of upsides and the potential is there, according to our review.

by Gio Castillo