In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we near the end… of the year! I will say, now is a good time to catch up on games you missed if you’re invested in the zeitgeist, especially with the Keighleys just around the corner.
Of course, there are almost always new games coming out, and you can trust this steadfast crew to continue covering as much of that as possible. So without further ado, let’s dive in!
Effulgence RPG (Entering Early Access) – December 2nd (Windows)
Effulgence RPG is a sci-fi party RPG with a unique style: ASCII but 3D! It is a turn-based RPG where the enemies are literally material; every enemy you kill breaks into tiny particles, and you can feed those particles into a matter printer to create your weapons, your gadgets, and all of your gear. The art style, which looks awesome, uses text symbols to form ASCII images. For example, the sea and the waves use repeating text that says “sea-waves-sea-waves,” and they move like real waves!
On December 2nd, you will be able to explore the early access version of the game. It features a compact slice of the full experience that shows the gameplay loop: break enemies into particles and print gear. You will be able to play through several combat and quest locations on the planet where the game takes place, a stylized ASCII 3D globe full of distinct regions. The build includes the combat system, some dialogues, and a few encounters that give you a feel for the world.
If you want to try this solo dev project, which already passed the milestone of 50,000 wishlists, you can play the demo right now on Steam. I did, and I loved it. It looks like nothing I have seen before, except maybe Andrei Fomin’s other ASCII-themed project, ASCIIL.
by Adem Yilmaz
Octopath Traveler 0 – December 4th (PS5, XSX, PS4, Switch 2, Switch, Windows)
Octopath Traveler 0 is a new entry in the Octopath Traveler series. It’s set in the realm of Orsterra — the same world as the first game — unfolding a few years before the events of the original. This time, you can actually create your own character. You are the protagonist, so you choose your appearance, your voice, and even your favorite dish!
At the beginning, you witness the destruction of your hometown by three evil factions. Your goal is to avenge yourself and your people, and also to help your future companions rebuild your town. You can enjoy familiar features such as the series’ beautiful HD-2D graphics, the ability to roleplay with Path Actions, and the Break and Boost combat system that lets you unleash powerful attacks. New features include the option to create your own character and the ability to restore your hometown by physically rebuilding it.
You can recruit more characters than ever before. You can choose from over thirty allies and form a party of up to eight members. You can also explore maritime zones by boarding ships to reach areas that were inaccessible in the first Octopath Traveler! The story is a reimagining of the narrative from the mobile gacha game Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. This new game removes all gacha elements and expands the cast from the mobile title to create an even richer and more engaging story.
A demo is also available on Steam! You can create your own character, play for three hours, and carry over your saved game to the full game.
by Adem Yilmaz
Also Coming This Week
Assassin’s Creed Shadows – December 2nd (Switch 2)
Assassin’s Creed Shadows is coming this week to Nintendo Switch 2 after launching on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC earlier this year. This technical rundown by Nintendo Life tells me it’s going to be a solid port. (Touchscreen controls? Yes please.) The game itself is quite good too.
by Gio Castillo
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