While our earlier coverage of yesterday’s Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase covered Square Enix’s several appearances—specifically Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, and Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse—there was far more to see! So let’s do a quick rundown of everything else that was featured.
Well, everything else that we cover here at RPGFan. Some of us are pretty stoked and surprised at that cool new Super Bomberman Collection, it’s hard to justify that as an RPG.
Kyoto Xanadu
Long teased and finally revealed, Falcom’s next Xanadu title (not to be confused with2005’s Xanadu Next) is Kyoto Xanadu, set in an alternate reality where Kyoto is Japan’s capital city. During the Direct, we saw footage of the 2D and 3D gameplay and stylish visuals that… well, why am I describing them when we can just look together?
There wasn’t a ton of details during the show, but we do have this official description from Falcom themselves (thanks, Gematsu):
Set in an alternate reality where Kyoto is the capital of Japan, Kyoto Xanadu players take on monsters and mysteries coming from the great labyrinth known as Xanadu. As a student, players will challenge the labyrinth and grow through their battles within Xanadu while also deepening bonds with various people during your daily life. Uncover the truth hidden both in the labyrinth and Kyoto itself.
Kyoto Xanadu is coming to Switch, Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam sometime this summer worldwide.
Another Eden Begins
Since the Nintendo Direct was only 30 minutes, I was pretty sure I didn’t miss anything vital while watching live, but apparently I looked away for the few seconds where this appeared, but I was surprised to see Another Eden Begins! If you’re asking, hey, is that the mobile game Another Eden, with a scenario penned by Chrono Trigger writer Masato Kato with music by Yasunori Mitsuda? It sure is!
While there isn’t much definitive information on what this version is, it does seem like a “standard” release of the mobile game that is still running since its 2017 launch, not dissimilar to Octopath Traveler 0‘s origins based on Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. While I would assume that I would have made that comparison on my own, I read it in Alana Hagues’ Nintendo Life article before I wrote this, so she gets that credit. Alana mentions that some fans are suspecting that based on the “Begins” title, this version may (initially?) cover the first arc of the game, and not the full 8-9 years’ worth of story just yet.
If developer Wright Flyer Studios ends up bringing more of the mobile game to other platforms, that will mean much more story, characters, and music. Because in addition to Mitsuda, Another Eden has been releasing new soundtracks over the years featuring the likes of Mariam Abounnasr, Yasunori Nishiki, Motoi Sakuraba, and many, many more. Volume SEVEN of the soundtrack is coming out in late March.
Hopefully we will get more information soon, because I’ve always wanted to jump into Another Eden, and a non-mobile version will no doubt be more enticing for many. As of now, Another Eden Begins is coming this summer to Switch, Switch 2, and PC via Steam. Take a look at the first screenshots below, which, importantly for Chrono Trigger fans, highlights the Frog knight, er, samurai conveniently named Cyrus:
Another Eden Begins Screenshots
Culdcept BEGINS & Culdcept the First
And hey, there was actually more than one “Begins” title!
I can’t imagine anyone had “New Culdcept Game” on their Nintendo Direct bingo cards, but here we are. This classic series that fuses strategy, card games, and board games started in 1997 but only some of the games have released outside of Japan, including the last one in the series, Culdcept Revolt, in 2016. This new title, Culdcept BEGINS, looks to carry on the tradition of the strategic tabletop-inspired gameplay to new audiences, featuring over 400 cards of various types—creatures, items, and spells—with brand new visuals.
While we didn’t get much info from the Direct, the game is also coming to PC and already has a live Steam page so we can share the basics:
What is Culdcept?
It is a game where you move across the board, claim territories, and build strategies using cards.
Use summons and magic to fight your way to victory.
• Story
Bavrashka, a continent created by the gods.
At its center lies the Royal Cept Academy, an insitute where Cepters are trained to wield the power of stone tablets known as “Culds,” fragments of the Culdcept.
Kamur, who transferred to the Cept Academy, has his abilities recognized and is selected for the Royal Cepter Guard Regiment.
Amid battles that threaten the continent, the power of a Cepter begins to awaken.
• Game System
Move with dice and battle with cards—
This is a board game where victory hangs on a mix of luck and strategy.
Experience a more accessible evolution of Culdcept that stays true to the series’ charm.
Culdcept BEGINS Screenshots
Culdcept BEGINS is coming to Switch, Switch 2, and PC via Steam from Neos Corporation. It is scheduled for release on Nintendo’s platforms on July 16th, 2026, while Steam currently only shows “2026.”
Culdcept the First
But honestly, why stop at one surprising revival of a dormant series when we can have two? Thanks to Siliconera for pointing out that Culdcept the First also materialized on Steam alongside its BEGINS cousin. As you may imagine, this is a remaster/re-release of the very first game in the series, which originally released on the Saturn, and eventually PSone, and Nintendo DS. This remake comes from developer City Connection, and makes the original available outside Japan for the first time, along with handy (optional) quality-of-life features:
- Rewind
- Quick Save & Load
- A Bonus Pack that boosts card rewards after matches
- Reveal Hands, which will allow you to always see your own and opponents’ hands during a match (normally this can only be done at certain points)
- Language options: Japanese and English
Culdcept the First will launch July 30th, 2026, and is coming to Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Steam. There will also, shockingly, be a physical release that includes a fancy box, soundtrack, and more, though this edition might be limited to Japan. You can see gameplay and the physical edition in the debut trailer below:
Culdcept the First Screenshots
BUT WAIT, there’s more!
These brand new reveals are all well and good, but there were indeed six more games to quickly talk about here!
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is an enhanced and improved edition of 2024’s Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Along with making the game available on a Nintendo platform for the first time with the Switch 2 edition, Endless Ragnarok is also coming to PS4, PS5, and Steam. This edition will feature new adventures, a summoning system, new gameplay modes, and more:
Major Additions in Endless Ragnarok
From new stories to game modes, Relink has been refined and revamped for the ultimate action RPG experience.
Embark on New Adventures
Although the Astral Lilith’s machinations lay thwarted, winds of change begin to stir within the Zegagrande Skydom. Strange beings called the “ragnalia” herald the end times. Mysterious gateways beckon would-be challengers into a realm of chaos. And even the mighty Beelzebub, with his wings of steel, descends upon Zegagrande.
Call in the Big Guns
During their journey, players will unlock the ability to equip and call forth summons, adding a new dimension to battle strategy. Once channeled by Lyria, some summons can be temporarily controlled by the player; but, if certain conditions are met, others will make a spectacular entrance alongside a new type of chain burst—the “primal burst.”
More to Master, More to Play
• New co-op quest tiers and additional bosses.
• The Conflux, an all-new solo mode where unpredictable challenges and enigmatic powers lurk within its depths.
• The introduction of master traits to push characters beyond their limits.
• Summons to expand on tactical options.
All of these features—and more—ensure that even after the credits roll, Relink‘s skies remain vast!
Play Across Boundaries
Relink‘s thrilling four-player online co-op combat reaches new heights with crossplay across all platforms! In addition, local wireless multiplayer is supported between Nintendo Switch™ 2 systems.
Cygames doesn’t want existing Relink fans on PlayStation and Steam to be left out, so they’re offering an upgrade kit at $29.99 USD (or more for Special Editions) to upgrade to the Endless Ragnarok version, which thankfully does carry over save data as well. As you may imagine, this upgrade kit only works within each respective platform and doesn’t work cross-platform.
Finally, Cygames will be running a closed beta test for Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok in mid-March, allowing players to test the game and new character Beatrix. Learn more and apply to test via the Closed Beta Test website.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is coming to PS4, PS5, Switch 2, and PC via Steam on July 9th, 2026.
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok Screenshots
We aren’t done yet, bubby. Don’t ask me why I called you that, or I’ll just point to the timestamp on this article. Anyway, we got a brief update on Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection ahead of its March 13th release, along with a demo version that is available now.
We also learned that 2021’s Tales of Arise is coming to Nintendo for the first time, with Tales of Arise – Beyond the Dawn Edition launching on Switch 2 on May 22nd. As you can guess, this release includes the base game and its 2023 DLC, Beyond the Dawn.
Digimon Story: Time Stranger just released this past October, but it landed on everything except Switch. Interestingly enough, when it releases on July 10th, it is in fact coming to both Switch and Switch 2. Pre-orders are live now in the Nintendo eShop. Reviewer Audra Bowling was a fan of a game, scoring it an 85, and commenting that “a heartfelt story lies at its core, despite some dissonance regarding its target audience, and the gameplay mechanics are polished and thoroughly entertaining.”
Finally, at the very end of our show, we got the guest we were all waiting for: Todd Howard! Seriously, though, Todd showed up and showed Bethesda’s commitment to Switch 2 beyond the recent release of Skyrim. In addition to the acclaimed Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the Switch 2 will be getting Fallout 4: Anniversary Edition later this month on February 24th, followed by The Elder Scrolls IV: Oblivion Remastered later in 2026.
And that’s all there is! We hope you found some fun surprises in this edition of Nintendo Direct Partner Showcase. I know we did. Let us know below if there’s anything you’re looking forward to!
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