RPGs Coming This Week, 2/8/26: Darkness x4

Wow, what an interesting shared theme among our four RPGs coming this week. Well, three RPGs and an adventure game. From the long (loooooong) awaited release of the latest game from the developer of The Binding of Isaac, to a horror adventure, a dark and heavy strategy game, and… well, Yakuza isn’t all dark, but the new scenario is literally titled Dark Ties, so I’m still going to say it fits our theme. We have some brighter titles next week, but for now, this is what we’ve got! So cuddle up with a loved one—whether it’s a person, pet, or beverage—and settle in for this week’s lineup!

Intro by Mike Salbato

Mewgenics – February 10th (Windows)

The next game from The Binding of Isaac developer Edmund McMillen has been a long time coming. Originally announced in 2012 and later rebooted in 2018, few games have taken a longer path to release than Mewgenics. Mewgenics follows the same roguelite dungeon-crawling structure that Isaac helped popularize over a decade ago, but now battles are waged in tactical turn-based combat between grotesque, horrifying cats. McMillen has even taken a few cues from the Pokémon and Digimon series by including a detailed cat breeding system for bizarre traits, ensuring there is plenty of characteristic body horror and toilet humor that Isaac and Super Meat Boy fans are sure to enjoy (or be grossed out by).

by Ben Love

Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties – February 12th (PS4, PS5, Switch 2, XBX, Windows)

Kiryu comforts a crying little girl at sunset in Yakuza Kiwami 3

Yakuza fans have the chance to dive back into the Okinawa criminal underworld with the upcoming release of Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties, set to launch on February 12th. This latest installment from RGG Studio not only refreshes 2009’s Yakuza 3 with enhanced visuals and quality-of-life updates but also introduces compelling side content that has become a hallmark of the series. The game follows Kazuma Kiryu as he transitions from a life of crime to running the Morning Glory orphanage. Here, players can engage in unique mini-games to raise their “Daddy Rank” through deepening his bond with the children he cares for. The simple and heartfelt chores serve as a perfect contrast to the intense beat-em-up action players have come to expect.

The other piece to this expanded release is the all-new separate story mode, Dark Ties. Set before the events of Yakuza 3, Dark Ties focuses on series antagonist Yoshitaka Mine. Players can expect to navigate through the dark alleyways of Kamurocho while completing side quests and engaging in thrilling battles. New game modes and mechanics are part of the experience, including a roguelike element in Survival Hell mode. Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is gearing up to be the definitive way to experience Yakuza 3, delivering improved features to series fans while also inviting newcomers to experience the rich tapestry of its world.

by Jimmy Turner

Disciples: Domination – February 12th (PS5, XBX, Windows, macOS)

Using Radiant Light to attack Galthiel, the Tangled One in a grid-based battle in Disciples: Domination

The latest game in the Disciples series lands this week, with Disciples: Domination by Artefacts Studio. Set after 2021’s Disciples: Liberation, this game once again puts playes in control of now-Queen Avyanna after she freed the land of Nevendaar from the “tyrannical grip of the gods” (tell me you’re an RPG without telling me you’re an RPG). Like Liberation before it, Domination aims to tell a dark tale, as Avyanna deals with ruling the kingdom while struggling with her own doubts at containing the madness spreading throughout the realm. The turn-based combat is built on a hexagonal grid system and offers faster pacing than prior games and dynamic events, and with a host of characters to fight alongside, it seems like choices really matter, giving you many ways to play Disciples: Domination the way you want.

by Mike Salbato

REANIMAL – February 13th (PS5, Switch 2, XBX, Windows)

Two small, childlike figures hold a lantern while walking down a cracked street in a deserted city in REANIMAL

Nothing says Valentine’s Day like a co-op horror adventure game from the creators of Little Nightmares I & II. REANIMAL puts players in the shoes of two orphans with a dark secret, exploring hell to find their missing friends. As you may guess from the developers behind the title and the screenshot above, REANIMAL is betting a lot on its dark, heavy atmosphere and frightening world. It certainly sounds like the game isn’t for the feint of heart, so it’s good that the game is playable solo or co-op in either local or online multiplayer.