RPGs are back! Okay, they didn’t actually go away, but last week was a rare time there was very little releasing in the RPG world, which is why our most recent RPGs Coming This Week column was two weeks ago. This week presents no such problem, though, with games big and small. If you’ve been wanting a farming sim starring exclusively vampires and other fantasy creatures, XSEED has you covered. Meanwhile, a massive 2024 RPG gets, well, massive-r, along with coming to new platforms. And maybe you, like me, missed out on it the first time, and have downloaded that 23GB (!) demo to finally give it a go. This seems like a fine time to do it!
Intro by Mike Salbato
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok – July 9th (PS4, PS5, Switch 2, Windows)
Granblue Fantasy: Relink – Endless Ragnarok is an enhanced, hefty expansion to action RPG Granblue Fantasy: Relink. Both newcomers and returning players can enjoy hours worth of content that includes quality-of-life updates as well as new characters, story beats, gameplay mechanics, modes, and quests that you can tackle either solo or multiplayer depending on your preferences. It also promises even more challenging post-endgame content.
I’m a relative newcomer to the fine-tuned action RPG goodness of Granblue Fantasy: Relink, but our very own Des Miller greatly enjoyed his time with the base game, and Mario left Summer Game Fest impressed with his hands-on time. It seems as if Endless Ragnarok provides the perfect excuse for those like me who are curious about exploring the skies to take the plunge while offering enough added content to satisfy those making a return trip. When Endless Ragnarok releases later this week, gamers will be able to see for themselves if the possibilities are as endless as they seem!
by Audra Bowling
Moonlight Peaks – July 7th (Windows, macOS, Switch, Switch 2)
Moonlight Peaks is the newest title from Dutch studio Little Chicken, most known for their Rekt series of goofy driving games. This time around, they’ve taken a hard left turn into cozy game territory with a vampiric farming and life sim! Combining a cute, chibi aesthetic reminiscent of Story of Seasons: Friends of Mineral Town with the cheery-yet-spooky vibe of The Nightmare Before Christmas, Moonlight Peaks stands out amongst the crowd. That spooky atmosphere is more than just set dressing, as you can befriend a colorful cast of inhabitants like town mayor Pumpkin Head or Death himself.
Moonlight Peaks seems to be hitting all the major requirements of any good farming sim: lots of fields and crops to manage, robust customization, kooky townsfolk to befriend, and even robust side activities like a collectible card game! The backing of experienced farming sim publisher XSEED Games is the perfect match, so if you love Halloween and farming games, keep an eye on this one!
by Ben Love
Echoes of Aincrad – July 10th (PS5, XBX, Windows)
Sword Art Online has a long and somewhat dubious history as an anime series and RPG franchise. After the anime was a smash hit all the way back in 2012, the IP bounced around between developers, all under the stewardship of anime video game adaptation juggernaut Bandai Namco. Some of those titles, such as Sword Art Online: Hollow Fragment, were infamous for their poor quality. Others, like the Dimps-developed Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet, were more worthwhile but let down by the focus on Kirito and his gaggle of fawning female admirers.
Echoes of Aincrad looks to address these criticisms of past SAO titles by making the player the protagonist of their own story within the original VRMMO setting of Aincrad. Furthermore, the weighty action RPG combat, strong presentation, and vast world to explore set it apart from past entries, which were much more modest in budget and scope. It remains to be seen if this newest entry will actually deliver on its potential (or justify the steep $70 price tag), but it’s certainly a noticeable step up for the franchise’s forays into RPGs.
by Ben Love
Also Coming This Week
Digimon Story: Time Stranger – July 10th (Switch, Switch 2)
Digimon Story: Time Stranger is set to make its Nintendo Switch debut this week! The latest Digimon video game installment was a surprise monster-collecting delight when I played it upon its original release, so it’s great that even more RPGFans will be able to try Digimon Story: Time Stranger out soon.
by Audra Bowling
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