We always have a variety of games in RPGs Coming This Week, but I’m always pleased when a single week can bring us everything from an 8-bit-styled retro adventure to a AAA-caliber open world action RPG by industry veterans. Our two “big” 3D games both promise blood — one even has it in its name — but if you are more keen on mecha strategy, running a shop, or simply being an adventurous owl, this week has you covered.
Intro by Mike Salbato
Crimson Moon – September 1st (PS5, XBX, PC)
Since late 2025, American devs ProbablyMonsters have released a couple indie titles across various genres, though Crimson Moon is their first, very bloody stab at action RPGs. As a human-angel hybrid, you (and potentially one friend through online crossplay co-op) must cleanse the monsters from the holy city of Gildenarch. The combat seems to be a faster, more ability-focused take on Souls-likes, and, despite the gruesome demons and vampires, the corrupted castles, forests, and cathedral environments seem very colourful in a way that reminded me of Diablo III.
ProbablyMonsters recently released a heavy-metal trailer for Crimson Moon at this year’s gamescom, and the vibes are very Doom-y. Hey, that sounds like what I’ll be killing September 1st—probably monsters!
by Matt Wardell
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – September 2nd (Exiting Early Access) (PS5, Switch 2, XBX, PC)
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is the long-awaited follow up to Digital Sun’s action roguelike/shopkeeper simulation hybrid Moonlighter. While the previous game was entirely 2D (with quite charming pixel art), the sequel shifts to a polygonal visual style that maintains the colorful hues and expressive visual design of the original while substantially increasing the verticality and complexity of the game’s procedurally generated environments. The shopkeeping simulation layer that sets the game apart receives a significant upgrade as well, with a bigger shop and more potential sales events and customization potential for your store displays. If you enjoyed the original title’s gameplay loop, this sequel doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but promises to meaningfully expand your options. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…but you can sell it instead!
by Ben Love
The Blood of Dawnwalker – September 3rd (PS5, XBX, PC)
Many of the developers at Polish studio Rebel Wolves worked on Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, including the latter’s director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who returns to direct The Blood of Dawnwalker. Black Death has ravaged the Carpathian Mountains in the 14th century, and a host of vampires (led by a Nosferatu-looking lord, Brencis) has swept in to take control. Players embody a half-human, half-vampire “Dawnwalker” with thirty days and nights to hack, slash, and, erm, suck away the vampiric infestation.
On the surface, The Witcher 3‘s DNA is clear in the combat and environmental exploration. Interestingly, though, the thirty days afforded players can be utilized freely, blending a timeless open world with time-advancing quests that can be tackled (or ignored) at players’ whims. It’s an ambitious, self-contained action RPG, but one that Rebel Wolves hopes leads to other games within the same blood-sucking universe. Hopefully this one is worth sucking your time and wallet!
by Matt Wardell
Chaos Front – September 3rd (Windows)
Chaos Front is the newest release in the Chaos Galaxy series, a long-running indie SRPG franchise inspired by Bandai Namco’s crossover mecha SRPG series, Super Robot Wars. Players can choose from over 100 mercenaries to form their company and choose missions across the galaxy in non-linear progression as they build up their skills and reputation. The grid-based space battles and flashy, 2D animated battle scenes will be familiar to any Super Robot Wars aficionado, as Chaos Front wears its inspirations firmly planted on its sleeve. What sets Chaos Front apart is the faction system, allowing your mercenary core to gain reputation with various factions in a conflict, with your alignments (and battle performance) potentially deciding the outcome. The developer’s previous entries are all rated positively on Steam, so if you love tactics RPGs and mecha anime, this one is likely worth your time.
by Ben Love
Isle of Reveries – September 4th (PS4, PS5, Switch, XB1, XBX, Windows, Linux)
Isle of Reveries is an obvious love letter to the Game Boy Color Zelda titles (Link’s Awakening, Oracle of Ages & Seasons), from the color palette and chunky pixel art to the 10:9 aspect ratio for gameplay (cleverly utilizing the remaining screen real estate for the UI). Leif, the game’s owl protagonist, even has a fairy companion that helps out with puzzles and combat (the fairy actually copies and spawns objects, much like Zelda’s friend Tri does in Echoes of Wisdom). This Zelda-like adventure promises six distinct dungeons and eight overworld locations to explore, and the trailer shows off a potent mix of puzzle solving and combat.
Isle of Reveries‘ most unique aspect may be the town building feature: as Leif progresses in his quest, he can construct and restore a wide variety of different buildings, and NPCs you meet will come to live in your new town. I don’t know if this is an explicit nod to Tarrey Town in Breath of the Wild, or if developer desertcucco is just a big fan of Dark Cloud, but I love the inclusion either way. Thankfully, the game is coming to all platforms day and date (and even last-gen consoles), so if you are hankering for some classic handheld-era Zelda with a little added modern Zelda flair, look no further.
by Ben Love
Also Coming This Week
Angeline Era – September 2nd (PS4, PS5, Switch)
Angeline Era is the latest release by development duo Analgesic Productions, known for their thoughtful, delightfully weird games (Anodyne & Anodyne 2, Sephonie, and Even the Ocean to name a few). Angeline Era is an action RPG that takes direct inspiration from the early Ys titles, featuring a similar bump-slash combat system. The desaturated, low-poly aesthetic and 3D level design provides a nice mix of challenging combat and tricky platforming, and the traditional RPG overworld is full of secrets to discover. I very much enjoyed the game when I reviewed it earlier this year on PC, so console players have a unique gem to look forward to this week!
by Ben Love
EXSTETRA – September 3rd (PS5, Switch, Switch 2)
EXSTETRA is the game often described as “the kissing RPG.” Players step into the role of the amnesiac Ryouma, stuck in a dangerous fantasy world along with six of his peers, and the only way any of them can save reality and get back home is through fighting an evil that threatens both worlds. But just how do they bring about the power to truly crush said evil for good? Ryouma must kiss the six Prisma Knights to awaken their true potential! Those interested in seeing how FuRyu handles the concept but didn’t catch the PC release date earlier can now try their hand at EXSTETRA when it releases on consoles later this week!
by Audra Bowling
Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty Complete Edition – September 3rd (Switch 2)
Woah, how long has it been since the first release of Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty? Back in 2023, Team Ninja did a solid job of applying their Souls-like chops from the Nioh trilogy (then duology) to an ancient Chinese Three Kingdoms setting befitting publisher Koei Tecmo’s Dynasty Warriors series. Unlike Nioh‘s demanding and complex combat, Wo Long has a more straightforward, generously windowed parry-heavy approach that lets players run through a twisted alternate history without overstaying its welcome.
This Switch 2 Complete Edition bundles in the three DLC expansions that originally dropped in 2023, each following one of the Three Kingdoms (with plenty of names Dynasty Warriors fans will surely recognize). These DLCs added new weapons and bosses, sizable story missions, higher difficulties, and an endless “Thousand Miles Journey” mode akin to a roguelite. Prepare to die, nasty!
by Matt Wardell
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