For this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we have new entries in two major series, with the remake of Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter and Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and those alone include so many hours of gameplay, they’re enough to keep one busy for weeks, each. But that doesn’t change the fact that there’s five other games launching this week as well.
We have cute monster collector Aniimo and magical girl, god-fighting action RPG antics with Kernel Hearts. We also have another entry in the growing market of transitioning F2P mobile RPGs to standalone releases (sans gacha mechanics, thankfully) with Another Eden Begins, and finally, two more RPG/adventure titles coming to Nintendo hardware.
If you aren’t jumping into 2nd Chapter or Fortune’s Weave, maybe you have time for some of the others! Though let’s be honest, many of us are probably still playing some of the many, many games that have released in the last couple months, aren’t we?
Intro by Mike Salbato
Aniimo – September 16th (PS5, XBX, Windows)
Aniimo, developed and published by China’s Pawprint Studio, seems made in a lab to appeal to as wide an audience as possible: Genshin Impact meets Pokémon Legends: Z-A. This free-to-play, open-world RPG revolves around catching monsters called Aniimo across the colourful wilds of the continent Idyll. With the “Twine” ability, players control the Aniimo and use new abilities to navigate the environment—flying, swimming, and skating across frozen water surfaces, say—or battle and catch new Aniimo in third-person, real-time action combat.
At launch, there will be over 90 catchable/playable Aniimo across 15 regions of varying sandy, flowery, icy, and urban biomes. The game is also coming to iOS and Android on September 23rd. Call me a sad clownfish father, because I can’t wait to find Aniimo.
by Matt Wardell
Another Eden Begins – September 16th (Switch, Switch 2, Windows)
Another Eden Begins for console and PC is a reworked version of the F2P mobile RPG Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space with the gacha mechanics removed. The game focuses on time travel as main character Aldo tries to rescue his kidnapped sister from the clutches of the nefarious Beast King. I did play the original Another Eden for review and, at the time, found it a charming experience overall, though it remains to be seen if this new version will be as strong an outing. I’m quite curious to see how it holds up as a non-gacha game when Another Eden Begins releases later this week!
by Audra Bowling
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave – September 17th (Switch 2)
At long last, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave is finally here (in four days). Fire Emblem fans, myself included, have been patiently awaiting the next mainline entry in the franchise since 2023’s Fire Emblem Engage. Set in the continent of Dagda, across the ocean from Fire Emblem: Three Houses‘ Fodlan, Fortune’s Weave revolves around a globe-spanning martial competition known as the Heroic Games. Protagonists Cai, Theodora, Leda, and Dietrich are all participants in this gladiatorial contest, each with their own motivations for entering the tournament. Intervening in these four separate yet intertwined narratives is Eshmel, a mystical figure (and player avatar) from the future who travels back in time in search of allies to prevent the impending calamity five years later after the Demon God returns.
Mechanically, Fortune’s Weave is primarily a follow up to the systems introduced in Three Houses, although the setting and structure of these systems differs significantly. Instead of the rigid school calendar system and central hub location of Garreg Mach, players are free to explore the city of Dagsion and the surrounding area via the world map and pursue side activities at their leisure between rounds in the Heroic Games. You can also switch freely between the four protagonist storylines at any time. If you’re interested in a further breakdown of the game’s mechanics and differences compared to previous entries, I wrote an analysis of the Nintendo Direct focused on the game last month.
Suffice it to say, I’m incredibly excited for this game. While Three Houses and Engage had their strengths and weaknesses, I’m hopeful that Fortune’s Weave will combine the best aspects of both and deliver the rich narrative and engaging tactical gameplay the long-running series is built upon.
by Ben Love
Kernel Hearts – September 17th (PS5, Switch 2, XBX, Windows)
Even after the end of the world, ashes continue to rain down, threatening to bury what little remains. As a cybernetic member of the M.A.H.O.U. Unit, it’s up to you (and three potential co-op allies) to climb the Tower of Babel, battle rather biblically accurate angels, and unseat the cruel God that created the apocalypse. Kernel Hearts, developed by Argentine indie studio Ephemera Games, mixes melee and magic (plus some bullet hell influence) in third-person action across the many wide and shifting floors of Babel. As a roguelike, each run changes the Tower and the abilities and buffs you can pick up, including the ability to transform your four playable cyber-girls into Sailor Moon-esque magical girls. The anime influence extends to the 2D character sprites used for dialogue and visual novel story scenes. While there’re many influences Kernel Hearts points to, let’s hope it blends them in a way that pops.
It’s also worth noting that as Whitethorn Games is publishing this one, Kernel Hearts has many accessibility options, including variable difficulties, remappable controls, several audio and visual modifiers, and more. See the full list on Whitethorn’s accessibility page for the game.
by Matt Wardell
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter – September 17th (PS5, Switch, Switch 2, Windows)
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is a remake of the excellent Falcom RPG The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky SC, continuing Estelle Bright’s journey as a Bracer trying to protect her loved ones and the general populace of the kingdom of Liberl from the machinations of a continent-spanning menacing society. As a continuation of the first Trails in the Sky (which we greatly enjoyed), this title features new 3D graphics and an overhauled battle system taking inspirational cues from The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak titles. I had a great time with my first foray into the sequel when I played it on my PSP years ago, and I’m eager to have another opportunity to spend time with the game’s memorable cast when Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter releases this week!
by Audra Bowling
Also Coming This Week
Absolum – September 17th (Switch 2)
Absolum is a unique, roguelike/RPG take on the classic 2D beat ’em up that released last year on all major platforms, and this week it comes to Switch 2, complete with a physical release at retail. Developed by Guard Crush Games, known for the excellent throwback Streets of Rage 4, the tight brawler action and lovingly detailed 2D art has an impressive pedigree, which explains why our own Jerry Williams said in his review that it is “worth any fan of the genre’s time.”
by Ben Love
Artis Impact – September 17th (Switch)
Ah, Artis Impact. While the expressive art style and truly exquisite animation is undeniably fantastic, the actual game design let me down when I reviewed the game last year. Since then, the game has received a number of updates in preparation for its release on Nintendo Switch this week. Although these changes may not fully address the game’s fundamental issues, if you treat it as more of a beautiful adventure game with perfunctory RPG mechanics, you might find some joy in its somber post-apocalyptic world.
by Ben Love
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