I may use the phrase “long-awaited remaster” too often in these intros, but even so, it IS great to see Tales of Eternia released on modern platforms! Joining it for this edition of RPGs Coming This Week are a cool co-op dungeon crawler with a dark aesthetic and food, Deep Dish Dungeon and a narrative adventure RPG with a bright aesthetic and food, The Witch’s Bakery.
The biggest release, the one that needs the least amount of introduction, is the return of Castlevania for the series’ 40th anniversary, with Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse. I dabbled in the demo last week and let’s just say I need to hone my skills for some of the bosses. But dang if the game doesn’t look fantastic. It’s so great to see a new proper metroidvania Castlevania again, and in time for Halloween!
Intro by Mike Salbato
Deep Dish Dungeon – October 13th (XBX, Windows, macOS)
Deep Dish Dungeon is a multiplayer-focused dungeon crawler mixed with survival/crafting mechanics, where gathering ingredients and making food are paramount to success! Unlike most survival/crafting games, Deep Dish Dungeon drops you into a hand-crafted dungeon with a wide variety of puzzles to solve and secrets to uncover. While the combat is extremely simple and rudimentary, the puzzle-solving and verticality in the level design ensure plenty of hours of fun for a group of friends. The proximity chat and dark interiors (a light source is necessary to see even a few feet ahead) mean that good communication in your group is key, similar to other popular multiplayer titles from this year like Big Walk. Not your traditional RPG, but a “friendslop” title that uses the setting, trappings, and loot-hunting elements of RPGs to great effect!
by Ben Love
The Witch’s Bakery – October 14th (PS5, Switch, Switch 2, XBX, Windows)
The Witch’s Bakery combines so many beloved things for me: Beautiful, hand-drawn artwork that feels inspired by — but not derivative of — Studio Ghibli, a strong focus on narrative and characters, shop management, and more. You take on the role of Lunne, a witch with the ability to see into peoples’ hearts and help them heal through magic. And, I imagine, croissants. While it may seem like this is largely a sim/management game about running a Parisian magical bakery, developers Sunny Lab emphasize that The Witch’s Bakery is a single-player narrative adventure with visual novel elements first and foremost, as the story and characters take center stage.
Also, in one other Ghibli nod, I love that the developers enlisted Cécile Corbel (known for The Secret World of Arrietty soundtrack) for the opening theme for The Witch’s Bakery. Joe Hisaishi is an absolute legend, but Cécile’s work on Arrietty has lived in my head rent-free since I first heard it over 14 years ago. Her musical vibes seem perfect to open this game with.
This week, the title launches on Windows via Steam, PS5, Xbox, and Switch 1 & 2. Later in October, it’s also coming to iOS and Android as part of the Crunchyroll Game Vault.
by Mike Salbato
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse – October 15th (PS5, Switch, XBX, Windows)
Just in time for spooky season (and the series’ 40th anniversary), Castlevania returns with Belmont’s Curse. This is the first 2D metroidvania Castlevania game since 2008’s Order of Ecclesia—tragic, considering the series is partially responsible for the genre and its popularity! For this trip to Dracula’s castle, vampire hunter Trevor Belmont is handing over his whip to his daughter, Rose, just as Konami is handing over development to Evil Empire, who proved their monster-slaying chops with Dead Cells‘ themed DLC, Return to Castlevania.
I played an extensive hands-on of Belmont’s Curse at Tokyo Game Show 2026 and was impressed by its visuals and smooth-flowing platforming and combat. Could this mean Castlevania will return to its place atop the metroidvania scene? I, for one, will be donning my favourite black cape, filling up on the fully cooked turkey I found in a crumbled wall, and settling in to play this beast come October 15th.
by Matt Wardell
Tales of Eternia Remastered – October 16th (PS4, PS5, Switch, Switch 2, XBX, Windows)
Tales of Eternia Remastered brings us an updated version of Tales of Eternia (also known as Tales of Destiny II in North America), an RPG originally released on the PlayStation, and later the PSP, with a European-only localization. An earlier game in the lauded Tales series, Tales of Eternia tells the story of villagers Reid and Farah whose lives change when they encounter a mysterious girl who, quite literally, fell out of the sky. Going on a quest to help her, they join up with their scholarly childhood friend Keele and the four soon find themselves embroiled in an effort to save two worlds from destruction.
Tales of Eternia Remastered features real-time action-oriented 2D combat and new quality-of-life features such as visible map markers, the ability to speed up combat, and switching between the original visuals or the remastered ones. I must admit that I’m a novice when it comes to the Tales series, but the old-school PlayStation charm of Tales of Eternia and its vibrant character designs and artwork has piqued my interest. Tales of Eternia Remastered may just be the definitive way to play the game when it releases later this week!
by Audra Bowling
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