Highlight Archives

Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition

Posted by Ben Love on July 25, 2025

It’s been a decade since the original release of Xenoblade Chronicles X, and during that time, things have changed massively for Nintendo and developer Monolith Soft. Today, Nintendo is coming off the most successful console ever made, and Monolith Soft has established itself as its premier RPG deve… Read More »

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Patch 7.21 & 7.25 – Relics in Space and Time

Posted by Caitlin Argyros on July 24, 2025

Heavensward, Final Fantasy XIV’s first expansion, introduced the first iteration of field content: a huge zone where large numbers of players can explore and engage in activities together. Initially, this content was limited to battle jobs with Heavensward’s Diadem and Stormblood’s Eureka. Shadowbri… Read More »

So you want to get into The Legend of Zelda Series…

Posted by Noah Leiter on July 23, 2025

So you want to get into The Legend of Zelda series? In some ways, that’s like asking, “So you want to get into videogames?” The Zelda series is everywhere in the gaming world: on store shelves, in online discourse, and steeped in the design of many modern videogames. If… Read More »

Yakuza 0: Director’s Cut

Posted by Sean Cabot on July 22, 2025

My first experience with the series now known as Like a Dragon was Yakuza 4, back when it was still known by its localized name. Ever since, the series has held my attention with each new entry. Even the titles with weaknesses in gameplay or story still carry the series’ signature sense of humor and… Read More »

Death end re;Quest Code Z

Posted by Des Miller on July 21, 2025

The Death end re;Quest series is a strange but enjoyable mixture of disturbing horror visual novels and RPGs. They’re often experimental and overly ambitious in the gameplay department, but the VN side has a lot of charm and heart thanks to a cast of endearing, fun, and memorable characters. As part… Read More »

Random Encounter 327 – My Kingdom for a Horse (Girl Game)

Posted by Jonathan Logan on July 21, 2025

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re playing an updated classic, a spin-off of a modern classic, and talking about the weirdest game I have heard of in a long time! First up, Mark is taking off his nostalgia goggles to give the recent remaster of the CRPG classic Neverwinter Nights 2 an updated lo… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 162 – A Very Nintendo Summer

Posted by Mike Salbato on July 20, 2025

The Switch 2 is here! Is what we would have opened with had this episode gone up on time. Still, Nintendo’s latest is the newest console on the market and it’s doing pretty well, so we gathered up some fans of Nintendo music for this one. To try something new and to celebrate a wider range of Ninten… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 7/20/25

Posted by Audra Bowling on July 20, 2025

In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, a dark and gritty Souls-like debuts alongside a trio of considerably more hospitable adventure games. As an enjoyer of brutal challenges and gentle experiences alike, I feel like I’m being attacked on both fronts. I’m begging someone who’s good at the econom… Read More »

Wuthering Waves

Posted by Des Miller on July 19, 2025

It’s no surprise that HoYoVerse titles such as Genshin Impact, Honkai: Star Rail, and Zenless Zone Zero dominate the gacha market given their absurdly high quality and seemingly infinite budgets. Yet, is there room on the world stage for an unproven competitor to swing at the king and make some wave… Read More »

Tunguska: The Visitation

Posted by Dom Kim on July 19, 2025

Solo developers hold a special place in my heart. Seeing one person do the arduous work of multiple disciplines all the way to release is nothing short of inspirational. Home runs like Papers Please are also easy enough to praise from the consumer’s perspective, with the developer’s dedication shini… Read More »

Chicory: A Colorful Tale

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on July 18, 2025

What do you get when you combine 2D Zelda-ish world design, cute coloring book mechanics and aesthetics, and a story featuring sincere depictions and reflections on depression and impostor syndrome? Turns out one of the most enjoyable, original, and impactful indie games yet made. I never got around… Read More »

No Sleep For Kaname Date – From AI: The Somnium Files

Posted by Sean Cabot on July 18, 2025

In his review of Dragon Quest XI, Tim Rogers described the Dragon Quest series as “hangout games,” where much of their appeal comes from spending time with the cast and soaking in their personalities. This concept informs much of my perspective on ensemble casts, especially when it comes to RPGs. Ko… Read More »

Retro Encounter 464 – Breath of Fire II Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on July 17, 2025

It is podcasts. On this week’s episode, two old veterans and one newcomer dive into the 1995 SNES RPG Breath of Fire II. A game known for its brutal grind and maybe even more brutal localization, some of the panelists still have a soft spot for it all these years later. Is the localization really th… Read More »

‘Now That’s What I Call 10 out of 10!’ – A Star Ocean Series Retrospective

Posted by Rob White on July 16, 2025

The Star Ocean series is, in my opinion, massively underappreciated. Since beginning back in the mid-1990s, it has had quite the bumpy road, with entries generally releasing just once per generation and with wildly varying budgets and critical and player responses. Admirably, the Star Ocean games ha… Read More »

Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition

Posted by Mark Roddison on July 15, 2025

I can’t believe we finally have a complete set of the remastered Neverwinter Nights series. After the accomplished rework of the original CRPG game, Aspyr has brought the classic follow-up, Neverwinter Nights 2: Enhanced Edition—a game some believed unlikely to make the journey—to modern d… Read More »

Hanako’s Flower Shop

Posted by Audra Bowling on July 13, 2025

Actions speak louder than words, and they can even jumpstart much-needed conversations. The language of flowers embodies that sentiment, allowing for hidden meaning and symbolism behind the seemingly simple act of choosing a bouquet for someone. Such is the premise behind the visual novel Hanako’s F… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 7/13/25

Posted by Claton Stevenson on July 13, 2025

In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, our sleepy July finally perks up. On the slate are a long-overdue remaster, an action RPG based on a manga/anime franchise, and a selection of interesting indie titles. I think it’s safe to say things never get samey around here, even during the quieter time… Read More »

Covenant of Solitude

Posted by Neal Chandran on July 11, 2025

Covenant of Solitude is a KEMCO-published RPG from developer Magitec that was first released on mobile devices back in 2013. Now, it’s made its way to other platforms, including Steam. Covenant of Solitude unabashedly hearkens back to the 16-bit era of RPGs from the 1990s, but does it do enough to s… Read More »

Retro Encounter Final Thoughts – Fallout: New Vegas

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on July 10, 2025

Audra Bowling Fallout: New Vegas was my first foray into the Fallout series, and it is one heck of a great starting point. I’m not always a huge fan of some of the dated gameplay mechanics: why can’t I lug around as many jugs of purified water as I want and still fast travel, darn it?!? But the choi… Read More »

Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer

Posted by Tom Naylor on July 9, 2025

From Clifftop Games comes the return of Kathy Rain, a beloved adventure gaming icon of the past decade, now with a new adventure that is twice the length and scope of the original game in Kathy Rain 2: Soothsayer. Does it match up to or even surpass the original, or is it more of a sophomore slump?… Read More »

Prolific Composer Motoi Sakuraba Joins Scarlet Moon Artists Lineup

Posted by Mike Salbato on July 8, 2025

Motoi Sakuraba, the legendary composer behind Dark Souls, Tales, Star Ocean, Valkyrie Profile, and many more games (and especially RPGs!), has joined Scarlet Moon Artists. This branch of music label Scarlet Moon began in 2014 and includes many talented musicians who are available for indie projects… Read More »

Mobile Suit Gundam SEED Battle Destiny Remastered

Posted by Audra Bowling on July 8, 2025

Okay, I’ll admit it: I’m a Gundam fan. I enjoy the high-stakes mecha battles, epic science-fiction stories buoyed by political machinations, and the horrific and believable impact of war experienced by painfully human characters. I’ve been hooked on the franchise since watching Mobile Suit Gundam Wi… Read More »

Deltarune (Chapters 3+4)

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on July 7, 2025

In my recent review of Chapters 1+2, I discussed Deltarune mainly on a macro level: how its legacy ties to Undertale, its main design iterations, and the broad narrative themes it sets up. Having already gone over that, I won’t be retreading any of it. If Toby Fox can just pick up from where he left… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 161 – Mobile RPG Music Medley

Posted by Mike Salbato on July 7, 2025

Say what you want about your average mobile game, but there are a growing number of great RPGs you can play on your phone. Sure, some have hostile gacha mechanics, and many of the best get shut down eventually, but the care, budget, attention, and talent that goes into some mobile RPG soundtracks is… Read More »

SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered Interview with Hiroyuki Miura and Naofumi Ueno

Posted by Patrick Gann on July 6, 2025

Though Square Enix had hinted at an eventual SaGa Frontier 2 Remastered over the past five years, it definitely came as a surprise when they shadow-dropped it on March 27th, 2025 as part of a Nintendo Direct broadcast. While I (Patrick) enjoyed playing through this remastered version of the classic… Read More »

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