Highlight Archives

NieR Re[in]carnation Original Soundtrack

Posted by Patrick Gann on March 13, 2026

Though its time has come and gone, NieR Re[in]carnation’s soundtrack remains with us always. Yes, I am referring to the live service mobile title in the NieR series that had its servers permanently shut down in April 2024. I have been grieving the loss of this surprisingly robust, story-heavy title.… Read More »

Retro Encounter 481 – Best Final Bosses

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on March 12, 2026

The only thing we can believe in, with absolute certainty, is Retro Encounter, Jack. This week on Retro Encounter, we chat about bosses. But not just any bosses–no, we talk about final bosses. They’re supposed to be a final challenge, but are they always? Do we even want a challenge at the end? How… Read More »

Code Vein II

Posted by Audra Bowling on March 11, 2026

Truth be told, I don’t have a lot of familiarity with Souls-likes. I can list the number of games in the punishing-yet-ultimately-rewarding genre I’ve played on one hand, but I hold great respect for them and those gamers who strive to master them, even while wholeheartedly admitting they aren’t in… Read More »

Life is Strange Remastered

Posted by Matt Wardell on March 10, 2026

Adolescence is a messy, awkward journey filled with emotional peaks and valleys. If you could turn back time, would you take back that awful, if honest, thing you said to your mom? Would you reconnect with that old friend you grew apart from? Would you save that unpopular girl from getting hit by a… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 3/8/26

Posted by Ben Love on March 8, 2026

Welcome back once again! There is an intriguing lineup of RPGs coming this week, with some differing gameplay and presentation. Hopefully, it’s a “something for everyone” type of situation, and we’re fortunate to also have staff members with hands-on experience covering our titles this week. From ee… Read More »

Retro Encounter Final Thoughts – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on March 5, 2026

While Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones holds a special place in my heart as the first of the “older” FE games I’ve tried, I was also charmed by my play-through of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Both the supports you can uncover and the characters you recruit are great, and I liked the plot twist rega… Read More »

Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Hands-on Preview: Back on the Grid

Posted by Zek Lu on March 4, 2026

Thanks to the wonderful team at Capcom, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the upcoming Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection. This is actually my first time playing through these games, and I’m coming in with plenty of questions about how well this Nintendo DS era of Mega Man RPGs holds up.… Read More »

Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment

Posted by Niki Fakhoori on March 3, 2026

Any series builds up expectations by virtue of its existence. The Warriors titles, with their plethora of classic games and cross-franchise spin-offs, have numerous precedents: expansive playable casts that span worlds, decades, and even universes; superficial stories to justify said casts; and stra… Read More »

Esoteric Ebb

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on March 2, 2026

If imitation is a form of flattery, Esoteric Ebb is to Disco Elysium what Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels was to Pulp Fiction. Simply put, Guy Ritchie’s directorial debut wouldn’t exist in its final form had Tarantino not carved such a strong stylistic claim on the film industry at the time, ye… Read More »

Random Encounter 342 – Adventure Islands!

Posted by Jonathan Logan on March 2, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re talking about two new games that both take place on very different islands! First, Bob is here to chat about the standalone sequel to 2023’s Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse. This visual novel brilliantly mixes r… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 3/1/26: Scotts, Spires, and Scythers Unite!

Posted by Mike Salbato on March 1, 2026

Now here’s a fun week of variety! We may be a site that primarily covers RPGs, but as more genres overlap with RPGs, we get to have a great range of experiences like our three titles this week. We have the bright colors and so-crisp-you-can-slice-your-veggies-on-’em pixel graphics of Scott Pilgrim E… Read More »

Crowdfunding Chronicles: Bel’s Fanfare

Posted by Tina Olah on February 27, 2026

It’s time to embark on a magical sea voyage! Spanish developer Chibig, makers of the charming tropical adventure Summer in Mara bring you Bel’s Fanfare, a spooky yet adorable game inspired by Majora’s Mask and Spirited Away.

Tales of Berseria Remastered

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 26, 2026

In Tales of Berseria, the story and the characters do almost all the lifting. It’s a good thing it’s so amazing, because there sure is a lot of weight on its shoulders, especially with this completely superfluous “Remaster.” It has to overcome some of the most bland dungeons I’ve ever explored. They… Read More »

Retro Encounter 480 – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 26, 2026

…wrong. I am a podcast. This week on Retro Encounter we dive into the second half of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. How much of the story do we actually get to experience? How much do we enjoy the late game maps? What are our favorite support conversations? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach… Read More »

Ys X: Proud Nordics

Posted by Audra Bowling on February 25, 2026

Setting sail into new waters is the conceit behind the tenth Ys game and something it does with gusto, according to our own Sean Cabot’s excellent review. Now, however, a “definitive” edition has reached our shores in the form of Ys X: Proud Nordics. While a worthy purchase for those curious and tho… Read More »

Infinity

Posted by Patrick Gann on February 24, 2026

The last thing I anticipated playing in the year 2026 was a brand-spanking-new Game Boy Color title. But that’s Infinity for ya! The history behind this once-scrapped, now-revived GBC RPG is quite the saga, stretching all the way back to 1999 and making Infinity about as old as RPGFan itself. Finall… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 2/22/26 – Remakes, Remasters, and… Rattatas?

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 22, 2026

It’s Tales of Berseria week, all! No, really, that’s the one major game we have this week. Maybe most publishers don’t want to compete with the return of Leon Kennedy. And, honestly, who can blame them? That rough and tumble attitude, that hard-edged look in his eyes, and… right. RPGs. So there’s… Read More »

Another Crab’s Treasure

Posted by Aleks Franiczek on February 19, 2026

“Souls-like” is a somewhat exhausting term. It gets thrown around a lot in a gaming landscape where titles are endlessly compared to Demon’s Souls and FromSoftware’s oeuvre since then. Regardless of whether you think Souls-like is a “real” genre, it’s helped lump the many games that flagrantly lift… Read More »

Comfort Games are Important

Posted by Rob White on February 18, 2026

Everyone has something that gives them comfort, for one reason or another. Some people find it in a specific book or movie, others in a particular place or person; it could be anything. I imagine many of you have a collection of comfort games, as do I. Why is it that these games give us this sense o… Read More »

Avowed: Anniversary Update Interview with Obsidian Entertainment

Posted by Zek Lu on February 17, 2026

In our review of Avowed, Jerry Williams praised its story, combat, and worldbuilding. A year later, Obsidian Entertainment returns to the Living Lands with Avowed’s most substantial update yet, alongside the game’s PlayStation 5 release. The Anniversary Update introduces New Game+, new playable race… Read More »

Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse

Posted by Jerry Williams on February 17, 2026

Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo graced our computer screens in 2023. Visual novel and mystery enthusiasts clamored for more after this surprise hit. Three years later, here’s Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Square Enix, for continuing this univ… Read More »

Danganronpa 2×2 Hands-On Preview

Posted by Matt Wardell on February 16, 2026

I recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with the fine folk at Spike Chunsoft in their new Tokyo headquarters to try a demo of Danganronpa 2×2 (“two by two”), their upcoming “retelling” of the hit 2012 murder mystery visual novel, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Riding the elevator up to their lo… Read More »

Calamity Angels: Special Delivery

Posted by Abraham Kobylanski on February 16, 2026

Ever wonder about the chaos a package carrier must be dealing with when you get the notification that your order will be late? Calamity Angels: Special Delivery takes a fantastically imaginative view on the obstacles a delivery person might… Read More »

Random Encounter 341 – Proud RPGFans

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 16, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re talking about two “old” games (though one is significantly older than the other)! First up, Audra is here to share her thoughts on Ys X: Proud Nordics. But wait, didn’t Ys X: Nordics just release in 2024? Yes, it did! But now, an even more complete version is h… Read More »

Under the Island

Posted by Ben Love on February 16, 2026

One of the most admirable qualities of smaller, independently developed games is their ability to remix and revitalize older game formulas for a modern audience. Such revisits to classic concepts are particularly notable when the previous standard bearers have shifted their focus. The Legend of Zeld… Read More »

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