On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at a game-of-the-year contender and the latest from one of the industry’s most visionary indie devs.ย First up, Izzy is here to chat aboutย Dragon’s Dogma 2. The sequel to Capcom’s cult-classicย Dragon’s Dogma,ย DD2ย is the true realization of many of tโฆ Read More »
On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, a promising gacha RPG, a gorgeous otome game, and two standout indie releases. This is our bread and butter, and we’re ready to share it. Let’s dive in! Astra: Knights of Veda โ April 2nd (Windows, iOS, Android) Another week, another gacha game, right? But Aโฆ Read More »
As I approached the Dustborn booth, I wasn’t certain what to expect. I enjoyed The Longest Journey series fromโฆwellโฆ1999 through 2016 and clearly am accustomed to waiting patiently based on those release dates. Still, I’d heard little information about Dustborn until now and wanted some foโฆ Read More »
Slime Heroesย was revealed inย June 2021ย with an adorable trailer, showcasing both the novelty of a slime protagonist and the dang cute aesthetic overall. At the time, developer Pancake Games did not have a publisher lined up, but that changed earlier this year when indie game publisherย Whitethorn Gamโฆ Read More »
Iโll see you on the dark side of the moon. Retro Encounter sees Final Fantasy IV through to its logical conclusion, from journeys to the center of the earth to heartbreaking family reunions, then, Alice, youโre going to the moon. Four Retro Encounter panelists talk the second half of Final Fanโฆ Read More »
One of my favorite childhood games was Secret of Mana. Gameplay-wise, it landed squarely between Final Fantasy IV and The Legend of Zelda, and was one of my first introductions to action RPGs. The lush world fascinated me, and my brother and I poured hours into exploring, leveling up, and seeking weโฆ Read More »
This year, RPGFan has been lucky enough to spend a significant amount of time returning to the Mana series. It’s been 15 years since the last mainline game, so the anticipation to delve into this beloved world is intense. Fortunately, we were able to demo the game both at a media event and PAX Eastโฆ Read More »
This year at PAX East, I got to play Coridden, an upcoming action RPG from Swedish developer Aftnareld. The game focuses on co-op gameplay and a fun monster-shifting mechanic that lets you ride your friends (er, more on that later). Coridden recently wrapped its Kickstarter campaign, which raised 15โฆ Read More »
While RPGs have no shortage of high-energy moments requiring intense strategizing, quick reflexes, or simply a box of tissues for the more emotional moments, it’s important to have downtime between those to balance everything out. This episode is about “safe spaces” in RPGs, and our panelists did noโฆ Read More »
Readers, brace yourselves for a veritable banquet of goodies on this edition of RPGs Coming This Week. If last week was all about blockbusters, this week’s all about the games from smaller studios and publishers. I know I say this often, but we really are living in a second golden age for RPGs. Consโฆ Read More »
At this weekend’s PAX East show, Final Fantasy XIV Producer and Director Naoki Yoshida hosted a “Journey to Dawntrail” panel, recapping the first ten years of the acclaimed MMORPG. It was a fun walk down memory lane seeing Yoshi-P recap the highlights of 2013’s A Realm Reborn and each expansion sincโฆ Read More »
I am not my Dark Knightโs keeper Final Fantasy IV is a 1991 RPG full of colorful characters and high drama. But how does it hold up after 33 years of perspective? Four Retro Encounter panelists who grew up (separately) playing Final Fantasy IV give the classic SNES RPG another look (together), discuโฆ Read More »
I Hate You, Please Suffer by scitydreamer. The splash screen of Dariโs latest game features that title, the credit, and a hand flipping the bird. When I first noticed Dariโs work, I was a little put off. I think thereโs a fine line between game development punk rock and just being an edgelord (as thโฆ Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re looking at two very different kinds of follow-ups to beloved games: a spiritual successor and a fan game. First up, we’re talking about a long-awaited revival of Ogre Battle-style SRPGs with Vanillaware’s Unicorn Overlord (the most bizarre naโฆ Read More »
On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week: Two next-gen heavyweights tangle with two niche titles. It’s one of the more packed weeks of the year, and I say we dispense with the pleasantries. Let’s dive in! Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery โ March 19th (Windows) Reverse Collapse: Code Name Bakery isโฆ Read More »
One of the best things about indie RPGs is that they often revisit genre classic formulas with a new lens. The best indie homages update the core mechanics for modern sensibilities or place familiar mechanics in new and unique worlds with endearing characters, free from the restrictions of massive pโฆ Read More »
The real Infinite Wealth was the friends we made along the way. Ichiban Kasuga returns inย Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealthย (Ryu Ga Gotoku 8ย in Japanese), teaming up with formerย Like a Dragonย protagonist Kazuma Kiryu in a wild turn-based open-world RPG set in both Japan and Hawaii. Four RPGFan stโฆ Read More »
Campaign-based, cooperative board games like Gloomhaven have been around for several years, with famous series like Descent leading the genre. Once Gloomhaven hit the market in 2017, it dominated the #1 spot on BoardGameGeek.comโs list of highest-rated board games voted by users until last year, nowโฆ Read More »
I’ve committed a cardinal gaming sin: I haven’t playedย Bravely Default. I know! Two sentences in, and I’ve devastated my gamer credibility about as severely as Bahamut nukes an unprepared party with Megaflare. I thought about playing it, but then the Internet (and my insistent husband) suggested I sโฆ Read More »
Previously on Rhythm Encounter, we have talked about some important first impressions, namely some of our favorite intro themes, and even title screen music. But what happens next is just as important: the opening hours of an RPG can really set the stage for what’s to come. When thinking about our fโฆ Read More »
As a child of the 1980s, I spent my youth watching The Smurfs, Snorks, Fraggle Rock, and other assorted programs featuring communities of fantasy beings in imaginative worlds. By that line of thinking, my childhood self would have liked Yordles โ a race of adorable, vividly colored, magical beings fโฆ Read More »
On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week: a new mystery game and a bevy of ports. Not the biggest bag of loot, but we still take those. Let’s get into it! Death Trick: Double Blind โ March 12th (Switch, Windows, macOS) Need a mystery game heavy on the intrigue? Death Trick: Double Blind may hit justโฆ Read More »
To say that the announcement of Unicorn Overlord left me in complete disbelief would be an understatement. Vanillaware announcing any new game is exciting. The first moments of the Unicorn Overlord reveal trailer made me wonder what type of game they were announcing. 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim was a suโฆ Read More »
Can you SMELL what the Hawke is cooking? Dragon Age II had a mixed critical reception back in March of 2011, so weโre giving it a fresh perspective in March of 2024. Todayโs Retro Encounter panel makes an exodus to Kirkwall to determine how they feel about DA2โs excellent charactersโฆ Read More »
Over the last five years, turn-based RPG fans have been blessed with a range of options on PC. The recent commercial and critical success of Baldurโs Gate 3 has shifted the genre back to the mainstream, with many gamers keen to explore similar offerings. Tiny Trinket Games developed their single-plaโฆ Read More »
RPGFan uses cookies to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking โAcceptโ, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.