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 »
We shine a spotlight onto the things we love to display them to the world. We show them off in hopes that others can see the same great features we see in them. But light also reveals imperfections, the hairline cracks and subtle chips that may otherwise have gone entirely unnoticed before. In thisโฆ Read More »
Thanks to the people at Capcom, I recently had the privilege of checking out a preview build of the upcoming Dragon’s Dogma 2. Like many, I was very surprised when Capcom announced Dragon’s Dogma 2 in 2022, because it was a game I never expected to get a sequel. After playing this demo, I am glad itโฆ Read More »
In ancient times, a myriad of gods visited the mortal realm, bestowing their blessings upon devoted humans. Humanity forgot about the gods and their gifts, resulting in the disenchantment of many of the gods who left the mortal world behind for good. Only a few gods remain, with varying views on humโฆ Read More »
Sometimes after a long, hard week at work or home, all we want to do is kick back and relax with a quick game session: maybe a few runs on Slay the Spire or a few rounds on Persona grinding for that next creature fusion. Other times, the idea of a meaty, involved RPG narrative is just whatโs needed.โฆ Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re taking a look at a long-running RPG series that has only made sporadic, but noteworthy, appearances here in the West! Mystery Dungeon began as a Dragon Quest IV spinoff back in 1993, but since then, there have been dozens of games in the seriโฆ Read More »
Michael Sollosi When I played Dragon Quest XI in 2018 I was awestruck. Everything from the gameโs expressive monster animations to the snappy turn-based combat to the fairy tale story was pure, distilled Dragon Quest, but in a modern presentation so gorgeous I could scarcely believe it. But would myโฆ Read More »
On this edition of RPGs Coming This Week: diversity! From SRPGs to CRPGs, most niches will get something good this week. Let’s get into it! The Thaumaturge – March 4th (Windows) Since The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, I’ve craved more games based on Slavic culture and folklore. The Thaumaturge looks like itโฆ Read More »
When playing the tear-jerking, award-winning Ori and the Blind Forest, did you think, โOkay, cool, but what Iโd love to see what these guys could do with a Soulslike”? Me neither, but thatโs what weโve got here. After making two outstanding Metroidvanias, the devs likely wanted to stretch their legsโฆ Read More »
You may or may not remember the Playdate, game publisher Panicโs 2022 foray into the boutique handheld space identifiable by its crank-based control scheme. The console didnโt hold the spotlight for long thanks to its niche nature, but its humble origins have since flourished into a space for indepeโฆ Read More »
As someone who greatly enjoys Metroidvanias as a whole despite the recent massive oversaturation of the genre, the details of every release keep me from getting burned out. While the broad strokes of every title might follow a common blueprint, itโs the individual flourishes that keep releases freshโฆ Read More »
If I could turn back time / If I could find a way Four RPGFan staff played through Dragon Quest XI this month, and it left them full of feelings. But were those feelings satisfying or wanting? How did they find DQ11โs notorious third act? Spoiler alert: this is a wonderful video game, despite what oโฆ Read More »
Undertale Yellow is a fan game for 2015โs subversive RPG sensation, Undertale. It was released in December 2023 after seven years of scrupulous development by a group calling themselves Team Undertale Yellow. Undertaleโs creator, Toby Fox, was not involved in any aspect of development, but the teamโฆ Read More »
Eastward was a real standout title in 2021โyes, itโs been that longโand was one of my favorite games that year. When asked to review the DLC I didnโt yet know was releasing, I conjured up wild scenarios for John and Sam to find themselves in: daring conflicts with big bads, colorful characters to heโฆ Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s finally time to talk about one of the most anticipated “Part 2s” in video game history:ย Final Fantasy VII Rebirth! Ever since part 1 of theย FFVIIย remake trilogy,ย Final Fantasy VII Remake, was released in 2020, we’ve been desperate to know where the story isโฆ Read More »
Do we at RPGFan like Final Fantasy VII? Off course! That’s why we’re ready forโฆa reunion of tracks from across the expansive (and still growing) FFVII universe. The timing here is intentional to celebrate the fantastic music associated with FFVII as we all get ready to enjoy Final Fantasy VII Rebirtโฆ Read More »
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