The action RPG landscape is dominated by Metroidvanias and Souls-likes these days. As the subgenre gets more crowded, developers must find ways to make their games stand out amidst a sea of clones. Aside from The Surge, there haven’t been many sci-fi-oriented Souls-likes, and outside of Code Vein, t… Read More »
Let’s praise the sun! Doo-doo-doo-doo The Dark Souls of RPGFan podcasts has finally arrived! Dark Souls is one of the most celebrated RPGs of the 2010s, helping to establish an entire new genre of RPG. Today, one Dark Souls newcomer and four Souls-like veterans discuss this challenging, carefully-cr… Read More »
Everyone needs a chance to escape the doldrums of life on occasion to refresh and re-find themselves physically, mentally, and emotionally. For some, this could mean taking a trip to a whole different environment and possibly discovering a new course for their life. For many, that’s one of the reaso… Read More »
A lot of people will point to the Super Nintendo or the PS1 as the “Golden Era” of RPGs, and there’s certainly something to that. But the PS4 is full of so many excellent RPGs, and they run the gamut between big budget, AAA titles, smaller AA titles, and indie darlings that took the genre in unexpec… Read More »
Sieges are prolonged military campaigns rooting out a city or a settlement’s inhabitants and defenders. Fortunately, soulslite action RPG Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn’s campaign isn’t an excruciatingly long siege, despite its title. It offers players an entertaining gameplay loop that manages not to… Read More »
We are just rats in a maze. I turned 32 years old during my playthrough of System Shock’s remake for consoles. I am just old enough, I think, to remember a time when first-person shooters shared far more in common with mazes than gymnasiums or amusement park rides. Yellow cards, blue cards, green ca… Read More »
The indie RPG scene is ever expanding, and while indie RPG music makes its way into many a Rhythm Encounter episode, we wanted to make an episode just about celebrating the music from indie devs. We enjoyed it so much, we may even make this a regularly recurring topic! But, for now, come journey thr… Read More »
No niche will be left unserved in this edition of RPGs Coming This Week… except the tactics fans. Sorry, but SRPG junkies have to wait a bit longer for their fix. For everyone else, let’s just dive into this week’s embarrassment of riches! B-Project Ryusei Fantasia – July 15th (Windows) B-Project… Read More »
The Atelier series has seen numerous crossovers over the past 25 years. Be they collaborations with Capcom and NIS like Cross Edge and Trinity Universe, one-versus-one-thousand Musou games like Warriors All-Stars, or even town management sims such as Nelke and the Legendary Alchemists: Ateliers of t… Read More »
I’m the first to admit that my knowledge of Musuo/Warriors games is severely limited. I’ve only played three spin-off titles from the celebrated hack-and-slash subgenre. The first two were Fire Emblem Warriors and Touken Ranbu Warriors, which I immensely enjoyed. However, it was… Read More »
Panzer Dragoon Saga is gaming’s most well-hidden masterpiece. And while it is not necessarily cloaked in underground obscurity nor buried under obtuse design, playing it legitimately today requires a monetary devotion that is practically unachievable for all but the extremely wealthy, making it a ra… Read More »
There can only be one. Since time immemorial (May of 2019), Retro Encounter has held quiz shows to determine which Retro Encounter panelist knows the most about the subject we celebrate every day on our beloved website. Today, five former RPGFan quiz show winners duke it out in a trivia free-for-all… Read More »
The release history of Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories is a somewhat long and strange one. Commercially overshadowed by its immediate predecessor and successor, it was initially released for the Game Boy Advance in 2004. After several years, the game got a remake in 3D for the PlayStation 2 as Kin… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re celebrating our 300th episode with a special draft! Four years is a long time in the video game industry, so we’re making predictions about what things will be like when we record our 400th episode in April 2028. Jono has gathered all the hosts from the RPG… Read More »
This edition of RPGs Coming This Week is, once again, for the visual novel enjoyers. And yet, I feel like now’s a good time for unversed folks to check it out. With everything going on lately, I know for sure I’d love a quiet evening reading an engrossing tale on my Nintendo Switch. If that sounds l… Read More »
It’s now par de course for ATLUS to release expanded follow-up releases of their titles, the first being Shin Megami Tensei: Persona 3: FES back in 2008. Nearly 20 years later, with almost as much of a mouthful of a title, we have been blessed with Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance. This version-1.5 g… Read More »
When the lights go out after the show, what do you do when you get an unexpected encore? Stray Gods: Orpheus, a DLC follow-up to Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, invites you to step into the shoes of the long-suffering Orpheus after the main game’s conclusion. Orpheus, idling during his eternity… Read More »
In The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak, the blurry line between law and chaos is painted with shades of gray. You play as Van Arkride, a “spriggan” taking on all types of jobs for people that fall between the cracks of society so long as they don’t overstep his honor code. Located in the R… Read More »
PlayStation IV: A New Hope The PlayStation 4 was a massively successful console, with incredible sales, an official lifespan of seven years, and game releases continuing to the present day. And moreso than its predecessor, the PS4 had a rich selection of RPGs. Today, four Retro Encounter panelists e… Read More »
Claton Stevenson My first impressions of Grandia II was initially to cringe, particularly at the abrasive and often misogynistic sass coming out of main protagonist Ryudo’s mouth. Thankfully, though, Ryudo is quickly given opportunities to soften and grow, as the narrative reveals more about his lif… Read More »
It’s 1997, and you just sat down in the computer room on a summer evening to relax and stay up late playing videogames without worrying about school. You boot up Riven and enter a dimly lit, expansive stone chamber, seemingly underground yet not cramped or claustrophobic. Intricate carvings extend a… Read More »
Almost exactly a year ago, we published a fun episode on jazz and funk RPG music. Today we are back with a spiritual sequel, talking about jazz, funk, but especially city pop. All our tracks in this episode represent one or more of these genres, but all are excellent listens. So sit back and listen… Read More »
Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord turned me into a quivering wreck. Over this last week or so, the sheer thought of losing yet more brave adventurers to enemy blades, of being teleported to a distant part of a trap-laden dungeon, or of having to return to the safety of the surface with h… Read More »
Would you rather choose dawn, or daybreak? This edition of RPGs Coming This Week dares to ask, “Why not both?” Also on the docket are two Chinese titles, including the latest free-to-play feast for the senses from industry giant HoYoverse. Join us as we roll out the red carpet for these blockbusters… Read More »
Are you too cool for school? I’m certainly not, especially if it’s the magical school featured in today’s game of choice. Introducing Arcadia Fallen II, the standalone follow-up to 2021’s enchanting visual novel from Galdra Studios.
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