Highlight Archives | Page 5 of 47

Nioh 3

Posted by Zek Lu on February 4, 2026

Nioh is my favorite Soulslike series of all time. Few games have ever rewarded mastery the way the series’ previous entries did, and even now, I struggle to think of another action RPG that offers the same sense of control once everything clicks. So, going into Nioh 3, my expectations were personal.… Read More »

Random Encounter 340 – Cause and Effect

Posted by Jonathan Logan on February 3, 2026

On this week’s Random Encounter, it’s all about games featuring cause and effect! First up, Audra is here to chat with us about the time-travelling, Souls-like sequel to 2019’s Code Vein: Code Vein II. Though it can occasionally feel like being trapped in a time loop while playing against a Souls-li… Read More »

Dragon Quest VII Reimagined

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on February 2, 2026

Sometimes I think I played a different game when people talk about the original Dragon Quest VII. What do you mean it’s too long? You want fewer islands? Okay, sure, I could do with things going a little faster in the beginning, but that’s part of the beauty of Dragon Quest VII: it takes its time. I… Read More »

Hermit and Pig

Posted by Ben Love on February 2, 2026

Much of the joy I derive from playing indie RPGs comes from seeing how independent developers remix familiar mechanics and classic presentation towards a singular purpose that a larger studio or publisher would never touch. Many big productions are so focused on appealing to everyone that they lack… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 2/1/26

Posted by Mike Salbato on February 1, 2026

While our RPGs coming this week column technically includes anything coming out between February 1st through the 7th, it seems most publishers have their eyes firmly set on Thursday, as three of our four titles this week all launch on February 5th! With a new entry in a small-but-popular Souls-like… Read More »

Retro Encounter 478 – RPGs That Deserve a Perfect Score

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 29, 2026

On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we discuss something that has only been awarded once at RPGFan: a perfect score. So, each panelist brings on one game they think deserves a perfect score and defend it against the panel. But there can be only one! Who will be our winner? Listen in to find o… Read More »

Cassette Boy

Posted by Ben Love on January 28, 2026

One of my favorite things about smaller games is their willingness to embrace off-the-wall mechanics and take quirky concepts as far as they will go. While big and even mid-budget games are so focused on appealing to the largest number of players possible by iterating on proven ideas, small developm… Read More »

Steel Century Groove

Posted by Jerry Williams on January 27, 2026

I love indies because they can do almost anything, any way. Triple-A titles can break from the pack, but most of their qualities are time-tested and safe; after all, there is investors’ money on the line. Indies come with dreams, vision, and minimal worries about risk. That’s how we get titles like… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 1/25/26

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 25, 2026

Hello, fellow RPG fans! This week we have a pair of offbeat indie titles you may want to keep an eye on, plus a decidedly larger title with vampires or something. So whether you’re into open world anime soulslikes, British comedy adventure, or dancing robots, the RPGs coming this week don’t lack in… Read More »

RPGFan Chapters Review: Boss Fight Books ‘Legend of the River King’ by Alexander B. Joy

Posted by Ben Love on January 24, 2026

After hearing about publisher Boss Fight Books from podcasts and reviews (like Alana Hagues’ review of BFB title Final Fantasy VI) over the years, yet somehow never picking up one of their titles, I jumped at the opportunity to review their newest addition to their vast library of documentary-style… Read More »

Retro Encounter Final Thoughts – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 23, 2026

Aleks Franiczek It’s been over 6 years since Vanillaware released 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and in that time the game has garnered a reputation as one of the great videogame narrative masterpieces of the modern era. Obviously, I had lofty expectations going in. Cue the first scene: a schoolgirl is er… Read More »

Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade (Switch 2)

Posted by Noah Leiter on January 21, 2026

Hey there, sports fans. I have played a sports videogame before; my first was Baseball for the Nintendo Game Boy, a remarkable game for its time because it let you simulate playing baseball outside, you know, where they play baseball and stuff. But this isn’t a review of Baseball on the Nintendo Gam… Read More »

TR-49

Posted by Hilary Andreff on January 21, 2026

“But how can a novel…be fake?” my friend astutely pointed out as I was trying to explain the premise behind inkle’s TR-49. Because the authors never existed? No, there are plenty of instances of pen names and disputed authorship. Because there were no records of these books outside one instance bu… Read More »

Angeline Era

Posted by Ben Love on January 20, 2026

As a longtime fan of the Ys series, I’ve often wondered what Ys would look like had it kept the archaic yet charming bump-combat system that defined Ys Books I&II. This bump combat arose when games were more minimal in their presentation and limited in scope; in adapting to the changing times an… Read More »

Random Encounter 339 – 2025 Year in Review

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 19, 2026

In our first Random Encounter of 2026, we’re taking a look back at 2025! While many would describe 2025 as a mixed bag (at best), there is no disputing that it was a banner year for video games. Not only did we finally get two of the most anticipated sequels of all time in Hollow Knight: Silksong an… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 1/18/26

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 18, 2026

Hello RPG fans with an eye on the future! We have another week that is small on quantity of releases, but high on quality and content. For many, the Switch 2 (and Xbox) release of Final Fantasy VII Remake Intergrade is the star this week, as we all look forward to seeing how Cloud’s remade adventure… Read More »

Final Fantasy: Moogle Bounty Mayhem

Posted by Jerry Williams on January 17, 2026

Final Fantasy: Moogle Bounty Mayhem is yet another iteration of Final Fantasy licensed board games, this one driven by cardplay. In the board game sphere, licensed properties range from all-time greats to harrowingly disappointing. A good intellectual property does not guarantee good board game desi… Read More »

Retro Encounter 477 – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Part II

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 15, 2026

I love you, and that’s why I gotta listen to Retro Encounter. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we chat about the twisty, turny second half of 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. Do all the plot points land? Who was our favorite character? Is there actually a reason they’re naked in the Sentinels? Lis… Read More »

The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon

Posted by Audra Bowling on January 14, 2026

Those valiantly keeping up with The Legend of Heroes: Trails series have long been anticipating the finale of the multi-faceted, interconnected grand saga that’s arguably Falcom’s magnum opus. As the Republic of Calvard begins preparations to journey into space (the final frontier) for the first tim… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 174 – Music of the Year 2025

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 13, 2026

Well hello there, and yes, it is time for a super-sized episode of Rhythm Encounter to celebrate many of the excellent RPG soundtracks, arrangements, and more from 2025. That’s right, it’s Music of the Year 2025 time! With four panelists who each brought on three songs, this is certainly our longest… Read More »

RPGs Coming This Week, 1/11/26

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 11, 2026

After several weeks off, RPGs Coming This Week is back! It’s not so much that we were taking a holiday break so much as it was most publishers were doing so. But that changes this week, with a varied lineup featuring an otome visual novel with wild character names, a perspective-shifting, retro-styl… Read More »

Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail Patch 7.4 – Into the Mist

Posted by Caitlin Argyros on January 10, 2026

In my past Final Fantasy XIV reviews, I’ve often been a little more critical of the fourth patch following an expansion. Coming off of the second climax in the third patch, the story in the fourth patch slows down as the game starts laying the groundwork for the next expansion. This can sometimes me… Read More »

Retro Encounter 476 – 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim Part I

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on January 8, 2026

I don’t trust much in this post-war world, but if there’s one exception, it’s my Retro Encounter. On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we’re jumping through time and getting inside our mechs in the first half of Vanillaware’s 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim. We talk about our first impressions of the… Read More »

Riviera: The Promised Land Remastered

Posted by Joshua Lindquist on January 6, 2026

I first played Riviera: The Promised Land when it was released on Game Boy Advance. The character artwork and music immediately grabbed my attention, and I was excited to try the command-based exploration — an idea that was completely new to me in 2005. Riviera quickly became one of my favorite Game… Read More »

Rhythm Encounter 173 – Investigating Fall Music

Posted by Mike Salbato on January 5, 2026

Given the monumental releases throughout most of 2025, it would be easy to think we saw the best of what last year had to offer by September. But nay! The last quarter of 2025 graced us with many excellent releases, and today we discuss a couple of arrangement albums worth your time, plus four brand… Read More »

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