On this emergency bonus episode of Random Encounter, we’re taking over Rhythm Encounter’s usual timeslot to talk about a game that has every RPG fan buzzing: Elden Ring! (Rhythm Encounter will return in two weeks on its regular schedule.) The latest Souls-like masterpiece from the wizards at FromSof… Read More »
In which we all followed the Light, and read spoilers on the Dark Three Retro Encounter panelists finished runs of Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic this month, and discover the truth of the Star Forge, the Sith Academy, and Darth Revan. Droids guarding riddles, Sith guarding crystals, and one… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re talking about two games that take place in very different types of open worlds! First up, Caitlin walks us through the expansive open world of Horizon Forbidden West, the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn. Improving on the original in almost every way,… Read More »
A few decades ago, in a BioWare far, far away… Way back in 2003, Knights of the Old Republic was a standout RPG for the original Xbox that helped raise the public profile of BioWare, a sizeable Canadian developer of western-style RPGs. And less than a year before KOTOR is slated for a huge remake,… Read More »
Ah, Valentine’s Day. That day when a little cherub works as hard as Santa Claus, flying around the world and launching volleys of heart-tipped arrows into the buttocks of potential lovers. That’s how it works, right? In this episode, our panel brings eight tracks to represent several forms of love a… Read More »
Abandon some hope, ye who play this game In a semi-sequel to Retro Encounter’s 2019 attempt to play the horror adventure sensation Until Dawn, the same two panelists reconvene with the 2020 Dark Pictures Anthology title, Little Hope. 17th-century witch trials, building character traits, and navigati… Read More »
Skies of Arcadia has big ambitions in the second half of the game, and the Retro crew are finally allowed to sail beyond the sunset! With a new ship, their own secret base, and their very own crew to hand, these four foolhardy sailors discuss their favourite discoveries, crew members, and superbosse… Read More »
Over on Random Encounter & Retro Encounter, we’ve talked about our favorite games of 2021, and now it’s time to discuss our favorite music! Four panelists come together with an extra-large playlist today, covering a wide range of music released throughout the year. Yes, Final Fantasy XIV: Endwal… Read More »
Once dubbed the official Retro Encounter game, 2000’s Dreamcast classic Skies of Arcadia finally sails on to the show. It’s a fickle ship to get your hands on, but luckily, four Retro Encounter regulars are onboard to discuss this RPG all about optimism, friendship, exploration, and adorable space b… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s time to look at some of the best games of the previous year! RPGFan has released our annual Games of the Year feature, and this week, we’re taking a deep dive. Join Jono, Alana, Brian, and Wes as they dig into the various categories, pick out their personal… Read More »
RPGFans? Not today, we’re not! Here at RPGFan, we write and talk about RPGs almost nonstop, but that’s not all of who we are as fans of video games. Today, five RPGFan staff discuss ten of their favorite video games or series that aren’t quite RPG enough for RPGFan, in a self-indulgent sequel… Read More »
Whether or not you play Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, you may know that Nintendo’s latest entry in its fighter series features more than a few characters from RPGs: 31 of its 82 characters are from our beloved genre, and that number grows if you want to bend the rules and include Mario characters beca… Read More »
What will be the Final Fantastic game among our Personal picks? It’s a new year, and Retro Encounter rings in 2022 with a bang, counting down a ranked list of fourteen PlayStation 2 RPGs, compiled from the panelists’ own preferences, to eventually crown an official Retro Encounter Best PlaySta… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re doing a little bit of cleanup! Some super interesting games were released at the very end of 2021, and we have some folks who played them! Audra is here to talk about her experience playing both Another Eden: The Cat Beyond Time and Space and its Chrono Cro… Read More »
Once upon a time, an RPGFan editor remarked that Chrono Cross (where’s that remaster?) smelled like a piña colada. This little side comment sparked an idea with our own Michael Sollosi about what other RPG and drink pairings might sound and taste like. Over a year later, four panelists have chosen s… Read More »
Happy Last Year! (Good riddance) A year has come and gone, and Retro Encounter has always been more about the past than the future. Four RPGFan staff discuss twelve of their favorite games of 2021, from remade trilogies to time loops to demon summoning to canine companionship. Listen to the end for… Read More »
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re taking a look in our crystal ball to preview the games of 2022! Every December, RPGFan publishes an extensive feature focusing on the games we’re most excited for in the upcoming year. And this week, we get to talk about it! Does the panel think that F… Read More »
Three worlds, four (maybe five) characters, and a whole whack of potential jobs: That’s Final Fantasy V in a nutshell! In today’s Retro, our four panelists will finish their exploration of the story of FFV, talk about some of our favorite jobs, and take a look at other versions of the game tha… Read More »
Long ago, the two podcasts of RPGFan lived in harmony. But then, everything changed when the Rhythm Nation attacked. Actually, that’s not true. Rhythm Encounter was actually around before Retro Encounter, but Janet Jackson didn’t record a song called Retro Nation, did she? (Did she?) Today we are ge… Read More »
Four RPGFan panelists discuss the “odd one out” of the Final Fantasy 16-bit era, 1992’s Final Fantasy V. For those who loved RPGs during the SNES era, there was a game that forever seemed out of reach: Final Fantasy V. This unlocalized title was so legendary that it inspired the very first fan trans… Read More »
Husbands should be like Kleenex: Soft, strong, and disposable. Romance, drama, comedy, regret, and… rice? Impostor Factory is a visual novel of sorts that looks like a 16-bit RPG, the third game in Kan Gao’s Sigmund Corp trilogy after To the Moon and Finding Paradise, and oh boy does it leave an i… Read More »
Marty, we’ve got to go back! Back to the… past. That didn’t work. But on this episode of Rhythm Encounter, we’re doing a console-specific episode, for the first time since Episode 1 (which debuted way back in February 2013). The Nintendo Entertainment System wasn’t the first game platform, but its… Read More »
Remember us. Remember that we once podcasted. Emet-Selch, the principal antagonist of Final Fantasy XIV: Shadowbringers, is a unique blend of a foppish eccentric, a world-erasing psychopath, and a grieving survivor. He’s a complicated, entertaining foil to the Warrior of Light, and Retro Encounter i… Read More »
RPGFan uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're okay with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRejectRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
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.