Preview Archives

Echoes of Elysium Playtest Preview: Soarin’ and Buildin’

Posted by Scott Clay on April 18, 2025

Thanks to the people at Loric Games, I had the opportunity to sit and playtest their upcoming (and first) indie game, Echoes of Elysium. Echoes of Elysium is a procedurally generated open-world adventure RPG that allows you to take to the skies in airships and explore with your friends or by yoursel… Read More »

Blades of Fire Hands-On Preview: Strike While the Iron is Hot!

Posted by Paul Skevington on March 7, 2025

You might not have heard much about Blades of Fire yet, and if so, that’s not entirely surprising. Blades of Fire is one of those rare treats: a game announced only a few months prior to its anticipated release date. What’s more, publisher 505 Games and Developer MercurySteam invited me to come and… Read More »

Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 Hands-on Preview – The Brushstrokes of a Dream

Posted by Zek Lu on March 3, 2025

What if I told you there’s an upcoming game that’s a cross between Final Fantasy XIII and Paper Mario: The Thousand-Year Door? Would that excite you, or worry you? Clair Obscur: Expedition 33 certainly sounds like someone’s fever dream, but I couldn’t stop playing it. In fact, I played through the p… Read More »

Maliki: Poison of the Past Demo Showcases Unique & Challenging Gameplay

Posted by Patrick Gann on February 24, 2025

Ever since I discovered the French company Ankama—with its English release of DOFUS in 2005—I have been transfixed by their commitment to stunning visuals within clever gameplay formats. But if there’s one thing I wasn’t ready for, it was Maliki: Poison of the Past. I was familiar with Maliki as a w… Read More »

Peripeteia Hands-On: An Engaging and Promising Cyberpunk World

Posted by Ben Love on February 21, 2025

No gaming genre is more hotly debated than the “Immersive Sim.” Combining elements of RPG, First-Person Shooters, Stealth, and Action-Adventure, the genre is more defined by developer pedigree and the amalgamation of various disparate gameplay mechanics rather than any truly defining structure. Peri… Read More »

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Preview (Part 2) + 2 Demos Coming

Posted by Zek Lu on January 16, 2025

Thanks again to the wonderful team at NIS America, we got a second exclusive sneak peek at The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II. As mentioned in our first preview, even though the first Trails through Daybreak only just arrived in July, its sequel is already on the horizon. As devoted Tr… Read More »

Remember Your Oath! Ys Memoire: The Oath in Felghana Hands-On

Posted by Abraham Kobylanski on December 16, 2024

It’s a great time to be a fan of Ys. With Ys X: Nordics arriving a couple months ago, Nihon Falcom decided it’s also the right moment to take a trip into the chronicles of Adol Christin’s earlier adventures. Tracing its origin back to Ys III: Wanderers from Ys over 35 years ago, Oath in Felghana is… Read More »

Prisma Preview – Beyond the Boundaries of Time and Space

Posted by Zek Lu on December 10, 2024

Imagine a world where every person you meet is another version of you. They share your face but not your goals, your voice, but not your intentions. Some are allies, others adversaries, but none of them are truly strangers. As someone who loved the artistic creativity of Cris Tales, I was eager to s… Read More »

Path of Exile 2 Hands-On Preview: Off to a Thrilling & Promising Start

Posted by Zek Lu on November 21, 2024

Path of Exile 2 is shaping up to be a remarkably ambitious follow-up to its predecessor, and the exclusive presentation led by game director Jonathan Rogers gave us a firsthand look at the game’s innovative direction. Unlike past previews that focused on the early stages of the story, this prev… Read More »

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero Preview and Dev Q&A

Posted by Paul Skevington on November 21, 2024

Phantom Brave: The Lost Hero is a tactical JRPG and the long-awaited sequel to the fan-favorite Phantom Brave, arriving more than 20 years after the original game’s release. RPGFan recently attended a live demonstration of the new title by NIS America, which primarily focused on gameplay and mechani… Read More »

Avowed is a Comfortable Return to Eora

Posted by Mark Roddison on November 21, 2024

Pillars of Eternity and its sequel are two of my favorite CRPGs from the last decade. Steeped in classic isometric vibes, loaded with busy civilian and wilderness settings, and capped with complex game systems, they were a work of real quality and scope. Despite the original selling well, the sequel… Read More »

The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II Preview

Posted by Scott Clay on November 5, 2024

Thanks to the lovely people at NIS America, we recently had the privilege of watching a preview demo of the upcoming The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II. No, your eyes aren’t playing tricks on you even though Trails through Daybreak only recently released this July: the sequel releases… Read More »

Hands-On with the First 10 Hours of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake + Launch Trailer

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on October 31, 2024

There is plenty to say about Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake, but let’s start with the brand new launch trailer (that artwork above is also new) to get you in the spirit, with the rest of this preview below! The most surprising thing about the first ten hours of Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake is the re… Read More »

Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven Demo Impressions: Glimmering a Remake!

Posted by Patrick Gann on September 18, 2024

In about a month, Square Enix will publish Romancing SaGa 2: Revenge of the Seven, a full 3D from the ground up remake of the 1993 original Romancing SaGa 2. As a long-time SaGa series fan, I was eager to get a taste of what this particular remake was about. And, thanks to a new demo that Square Eni… Read More »

Metaphor: ReFantazio Preview – The First Four Hours

Posted by Scott Clay on August 28, 2024

So what if Atlus took their two flagship series, Persona and Shin Megami Tensei, and smashed them together? Well, you would end up with the game Atlus has been developing for the last six years, the fantastic Metaphor: ReFantazio. And that, my friends, is about to pay off big time as Metaphor: ReFan… Read More »

Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis Hands-On Preview – The (Better) Answer?

Posted by Scott Clay on August 15, 2024

See the video version of this preview below to see the game in action! Thanks to the great people at Atlus, I recently had the privilege of trying out a small portion of the upcoming DLC for Persona 3 Reload, Episode Aigis. Episode Aigis is often known by its original name, … Read More »

Visions of Mana Hands-On: A Beautiful Return to Form

Posted by Izzy Parsons on August 14, 2024

Who had the majestic return of the Mana series on their 2024 bingo card? I certainly didn’t. And yet, I’ve spent nearly eight hours with Visions of Mana, and I couldn’t be happier with its direction. Visions of Mana is Mana at its utmost, a game oozing with charm, vibrancy, and an underlying melanch… Read More »

AI LIMIT Hands-On Preview: A Sci-Fi Souls-like with Style

Posted by Des Miller on July 18, 2024

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 »

Beloved Rapture Demo Impressions: A Promising Classic-Style RPG

Posted by Audra Bowling on June 27, 2024

Beloved Rapture is a game I’ve been eagerly anticipating for quite some time since it is a throwback to classic, turn-based RPGs promising a narrative centered around bonds and LGBT undertones. Admittedly, what first drew me to Beloved Rapture is how pretty it looks and the developer’s descriptions… Read More »

SteamWorld Heist II Preview

Posted by Ben Love on June 26, 2024

Thunderful Gothenburg wowed me nearly a decade ago with their tightly-tuned turn-based strategy tile SteamWorld Heist. Taking a 2D side-scrolling approach to strategy proved to be a stroke of genius, relying on steady aim and careful positioning of your colorful cast of Steambots rather than behind-… Read More »

Wander Stars Demo Impressions: Super Fire Edition!

Posted by Audra Bowling on June 24, 2024

Martial arts and the power of words combine in interactive anime-styled turn-based RPG Wander Stars! Step into the role of aspiring martial artist Ringo as she reluctantly joins forces with the enigmatic and somewhat shady Wolfe in a star system-spanning adventure to find the pieces of the mythic Wa… Read More »

Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake Lands This Fall: Our Hands-On Impressions

Posted by Zach Wilkerson on June 18, 2024

Folks, it’s finally here. Dragon Quest III HD-2D Remake will release on November 14th of this year. I had the chance to spend 45 minutes exploring the early part of the game at Summer Game Fest’s Play Days, and at the end of that time I had tears in my eyes. Not just because I got to… Read More »

Netflix at Summer Game Fest – The Dragon Prince: Xadia and Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure

Posted by Mario Garcia on June 17, 2024

Netflix continues to expand its gaming library, and I got to check out The Dragon Prince: Xadia and Arranger: A Role-Puzzling Adventure during Summer Game Fest! Let’s dive in. The Dragon Prince: Xadia Based on the beloved animated series, The Dragon Prince: Xadia has players engage in hectic… Read More »

Bloomtown: A Different Story Demo Impressions

Posted by Audra Bowling on June 15, 2024

Bloomtown: A Different Story is a traditional RPG unfolding in a seemingly idyllic Americana setting. The game’s unique narrative revolves around twelve-year-old Emily and her younger brother Chester, sent to live with their grandfather in Bloomtown for the summer. Expecting a mundane time of runnin… Read More »

Dungeons of Hinterberg Preview

Posted by Abraham Kobylanski on June 15, 2024

Welcome to Hinterberg! Hit the slopes and hit some enemies as you explore this resort town in the mountains of Austria in Dungeons of Hinterberg. Meet charming friends and support small local businesses with some shopping. Enjoy food from the local eateries and get involved with restaurant drama. Se… Read More »

Preview(s) Archive