And finally, we present to you the end of our list! Everything from Souls-likes to Pokémon, but not at the same time (hey, that sounds kinda fun!). There’s tons of other stuff between, so check it out!
Phantom Blade Zero
Writeup by Zach Wilkerson
Mix one part Souls-like, one part Ninja Gaiden, and a whole lot of wuxia/martial-arts inspired combat and you might come to something resembling Phantom Blade Zero. Based on what we’ve seen so far, the combat looks fast, frenetic, and deeply satisfying. Every time I see a new boss fight, I notice a new mechanic that looks like more than just a cheap gimmick. More recently, trailers have focused on level exploration, sometimes a sore spot with action RPGs. The mix of platforming, stealth, and action, coupled with what developer S-GAME claims is a truly “open” world, could be something special—I can’t wait to find out when September rolls around.
Pokémon Champions
Writeup by Noah Leiter
Pokémon Champions feels less like a return to Pokémon Stadium’s battle-focused formula and more like the culmination of years of online multiplayer tinkering that started with Sword & Shield. Laddering, ranked and private battles, and various gimmicks like Mega Evolutions return from recent titles in Pokémon Champions. However, there’s also training, move and stat customization, and Pokémon recruitment here, making Champions Ursaring-complete—like Turing-complete, except instead of basic programming, Champions players can access all the functions of a mainline Pokémon title: catching, training, trading (by way of the Pokémon HOME service), and battling. That’s all great, but even better is the implied potential of Pokémon Champions: to separate the competitive side of Pokémon from the role-playing side of the series, perhaps signaling the kind of visual and gameplay polish that fans have pleaded for since treegate 2019. The Pokémon Video Game Championship’s delegation to a live service game makes it easy to conjecture that the subsequent Gen 10 will be a major evolution for the mainline games, a step in the right direction for performance, quality, and more. But we’ve been fooled before…
Pokémon Pokopia
Writeup by Noah Leiter
Of course, Pokémon Champions may not be the panacea to all our Pokéfan woes, as we here at RPGFan have been hankering for a good genre mashup in the series since the gorgeous and lively New Pokémon Snap in 2021—and no, we do not count Pokémon Friends, as it is not a mashup but literally a different game. Pokémon Pokopia promises to scratch our mashup itch by putting players in the muddy boots of a human farme… oh? Scratch that, it’s a Ditto! As this beady-eyed little master of disguise, players will use Ditto’s pool of pilfered Pokémon moves to navigate the bucolic Pokopia, grow crops, build a small farm, and, most importantly, attract wild Pokémon to the area. These wild Pokémon offer Ditto new moves/transformations, as well as side quests and (best of all) friendship. Hey, maybe Pokopia is the real Pokémon Friends we made along the way. ❤️
SacriFire
Writeup by Audra Bowling
SacriFire is a game we’ve been anticipating for a while, yet the wait finally nears its end with a planned Q1 2026 PC release! This retro-flavored RPG’s story stars Ezekiel Ridan, a priest striving to protect his underground homeland against nefarious forces from the lands above. Will he succeed, or will he discover things aren’t even as clear-cut as they appear? SacriFire’s narrative merges fantasy and sci-fi elements, with combat that blends real-time and turn-based systems to keep you on your toes. Expect Ezekiel’s journey to have a fluid and robust battle system backed by a soundtrack featuring musical works from label G4F Records and the illustrious Motoi Sakuraba. While SacriFire wears its 90s RPG inspirations on its sleeve, it also promises to carve out its own unique place in the gaming scene with its highly anticipated release.
Starbites
Writeup by Paul Skevington
There aren’t enough RPGs that strap you into the seat of a pulsating mechanical monstrosity, and that is exactly where Starbites comes to save the day. You play Lukida, a downtrodden inhabitant of a dystopian desert world who dreams of escaping its confines into a better life beyond. Starbites features turn-based mech combat with some interesting twists, such as the “Driver’s High” function, which allows you to interrupt the enemy with an action of your own. Lukida’s teammates include his friends, boozy funseeker Gwendoll and the more steadfast Badger, each with unique mechs and distinct skills. The character designs are colourful, radiating style and charm like the midday sun. The devs have promised us a truly expansive adventure I am eager to test out. I was lucky enough to attend a preview event of the game recently, and everything I saw led me to believe that Starbites is one to look out for in 2026.
Tales of Berseria Remaster
Writeup by Rob White
My experience with the Tales series is pretty sporadic, but I’ve enjoyed all of the remasters so far, with particular note going to Tales of Graces f Remastered. Even though Tales of Berseria is a more recent Tales game, it’s one I’ve yet to experience. I understand many series fans’ complaints of remastering Berseria as unnecessary, especially in light of it being chosen over older, more popular entries (and ones more in need of an upgrade), but hey, if I can play a slightly boosted version, I’m going to take it.
I’m looking forward to spending time with this cast of morally questionable characters, especially the series’ first female protagonist. I’ve also heard how great the story is, changing up the tone with darker and more adult themes and often topping popularity rankings online. I also love how these remasters incorporate all of the DLC—what can I say, I’m a sucker for costumes! Whilst it may not be a popular remaster choice, I’m excited to finally give Berseria a try in 2026… once I’ve finished Tales of Xillia Remastered anyway.
Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter
Writeup by Audra Bowling
As expected, Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter is the hotly anticipated sequel to Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. As a remake of The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, this title boasts the same 3D graphics, updated voice work, and revamped battle system found in 2025’s Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. I adored playing the original LoH: Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter on my PSP, and I’m eagerly awaiting the chance to dive into the second part of Estelle and Joshua’s tale all over again with this remake. Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter was a true delight that reminded me why I love the LoH: Trails series and its characters so much, so I’ve no doubt its sequel will do much the same at providing a new experience for returning players while also allowing newcomers the chance to experience the next portion of a grand adventure for the first time.
Witchbrook
Writeup by Mike Salbato
Life sims take many forms these days. The genre continues to grow beyond farming sims with devs trying new ideas. While there were far fewer magical or witchy life sims when Chucklefish first teased Witchbrook in 2016 (under the name Spellbound), the game’s intricate isometric pixel art only looks more beautiful every year.
Set around Witchbrook College in the seaside town of Mossport, Witchbrook offers familiar life sim elements like forging friendships and supporting the community alongside a world of magic. Thanks to the dev blogs Chucklefish started in summer 2025, we can see the detailed character customization options, several areas of Mossport and its shops, and a surprisingly large map that is more expansive than many may have expected.
While it’s understandable to be skeptical about any game that takes so long to make, Witchbrook looks better each time we see it. Between Chucklefish’s zero-crunch policy and bringing Robotality (Wargroove 2) in to help, the game’s future seems bright.
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
Writeup by Aleks Franiczek
Yakuza 3 may not need the Kiwami remake treatment to the same extent that the first two entries of the series did, but the game certainly deserves more love, and this is a fine way of showing it. Underlying the original Yakuza 3’s janky look and feel is one of the best stories in the series—featuring an especially nuanced characterization of everyone’s favorite gentleman badass, Kazuma Kiryu, and one of the series’ most memorable antagonists in Yoshitaka Mine. A beautiful visual overhaul to the Okinawa area, a new Okinawan-based Ryukyu weapon style, and modern QoL polish are the only excuses I needed to revisit this unique entry.
But if that’s not enough of a selling point for you, there’s the whole Dark Ties part of the package. This meaty expansion-sized addition will offer a playable origin story for the villainous Mine, giving our angsty boy a fresh boxing-based combat style and promising to expand on the compelling narrative parallels between him and Kiryu as orphans-turned-yakuza.
Ys X: Proud Nordics
Writeup by Audra Bowling
Ys X: Proud Nordics is an enhanced port of the recently released Ys X: Nordics. Starring a younger version of the intrepid red-haired adventurer Adol Christin and the Norman marauder Karja Balta, Ys X: Proud Nordics and its inventive Cross Action system allows you to switch between solo and dual combat to play as either Adol or Karja. Proud Nordics includes all of the original’s content along with both quality of life gameplay improvements and original story content centered around Öland Island and new characters Canute and Astrid. Muspelheim is a new timed dungeon that can also be explored and challenged over the course of Ys X: Proud Nordics. You can even manipulate the very environment around you using the new Mana Hold ability. Given the new content and QoL improvements, Ys X: Proud Nordics promises to be the definitive version of Adol and Karja’s adventure!
