- Article
- Rhythm Encounter
- Podcast
Rhythm Encounter 167 – Naoshi Mizuta Spotlight
Today we highlight a composer and games that don’t often appear on the show. Naoshi Mizuta’s music credits span 30 years, and much of that time has been with Square Enix leading the charge on Final Fantasy XI’s soundtrack. That Final Fantasy XI, which launched in 2002 on PC and the PlayStation 2 (TW… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 9/21/25
In this edition of RPGs Coming This Week, we tackle the biggest indie release of the year not named Hollow Knight: Silksong, as well as a host of other smaller titles. Don’t worry; the blockbusters are coming. We ain’t seen nothing yet! Aethermancer (Entering Early Access) – September 23rd (Windows,… Read More »- Feature
RPGFan Chapters Review: 50 Indie Games that Changed the World by Bitmap Books
I can’t imagine the difficulty in picking 50 essential or notable indie games over the last five years, to say nothing of doing so without a designated timeframe, but that’s exactly what writer Aaron Potter did with Bitmap Books’ latest release, 50 Indie Games that Changed the World. Before I begin,… Read More »- Music Review
Deltarune Piano Collections: Volume 1
Many gamers caught Deltarune fever in 2025, with the simultaneous release of Chapters 3 and 4 (of a planned seven total chapters). Personally, this game music fanboy had been waiting patiently for a Deltarune Piano Collections release from Materia Collective. After all, their official two-volume pub… Read More »- Music Review
Deltarune Soundtrack (Chapters 1-4)
In a conversation with BAFTA-winning composer Yoko Shimomura, composer/auteur director Toby Fox spoke on teaching himself his favorite game music on piano by ear. In many ways, the soundtrack to his indie smash hit Undertale (2015) is a sharp-eared deconstruction of iconic NES and SNES-era tunes, ju… Read More »- Article
- Preview
Alabaster Dawn Hands-On: A Gorgeous Pixel Art RPG in the Making!
2018’s CrossCode was a delightful surprise to many, with its SNES-style pixel graphics, fast-paced action combat, and .hack-like pseudo MMO setting. Now Radical Fish Games is back with Alabaster Dawn, a spiritual successor to CrossCode that looks like a fantastic sophomore entry for the German devel… Read More »- Feature
Retro Encounter Final Thoughts – Drakengard
Aleks Franiczek I knew going into Drakengard that I was in for a ride. A pretty much singular ride fueled by an indulgently morbid tone, ambitious genre-crossing design, clever subversions of RPG tropes, an OST from hell, and heaps of jank. What I didn’t expect was that I’d find this ride as enjoyab… Read More »- Article
- News
Dispatch to Launch on October 22nd
AdHoc Studio has announced that its superhero adventure game Dispatch will launch on October 22nd for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. The game will release across four consecutive weeks from the initial release date. Each week’s release will comprise two episodes, totalling eight overall. Check out… Read More »- Article
- Rhythm Encounter
- Podcast
Rhythm Encounter 166 – Echoes of Eorzea: Final Fantasy XIV
It sure is weird to think that our last dedicated Final Fantasy XIV episode was almost four years ago, with Episode 69: What Moogle Wakes Me? Today, with a 75% different set of panelists, we return to “RPGFan’s Favorite MMORPG” with selections from several of FFXIV’s expansions, including fan favori… Read More »- Article
- News
Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved Brings Retro Mysteries on November 26th
Armonica has announced that mystery adventure game Detective Instinct: Farewell, My Beloved will launch on November 26th for Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam. The announcement was accompanied by a new trailer that showcased the game’s pixelated presentation, core mystery, and some of the characters.… Read More »- Article
- News
Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga Brings the Fight on October 10th
Falcom and publisher refint/games have announced that Ys vs. Trails in the Sky: Alternative Saga will launch on October 10th for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and GOG. According to refint, a limited physical version with be released by Limited Run… Read More »- Review
Hyke: Northern Light(s)
Hyke: Northern Light(s) sits at an increasingly common crossroads for smaller-scale JRPGs, with one foot turned towards adventure and the other towards cosiness. Sometimes it just isn’t enough to send your party out on a quest to save the world: you’ve also got to find a little time to relax. Life-s… Read More »- Article
- News
Battle Suit Aces Soars Starward on October 7th
Outersloth and developer Trinket Studios have announced that their mech-focused card RPG Battle Suit Aces will launch on October 7th for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. As reported by Gematsu, a new trailer accompanied the announcement, showcasing a short burst of card-battling, me… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 9/14/25
The floodgates have opened. This summer was pretty low-key in terms of new releases, but autumn rectifies that with an absolutely packed slate. It’s gonna be like that for the next six months or so, really, knowing what we know now after that behemoth of a Nintendo Direct. So, as always, here’s your… Read More »- Article
- News
Nintendo Direct 9/12/25 Roundup
The latest Nintendo Direct has come and gone, and considering it was the longest to date, we completely understand if you’re having trouble keeping up with everything shown during the presentation. With that in mind, we’ve put together this roundup of all the “relevant” reveals, trailers, and more.… Read More »Music Review
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Acoustic Arrangements
The heavy-hearted PSOne synths of Nobuo Uematsu’s score for Final Fantasy VII (1997) have been arranged and reinterpreted officially and by fans more times than any game in our coverage, barring perhaps The Legend of Zelda. Among the many, many versions of FFVII’s iconic soundtrack, 2020’s Final Fan… Read More »- Article
- News
Mega Malamar Revealed for Pokémon Legends: Z-A
The Pokémon Company has revealed a brand-new Mega Evolution for the upcoming Pokémon Legends: Z-A: Mega Malamar is joining the roster! The game launches on October 16th, 2025, for Nintendo Switch and Switch 2, and we already have a solid glimpse of its look, along with a growing lineup of Mega Evolu… Read More »- Article
- News
Hades II Exits Early Access on September 25th
Supergiant Games has revealed the version 1.0 release date for Hades II. The highly anticipated sequel to the action RPG/roguelite Hades makes a full launch on September 25th for Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, and PC via Steam. Just like the first game, Hades II will support cross-save between all three… Read More »- Article
- News
Pokémon Pokopia Is a New Life Sim Launching in 2026
Developers Game Freak and Koei Tecmo have teamed up to develop Pokémon Pokopia, a cozy life sim spinoff centered around crafting, creativity, and building. It will be released for Nintendo Switch 2 sometime in 2026. Here’s the trailer shown in the Nintendo Direct: In Pokémon Pokopia, players will pl… Read More »- Article
- News
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Shoots Onto Consoles, PC in 2026
Capcom has unveiled Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection, due out in 2026 for PlayStation 5 and 4, Xbox Series X|S and One, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The compilation includes all seven mainline games in the Star Force series, namely: Mega Man Star Force Pegasus, Leo, and Dragon Mega Man St… Read More »- Article
- News
Danganronpa 2×2 Brings Sinister Tropical Vibes Next Year
Hello again, despair! Danganronpa 2×2, a remake of the visual novel/adventure game Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair, is coming in 2026 to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2, Switch, and PC via Steam. Danganronpa 2×2 is being developed by Gemdrops, the studio behind Star Ocean: The Secon… Read More »- Article
- News
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment Breaks Free on November 6th
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment is coming to Nintendo Switch 2 on November 6th, and you can now pre-order it on the eShop/My Nintendo Store for $69.99 USD. The release date for this musou action RPG, a prequel to The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was announced in the latest Nintendo Di… Read More »- Review
Sultan’s Game
Sultan’s Game defies comparison. In 2025, that’s like striking gold. What’s more, the innovation pairs beautifully with a wealth of quality content that’ll give the literarily inclined much to chew on. Mind, this tabletop-meets-roguelike game isn’t a tome of writing, but every event and action tends… Read More »- Article
- News
Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave to Launch in 2026
Nintendo has announced Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, due out in 2026 for the Switch 2. This new entry in the long-running strategy RPG series debuted at the end of the latest Nintendo Direct. Check out the trailer below to get a feel for the story and main characters, as well as a glimpse of Fire Em… Read More »- Article
- News
Dragon Quest VII Reimagined Sets Sail February 5th, 2026
Nope, it’s not your imagination. Dragon Quest VII Reimagined is real! In the recent Nintendo Direct, we caught our first glimpse of this upcoming remake of Dragon Quest VII: Warriors of Eden, originally released on PS1 and later remade as Dragon Quest VII: Fragments of the Forgotten Past on 3DS. Dra… Read More »- Article
- News
BatteryNote Charges Towards an October 10th Release
Developer 72Studio and publisher Room6 have announced that BatteryNote is scheduled to launch on October 10th for PC and macOS via Steam. The original soundtrack will also be available on the same day. Fans who are interested in the genre and its four-color Game Boy Color aesthetics can test it out… Read More »- Article
- Retro Encounter
- Podcast
Retro Encounter 468 – Drakengard Part II
If you wish to live, choose only Retro Encounter! On this week’s episode of Retro Encounter, we finally finish Drakengard. We cry, we wail. Oh wait, that’s the characters. Just how messed up are the additional endings? Can anyone ever truly be happy? Do rhythm games belong in an RPG? Listen in to fi… Read More »- Review
Upwards, Rain! The Post Office of Farewells
Sometimes, final messages to a loved one aren’t just about closure. They’re about providing someone with the means to carry on living. Visual novel Upwards, Rain! The Post Office of Farewells beautifully conveys that sentiment throughout the puzzle adventure’s sensitive narrative by creating a heart… Read More »- Review
Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy
If you’ve seen anything about the new Idea Factory title, Mado Monogatari: Fia and the Wondrous Academy, and you’re wondering whether that name sounds familiar, then you are my kind of gamer. Because, frankly, that was my immediate thought as well. It required a brief history lesson, and I have to s… Read More »- Article
- News
Digimon Story: Time Stranger Demo to Launch Soon [UPDATE]
UPDATE: Bandai Namco has announced that the demo will launch across platforms from September 10th-11th. On Steam, the demo will go live starting September 10th, 6pm EDT, and September 11th, 12am CEST and 7am JST. On PS5 and XSX, it will launch on September 11th, 12 a.m. EDT, 12 a.m. CEST, and 12 a.m… Read More »- Article
- Random Encounter
- Podcast
Random Encounter 330 – Random Book Club – 50 Indie Games that Changed the World
On this episode of Random Encounter, we’re doing a Random Book Club for the brand-new tome from Bitmap Books: 50 Indie Games that Changed the World. Over the last 20 years, the indie game scene has become just as important as the AAA industry, with games like Hollow Knight: Silksong showing sales nu… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 9/7/25
This edition of the column should really be RPG Coming This Week, as it’s one of those rare times where we only have one item on our agenda. Whether this one game is even an RPG is… debatable, but we as a site land on it being more role-playing than not. I personally dislike arguing about these th… Read More »Music Review
Stellar Blade Original Soundtrack PLUS
SHIFT UP’s Stellar Blade soundtrack turned out to be one of my favourites of 2024, taking me by surprise with its blend of contemporary popular music genres, electronics, and experimentation. I love how it moves from mellow atmospheric pieces to mid-tempo ambient pop to full-blown electro-bangers. Y… Read More »- Article
- News
Beaten Path, an Extensively Customizable SRPG, Coming in 2026
Fans of strategy RPGs have another game to keep an eye on in 2026: Beaten Path from Peacebreak Studio hopes to deliver compelling gameplay and storytelling. Following a successfully funded (but still ongoing) Kickstarter campaign, it’s clearly resonating with RPG fans. The game places you in control… Read More »Music Review
Shin Megami Tensei 30th Anniversary -Special Sound Compilation-
The Shin Megami Tensei 30th Anniversary -Special Sound Compilation- is a massive collection of music split between a 5-CD set and the baffling addition of a USB stick for what would have been another 14 CDs’ worth of music. In some ways, this set offers a massive, inclusive look at the music of Atlu… Read More »- Feature
RPGFan Music of the Year 2024
Well, it’s that time of the year again! Time to celebrate the best of RPG and adventure game music throughout all of… what do you mean it’s September 2025 now? What do you mean that we got most of this written at the beginning of the year but it took until now for the last pieces to come together… Read More »- Article
- News
Square Enix Reveals Tokyo Game Show 2025 Lineup
Square Enix will be showcasing a lineup loaded with HD-2D goodness at Tokyo Game Show 2025, including The Adventures of Elliot: The Millennium Tales, Dragon Quest I & II HD-2D Remake, Octopath Traveler 0, and more. The company will be present at the show from September 25th to September 28th and… Read More »- Article
- News
Falcom CEO Wants a Sequel to Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter
In a recent interview with Automaton West, Nihon Falcom CEO Toshihiro Kondo talked about the future of the Trails series, including plans for a remake of Trails in the Sky SC after Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter. This, of course, would depend on fan reception and demand. Here’s exactly what he had to… Read More »- Feature
RPGFan Chapters Review: Boss Fight Books ‘EverQuest’ by Matthew S. Smith
I shouldn’t know anything about EverQuest. I’ve not been a PC gamer for decades, as I’ve lost the desire to be at the cutting edge of technology when it comes to indulging my gaming passion. I’ve never played World of Warcraft or, despite the evangelism of my RPGFan colleagues, booted up that time-c… Read More »- Article
- News
