- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 3/8/26
Welcome back once again! There is an intriguing lineup of RPGs coming this week, with some differing gameplay and presentation. Hopefully, it’s a “something for everyone” type of situation, and we’re fortunate to also have staff members with hands-on experience covering our titles this week. From ee… Read More »- Music Review
Infinity Original Soundtrack
A soundtrack 27 years in the making: folks, I give you Infinity! Okay, that’s not quite the whole story. In truth, this soundtrack was nearly complete by 2001. In 2002, after the game was canceled, the team self-published a digital collection. Then, in 2016, Materia Collective worked with the team t… Read More »- Article
- News
Disgaea Mayhem To Bring Just Desserts on Consoles & PC Summer 2026
NIS America has revealed Disgaea Mayhem, an action RPG spinoff of the popular turn-based strategy RPG series. It is expected to launch globally sometime this summer for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, and PC via Steam. A trailer accompanied the announcement, showcasing bombastic action, co… Read More »- Music Review
NieR Re[in]carnation Chill Out Arrangement Tracks
An arranged album exclusively dedicated to the NieR series mobile game, NieR Re[in]carnation? Well, bust my buttons! I would not have expected this. Among Square Enix Music’s many arrangement series, the “Chill Out” series has had a fairly limited outing. First, they brought the Around 80’s Mix, fea… Read More »- Feature
Retro Encounter Final Thoughts – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade
While Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones holds a special place in my heart as the first of the “older” FE games I’ve tried, I was also charmed by my play-through of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Both the supports you can uncover and the characters you recruit are great, and I liked the plot twist rega… Read More »- Article
- Preview
Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection Hands-on Preview: Back on the Grid
Thanks to the wonderful team at Capcom, I had the opportunity to go hands-on with the upcoming Mega Man Star Force Legacy Collection. This is actually my first time playing through these games, and I’m coming in with plenty of questions about how well this Nintendo DS era of Mega Man RPGs holds up.… Read More »- Review
Hyrule Warriors: Age of Imprisonment
Any series builds up expectations by virtue of its existence. The Warriors titles, with their plethora of classic games and cross-franchise spin-offs, have numerous precedents: expansive playable casts that span worlds, decades, and even universes; superficial stories to justify said casts; and stra… Read More »- Article
- News
Pokémon Winds and Pokémon Waves Surging To Nintendo Switch 2 in 2027
Game Freak and Nintendo have unveiled Pokémon Winds & Pokémon Waves, the next entries — generation 10 — in the mainline game series. It is set to release exclusively on Nintendo Switch 2 sometime during 2027. The announcement came via the latest Pokémon Presents presentation, where a colourful f… Read More »- Review
Esoteric Ebb
If imitation is a form of flattery, Esoteric Ebb is to Disco Elysium what Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels was to Pulp Fiction. Simply put, Guy Ritchie’s directorial debut wouldn’t exist in its final form had Tarantino not carved such a strong stylistic claim on the film industry at the time, ye… Read More »- Article
- Random Encounter
- Podcast
Random Encounter 342 – Adventure Islands!
On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re talking about two new games that both take place on very different islands! First, Bob is here to chat about the standalone sequel to 2023’s Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse. This visual novel brilliantly mixes r… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 3/1/26: Scotts, Spires, and Scythers Unite!
Now here’s a fun week of variety! We may be a site that primarily covers RPGs, but as more genres overlap with RPGs, we get to have a great range of experiences like our three titles this week. We have the bright colors and so-crisp-you-can-slice-your-veggies-on-’em pixel graphics of Scott Pilgrim E… Read More »Music Review
Remastered Soundtrack: Final Fantasy VI, Disc 3
We’ve reached our final stop: the end of Sean Schafianski’s full Final Fantasy VI remastered project! In my review of Disc 1, we looked into Schafianski’s scope and process in these upgraded arrangements. Reaching Disc 2, we identified key points in the FFVI OST that Schafianski handled in perhaps d… Read More »Feature
Crowdfunding Chronicles: Bel’s Fanfare
It’s time to embark on a magical sea voyage! Spanish developer Chibig, makers of the charming tropical adventure Summer in Mara bring you Bel’s Fanfare, a spooky yet adorable game inspired by Majora’s Mask and Spirited Away.Music Review
Infinity Arranged Soundtrack
When Incube8 Games finally published the long-awaited Infinity for Game Boy Color in 2026, they pulled out all the stops. You want a physical copy of a game for a handheld device that has been dead for decades? You got it! Original soundtrack? Heck yes! ARRANGED SOUNDTRACK? Well, why not? Having wri… Read More »- Review
Tales of Berseria Remastered
In Tales of Berseria, the story and the characters do almost all the lifting. It’s a good thing it’s so amazing, because there sure is a lot of weight on its shoulders, especially with this completely superfluous “Remaster.” It has to overcome some of the most bland dungeons I’ve ever explored. They… Read More »- Article
- Retro Encounter
- Podcast
Retro Encounter 480 – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade Part II
…wrong. I am a podcast. This week on Retro Encounter we dive into the second half of Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. How much of the story do we actually get to experience? How much do we enjoy the late game maps? What are our favorite support conversations? Listen in to find out! Featuring: Zach… Read More »- Review
Ys X: Proud Nordics
Setting sail into new waters is the conceit behind the tenth Ys game and something it does with gusto, according to our own Sean Cabot’s excellent review. Now, however, a “definitive” edition has reached our shores in the form of Ys X: Proud Nordics. While a worthy purchase for those curious and tho… Read More »- Review
Infinity
The last thing I anticipated playing in the year 2026 was a brand-spanking-new Game Boy Color title. But that’s Infinity for ya! The history behind this once-scrapped, now-revived GBC RPG is quite the saga, stretching all the way back to 1999 and making Infinity about as old as RPGFan itself. Finall… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 2/22/26 – Remakes, Remasters, and… Rattatas?
It’s Tales of Berseria week, all! No, really, that’s the one major game we have this week. Maybe most publishers don’t want to compete with the return of Leon Kennedy. And, honestly, who can blame them? That rough and tumble attitude, that hard-edged look in his eyes, and… right. RPGs. So there’s… Read More »Music Review
Remastered Soundtrack: Final Fantasy VI, Disc 2
The middle child in Sean Schafianski’s Remastered Soundtrack: Final Fantasy VI series, Disc 2 continues from where Disc 1 left off. Be sure to check out the linked review of Disc 1 for discussion about Sean’s general process for these Remasters. In this review, we’ll dive deeper into the musical con… Read More »Music Review
Unicorn Overlord Orchestral Album ~Atlus × Vanillaware Works~
At Unicorn Overlord’s release in 2024, I became unexpectedly absorbed into its strategic, brain-itching teambuilding and gorgeous aesthetics, and blasted through Alain and company’s world-sprawling campaign for liberty. RPGFan’s resident VGM wizard Patrick Gann called Unicorn Overlord’s OST a “stron… Read More »- Review
Another Crab’s Treasure
“Souls-like” is a somewhat exhausting term. It gets thrown around a lot in a gaming landscape where titles are endlessly compared to Demon’s Souls and FromSoftware’s oeuvre since then. Regardless of whether you think Souls-like is a “real” genre, it’s helped lump the many games that flagrantly lift… Read More »- Feature
Comfort Games are Important
Everyone has something that gives them comfort, for one reason or another. Some people find it in a specific book or movie, others in a particular place or person; it could be anything. I imagine many of you have a collection of comfort games, as do I. Why is it that these games give us this sense o… Read More »- Feature
Avowed: Anniversary Update Interview with Obsidian Entertainment
In our review of Avowed, Jerry Williams praised its story, combat, and worldbuilding. A year later, Obsidian Entertainment returns to the Living Lands with Avowed’s most substantial update yet, alongside the game’s PlayStation 5 release. The Anniversary Update introduces New Game+, new playable race… Read More »- Review
Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse
Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo graced our computer screens in 2023. Visual novel and mystery enthusiasts clamored for more after this surprise hit. Three years later, here’s Paranormasight: The Mermaid’s Curse, and I couldn’t be happier. Thank you, Square Enix, for continuing this univ… Read More »- Article
- Preview
Danganronpa 2×2 Hands-On Preview
I recently had the pleasure of reconnecting with the fine folk at Spike Chunsoft in their new Tokyo headquarters to try a demo of Danganronpa 2×2 (“two by two”), their upcoming “retelling” of the hit 2012 murder mystery visual novel, Danganronpa 2: Goodbye Despair. Riding the elevator up to their lo… Read More »- Review
Calamity Angels: Special Delivery
Ever wonder about the chaos a package carrier must be dealing with when you get the notification that your order will be late? Calamity Angels: Special Delivery takes a fantastically imaginative view on the obstacles a delivery person might… Read More »- Article
- Random Encounter
- Podcast
Random Encounter 341 – Proud RPGFans
On this week’s Random Encounter, we’re talking about two “old” games (though one is significantly older than the other)! First up, Audra is here to share her thoughts on Ys X: Proud Nordics. But wait, didn’t Ys X: Nordics just release in 2024? Yes, it did! But now, an even more complete version is h… Read More »- Review
Under the Island
One of the most admirable qualities of smaller, independently developed games is their ability to remix and revitalize older game formulas for a modern audience. Such revisits to classic concepts are particularly notable when the previous standard bearers have shifted their focus. The Legend of Zeld… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 2/15/26: Colorful Deliveries, Updates, and Curses
This may be one of the most colorful lineups for RPGs Coming This Week in a long time, even if you aren’t comparing to last week’s spreading darkness. I suppose this brings things back in balance. Whether you’re looking for Compile Heart antics, classic pixel art adventures, a surprise sequel, or a… Read More »Music Review
Remastered Soundtrack: Final Fantasy VI, Disc 1
Editor’s note: this album is the 2024 updated version of the Joypad Records release Final Fantasy VI Remastered Soundtrack: Disc One, originally released in 2013. Arranger Sean Schafianski completed his three-disc remaster project between 2024 and 2025, including this upgraded version of that 2013 R… Read More »Music Review
GET GOOD / 8-bit & The Single Players
Normally, when someone tells me to “GET GOOD,” it’s because I’m complaining about difficulty in NES-hard games (or Souls-like games). In this case, however, I think they’re telling me to jam out to the second album from 8-bit & The Single Players. Not to be confused with the also-excellent 8-Bit… Read More »- Article
- Preview
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Preview – A Breath of Fresh Air
The Monster Hunter Stories series has come a long way. Starting as a multimedia project with the first 3DS game and a tie-in anime, the series doubled down on delivering a high-quality monster-taming RPG experience with 2021’s Wings of Ruin, expanding the scope of the game while maintaining the appr… Read More »- Article
- Retro Encounter
- Podcast
Retro Encounter 479 – Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade Part I
For years, I’ve podcasted. Now, let those podcasts show their worth! This week on Retro Encounter we’re discussing the first half of the first game localized to the West of that most famous SRPG series: Fire Emblem: The Blazing Blade. Does the host jive with the squares and the RNG? Do we even disc… Read More »- Review
Disciples: Domination
In the pantheon of high fantasy strategy RPGs, few series have clung to their roots with as much persistence as the Disciples range. Ever since Disciples: Sacred Lands launched in 1999, Nevendaar has felt like a setting perpetually stuck in the final five minutes of an apocalypse. Disciples II: Dark… Read More »- Review
REANIMAL
The horror-adventure genre has to be one of the hardest to create within. Unlike horror movies, which can be humongous cash cows thanks to low budgets and cheap thrills, horror-adventure games require a delicate balance between strong game design and immersion. Rely too heavily on gamification, and… Read More »- Review
Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties
Have you ever seen Gus Van Sant’s Psycho? In the late ’90s, director Gus Van Sant embarked on a cinematic experiment: He would remake Alfred Hitchcock’s 1960 horror masterpiece Psycho. However, unlike most remakes that reimagine the story, his Psycho would be a shot-for-shot copy, only in colour wit… Read More »- Article
- News
RPGs Coming This Week, 2/8/26: Darkness x4
Wow, what an interesting shared theme among our four RPGs coming this week. Well, three RPGs and an adventure game. From the long (loooooong) awaited release of the latest game from the developer of The Binding of Isaac, to a horror adventure, a dark and heavy strategy game, and… well, Yakuza isn’… Read More »- Review
Fire Emblem: Path of Radiance
Nearly a year ago, when Nintendo announced the impending release of the Nintendo Switch 2, one of the big announcements was the arrival of GameCube titles to the Nintendo Classics online service. Eagle-eyed RPG enthusiasts may have noticed that during the trailer, a handful of boxarts were shown for… Read More »- Article
- News
