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The first-ever party-based RPG is getting a serious facelift
‘Wizardry’ took the gaming world by storm when it was released for the Apple II back in 1981, and now it’s coming back to enthrall new generations of RPG fans. Developer Digital Eclipse is remaking the turn-based title, which is now called ‘Wizardry: Proving Grounds of the Mad Overlord.’
‘Final Fantasy XVI’ has already sold over 3 million copies
'Final Fantasy XVI' has sold over three million units since launching on June 22. This new darker take on the series is a PS5 console exclusive, making these sales figures even more impressive. For comparison’s sake, 'Final Fantasy XV' sold five million copies during its launch week back in 2016, but that was a multi-platform title available for both PS4 and Xbox One.
Hitting the Books: How Pokemon took over the world
In his newest book, "Fight, Magic, Items: The History of Final Fantasy, Dragon Quest, and the Rise of Japanese RPGs," Aidan Moher takes a wondrous in-depth look at the history of Japanese role playing games.
'Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate' will bring a new battle system
For the 35th anniversary of Dragon Quest, Square Enix had six game announcements including 'Dragon Quest X Offline' and the title for 'Dragon Quest XII.'
'Fantasian,' from the creator of Final Fantasy, arrives on Apple Arcade
Fantasian, the new RPG that unites Final Fantasy creator Hironobu Sakaguchi with composer Nobuo Uematsu, has landed on mobile gaming service Apple Arcade.
Demo the latest RPG from the makers of 'Octopath Traveler' for free
Project Triangle Strategy is a new Nintendo Switch game from the makers of Octopath Traveler that is slated to launch in 2022.
Beloved RPG 'The World Ends With You' will get a sequel, 14 years later
'The World Ends With You' is getting a sequel 14 years later with 'Neo,' which arrives on PS4 and Switch in summer 2021.
Suikoden spiritual successor 'Eiyuden Chronicle' hits crowdfunding goal
Suikoden spiritual successor Eiyuden Chronicle is well on its way to raising $1 million, at which point developer Rabbit & Bear has said it will also release the game on consoles.
Square Enix slashes prices on its ‘Final Fantasy’ Switch games
RPG fans who are stuck at home and need some bang for their buck might want to check out Square Enix's sale on the Nintendo Switch eShop. All of the main Final Fantasy games available on the Switch are on sale for 40 to 50 percent off, and titles from Square Enix's other RPG series like Romancing Saga and Star Ocean have been discounted as well. Gamers may want to revisit Final Fantasy VII in particular -- down from $15.99 to $7.99 -- since the game's highly anticipated remake will finally be out on April 10th.
Eight ‘Kingdom Hearts’ games make their debut on Xbox One
Kingdom Hearts III coming to Xbox One was a big deal -- it was the first time a game from the series was published on one of Microsoft's platforms, and it was the first time a mainline Kingdom Hearts game wasn't exclusive to a PlayStation console. Xbox gamers can play even more of the series starting today -- Square Enix has published Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX and Kingdom Hearts HD 2.8 Final Chapter Prologue on Xbox One. The two compilations comprise eight games and one movie, meaning fans can play almost every entry in the Kingdom Hearts saga.
Square Enix unexpectedly releases ‘The Last Remnant’ on mobile
If the news that Square Enix is delaying Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Remastered Edition has bummed you out, the company may have something to make up for it. Without any leadup or prior announcement, the Japanese publisher has released The Last Remnant Remastered on iOS and Android.
Enhanced 'Persona 5 Royal' comes to the US March 31st
Persona 5 fans in Japan have had a little over a month to delve into an expanded version of the title after it debuted there at the end of October. It was always going to be the case that fans elsewhere would have to wait longer for Persona 5 Royal, but we now know when it'll be available on PS4 in North America, Europe and Australia: March 31st.
Classic Dragon Quest games come to Nintendo Switch
Dragon Quest became the prototypical JRPG when it launched on the Nintendo Famicom in 1986. Its first two sequels formed the Erdrick Trilogy, cementing Enix as a role-playing powerhouse. All three games will be making their way to the Nintendo Switch on September 27th to coincide with the latest release in the series, Dragon Quest XI S: Echos of an Elusive Age.
'Fire Emblem: Three Houses' is a slice of epic life
This article contains no story details, beyond those revealed in the game's official trailers. There is discussion of some mechanics and procedural details yet to be shown by Nintendo. Fire Emblem: Three Houses is the game Fates should have been. Developer Intelligent Systems has made a lot of tweaks to its formula for the series' first outing on the Nintendo Switch, and the result of those changes is a game that marries Fire Emblem's dual personalities in a meaningful and satisfying way. If you don't know about Fire Emblem already, a quick primer: It's an almost-three-decade-old tactical RPG franchise from Japan that only came to the West after characters like Roy appeared in Super Smash Bros. Melee on the GameCube. It didn't truly rise to worldwide prominence until the release of Awakening on the 3DS in 2012.
'Persona 5 Royal' trailer offers a peek at the expanded story
Now that Persona 5 Royal is on the way to the Americas and Europe, Atlus is ready to give those audiences a taste of what to expect. It's offering an English-language trailer that highlights the new places, story scenes, abilities and characters, including the newly playable Kasumi Yoshizawa. In true Persona fashion, you can expect a lot of hyper-stylish action, world-changing events and personal drama.
Switch RPG 'Octopath Traveler' is coming to Android and iOS
Apparently, Square Enix doesn't believe Octopath Traveler is mobile enough. The developer has unveiled plans to bring the well-received Switch RPG to Android and iOS devices, in the form of a prequel, Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent. It'll preserve the signature mix of 3D environments with retro-style 2D characters, just with touchscreen-friendly controls. The team isn't shedding much light on the plot, but you'll play a 'Chosen One' who'll fight a horrific evil that has "fortune, power and fame."
Sora is all about the 'gram in 'Kingdom Hearts 3'
In Kingdom Hearts 3, Sora gets an iPhone. Sorry, a "Gummiphone." The fictional handset was built by Chip and Dale (I like to think their company is called Acorn Computers) at Hollow Bastion, one of the fictional worlds dreamt up for the Disney-meets-Square-Enix mashup series. The Gummiphone allows Sora to call his friends and, conveniently, both deliver and receive plot-critical information while he travels with Donald and Goofy to distant worlds. It also takes pictures -- and oh boy, does Sora take a lot of pictures in Kingdom Hearts 3. At least, my version of the keyblade wielder does, anyway.
‘Kingdom Hearts 3’ brings you closer than ever to Disney’s worlds
People love Kingdom Hearts, the long-running Disney and Square Enix mashup, for a few reasons. There's the accessible and mesmerizing combat, which trades the turn-based roots of the Final Fantasy franchise for a frenetic blend of keyblade combos, summons and transformations. Some fans also enjoy the bizarre and, at this point, borderline nonsensical storyline concerning Sora, his friends and the eternal struggle between light and darkness. Others are simply enamored by the chance to explore their favorite Disney worlds with Donald Duck and Goofy. If you fall into the latter camp, good news: The Disney and Pixar-themed locales in Kingdom Hearts 3 are absolutely stunning.
Final Fantasy X, X-2 and XII come to the Switch this April
If you've wrapped up Octopath Traveler and are patiently waiting for Dragon Quest XI to reach the Switch, good news: Square Enix has a bunch of classic JRPGs heading to Nintendo's portable-console hybrid. The remastered versions of Final Fantasy X and X-2, which came to the PlayStation 3 and Vita in 2013, will be available for Switch owners on April 16th. They'll be joined by Final Fantasy XII: The Zodiac Age, which was remastered for the PlayStation 4 in 2017, on April 30th. All three are hefty role-playing games that should keep you busy for weeks, if not months.
'Persona 3: Dancing in Moonlight' damaged my fictional friendships
Finishing a Japanese role-playing game is always bittersweet. There's a feeling of euphoria, of course, that comes with beating a final boss and watching the credits roll. But it also means saying goodbye to party members that you've spent 30, 60 or potentially hundreds of hours with. The best games in this long-running genre make you truly care for their supporting characters. They flesh them out with interesting backstories and complex personalities that slowly change over time. By the end, they're friends first and damage-dealing lackeys second.
