The final entry in the Dusk trilogy and the sixth distinct entry in the Atelier series on PS3, Shallie sports improvements like a 360 degree camera as well as revamped synthesis and combat systems. Despite Gust's near-annual release schedule, the Atelier games continue to provide hours of high-quality, low-stress fun.
View gallery
Promised at the outset to be a trilogy, The Banner Saga ended on a poignant, if somewhat precarious note. While plenty of the most immediate plot threads were wrapped up, Stoic left a whole lot open for the follow-up to that beautiful, unforgettable adventure. We're eager to see how the gameplay, visuals, and sound evolve for The Banner Saga 2, and can't wait to get our hands on the game.
You travel to Yharnam in search of a cure, only to find sickness. A plague is transforming this once-medical-Mecca into a deranged hellhole and its once-helpful citizens into beasts of every shape and size. You'll have to battle your way through this Victorian apocalypse, and since this PlayStation 4 exclusive is in the same vein of the much-beloved Demon/Dark Souls, plan on dying. A lot. Just think past your inevitable deaths, try not to throw your PS4 against the wall and imagine how sweet victory will taste.
Read more in our preview...
View gallery
Bravely Default, a throwback to the Final Fantasy games of yore, was one of 2014's most anticipated RPGs for the 3DS. The final product ended up being a bit polarizing, with some people loving the game and others being disappointed by the infamously repetitious second half, among other things (although we can all agree that the soundtrack was excellent!). Regardless, our eyes now turn to Bravely Second to take what Bravely Default did right and refine it.
View gallery
Broken Age charmed its audiences last year through its colorful style and thoroughly engaging storytelling. The adventures of Vella and Shay rooted themselves in players' hearts, and when it ended midway through, players were left wanting more. Well, Act II is on the horizon and with it, the further exploits of Vella and Shay as they wrest control of their lives from the powers that be.
Read more in our review of Act I...
View gallery
This procedurally-generated, side-scrolling action RPG has kept our interest ever since its Kickstarter was successfully funded back in May of 2013. Although its projected release date came and went, every taste of Chasm we've had yet has been tantalizing. Come for the fluid pixel art and somber soundtrack, stay for the exploration and combat.
Read more in our preview...
View gallery
Visual novel fans should be very familiar with Key, the developers behind the acclaimed adult visual novels Kanon and Air. Following last year's localization of their all-ages Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet, players now look forward to the localization of their premier all-ages game Clannad. With an emotionally-charged branching storyline and delicately beautiful aesthetics, Clannad should satisfy any visual novel fan.
Read more in our review...
View gallery
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. features silver-age comic book inspired visual design and promises SRPG meets third-person shooter gameplay, akin to the acclaimed Valkyria Chronicles series. It is set in a fantasy steampunk version of London with iconic American figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Tom Sawyer and is compatible with Super Smash Bros. Amiibo figures.
View gallery
Cosmic Star Heroine is indie-darling Zeboyd Games' most ambitious project to date. The 2D visuals are slick, the characters appear vibrant, the music is by the fantastic Hyperduck Soundworks (Dust: An Elysian Tail), and the game gives off a "Phantasy Star meets Chrono Trigger" vibe. Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star 4 are two of the most highly esteemed RPGs of their generation, so it will be a treat to see what this hypothetical love-child of theirs will be like.
View gallery
First announced in 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 is still a hotly anticipated title. Its first teaser trailer featuring a scantily-clad cyborg with arm-mounted blades surrounded by kills is still pretty stylish, and the worldbuilding is said to be extensive, with multilingual dialogue and an international pool of voice actors. We know little more, but given CD Projekt Red's history, our hopes are high.
View gallery
Rob and Stephen had a great time speaking to the developers of Darkest Dungeon way back before it was even Kickstarted, and we're all excited for the game to finally see the light of day. The stylish artwork, grim music, and relentless commitment to the dark, terrifying aesthetics and gameplay flavor have us eager to delve into the manor and enjoy going mad time and again.
The Devil's Men is a steampunk adventure featuring two female protagonists: Adelaide, the daughter of a famous detective, and Emily, a wanted murderer. While other adventures, such as Daedalic's The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, had players switch between two protagonists to symbiotically solve puzzles, The Devil's Men promises a more tense push-and-pull relationship and multiple ways to solve puzzles that lead to branching pathways in the storyline.
Read more in our preview...
View gallery
The Disgaea series comes to PS4 this year, and we hope that it'll give us a good reason to own the console. The formula was a lot of fun to begin with, and between regular entries and enhanced ports, this series ought to be nice and shiny by now.
View gallery
Earthlock: Festival of Magic could be best described as a turn-based Rune Factory game with an epic scope and some very creative visual design. Players will not only embark on a quest to discover the secrets of a world that has stopped spinning, but will also engage in sim-RPG style tasks like farming, crafting, and the like.
After the success of Persona Q, we're looking forward to Etrian Mystery Dungeon as next year's version of chocolate meeting peanut butter. Both of the sources are turn-based dungeon crawlers where enemies move along with you, so we have high hopes for this one.
View gallery
The first Etrian Odyssey was an odd choice for a remake, but once we experienced its new visual presentation, rebalanced gameplay, and enjoyable story mode, we understood. The second game is receiving a similar treatment, with a continued focus on narrative amidst the dungeon-crawling madness. And Yuzo Koshiro is on music duty again? Our hearts flutter with anticipation.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is on the horizon, but this Vita-bound spin-off still warrants attention. Set in an alternate universe of sorts, Agito stars a player-made recruit at the Rubrum Magic Academy who falls in with Class Zero. It eschews the action combat of Type-0 for a more traditional, turn-based setup, presenting the land of Orience in an altogether new light. We hope that light is a bright one.
View gallery
Handheld fans of the Final Fantasy universe are frothing at the mouth for this multiplayer experience. Complete with a job system, online compatibility, quest hubs, and cameo appearances (of a sort) the title looks to be a light-MMO that many friends will get to enjoy and explore together.
View gallery
This isn't another Zone of the Enders-style situation, we promise! While much of the fanfare surrounding Type-0 HD's release is due to the packed-in Final Fantasy XV demo voucher, the remaster of history's darkest Final Fantasy looks stunning in its own right. A somber narrative surrounding a huge cast awaits players in this remaster of one of the PSP's hallmark RPGs.
View gallery
The first expansion to Square Enix's now-successful MMORPG, Heavensward has lofty promises to uphold, such as the claim of being as large of an update as the entirety of A Realm Reborn. It's a high mark to shoot for, but if any development team can manage it, it's the folks that reworked a broken game into the polished experience it has become.
Read more in our story...
View gallery
When Final Fantasy XIII neared release in 2010, much was written about the monumental expectations on Square Enix for the first PS3 title in the series, announced four years prior. With XIII falling short in many fans' eyes, there's no measure for how much is riding on FFXV (also technically announced in 2006). It's an unenviable position for a company to be in, but the game is showing immense promise thus far. Make us believe again, Square Enix.
Read more in our preview...
View gallery
Floating continents and massive stone golems are new additions to the Fire Emblem series, but if the exciting recent trailer is any indication, its characters and combat fit right into Fire Emblem tradition. Fire Emblem If has high expectations following the hugely popular Awakening, but the hype campaign has only just begun.
View gallery
Telltale's first season of Game of Thrones is already off to a bloody start, and 2015 portends further conflict in Westeros. The oft-forgotten House Forrester stars in this adventure, all of which is slated to release before the end of the year. When you play the game of thrones, reader, you live or you d— er, actually, scratch that. As it turns out, you have a pretty enjoyable time. Huh.
Read more in our review of Episode 1...
View gallery
Hyper Light Drifter epitomizes the games we all hope to find funded on Kickstarter and greenlit on Steam. An action RPG reminiscent of the classics of old, the title sees players exploring lost civilizations and derelict worlds. Stricken with a dangerous disease, the Drifter explores the ruins in search of a cure, but can't help but become entranced by the past and the dark secrets it holds.
Long-time fans of adventure gaming know of the incredible impact that the classic King's Quest series had on the genre. Sierra was once the king of the point-and-click, and while the newly-minted Sierra label and developer The Odd Gentlemen aren't aiming for that tried-and-true style, we're nonetheless super stoked to see what they have in store for King Graham's return. Zounds!
The final entry in the Dusk trilogy and the sixth distinct entry in the Atelier series on PS3, Shallie sports improvements like a 360 degree camera as well as revamped synthesis and combat systems. Despite Gust's near-annual release schedule, the Atelier games continue to provide hours of high-quality, low-stress fun.
Promised at the outset to be a trilogy, The Banner Saga ended on a poignant, if somewhat precarious note. While plenty of the most immediate plot threads were wrapped up, Stoic left a whole lot open for the follow-up to that beautiful, unforgettable adventure. We're eager to see how the gameplay, visuals, and sound evolve for The Banner Saga 2, and can't wait to get our hands on the game.
You travel to Yharnam in search of a cure, only to find sickness. A plague is transforming this once-medical-Mecca into a deranged hellhole and its once-helpful citizens into beasts of every shape and size. You'll have to battle your way through this Victorian apocalypse, and since this PlayStation 4 exclusive is in the same vein of the much-beloved Demon/Dark Souls, plan on dying. A lot. Just think past your inevitable deaths, try not to throw your PS4 against the wall and imagine how sweet victory will taste.
Bravely Default, a throwback to the Final Fantasy games of yore, was one of 2014's most anticipated RPGs for the 3DS. The final product ended up being a bit polarizing, with some people loving the game and others being disappointed by the infamously repetitious second half, among other things (although we can all agree that the soundtrack was excellent!). Regardless, our eyes now turn to Bravely Second to take what Bravely Default did right and refine it.
Broken Age charmed its audiences last year through its colorful style and thoroughly engaging storytelling. The adventures of Vella and Shay rooted themselves in players' hearts, and when it ended midway through, players were left wanting more. Well, Act II is on the horizon and with it, the further exploits of Vella and Shay as they wrest control of their lives from the powers that be.
This procedurally-generated, side-scrolling action RPG has kept our interest ever since its Kickstarter was successfully funded back in May of 2013. Although its projected release date came and went, every taste of Chasm we've had yet has been tantalizing. Come for the fluid pixel art and somber soundtrack, stay for the exploration and combat.
Visual novel fans should be very familiar with Key, the developers behind the acclaimed adult visual novels Kanon and Air. Following last year's localization of their all-ages Planetarian: The Reverie of a Little Planet, players now look forward to the localization of their premier all-ages game Clannad. With an emotionally-charged branching storyline and delicately beautiful aesthetics, Clannad should satisfy any visual novel fan.
Code Name S.T.E.A.M. features silver-age comic book inspired visual design and promises SRPG meets third-person shooter gameplay, akin to the acclaimed Valkyria Chronicles series. It is set in a fantasy steampunk version of London with iconic American figures such as Abraham Lincoln and Tom Sawyer and is compatible with Super Smash Bros. Amiibo figures.
Cosmic Star Heroine is indie-darling Zeboyd Games' most ambitious project to date. The 2D visuals are slick, the characters appear vibrant, the music is by the fantastic Hyperduck Soundworks (Dust: An Elysian Tail), and the game gives off a "Phantasy Star meets Chrono Trigger" vibe. Chrono Trigger and Phantasy Star 4 are two of the most highly esteemed RPGs of their generation, so it will be a treat to see what this hypothetical love-child of theirs will be like.
First announced in 2012, Cyberpunk 2077 is still a hotly anticipated title. Its first teaser trailer featuring a scantily-clad cyborg with arm-mounted blades surrounded by kills is still pretty stylish, and the worldbuilding is said to be extensive, with multilingual dialogue and an international pool of voice actors. We know little more, but given CD Projekt Red's history, our hopes are high.
Rob and Stephen had a great time speaking to the developers of Darkest Dungeon way back before it was even Kickstarted, and we're all excited for the game to finally see the light of day. The stylish artwork, grim music, and relentless commitment to the dark, terrifying aesthetics and gameplay flavor have us eager to delve into the manor and enjoy going mad time and again.
The Devil's Men is a steampunk adventure featuring two female protagonists: Adelaide, the daughter of a famous detective, and Emily, a wanted murderer. While other adventures, such as Daedalic's The Dark Eye: Chains of Satinav, had players switch between two protagonists to symbiotically solve puzzles, The Devil's Men promises a more tense push-and-pull relationship and multiple ways to solve puzzles that lead to branching pathways in the storyline.
The Disgaea series comes to PS4 this year, and we hope that it'll give us a good reason to own the console. The formula was a lot of fun to begin with, and between regular entries and enhanced ports, this series ought to be nice and shiny by now.
Earthlock: Festival of Magic could be best described as a turn-based Rune Factory game with an epic scope and some very creative visual design. Players will not only embark on a quest to discover the secrets of a world that has stopped spinning, but will also engage in sim-RPG style tasks like farming, crafting, and the like.
After the success of Persona Q, we're looking forward to Etrian Mystery Dungeon as next year's version of chocolate meeting peanut butter. Both of the sources are turn-based dungeon crawlers where enemies move along with you, so we have high hopes for this one.
The first Etrian Odyssey was an odd choice for a remake, but once we experienced its new visual presentation, rebalanced gameplay, and enjoyable story mode, we understood. The second game is receiving a similar treatment, with a continued focus on narrative amidst the dungeon-crawling madness. And Yuzo Koshiro is on music duty again? Our hearts flutter with anticipation.
Final Fantasy Type-0 HD is on the horizon, but this Vita-bound spin-off still warrants attention. Set in an alternate universe of sorts, Agito stars a player-made recruit at the Rubrum Magic Academy who falls in with Class Zero. It eschews the action combat of Type-0 for a more traditional, turn-based setup, presenting the land of Orience in an altogether new light. We hope that light is a bright one.
Handheld fans of the Final Fantasy universe are frothing at the mouth for this multiplayer experience. Complete with a job system, online compatibility, quest hubs, and cameo appearances (of a sort) the title looks to be a light-MMO that many friends will get to enjoy and explore together.
This isn't another Zone of the Enders-style situation, we promise! While much of the fanfare surrounding Type-0 HD's release is due to the packed-in Final Fantasy XV demo voucher, the remaster of history's darkest Final Fantasy looks stunning in its own right. A somber narrative surrounding a huge cast awaits players in this remaster of one of the PSP's hallmark RPGs.
The first expansion to Square Enix's now-successful MMORPG, Heavensward has lofty promises to uphold, such as the claim of being as large of an update as the entirety of A Realm Reborn. It's a high mark to shoot for, but if any development team can manage it, it's the folks that reworked a broken game into the polished experience it has become.
When Final Fantasy XIII neared release in 2010, much was written about the monumental expectations on Square Enix for the first PS3 title in the series, announced four years prior. With XIII falling short in many fans' eyes, there's no measure for how much is riding on FFXV (also technically announced in 2006). It's an unenviable position for a company to be in, but the game is showing immense promise thus far. Make us believe again, Square Enix.
Floating continents and massive stone golems are new additions to the Fire Emblem series, but if the exciting recent trailer is any indication, its characters and combat fit right into Fire Emblem tradition. Fire Emblem If has high expectations following the hugely popular Awakening, but the hype campaign has only just begun.
Telltale's first season of Game of Thrones is already off to a bloody start, and 2015 portends further conflict in Westeros. The oft-forgotten House Forrester stars in this adventure, all of which is slated to release before the end of the year. When you play the game of thrones, reader, you live or you d— er, actually, scratch that. As it turns out, you have a pretty enjoyable time. Huh.
Hyper Light Drifter epitomizes the games we all hope to find funded on Kickstarter and greenlit on Steam. An action RPG reminiscent of the classics of old, the title sees players exploring lost civilizations and derelict worlds. Stricken with a dangerous disease, the Drifter explores the ruins in search of a cure, but can't help but become entranced by the past and the dark secrets it holds.
Long-time fans of adventure gaming know of the incredible impact that the classic King's Quest series had on the genre. Sierra was once the king of the point-and-click, and while the newly-minted Sierra label and developer The Odd Gentlemen aren't aiming for that tried-and-true style, we're nonetheless super stoked to see what they have in store for King Graham's return. Zounds!