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Kyoto Xanadu Introduces More Characters, Combat Details Nihon Falcom provided new details and images for its upcoming action RPG Kyoto Xanadu . The latest information covers additional characters in the game, as well as its combat systems. Set in an alternate modern-day world encroached on by monsters from another world, Kyoto Xanadu follows Rei, a young student with newly awakened powers, who joins Hirasaka Academy, a school for similarly gifted students that seeks to conquer a dungeon called Xanadu that is said to be the origin of the other world. Lear Beresford is the leader of the school's Starry Night Travelers team and its chairperson of the disciplinary committee. Aged just 13, she is from from a prestigious English family as well as an agent from the Nemesis magic society. Eliza Alcott is Lear's second-in-command of the Starry Night Travelers and another member of the disciplinary committee. Her elegant and butler-like demeanour make her popular among the female students. Meanwhile, Hosen Suruga is leader of the Abyssal Investigators team as well as supervisor of Hirasaka Academy’s research facilities. He is on the student council as a representative of Zodiac, an international syndicate which his family is part of, though he resents being part of it as he prefers to prioritise his research. Finally, Luana Calderone is leader of the Nameless Fruit team and head of the academy's chapel. She is referred to by her biggest admirers as the Saint of Siena for her compassion and volunteer work. Kyoto Xanadu features both 2D and 3D battles, with regular exploration involving side-scrolling gameplay and combat. Players use equipment called Soul Devices to attack foes. Regular attacks features combos of up to three consecutive strikes, including unique mid-air attacks. Strong attacks are specific to each character and can be combined with regular attacks for extra effects. Players can also dodge, which grants a brief window of invulnerability, and jump; extra abilities including mid-air dodges, dodge attacks, knockback recovery, wall jumps, and double jumps can be unlocked during the game. Players can also use ranged attacks by firing Spirit Bullets. These consume a special gauge with the 2D combat firing on the direction of the analog stick, while 3D combat fires them at the on-screen reticle. Players can acquire abilities that let them use different types of shots such as homing, bombs, and lasers. Guarding is done by holding down the dedicated button, which reduce damage but restricts movement. If players guard as an enemy strikes, it will nullify the damage and stagger the enemy. There are also various special abilities and actions. An Accel Gauge fills are players take or deal damage. When full, players can activate a Soul Accel, which enhances their attacks and makes parrying easier. If players successfully parry special attacks indicated by a visual warning, it lets players trigger a special counterattack called an Issen, which is enhanced during a Soul Accel. Finally, a Secret Arts Gauge fills as players attack enemies, which can be activated when full in 3D battles to damage all foes. Kyoto Xanadu will release in Japan on July 16, 2026, for PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2, with its PC version published with Clouded Leopard Entertainment. A western release date is planned to be announced at a later date, with Nihon Falcom currently working with an unnamed publisher on the release. Source: Gematsu [foogallery id="188260"] The post Kyoto Xanadu Introduces More Characters, Combat Details appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 2

Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered Details More Characters, Gameplay Aquaplus released new screenshots and information for Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered . The game is a sequel to Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten , taking place prior to the events of Utawarerumono: Mask of Deception . It will release for PC worldwide and for PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan on May 28, 2026. The new update introduces a selection characters appearing the game as well as various gameplay details. Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered follows Oshtor and his allies on a new adventure after they return as heroes to the empire of Yamato. Shunrai is the mother of Raiko and Mirai, and adoptive mother of Mikazuchi, though her youthful appearance belies the age of her children. Raiko is one of the Pillar Generals of Yamato and is quite different from Mikazuchi, being a coolheaded strategist looking at the bigger picture. Elsewhere, Ashta and Nava are siblings from Arva Shulan. The pair are currently in Yamato on a secret mission from the Shantuura. Ashta is the older of the two and more rational, while Nava is taller and more childlike. While exploring, players will see enemies wandering around. Touching an enemy will begin a battle against them, though by performing a field attack from behind, players can start combat with an advantage. In addition, players use ride a Woptor mount, and if players meet the conditions, they can automatically defeat enemies while mounted. The game will also allow players to fast travel at any time, as opposed to the previous game, where they could only fast travel from Recollection Shrines. Players can conquer parts of the world as they explore. This involves defeating a certain number of enemies before potentially fighting powerful enemies known as Area Rulers in order to complete a conquest. Once area is conquered, players can immediate defeat enemies by using a quick attack. These quick defeats award the same experience and rewards as if they were fought in regular combat. Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered uses the same turn-based combat system as Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten . Turn-order is displayed by a ring-based gauge in the top-left of the screen. Characters move around the rings based on their speed stats, taking their next turn when they reach the next point. By lowering the morale of an enemy or by using a dedicated command, characters can move into a smaller ring, which allows their turns to come up more quickly. In addition to fighting with their party, players can also swap them out and summon Shunya’s caretaker Halu. Halu’s health and action points are displayed in the upper right of the screen; if he runs out of health then he needs time to rest before he can be summoned again. Halu can be upgraded at the merchant, allowing players to raise his stats or obtain new abilities. He can also use a special Armored Trance Form, which lets him take on a different body type suited for different strategies and attack styles. Source: Gematsu [foogallery id="188233"] The post Utawarerumono: Past and Present Rediscovered Details More Characters, Gameplay appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 2

Monster Hunter Outlanders Second Closed Beta Announced TiMi Studio Group announced a second closed beta test for Monster Hunter mobile spin-off Monster Hunter Outlanders . Those interested in participating can sign up from now until 11:59pm PDT on April 21, 2026. Exact timings of the test will be announced at a later date. It will include support for English, Simplified Chinese, Japanese, German, and Spanish (Latin America) language options. Monster Hunter Outlanders sees up to four players join forces to hunt monsters on the mysterious island of Aesoland, with the game retaining the usual Monster Hunter loop of accepting quests and using rewards to update and create new equipment. The player is an Adventurer, one who travels the world and uses adventuring and engineering skills to hunt, as well as taking on particular roles when working together. Players create their own customised Fated Adventurer, but also can play as other story Adventurers they encounter in the game. Players can choose to play as either the Fated Adventurer or a story Adventurer in most parts of the game, though some content will only be available for the Fated Adventurer. The post Monster Hunter Outlanders Second Closed Beta Announced appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 2

Mortal Shell II Gameplay Shown Publisher Playstack and developer Cold Symmetry released a gameplay video for Mortal Shell II , the follow-up to 2020 action RPG Mortal Shell . The eleven-minute video shows combat and exploration across various locations in the game, which is in development for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. An open beta for the game is planned this summer. Mortal Shell II takes place in a ravaged fantasy world and puts players in the role of the Harbinger, a being “prophesied to reclaim the blessed Undermether’s stolen Ova from the daunting creatures that ruthlessly guard her unborn”. The game features an open world with various landmarks and regions as well as over sixty dungeons to explore. Like its predecessor, players possess the bodies of fallen warriors, using their shells as they navigate and battle across a desolate world. Each shell has its own combat style, with new talents and upgrades becoming available as players’ connections with them grow. The post Mortal Shell II Gameplay Shown appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 2

Breath of Fire IV Released on Steam Capcom and GOG.com have released Breath of Fire IV on Steam . The Steam release follows the game's release on GOG.com last year as part of the GOG Preservation Program and is available for $8.99 with a 50% launch discount. Like the GOG.com release, it includes English and Japanese language options, an improved DirectX game renderer, new rendering options, an improved audio engine, improved keyboard and mouse support, improved Warehouse and Crane minigames, full support for modern controllers, and more. Breath of Fire IV originally released for PlayStation in Japan in April 2000, followed by a North American release later that year and a European release in 2001. The game was also released for PC in Japan and Europe in 2003. Like previous titles in the game, it follows a young man named Ryu, who has the ability to turn into a dragon. This game’s Ryu, an amnesiac, meets and joins up with a young woman named Nina, who is the princess of the Kingdom of Wyndia and on a search mission for her elder sister Elina. It uses an isometric, rotatable camera with 2D sprites in 3D locations. It also features the previous game’s Master System, where characters can gain new skills and attribute boosts by apprenticing under masters across the world and completing certain tasks. [foogallery id="168493"] The post Breath of Fire IV Released on Steam appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 2

Starfield’s Free Lanes Update Gets New Trailer Bethesda released a new trailer for its upcoming Free Lanes update to sci-fi RPG Starfield . The video highlights the update's contents, which include the ability for players to freely fly between planets within a star system. Players will be able to do on-ship interactions in cruise mode while travelling, as well as find various new points of interest and additional space encounters. It also adds new resources, customisation options, an in-game database, new side quests, a new land vehicle, and more. The update will release on April 7, 2026, alongside the game's PlayStation 5 version and Terran Armada DLC. Starfield released in September 2023 for PC and Xbox Series X|S. It is set in the Settled Systems, a pocket of colonised star systems in the Milky Way, extending around 50 light-years from Earth. The game sees players controlling their own created character as they join Constellation, a group seeking rare artifacts around the galaxy to unlock some of its final mysteries. Players explore numerous planets and cities while upgrading and customising their own spaceship. Those looking to read more about Starfield can check out Zack Webster’s review of its original PC release. The post Starfield’s Free Lanes Update Gets New Trailer appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 2

Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Early Access Date Announced Hooded Horse, Unfrozen Studio, and Ubisoft announced an Early Access release date for Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era . The strategy RPG will be available on Early Access for PC via Steam and the Microsoft Store . Its initial version will include the opening act of the narrative campaign, with six unique factions and three different game modes with both single- and multiplayer. The game is expected to spend around a year in Early Access. Heroes of Might & Magic: Olden Era takes place on the continent of Jadame, which has been mentioned in the series but not previously visited. Gameplay sees players expanding the castles and kingdom while sending out heroes and armies to explore and defeat foes. The campaign sees rival factions banding together to defeat the Hive, a swarm of insectoids corrupted by a demon lord. There will also be various single maps and randomly-generated scenarios, as well as a selection of competitive multiplayer modes and a map editor that will let players share their creations with others. The post Heroes of Might and Magic: Olden Era Early Access Date Announced appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 1

Kernel Hearts Demo Released Developer Ephemera Games and publisher Whitethorn Games have released a demo for magical girl-themed action roguelike Kernel Hearts . The demo is available for PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store and includes four-player co-op. It comes as the game prepares for release later this year on PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Kernel Hearts sees up to four players teaming up to climb the Tower of Babel to dethrone god. Players control members of the M.A.H.O.U Unit and are able to mix and match attacks, spells, and movement abilities for each run up the tower. Each level sees players taking on angelic creatures before taking on the boss guardian. After each run, players return to a laboratory where they can spend rewards to unlock and equip various chips for their units. Players can also interact and build up bonds with various inhabitants. The post Kernel Hearts Demo Released appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 1

Eastwynne Demo Available, Kickstarter Beginning Soon A demo is available for developer WTS₂'s narrative-focused modern fantasy cRPG Eastwynne . The demo can be accessed through Steam and comes ahead of a Kickstarter crowdfunding campaign , which will begin on April 14, 2026. The game is also planned to release on Steam Early Access later this year. Eastwynne is set in 2021, in the eponymous city, where magic is common. It follows the stories of a group of magical university students from the start of a new school year. Play control Ester or Sye as they go through college. The game features branching paths and choices through various quests, as well as skill checks and combat as players develop spells and abilities. [foogallery id="188187"] The post Eastwynne Demo Available, Kickstarter Beginning Soon appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 1

Pokémon Pokopia Review A Remarkable Transformation If you could ask Pokémon players to name a defining feature of the series, many would say it's the Pokémon battles. So, what happens when you place Pokémon in a post-apocalyptic world without trainers and completely strip away the beloved battle system? The result is the cosy goodness that is Pokémon Pokopia ; an impressively designed spin-off, with lore that rivals the philosophical depth of the Pokémon Mystery Dungeon series. I'm no stranger to the Pokémon series, or life simulators, so I had high expectations and a massive wishlist of features to boot. The teams at Game Freak and Koei Tecmo’s Omega Force not only show that the series has plenty more to offer players than Pokémon battles, but they convey it with so much conviction that Pokémon Pokopia has set a new precedent for the level of craftsmanship that I want to see in the Pokémon series going forward. The narrative is full of spirited Pokémon and heartwarming moments. In Pokémon Pokopia , a Ditto awakens from hibernation in a Poké Ball, and meets another lone Pokémon, Professor Tangrowth, tinkering away and talking to themselves in a cave. Confused by Ditto's appearance, Professor Tangrowth remarks that they didn't think there were any humans left. After a second look, the Professor realises that it is a transformation, mimicking the appearance of Ditto's trainer. They head out into the wilderness, and with Ditto's abilities and Professor Tangrowth's resourcefulness, the two work together to restore a deserted town, meeting new Pokémon along the way. Ditto comes across signs of human existence, and with each area restored and friend made, the Pokémon begin to unravel what happened to their world. Trainers and Pokémon have long coexisted peacefully, so what could have possibly led to the disappearance of humanity? Pokémon Pokopia invites players to see the world through the perspective of the survivors, the Pokémon, and how they fare without humans. [caption id="attachment_187618" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Meeting the quirky Professor Tangrowth.[/caption] Although it's a quiet, fairly intuitive mystery that keen explorers may piece together quickly, players will feel their minds linger on the thought as they go about rebuilding the world. There is plenty of room for intrigue on the finer details of what happened, and when players stumble across clues of their own accord outside of the story, it feels like they've been let in on an exciting revelation. However long it takes the player to uncover the truth, there is a strong sense of gratification when the story comes to its sentimental and amusing conclusion. At its core, Pokémon Pokopia is about restoring barren environments to reintroduce Pokémon back into the ecosystem. There are hallmarks of a solid life simulator, and the crafting, farming, mining, cooking, building, and terraforming systems are quite moreish. The game is bursting at the seams with content, yet there is room for expansion. While these mechanics are certainly not new, the teams behind this game have truly understood exactly what parts of the franchise's essence they needed to capture, distil, and inject into this world to make it its own distinct life simulation game. For instance, rather than using tools, players use moves taught by other Pokémon, such as using Water Gun to water plants or Rock Smash to mine iron ore. For a post-apocalyptic setting, it is immensely satisfying to watch the world in Pokémon Pokopia come alive as a result of the player's actions. Sometimes the dialogue can be repetitive or feel like too much too soon (for example, Pokémon expressing that they love spending time together when they've only just met the player), but the Pokémon NPCs are more intelligent than they have been in any other Pokémon game to date. Pokémon do not stay glued to their homes; they wander and regularly interact with everyone around them, not just the player. They speak their thoughts and are perpetually curious about the environment, with special dialogue occurring between certain Pokémon, too. [caption id="attachment_188158" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The rivalry continues.[/caption] Pokémon also sleep, play with one another, forage for food when they are hungry, and are capable of accurately determining when to use their specialties, even without prompting. They have detailed preferences ranging from preferred flavours of food to décor tastes, and this information is kept handy in the Pokédex. As friendship levels increase, Pokémon also start calling players by their names, give gifts, and play mini-games. This deftly designed feature of Pokémon Pokopia simulates Pokémon idiosyncrasies and creates wholesome, often entertaining experiences that feel personal to each player. The monster taming aspect is also around, but in a new way. Each Pokémon belongs to at least one habitat, and when that habitat is restored, the Pokémon appears. The encounter time varies according to the time of day, weather, or degree of rarity. There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of seeing a Pokémon appear in rustling grass or announce their approval of the habitat that the player has eagerly created for them, and almost equally so when players move a Pokémon into a new home that is customised to their liking. Restoring habitats and increasing a Pokémon's comfort level contribute to the environment level of the town, which in turn unlocks more items and recipes for the benefit of the residents. Additionally, each Pokémon comes with one or two specialties. Pokémon with the Chop specialty can cut small logs into lumber. Those with the Grow specialty can accelerate seedling growth. Similarly, Pokémon with the Burn specialty can light fires, and so on. There is a real sense of camaraderie when players call on the help of Pokémon to build amenities and house kits, which can take anywhere between fifteen minutes or until the next day to complete in real time, depending on the size of the building project. [caption id="attachment_187619" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pokémon with the Burn Specialty can assist with smelting materials in the furnace.[/caption] With snappy controls, up to five Pokémon at a time can accompany players around their native towns or beyond, and it is an excellent interaction that adds depth to the sandbox. Pokémon Pokopia is a co-op game, and while the game can be played entirely solo, playing with others establishes a community, as well as a self-sustaining feedback loop of creativity, where players can be inspired by others' designs, create memorable experiences with each other, showcase their own creations, and repeat. Pacing is fairly consistent throughout, although players who are familiar with this type of game are likely to inadvertently figure out some things on their own before hitting the relevant story beat. There are no unnecessarily long cut scenes or pointless dialogue, and for a real-time life simulation with no time pressure, there is always plenty to do. The game currently encompasses a substantial number of Pokémon from all nine generations , with scope to add more. Each area has an underlying story to complete, with its own set of environmental challenges. The gameplay loop is largely the same in each town, including restoring the Pokémon Center and raising the environment level to at least level five. Beyond the individual area objectives, players are asked to complete the mysterious Team Initiation Challenge, which puts their skills to the test, as the requested resources become harder to procure in each additional stage of the challenge. [caption id="attachment_187855" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Pokémon Center restored.[/caption] Visually, Pokémon Pokopia is vibrant and super easy on the eyes. The designs don't stray far from the signature aesthetic and colourful palette of the franchise, but do incorporate the popular block-based style seen in other simulation games. The end result is a marvelous 3D art style that sits at the intersection of endearing and goofy, particularly evident in the design of Ditto's resting slack-jawed expression. Exclusively on the Switch 2, Pokémon Pokopia runs extremely smoothly, at 60 FPS, though the graphics remain an area of improvement for the franchise, including low fidelity textures and unfavourable visual effects such as Pokémon clipping into objects. How a town looks and feels is largely left to player autonomy and appetite for terraforming. Players can choose to use building kits as a template, or build entirely from scratch --- the world is their Cloyster. Pokémon can live in a human-inspired metropolis or straw beds in a tree house. There are also exclusive objects from the world of Pokémon , often discoverable in relics. Additionally, players unlock a host of charming emotes and the ability to take photos in-game, showcasing the lighthearted nature of the design. [caption id="attachment_187617" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Say "cheese"![/caption] The score in Pokémon Pokopia is delightfully cosy. Each area has its own little tune, which also varies depending on the time of day, with elements of jazz, acoustic, soft synth melodies, and alternative arrangements of familiar tracks. Pokémon Pokopia's soundtrack remains quietly atmospheric and pleasant, even after listening to the same track looping for hours. Sound effects, from the swoosh of the Cut ability, soothing droplets of rain, to the encroaching silence of players heading deeper into the mines, are all immersive. Although there is no voice acting, each Pokémon's unique battle cry is featured. Pokémon Pokopia also allows players to create in-game ambience by adding diegetic sounds, not only with music tiles, but with CDs discovered in the world. These older, nostalgic tracks from previous games can be played through the Pokémon Rotom, or CD players, and Pokémon with the Hype specialty, in particular, enjoy these additions. Pokémon Pokopia is a worthy spin-off that breathes new life into the series. With a refreshing narrative and an incredibly engaging world, the game flourishes with its bold direction and diligent execution. It's hard to believe that this is the series' first foray into life simulation games because of how snugly the game fits. Between making sure my Pokémon residents are as happy as they can be and stopping to smell the roses, I have been too busy living my best Poké life to miss Pokémon battles. The post Pokémon Pokopia Review appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerApr 1