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RPGamer Round-Up: February 8 – February 15
RPGamer Round-Up: February 8 – February 15
Welcome to the latest edition of RPGamer's round-up column, where we look back at some of the articles that we have posted over the intervening period. This article is designed to give reminders of some interesting content and stories that our readers might have missed.      --- Editorial Content * Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Review Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is the latest remake in the Like a Dragon franchise. Unfortunately, Sam Wachter finds that the title is full of missteps that will likely leave fans disappointed and frustrated. * Adventure Corner ~ Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights What happens when you put together a plucky princess with a mysterious power and five handsome gentlemen? You get Otomate’s Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights. Sam Wachter sees whether the otome title is a hidden gem. * Video Round-Up (February 9, 2026) In the coldest doldrums of winter comes the warm news: RPGamer’s YouTube offerings have returned. Reviews for Elohim Eternal II: Son of Man, Trails in the Sky 1st Chapter, The Lonesome Guild, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, and Cladun X3 are on the docket. --- Major News * Action RPG Project Windless Announced KRAFTON has announced action RPG Project Windless. The game is based on Korean fantasy novel series The Bird That Drinks Tears. * Beast of Reincarnation Arriving in August Fictions and Game Freak announced a firm release date for action RPG Beast of Reincarnation. The previous summer window has been narrowed to August 4, 2026. * Ember Lab Announces Kena: Scars of Kosmora Kena: Bridge of Spirits developer Ember Lab announced sequel Kena: Scars of Kosmora. The action adventure is planned to release on PC and PS5 later this year.         * Gothic 1 Remake Set for June THQ Nordic and Alkimia Interactive revealed a firm release date for Gothic 1 Remake. Previously slated for early this year, the game will arrive on PC and consoles in early June. * Strategy RPG Brigandine: Abyss Announced Happinet revealed a new title in the Brigandine strategy RPG series. The game is planned to release on PC and consoles later this year, being published in the west by NIS America. * Konami Announces Rev. NOiR Konami has announced new title Rev. NOiR. The game is being developed by ILCA and is currently confirmed for release on PS5. * Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea Launching on Apple Arcade in March Cornfox & Bros. have announced a new title in the Oceanhorn series. Oceanhorn 3: Legend of the Shadow Sea will release on the Apple Arcade early next month. * Fantasy Tactical RPG Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent Releasing in Spring New Tales and Artefacts Studio have revealed Terrinoth: Heroes of Descent. The fantasy tactical RPG is based on the Descent tabletop game series and will release this spring. * Action Adventure RPG Crimson Moon Announced Developer ProbablyMonsters announced Crimson Moon. The Gothic action adventure RPG is planned to release on PC and console later this year.         Other News * Aether & Iron Releasing at the End of March * Action Adventure RPG Crimson Moon Announced * Culdcept Begins Releasing on Switch, Switch 2 in July * Utawarerumono Zan 2 Releasing on PC This Month * Legends of Amberland III: The Crimson Tower Launching in Early March * Mina the Hollower Gets Spring Release Window, Limited-Time PS5 Demo * AI LIMIT’s First DLC Expansion Releasing Next Month * Dragonkin: The Banished Fully Releasing in March * Stellar Tactics Fully Releasing in March * Hunt the Night Releasing on Consoles This Month * Sands of Aura Coming to Consoles Later This Month * Action Roguelite Vespera Bononia Releasing in March * Mistfall Hunter Releasing on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X|S in July * Starless Abyss Heading to Switch Next Week * Blades of Fire Coming to Steam in May * The Seven Deadly Sins: Origin Gets March Dates * Monkarufanta: The Hero and the Crystal Girl Coming to PC, PS5 in Japan This Month * Burden of Command’s Three Nations DLC Releasing This Month * Titan Quest II Early Access Update Adds Third Story Chapter * Echo Generation 2 Demo Released * Fantasy Life i: The Girl Who Steals Time Update Adds Primordial Dragon * Honkai: Star Rail Version 4.0 Update Releasing This Week * Calamity Angels: Special Delivery Steam Demo Available * Bylina Gets New Publisher, Demo Media and New Releases * Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dedicated PS5, Xbox Series X|S Versions Released * Third Crimson Desert Feature Overview Video Shows Life in Pywel * CONTROL Resonant Gameplay Shown * Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Offers Series Introduction * GreedFall: The Dying World Trailer Shows Its Companions * Black Myth: Zhong Kui Welcomes Year of the Horse * Tides of Annihilation Gets Year of the Horse Trailer * Norse: Oath of Blood Receives Developer Diary Videos * New Release Round-Up (February 12, 2025) --- Podcasts * RPG Backtrack 354 – It’s Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This. Once upon a time, a strange man in a cave handed a boy a sword. One iconic line and 40 years later, we have Nintendo’s most popular franchise right next to the plumber himself as this week celebrates the Legend of Zelda series. * RPG Cast – Episode 800: “Somehow, That’s Worse!” * RPG Cast – Episode 801: “Ziplocs Full of AA Batteries” Matt needs combat in his cozy games, Kelley is literally a housecat with a jetpack, and Andi laments that the rise of PS1-style graphics in indies makes him feel very old. Meanwhile, Chris learns he can only get so far with hooves, Josh gets drunk and plays some darts, and we all get arrested for match three slavery. * Episode 429: Eating Crow – Q&A Quest This week in Q&A Quest, we discuss Hollow Knight. We also answer a variety of questions. The post RPGamer Round-Up: February 8 – February 15 appeared first on RPGamer.
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February 15, 2026 at 4:34 PM
Today is 20 years since the North American release of Grandia III. The most recent mainline title in the series, the PS2 title follows wannabe pilot Yuki, who goes to the rescue of Alfina, one of the last members of a tribe that can commune with the planet's Guardians. #RPGanniversary
February 14, 2026 at 5:54 PM
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dedicated PS5, Xbox Series X|S Versions Released
Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dedicated PS5, Xbox Series X|S Versions Released
Deep Silver and Warhorse Studios have released dedicated PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions of open world medieval RPG Kingdom Come: Deliverance. The digital versions are available for free via an update for those who own the respective PlayStation 4 or Xbox One versions. Physical editions of the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S versions are planned to release on May 15, 2026. Kingdom Come: Deliverance is set in 15th-century Bohemia and puts players in the role of Henry, the son of a blacksmith, who is forced to watch his friends and family get murdered as his village is invaded by outsiders. After surviving the attack, he begins his quest for vengeance against the invading forces. The game features open-world exploration and a non-linear story allowing players to solve quests in multiple ways, with every decision having consequences. Those looking to find out more about Kingdom Come: Deliverance can check out Pascal Tekaia’s review of the PlayStation 4 version. A direct sequel, Kingdom Come: Deliverance II, released in 2025.   The post Kingdom Come: Deliverance Dedicated PS5, Xbox Series X|S Versions Released appeared first on RPGamer.
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February 14, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Reposted by RPGamer
Oh hey, I've now been at @rpgamer.com for 15 years. That seems like quite a while.
February 14, 2026 at 3:09 PM
Adventure Corner ~ Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights
Adventure Corner ~ Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights
Welcome to Adventure Corner, a column where members of the RPGamer staff can give their thoughts, impressions, and pseudo-reviews for various adventure titles that don't come under our usual coverage. Adventure Corner is aimed at delivering opinions on a wide range of titles, including visual novels, point-and-click adventures, investigative mysteries, and so forth. In this edition of the column, we take a look at the fantasy otome game Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights on Nintendo Switch. ---  Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights Platform: Nintendo Switch Release Date: 01.13.2026 Publisher: Idea Factory International Developer: Otomate Official Site   While I am not a romantasy girlie, I admit to being someone who loves a good romance in her fantasy novels. I love a good fantasy story, especially ones with a heroine worth rooting for, and while fantasy otome games miss more often than not for me on that front, I can say confidently that Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights is everything I love in a good otome game: organic-feeling romances, (mostly) strong characterization, and swoon-worthy moments that make me want to kick my feet in excitement. Temirana's world has a unique concept: a person’s status and occupation are determined by their birth month. Princess Cecilia of Temirana is born with a unique birthmark on her forehead and is forced to live away from her family because she is considered to be the "Cursed Child.” When her birthday approaches, she attends a dueling event called Helis Duelm, wherein she meets five fighters, each with their own tragedies, and shines her light on them, literally. Cecilia's cursed power is that when her life is in danger, people and places will shine as a warning. With her power, she takes all five of these men under her wing and has them join her order of knights. Are they dangerous or merely dangerously charming? This is the question. [caption id="attachment_184449" align="aligncenter" width="640"] This is Josephy's surprised face.[/caption] Story-wise, Temirana is quite strong, with incredibly likeable characters and a plot that builds with each playthrough. With five bachlors available from the start, and a secret sixth once all other routes are completed, there's a lot to uncover in terms of Cecilia's power, and how the knights respond to her abilities. Cecilia is a wonderful heroine to follow, as she is a bit awkward but unashamedly herself, speaking her mind often and showing constant care in serving the people in her royal court and beyond. There are overarching themes of found family, with each of the bachlors having their own struggles on display, which makes them quite relatable. Like many otome games, one's mileage will vary in terms of which bachelors the players will resonate with the most. This reviewer found herself loving the slow-burning romance and gruffiness of Josephy's storyline, which has excellent pacing, and the romance between him and Cecilia is also the most natural. Another route that was much enjoyed was Kiya's, who is the sweet orphan boy with a kind heart and killer archery skills. The Common Route that starts the game does a fantastic job of showcasing the game's world and its characters in a way that one would expect the game to be very carefree and wholesome. Once players leave the common route, they are treated to storylines of political intrigue, murder, and some of the quickest marriage proposals going. Here's where some of the game's writing has moments where it falters, as some of the romances move too quickly or the plot lacks some consistency compared to other routes. It doesn't help that the NPCs are a mixed bag, and their motivations are, in many cases, borderline unrealistic to downright terrifying. This isn't bad per se, but it does cause some chapters in the romantic parts of the route to feel either too heavy-handed or suffering from pacing whiplash. [caption id="attachment_184450" align="aligncenter" width="640"] The stoic Milan is always busy with work.[/caption] In terms of features, Temirana offers a lot of the standard fare in otome games. This includes a chapter select, skip text options, and adjustable text speed and text window design. As players work through each route, they unlock CG cutscenes, listen to the game's background music, and explore the mini audio dramas. A lot of the game's music has that fantasy style where it's very grand in some areas, and more subtle during the game's somber moments. The game's opening theme song, "Flower of Solares" by Chisato Akita, is lovely to listen to and does a great job accompanying the CG images. All of the voice work is in Japanese, and while it's good, there are no standout performers. The game's artwork is beautiful, from the detailed backgrounds to all of the character portraits. Text is also very legible, and the localization is decent, though some of the text reads a bit flat. Each character has both a True Ending, Normal Ending, and Bad Ending, which can bump up the game’s playtime. With so many otome games on the market now, it's hard to stand out in the crowd. Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights is worth one's time, especially for those who love high fantasy and who love slow-burning romances. While not every route was perfect, I can say with confidence that all the bachelors had stories worth investing in, and there were so many sweet moments that made me release happy little sighs. Temirana is one of those otome games I can happily recommend to anyone who enjoys intricate, interesting world building and a strong cast of characters who love swoonworthy romances. Disclosure: This article is based on a free copy of the game provided by the publisher. The post Adventure Corner ~ Temirana: The Lucky Princess and the Tragic Knights appeared first on RPGamer.
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February 13, 2026 at 7:04 PM
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Offers Series Introduction
Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Offers Series Introduction
Capcom released a new video for the upcoming Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection. The ten-minute "Welcome to Monster Hunter Stories" is narrated by virtual YouTuber Elizabeth Rose Bloodflame and gives an introduction to the Monster Hunter spin-off series where players control Monster Riders, those who partner up with and raise monsters. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection is set in a land with two major nations, Azuria and Vermeil, which are facing a crystal encroachment that is destroying the environment. Meanwhile, twin Skyscale Rathalos hatch, which is a supposed portent of destruction last seen from a civil war 200 years ago. Players control the heir to Azuria, who sets out to investigate the phenomena impacting the world, joined by Eleanor, the princess of Vermeil, who offers to act as a hostage. Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection will release for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch 2 on March 13, 2026. A demo is currently available on all platforms, which lets players transfer their progress to the full version.   The post Monster Hunter Stories 3: Twisted Reflection Offers Series Introduction appeared first on RPGamer.
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February 12, 2026 at 9:29 PM
New Release Round-Up (February 12, 2025)
New Release Round-Up (February 12, 2025)
Welcome to RPGamer's new release round-up. In this column, we look to provide our readers with details on the major RPGs released since our last update. Please note we do not currently include Early Access releases where the game is still in development. Pricing is shown in US dollars before application of any discounts, local pricing may vary. --- Crimson Capes Platform: PC Publisher: Poor Locke Developer: Poor Locke Available: Steam Price: $14.99 (10% launch discount) 2D fantasy Soulslike action adventure Crimson Capes puts players in the role of witch-hunter Milon the Tempest, who is tasked with stopping a conspiracy of wizards in the kingdom of Amvros. As leader of the elite Crimson Capes guild, they take on contracts while uncovering the forces behind the conspiracy. The game features four playable characters — each with their own weapon style, move set, and skill tree — and includes online co-op and PvP. Players are able to tackle the game’s environments in any order, with players able to explore to uncover additional artifacts, abilities, and narrative threads. --- Dark Quest: Remastered Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch Publisher: Brain Seal Ltd Developer: Brain Seal Ltd Available: Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price: $4.99 on PC, $6.99 on consoles (free for owners of Dark Quest on Steam) Dark Quest: Remastered is a remake of the first title in the Dark Quest tactical RPG series, which originally released in 2015, with the Remastered version built upon the same engine used for 2025's Dark Quest 4. The game sees players leading a band of heroes looking to defeat a powerful sorcerer who has built a dungeon beneath the village of Darkwood. --- Disciples: Domination Platform: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S Publisher: Kalypso Media Developer: Artefacts Studio Available: Steam, Epic Games Store, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store Price: $44.99 on PC, $49.99 on consoles (10% launch discount on Epic Games Store) Turn-based tactical RPG Disciples: Domination takes place fifteen years after the events of Disciples: Liberation. Avyanna, who now rules over Nevendaar, returns as main character and strives to restore stability in her kingdom caught in a turbulent time. The game lets players manage a kingdom, waging war and making decisions that affect how Avyanna’s forces and four other factions perceive her. The title is billed as refining the tactical turn-based combat of the first game with faster pacing and enhanced interactions. --- Mewgenics Platform: PC Publisher: Edmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel Developer: Edmund McMillen, Tyler Glaiel Available: Steam Price: $29.99 (10% launch discount) Mewgenics is a turn-based tactical roguelike RPG where players hoard, breed, and train an army of cats. These cats venture out into the chaotic world, looking to go further, defeat bosses, and gain mutations before heading home to further improve their bloodlines. --- Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma Platform: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (previously released on PC, Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2) Publisher: Marvelous Developer: Marvelous Available: PlayStation Store, Xbox Store Price: $59.99 Life sim/action RPG hybrid Rune Factory: Guardians of Azuma sees players controlling a male or female protagonist in the Japan-inspired eastern lands of Azuma. As an Earth Dancer, they are destined to restore hope and life to the land, which has been ravaged by the Celestial Collapse and the cessation of power from the runes. The game sees players build up villages; fight with various weapons, including new bows and talismans; and wield sacred treasures. Those looking to read more about the game can check out Matt Masem’s review. --- Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties Platform: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 2 Publisher: Sega Developer: Ryū ga Gotoku Studio Available: Steam, PlayStation Store, Xbox Store, Nintendo eShop Price: $59.99 Yakuza Kiwami 3 & Dark Ties is a remake of PlayStation 3 title Yakuza 3, which follows Kazuma Kiryu as he attempts to run an orphanage in Okinawa despite attempts to convert the land it is on into a seaside resort. Dark Ties is a new story following Yoshitaka Mine, who falls in with the yakuza after losing his successful startup company. Those looking to read more about the game can check out Sam Wachter's review of its PlayStation 5 version. --- Sales Links * Xbox Store * PlayStation Store (North America) * PlayStation Store (Europe) * Nintendo eShop (North America) * Nintendo eShop (Europe) * Steam * GOG.com * Epic Games Store * The Humble Store The post New Release Round-Up (February 12, 2025) appeared first on RPGamer.
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February 12, 2026 at 9:29 PM
Third Crimson Desert Feature Overview Video Shows Life in Pywel
Third Crimson Desert Feature Overview Video Shows Life in Pywel
Pearl Abyss released its third and final feature overview video for fantasy action RPG Crimson Desert. The eight-minute video showcases some of the day-to-day life elements in the game, including the Greymane camp that players can build up throughout the game and where they can prepare meals, purchase provisions, ranch, and farm. Players can also dispatch their fellow Greymanes on missions that reward currency and resources, as well as weaken enemy forces. In addition, players can visit various towns and cities to purchase supplies and equipment, as well as take on requests from townsfolk or participate in mini-games or other activities. Players can also potentially run afoul of the law, potentially being required to pay fines or spend time in jails, and find events, resources, secrets, or other things to do throughout the world. Crimson Desert is an open-world action adventure RPG set on the war-torn continent of Pywel. The game follows Kliff, leader of the Greymanes mercenaries, who must fight to save the continent from an impending catastrophe. Crimson Desert features an open world, where players can explore on foot or while mounted, which includes commanding, riding, and controlling wyverns. Players can also participate in rock climbing, gliding, fishing, cooking, and more. The game will release for PC, Mac, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S on March 19, 2026.   The post Third Crimson Desert Feature Overview Video Shows Life in Pywel appeared first on RPGamer.
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February 12, 2026 at 6:38 PM