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Wednesday - March 27, 2024
Tuesday - March 26, 2024
Monday - March 25, 2024
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Saturday - March 23, 2024
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RPGWatch

2024-01-07

Game of the Year Awards 2023 - Most Promising RPG

What is the most promising RPG of 2024? Like every year, you had your say. Check out the details to find out what games our visitors and editors think are most promising.


» Continue reading the article...

RPGWatch

2024-01-07

Game of the Year Awards 2023 - Best RPG

The RPGWatch visitors have cast their votes for the best RPG of 2023. Check out the details to find out which games made it to the top three.


» Read the article

Recent articles










Picture Watch

Neverwinter Nights 2: Mysteries of Westgate
Box Art

Poll Watch

Are you concerned about the use of generative AI by game developers?
Yes, it will decrease the quality of games
16.33%

Yes, it will impact people's jobs / shift the industry
18.37%

Yes, but it is too early to say whether the net result will be negative
30.61%

No, it will increase the quality of games
16.33%

No, it will improve people's jobs
6.12%

No, it won't substantially change anything
2.04%

I don't have any opinion for or against it / don't know enough about generative AI to say
10.2%

Vote

Wednesday - March 27, 2024

Enshrouded - Hollow Halls Update Trailer

by Hiddenx, 21:57

Couchpotato spotted an update trailer for Enshrouded:

Enshrouded - Official Hollow Halls Update Trailer

Watch the latest trailer for Enshrouded to see what you can expect with the Hollow Halls update, which brings four new, expansive dungeons filled with enemies, new traps, and new rewards to the co-op survival action RPG for up to 16 players. The Hollow Halls update also features a mysterious crafting station with new recipes, new quests, potted plants, the ability to sit, improvements to performance, UI, and quality of life updates. Enshrouded is available now in Early Access, and the Hollow Halls update is available now.

Source: IGN

Enshrouded

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Survival-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Outward 2 - Preview @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 21:52

IGN checked out Outward 2:

Outward 2 Preview: The Survival RPG That Hits Hard

This sequel brings the pain (again), but what else can it deliver?

I started my playthrough in a quarry, having been dropped unceremoniously into the world with no preamble. The environment is very detailed, colourful, and almost cute in a low-levelled World of Warcraft dungeon kind of way. In other words, not very threatening – but I was very quickly taught otherwise.

Along with my starter gear, I put on my backpack – a bulky thing that you’ll literally need to remove before combat, lest its weight makes you clumsy and slow. I blithely strode through a gate into the next area – a mine pit, with some nearby enemies to flex my combat skills on.

Hard Mode Only
Something new to Outward 2 is the concept of an off-hand; while your left hand could only hold trinkets in the original, you can now equip a shield or a second weapon, allowing some flexibility in choosing a setup that’ll deal the most damage to whichever enemy you’re fighting. You can even get a bit silly by equipping two shields and just going about bashing everything.

The combat moves sound like typical RPG fare on paper – dodge, tap for quick attacks, hold for slower and stronger attacks, et cetera. But once I was actually in combat with a giant, angry bee-like enemy, I realised that I needed to undergo a lot of hard lessons to learn how to employ my skills effectively. Which is another way of saying that I died. A lot.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Outward 2

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Star Ocean: The Second Story R - Update 1.1

by Hiddenx, 21:50

Gematsu reports that Star Ocean: The Second Story R got an update:

The version 1.1 update includes the following features:

  • Highest difficulty mode added: “Chaos.”
  • New raid enemies added: Ten Wise Men.
  • Ten Wise Men appear as Assault Actions.
  • New equipment added.
  • New NPC illustrations added.
  • “Character Graphics Collection” added: A feature to enjoy each character’s expressions.
  • “Endings Collection” added: Replay the ending scenes you have already reached at any time.
  • Customize your subsequent playthroughs after completing the game.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato

Star Ocean: The Second Story R

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: J-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Judas - Interview @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 21:42

Couchpotato spotted an interview about Judas:

Judas Interview: How Ken Levine Is Building on BioShock With 'Narrative LEGOs'

Renowned designer Ken Levine invited IGN's Ryan McCaffrey and The Game Awards creator Geoff Keighley to Ghost Story Games in Boston, where we spent six hours playing a recent build of his new narrative-driven single-player first-person shooter Judas, followed by a lengthy conversation with the award-winning game designer to discuss the long wait since BioShock Infinite, bringing the "narrative LEGOs" concept to life in Judas, what the game is all about, and much more. You can watch the entire interview in the video above, but before you do, we figured you might want to know a little bit about Judas first. So we'll share the basics, without spoiling anything: Judas is a first-person narrative-driven shooter that, from a moment-to-moment gameplay perspective, will feel familiar to BioShock fans. You have a gun in your right hand and various organic powers on your left hand. 

Story-wise, you play as Judas, a young woman aboard the Mayflower, a city-sized spaceship on a multi-generational mission to save humanity by transporting what's left of it from Earth to a new planet, called Proxima Centauri. You start the game having been reprinted (yes, meaning you were dead), where you'll wake up and begin interacting with the holographic projections of the three leaders who run the ship: Tom, the ship's head of security who wants to protect all of humanity by ensuring that the Mayflower's original mission stays on course; Nefertiti, the ship's Nobel Prize-winning doctor who wants to create a civilization of full robots with no human flaws; and Hope, who wants your help deleting herself because the existential crisis of her existence leads her to the conclusion that deletion is the only way to end her suffering. Further complicating matters is that the three of them are a family: Tom and Nefertiti were married, and Hope was their adopted daughter. It's up to you to side with whomever you feel like, but whatever choice you make has consequences. Doing a favor for Tom might piss off Hope and/or Nefertiti, and vice versa. 

This constant push and pull is at the heart of Judas's player-driven narrative, and it means that no two playthroughs are ever likely to be the same. That's the "narrative LEGOs" in action, and what we talk a lot about in the course of the interview. Enjoy!

 

Source: IGN

Judas

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Shooter-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Dragon's Dogma 2 - Spirit of Skyrim

by Hiddenx, 21:25

IGN compares Dragon's Dogma 2 with Skyrim:

Dragon's Dogma 2's World Has The Spirit of Skyrim

Thanks Couchpotato!

Dragon's Dogma 2

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn - Gameplay Overview

by Hiddenx, 21:18

A44 Games pesents the gameplay of Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn:

Flintlock the Siege of Dawn | Extended Gameplay Overview

Thanks Couchpotato!

Flintlock: The Siege of Dawn

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Sworn - Announced

by Hiddenx, 21:10

The rougelike Sworn has been announced - an open playtest is available until March 31:

Sworn - Official Announcement Trailer

SWORN is a 1-4 player co-op action rogue-like. Explore and reclaim a fallen Camelot from the reign of a corrupted Arthur and his Knights of the round table.

Thanks Lucky Day!

Sworn

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Roguelike
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy - Interview

by Hiddenx, 20:58

RPG Jeuxvideo interviewed Alexander Chernyavskiy about Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy:

Alexander Chernyavskiy talks about Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy

To go with the launch of the Kickstarter campaign for their new title, Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy, the ATOM Team development team has been kind enough to answer some of our questions regarding their latest game. If you are into Swordhaven, don’t hesitate in checking its Kickstarter page! We also have a French-translated version of the interview right here.

Hello, and thank you! Could you introduce yourself?
I’m Alexander Chernyavskiy, one of the writers and game developers for Atom Team, a small indie crew of 10 guys spread across Europe, making video games. Our previous projects were the two post-apocalyptic titles: ATOM RPG and its stand-alone sequel/expansion - Trudograd. Right now we’re working on our third game— Swordhaven : Iron Conspiracy.

How did you get the idea for Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy?
Almost every developer has a backlog of projects they want to work on. Talking about ATOM, the idea of creating a Fallout-inspired RPG has been with us since 2008, simply because we’re fans of the series :)
The idea for Swordhaven came from different sources that I’ll avoid naming so as not to spoil some parts of the game, but mainly we wanted to try and develop something new and fantastical.

What are your influences for the development of the game?
I’d say our main role models are Baldur’s Gate 1 (as well as other Infinity Engine titles), Neverwinter Nights, and a mostly forgotten Black Isle project called Lionheart. That’s not all, of course. But to list every game that possibly influenced us in creating Swordhaven seems like a futile undertaking.

Since when have you been working on Swordhaven?
We discussed its concepts and mechanics on and off for a year and a half now, but the really intense part during which we created most of what’s going to become the Kickstarter demo took us less than a year.

What are your plans for Swordhaven?
If we get the Kickstarter support we require, late 2025 will be the time we’ll introduce our biggest and most complex game yet to the world :) Before then there will be a period of early access, when we’ll collaborate with our players to improve the game before launch.

[...]

(French version here)

Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Dragon's Dogma 2 - Review @ Mortismal Gaming

by Hiddenx, 12:38

Mortismal Gaming reviewed Dragon's Dogma 2:

Dragon's Dogma 2 - Review After 100%

Dragon's Dogma 2

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Geneforge 2 - Infestation - Released

by Hiddenx, 11:38

Geneforge 2 - Infestation has been released - a livestream is planned for  March 31 AT 12:00 AM:

Geneforge 2 - Infestation Release Livestream and Q&A #2

Release stream! Take a look at the new unique, open-ended fantasy RPG in an alien world.

Geneforge 2 – Infestation is a truly open-ended fantasy adventure in a unique world of alien fantasy. You are one of the Shapers, wizards with the awesome power to create life. Want a tool, a trap, an army? You summon it into existence. You create mighty beasts, and they totally obey you. Usually. Almost 90 zones to explore and 50+ hours of gameplay. Multitudes of skills, abilities, factions, treasures, and servants to create.

Geneforge 2 – Infestation is coming out March 27 for Windows and Macintosh. We're celebrating the game with several developer streams. Come see the game and ask questions!

This livestream is done by the developer, a grumpy indie developer veteran who has been making his odd, low-budget, fun adventures for 30 (!) years. Enjoy learning about Geneforge and the indie games business from a fun old crank.

Thanks Yemeth!

Geneforge 2 - Infestation

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Honkai: Star Rail - Version 2.1 released

by Hiddenx, 07:32

Honkai: Star Rail version 2.1 is out now:

Keeping up with Star Rail — Acheron: Another Fall of Rain

Honkai: Star Rail

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Tuesday - March 26, 2024

Larian Studios - Swen Vincke Interview @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 20:34

IGN interviewed Swen Vincke about Baldur's Gate 3, Larian and the game industry:

Baldur's Gate 3: Director Swen Vincke Answers All Our Questions About Foregoing DLC, AAA Development, and More

"As far as we are concerned, the chapter is closed."

At the Game Developers Conference 2024, Larian Studios head Swen Vincke gave an incredibly detailed talk entitled "The Secrets of Baldur's Gate 3." In it, he divulged a number of new details about the game's development, ending on the bombshell that Larian would neither be making DLC for Baldur's Gate 3, nor making Baldur's Gate 4. The studio is moving on.

Shortly after his talk, IGN had the pleasure of sitting down with Vincke to talk about... well, everything. The talk we'd just heard, the news he dropped, how the studio is doing post-release, how he feels about the games industry, all of it. We've already written up some of the biggest new reveals Vincke shared with us during that conversation, such as the playable Ketheric Thorm and the studio's plans for additional detail in the game's evil endings. But Vincke shared so many cool insights during our hour-long chat that we felt we needed to share them all with the world. Here's our (lightly edited for clarity) full conversation with Vincke from GDC:

Do we want to start with the elephant in the room? I mean, you kind of dropped a bombshell at the end of that talk, right? You're not doing Baldur's Gate 4. You're not going back to the world of D&D. Obviously you're working on something new, the studio is not going to implode tomorrow. You said a little bit in the talk, but why not Baldur's Gate 4?

Vincke: Well, we started actually thinking about it after Baldur's Gate 3, because of all the success, the obvious thing would've been to do DLC. So we started on one and we started even thinking about BG 4, but we noticed very rapidly that our hearts were not ticking faster. We hadn't really had closure on BG 3 yet, and just to jump forward into something new felt wrong. We also had spent a whole bunch of time converting the system into a video game, and we wanted to do new things. There were a lot of constraints in making D&D, and the 5th Edition is not an easy system to put into a video game, and we had all these ideas of new combat that we wanted to try out, and so they were not compatible. You could see the team was doing it because everybody felt like we had to do it, but it wasn't really coming from the heart and we're very much a studio all about being from the heart.

[...]

Larian Studios

Details

Kickstarter Games - Scribe

by Hiddenx, 17:14

Couchpotato spotted the 2D RPG Scribe on Kickstarter:

Scribe RPG: a 2D open world action, adventure, RPG

Combines retro platformers and point and click adventures feel, with beautiful graphics and feature rich game play.

Our intention is to create a feature-rich RPG that combines everything we love from old point-and-click adventures, action games, and puzzle platformers of the late 80s, all of this without the constraints of old technology, and with a strong emphasis on exploration gameplay throughout. We want to push pixel art aesthetics to their limits and use present technology for gameplay features and content that would never have been possible in the early years of computer games.

[...]

Kickstarter Games

SP/MP: Unknown
Setting: Unknown
Genre: Unknown
Platform: Unknown
Release: In development

Details

Kristala - Preview

by Hiddenx, 17:10

BossLevel Gamer checked out the action RPG Kristala:

PAX East 2024 – Kristala is Dark Souls But With Cats

Cats and souls—what do they have in common? Correct. Cats do have souls. That isn’t where I’m going with this. I’m talking about a Cat soulslike called Kristala.

Kristala lets you play as a cat person, and yes, you can customize them. I stopped and played a demo at the Astral Clocktower Studios booth at PAX East. Not only did I play the game, but I spoke with Co-Owner and Marketing Director Sarah Schaffstall about the game. She fed me all kinds of juicy details. Let’s see what all this meowing is about.

MASTERING MAGIC AND UPGRADING EQUIPMENT ARE YOUR KEYS TO SUCCESS IN AILUR
In this dark fantasy RPG, you will be tasked with two main objectives. You’ll need to master all six of the different magics and lift the curse afflicting the world of Ailur. A magic shard crashed into the world and shattered into six pieces. Six clans each took over a piece of the shard and learned unique magic.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Kristala

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Horizon Forbidden West - Graphics Analysis

by Hiddenx, 17:07

GamingBolt compared the PS5 and the PC Version of Horizon Forbidden West:

Horizon Forbidden West PC Graphics Analysis – How Does it Stack Up Against the PS5 Version?

With this feature, we take a look at Horizon Forbidden West on PC and analyze its aspects ranging from graphical features to performance and much more.

Horizon Forbidden West is a sequel that takes what worked in the original and amps it all up to eleven with a bigger open world that’s bursting with vivid locales to explore and a myriad of things to do. Guerilla Games has finally brought this wonderful experience to PC with the aid of Sony-owned Nixxes Software, the same team that assisted in developing the PC port of Zero Dawn

The transition from PS5 to PC in terms of the gameplay is obviously pretty smooth, but how does it fare on a technical level? How far can you push the game on PC? And what are the performance metrics? With this technical analysis, we take a look at Horizon Forbidden West on PC and how it compares to the PS5 release.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Horizon Forbidden West

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Dragon's Dogma 2 - Planned Updates

by Hiddenx, 17:01

Fextralife takes a look at the planned changes for Dragon's Dogma 2:

Dragon's Dogma 2 NEW PATCH COMING SOON! - New Save, Appearance Change, Performance and More!

Thanks Couchpotato!

Dragon's Dogma 2

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Sacred - Looking back @ C4G

by Hiddenx, 16:57

C4G checked oout the Sacred series:

So I Played ALL Sacred RPGs in 2024

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sacred

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

South Park: Snow Day! - Released

by Hiddenx, 16:55

The action RPG South Park: Snow Day! has been released:

SOUTH PARK: SNOW DAY! | Release Trailer

South Park: Snow Day!

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Modern
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Timothy Cain - Technological Evolution

by Hiddenx, 16:51

Tim Cain talks about the technological evolution in the game industry:

Technological Evolution

Thanks Couchpotato!

Timothy Cain

Details

Monday - March 25, 2024

Horizon Forbidden West - Review @ GamingBolt

by Hiddenx, 19:14

GamingBolt reviewed Horizon Forbidden West:

Horizon Forbidden West PC Review - A NEW BENCHMARK For PC Ports

When it first came out on the PS5, Horizon Forbidden West was praised for being an excellent follow-up to Horizon Zero Dawn, already an incredibly fun open world adventure game. Burning Shores on the PS5 continued this trend, while making further use of more modern hardware with gorgeous vistas and engaging gameplay. The PC release, however, has set a new benchmark for just how well a port can be developed.

The PC version of Horizon Forbidden West includes just about every feature you can imagine, including more niche ones like support for ultrawide monitors. For the larger majority of PC gamers, however, the game also features incredible optimization across a wide range of hardware. This means that, as long as your PC has parts made in the last few years, it’ll probably run Horizon Forbidden West incredibly well.

Horizon Forbidden West

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

The Elder Scrolls - The Series turns 30

by Hiddenx, 19:09

PC Gamer looks back at 30 years of The Elder Scrolls and teases The Elder Scrolls 6:

Join us in celebrating all things Elder Scrolls as the legendary RPG series turns 30

Happy birthday, Tamriel.

The Elder Scrolls turns 30 this year, having begun with The Elder Scrolls: Arena in 1994. According to Bethesda it was released on March 25 of that year, though players in some parts of the world seem to have had it earlier—in a user review posted to a newsgroup a few weeks earlier, a player named Doug says, "the sheer size of the land awes me." He then goes on to suggest making a boot disk to deal with memory errors, because that's what PC gaming in 1994 was like.

That "sheer size" of Arena impressed a lot of players. Even its creators downplayed the originality of their creation in favor of emphasizing its scope, with designer Ted Peterson saying, in an interview with Planet Elder Scrolls, "Our experience system was straight out of Dungeons and Dragons and the Goldbox games from SSI—kill the monster and get experience points. Between the influences of Ultima Underworld and Legends of Valour, we weren't doing anything too new. We just did it bigger. Much, much bigger."

[...]

Thanks Lucky Day! 

The Elder Scrolls

Details

South Park: Snow Day! - Review @ IGN

by Hiddenx, 19:04

IGN reviewed the upcoming South Park: Snow Day!:

South Park: Snow Day! Review

We know exactly what a great South Park game can look like, and South Park: Snow Day! couldn’t be farther from it. I’m a huge fan of throwing out the rulebook to try something completely fresh, especially in this age of samey sequels and forever live-service games that increasingly play it safe. But this bold attempt at a new direction misses the mark so drastically I’m aghast at just how sideways things went. Whether it’s due to the thoroughly unenjoyable combat or the uncharacteristically toothless and unfunny story, I can’t recommend anyone waste their time on this cooperative lost cause – even my fellow die-hard South Park fans.

South Park: Snow Day!

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Modern
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Baldur's Gate 3 - About Larian @ Mortismal Gaming

by Hiddenx, 18:58

Mortismal Gaming's take on Larian moving on:

Larian Studios Is Moving Away From BG3 DLC And D&D, So What's Next?

 

Thanks Couchpotato!

Baldur's Gate 3

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

Archmage Rises - Development Update

by Hiddenx, 18:55

Couchpotato spotted a new dev update for Archmage Rises:

Weekly Dev Update: Mar 18, 2024

This week’s update is a little sparse as I just returned from a week’s vacation where I took the kids not once, but twice!, to Legoland. I believe the whole theme park is built around the singular fact it is hard to leave Legoland without new lego!

Update #3: Exploration

Exploration is our next major update to the game. It will greatly enhance the overworld experience, map exploration, UI experience, dynamically generated quests based on NPC motives, and player progression.

Zach has a rudimentary dynamically generated quest working in game. There is still lots to do, but this is a significant milestone!

  • Michel is working on tooling for the new Exploration gameplay
  • Tyler is working on the Conclave and player progression
  • Jessi continues on the new UI
  • Mark and I are working on something that has always been a problem with the game: the pacing of a life.
  • For those that remember Nic, he always questioned “Thomas! How are you going to fill the time? 70 years, by hours, is a lot of time!!!”
  • I put off dealing with it until now. One idea is instead of playing out every hour of every year, instead play through more abstract stages of life: young adult, adult, middle years, eldership

Mini-Update Rival Combat

Rivals is a small update adding the ability to fight specific named mages in the game. These mages specialize in one of the schools and present a unique challenge to the player.

Rivals has been updated and ready for another internal playtest, which I will perform this week. If the experience is good we will package it up and ship it out.

Other Studio News

New Hire! We just hired a Associate Project Manager to help with the production side of the studio. As we work towards 1.0 there will be increasing production responsibilities and complexity. Phil and I have been doing it, but having someone dedicated and focused on it will really help run things better and free us up to focus on our core responsibilities. Emily starts May 1st.
Related to the above, Phil is off this week dealing with a serious family member illness. It is sudden so we don’t have a plan. There won’t be a patch this week, nor will he be on the discord server. We expect him back Mar 28th.

Archmage Rises

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

The Darkness Below - Early Access Release

by Hiddenx, 18:50

The Darkness Below has been released into Early Access:

The Darkness Below

Embark on an epic journey into The Darkness Below, a cRPG that pays homage to the golden era of 90's cRPGs. With grid-based movement, turn-based combat, and 2.5D perspective, the game transports you to a vast and colorful fantasy world filled with puzzles, exotic creatures, forgotten dungeons and ancient guardians.

Drawing inspiration from Dungeon Master, Eye of the Beholder, Lands of Lore, and Might and Magic 3-5, this retro adventure seamlessly blends classic cRPG elements with D&D mechanics, where your choices truly shape your destiny. Dive into a rich and immersive world filled with monsters, npcs, skill trainers, intricate dialogues and meaningful interactions.

Uncover forgotten lore and solve challenging puzzles as you navigate through abandoned places and bustling towns. Engage in endless side quests, forging your path towards character advancement. With full character generation and quick party options, your adventure is as unique as the hero you become. Are you ready to explore a realm where every decision matters?

Set to be the largest single-player first person grid-based cRPG of all time, "The Darkness Below" promises a rich tapestry of lore, skill challenges, and grinding gameplay that will captivate fans of the genre. Are you ready to uncover all of its secrets?

Features

  • Windows / Linux
  • First person grid-based dungeon crawling experience, as traditional as it gets
  • Pixelart aesthetic, event cutscenes and a colorfully vibrant world, straight from the 90' golden era
  • Grid-based animated movement, through mouse and keyboard (with custom key bindings)
  • Blazingly fast turn-based combat, much like M&M 3-5
  • Interactable items & objects (ground items, levers, doors, keylocks, text banners, traps etc.)
  • Various NPCs and voice-overs (greetings, death, refusals etc.)
  • Recruitable NPC companions (CPU based), each one with specific talents in combat (skill, weapons, spells, quest NPCs etc.)
  • Skills learning based on usage (skill XP increases by using), expertise level (initiate, adept, master etc.) and requirements (profession, ability scores etc.)
  • Skill advancing through multiple skill trainers on villages and towns, each one advancing characters to specific expertise (initiate, adept, master etc.)
  • Spell system based on slot allocation, very similar to D&D mechanics
  • Spells sorted into specific magic schools / elements ("Fire magic" etc.), sorted by expertise (initiate, adept, master etc.) and cast through staffs, holysymbols, scrolls and wands
  • Passive / active skill checks, similar to D&D challenge checks
  • Dynamic itemization, with about ~300 base items and on-demand creation of random items with various enchantments ("of Fire damage" etc.) or uniquely named ("Pyroblade" etc.)
  • Enchantments to further improve items like "of Fire damage" and "of Titan", allowing more strategic decisions on party equipment and leading to tens of thousand items
  • Shops dealing with various trades (weapons, magic, books, general store, stable etc.)
  • Create new characters or choose prebuilt ones, through a very fast and intuitive character generation system
  • Local / world / mini map, with local and world completion %
  • Unlimited saves with screenshot thumbnail, world completion % etc.

The Darkness Below

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Fextralife - Gaming News

by Hiddenx, 18:39

Fextralife summarizes last week's gaming news:

Gaming News – BG3 Won GDC, Riot MMO Reset, Sandland Free Demo, Honkai StarRail 2.1 Anniversary Event

Thanks Couchpotato!

Fextralife

Details

RPG General News

SP/MP: Unknown
Setting: Unknown
Genre: RPG
Platform: Unknown
Release: In development

Details

Deathbound - Interview

by Hiddenx, 18:32

LV1 Gaming interviewed the Deathbound devs:

Deathbound PAX East 2024- New Take On The Soulslike Genre

Thanks Couchpotato!

Deathbound

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Coridden - Interview

by Hiddenx, 18:30

LV 1 Gaming interviewed the Coridden devs:

Corriden Developer Interview PAX East 2024

Thanks Couchpotato!

Coridden

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Action-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

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Gothic 1 Remake - Listed on Amazon

by Hiddenx, 16:52

Gothic 1 Remake is listed on Amazon for January 2025 - new cover art can be found on Steam.

Gothic 1 Remake

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Adventure-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

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Sunday - March 24, 2024

Path of Exile 2 - Preview @ COG

by Hiddenx, 07:39

COG checked out Path of Exile 2:

PATH OF EXILE 2 IS NEXT LEVEL FUN

Path of Exile 2 Preview

When released in 2013, many players dismissed Grinding Gear Games’ Path of Exile as a late-to-the-party Diablo 2 clone. Like Blizzard’s hit ARPG, Path of Exile was an isometric hack-and-slash with a grimdark fantasy setting. It took some time and a bit of understanding, but eventually, the game developed a large and devoted community of fans. Those fans have created a thriving player-based economy of trading. Fans pride themselves on their appreciation of Path of Exile’s deep and somewhat arcane mechanics.

Set Apart
I was fortunate to spend several hours in Hollywood this week alongside members of the gaming press and dozens of Path of Exile content creators and community members. The occasion: the opportunity to take a deep hands-on dive into Path of Exile 2, the long-awaited sequel. You know you’re deep in fan territory when the developer announces that a new character has a range of shield powers and the crowd loses its mind. We had the chance to hear Grinding Gear’s Jonathan Rogers gush about the new game, impressive mechanics, and new characters. Of course, the big thrill was playing hours of the game.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Path of Exile 2

SP/MP: Single + MP
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Hack & Slash
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch - Closed Beta

by Hiddenx, 07:36

You can sign up for a closed beta via the Steam page - the beta will include the first of the three acts:

Sign Up for Closed Beta

Tacticians,

The battle against the mysterious evil befalling the island of Anareios inches closer.
Sign up now for Closed Beta and be among the first to brave the winding road riddled with the Fallen and the choices you must make to survive.

How to sign up:
1. Go to Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch page
2. Click on the green “Request Access” button.


Closed Beta schedule is coming soon, follow or wishlist on Steam or any of the social sites below to be notified when the announcement is made.

- ODS Team

Thanks Couchpotato!

Lost Eidolons: Veil of the Witch

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes - Beta Impressions

by Hiddenx, 07:29

RPGamer checked out Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes:

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes Beta Impression

Murayama’s magnum opus feels like it’s going to be special.

The wait for Rabbit & Bear Studio’s flagship RPG, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes, is almost over. A beta version that covers the opening hours of the game is available on PC for Kickstarter backers. After watching the opening video and playing through the first section of the game it was clear: Yoshitaka Murayama’s magnus opus feels like it’s going to be special.

Sadly Yoshitaka Murayama will not be able to enjoy Eiyuden’s success, as he passed away in early 2024. The founder of Rabbit & Bear Studios and the creative force behind the game’s script, Murayama leaves behind both grateful fans and a legacy of cherished RPGs. Murayama was also responsible for creating the Suikoden franchise, as he worked on the first three mainline games, a Suikoden card game, and the two Suikogaiden side-stories.

Speaking of Suikoden, the similarities and homage seen within Eiyuden Chronicle is clear and evident in almost every aspect. From the six-party member battles, to running sprite seen during loading screens, to recruiting a large assortment of unique and colorful characters, Eiyuden Chronicle channels Murayama’s Suikoden in everything except the name. Eiyuden Chronicle benefits greatly from the quality of life improvements that have become commonplace since Suikoden’s run, such as auto advance dialogue, fully voiced English or Japanese language options, difficulty options, and map markers, among other niceties. Eiyuden Chronicle blends the best elements from old and new-school style RPGs into a brand new adventure.

[...]

Thanks Couchpotato!

Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: J-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Turn Based Lovers - Upcoming Indie turn-based tactical RPGs

by Hiddenx, 07:21

The Turn Based Lovers assembled a new list of their favourite genre:

Top 15 Upcoming Indie Turn-Based Tactical RPGs of 2024

Timestamps
00:00 Intro
00:25 C.A.R.D.S. RPG: The Misty Battlefield
01:19 Broken Roads
02:13 SKALD: Against The Black Priory
03:04 Zodiac Legion
04:03 Sword of Convallaria
05:20 Project Haven
06:45 Capes
07:41 Hexxen: Hunters
09:13 Prelude Dark Pain
10:12 Arco
11:18 Kriegsgfront Tactics
11:54 Those Who Rule
12:53 Urban Strife
14:00 Dream Tactics
15:10 The White Raven
16:06 Outro

Thanks Couchpotato!

Turn Based Lovers

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Worldstone Chronicles - Devlog 26

by Hiddenx, 07:18

Cochpotato spotted devlog #25 for the indie RPG Worldstone Chronicles (formerly Journey for the Crown):

New Demo! New Zones and Steam Next Fest Coming Soon - Devlog 26

Worldstone Chronicles

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Vestaria Saga II - Review @ RPGFan

by Hiddenx, 07:05

RPGFan reviewed the Strategy RPG  Vestaria Saga II: The Sacred Sword of Silvanister:

Vestaria Saga II: The Sacred Sword of Silvanister

Got the itch for more Fire Emblem? Vestaria Saga is the project of Shouzou Kaga, the creator of the original game in Nintendo’s flagship strategy RPG series. War of the Scions was the first part of this planned trilogy, and we now have the official second part: Vestaria Saga II: The Sacred Sword of Silvanister. Fire Emblem fans will find a game that feels familiar but different as Kaga has added some new twists to the formula for those up to the challenge.

Vestaria Saga II follows the continuing story of young military prodigy Zade (short for Zadrian), who is on another adventure after upending the Solvian Empire in part one. Now, he’s had a falling out with his brother, Zech (short for Zecharias), a fellow military commander, and Zade strikes out on his own, looking for someone to help with his sword. Unfortunately, while the story is set up as a sweeping quest of political intrigue and personal conflict, the main narrative loses its way almost immediately. What, at first glance, starts as a classic tale of sibling rivalry takes an abrupt turn into something less compelling and coherent. The overall plot melts into a jumble of names, places, and groups of people you’ll never cross. You also fight many antagonists with little setup or foreshadowing and generally spend too much time far away from Zade’s main conflict, which also becomes hazy. While playing Vestaria Saga I may benefit players new to the series, you won’t miss anything vital by starting with Vestaria Saga II.

[...]

Ultimately, Vestaria Saga II, much like the first game, is a collection of cool, innovative, smart concepts and well-developed characters strung together haphazardly by a largely incomprehensible story. The brutal difficulty is in no way for everybody, but if you want an intense tactical challenge, this is still a good vehicle for it. If you’ve had your fill of Fire Emblem and want more, the Vestaria Saga series is an appropriate next step. But hurry up, Zade has towns on the other side of the world to save!

Score: 75/100

 

Vestaria Saga II

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: Strategy-RPG
Platform: PC
Release: Released

Details

RPG Crawler - RPG News Roundup

by Hiddenx, 06:53

Like every week the RPG Crawler sums up the computer and tabletop RPG news:

RPG News Roundup (3-23-2024)

RPG Crawler

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Legends of the Round Table - Announced

by Hiddenx, 06:33

Daveyd spotted the historical RPG Legends of the Round Table:

Legends of the Round Table - Official Gameplay | The Most Immersive Arthurian RPG

Lead the Knights of the Round Table through King Arthur's legend in a unique RPG, full of honor, magic and romance. Plunge into a colorful world inspired by medieval art, tales and music. Undertake perilous quests and fiercely defend your kingdom to make the flower of chivalry blossom again.

Legends of the Round Table

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Historical
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Saturday - March 23, 2024

Sector Unknown - Announced

by Hiddenx, 19:18

The tactical RPG Sector Unknown has been announced:

Sector Unknown

Sector Unknown is a story-rich, isometric RPG set in a shadowy expanse of space. Begin on a desolate planet, establish a stronghold, explore space, ally with or dominate local factions, and ignite a rebellion against a despotic organization bent on exploiting the sector's resources and inhabitants.

Thanks Couchpotato!

Sector Unknown

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Sci-Fi
Genre: Tactical RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details

Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy - Kickstarter late March

by Hiddenx, 19:10

The Atom Team will start a Kickstarter campaign for their RPG Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy soon:

Kickstarter for Swordhaven in late March

Greetings,

The time has finally come, and we're proud to announce a Kickstarter campaign for Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy. The campaign is planned to start at the end of March and will feature a playable demo that we are working very hard on at the moment. This will allow every one of you to check out what our game promises before deciding whether to support it as a backer.

Here is where you can check it out.

While still rough around the edges, the demo will feature dozens of attack techniques, several enemy types, the first locations of the game including a village with many quests and dialogues, several monster-infested locales, and even a pretty well-hidden secret area for the completionists out there.


More news on the developments coming soon!

Yours truly,
Atom Team

Swordhaven: Iron Conspiracy

SP/MP: Single-player
Setting: Fantasy
Genre: RPG
Platform: PC
Release: In development

Details