It’s Been A Quiet Month…

After a red hot start to the year, major RPG releases have finally begun to slow down. It was inevitable, we can’t have games like Infinite Wealth and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth releasing every month… right?

There may not be a stand out game, but this month saw plenty of niche releases that should cover a wide array of RPG tastes.

Athenian Rhapsody

May 14 - Athenian Rhapsody is a fun experience that feels familiar but does stand on its own two feet. The battle system is definitely borrowed from Undertale but is a bit more colourful and boisterous. Going the pacifist route means the battle system is a series of mini-games where the character needs to avoid projectiles that get more ridiculous the further you get into the game.

Much of the enjoyment comes from the interactions between the player character and twelve friends that can be found throughout the world. The humour is cute and well written, though sometimes the toilet jokes come a little too often. Each friend has a neat back story and unique personality that leads to some fun hijinks. 

Paper Mario: The Thousand Year Door

May 23 - The long requested remaster has finally arrived on Switch and the general consensus seems to be that Nintendo did a pretty decent job with the remaster. Not that much needs to be said about Paper Mario. The Thousand Year Door is considered by most as the high water mark of the long running series that’s now several generations of consoles deep.

Diablo IV - Loot Reborn

May 14 - Diablo is a franchise that I have not been able to get into, but one that I’ve always maintained a certain level of curiosity for. With the inclusion of Activision/Blizzard games in Xbox GamePass, now seems like the perfect time to give this long running series a fair shot. The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, the fourth season has just begun and is aimed directly at bringing newcomers up to speed.

Loot Reborn has increased the frequency and quality of loot drops, as well as made it easier than ever to level up a new character. My first few hours into the game have been quite entertaining. The story is well explained, with just the right amount of cutscenes to show off the graphical prowess and still keep the player engaged in the combat. Even on the veteran setting, the difficulty has been fairly subdued early on. One thing to note, although the base version of GamePass will give you access to the game, the Ultimate version is required if you intend to play with friends.

Duck Detective

May 23 - Like an RKO after a Curb Stomp counter, this one came out of nowhere. Ok, I probably just never noticed it, but I’m glad it was brought to my attention because Duck Detective is a short, but sweet detective adventure from German indie studio, Happy Broccoli. For about 2 hours, the down-on-his luck Eugene McQuacklin investigates a local call centre to deduck (that’s not a typo) the identity of the Sack Lunch Thief. The game oozes charm with its witty humour and terrific voice acting.

Children of the Sun

April 9 - Lastly, Children of the Sun is not an RPG, and is definitely not a game you want to be playing around children, but is worth mentioning for those looking for a fun tactical-puzzle game. Playing as Cultist escapee with a grudge, the goal of the game is to return to the Cult to leave no one alive by using only a bullet and telekinesis. Each stage is small area of the cult, guarded by several enemies just waiting to be taken down. The player gets one shot, if the bullet manages to do its job, the player then uses telekinesis to send the bullet to the next victim until everyone has perished.

It’s very dark, and definitely not for the faint of heart. But with a 93% approval rating on Steam, I can attest to the addictive nature of the puzzles. It’s a nice palate cleanser between big meaty RPGs.

Retro Rewind

The Android handheld market has exploded in the last year with dozens of really interesting, and very affordable options. These devices are an excellent way to enjoy your old retro games, and they’ve done an excellent job of rekindling my interest in classic RPGs.

My two main devices lately have been a Mister FPGA connected to my 4k TV, and a Samsung Galaxy A52 running like a Nintendo Switch with a Game Sir G8 mounted to the sides. Both have served me well, but the device that has certainly caught my attention, is the new Anbernic RG35XXSP.

Modelled after the Game Boy Advance SP, the Anbernic device provides a similar experience with a familiar form factor at the shockingly low price of $65 USD. The RG35XXSP has the ability to emulate devices as recent as the Nintendo 64, and both PlayStation One and PSP titles. Shipping only began on May 22nd, so I haven’t personally been able to get my hands on one yet, but the YouTube Channel Retro Game Corps has a pair of terrific reviews on the device.

What’s Coming?

Lots of great games already have release dates, but with so many it’s hard to keep track. Here’s my list of titles that you may want to keep on your radar:

June Releases

• Monster Hunter Stories - June 14 - PS4 / Switch / PC

• Shin Megami Tensei V: Vengeance - June 14 - PS5/PS4/XS/XB1/Switch/PC

• Elden Ring: Shadow of the Erdtree - June 21 - PS5/PS4/XS/XB1/PC

Later This Year

• Final Fantasy XIV: Dawntrail - July 1 - PS5/PS4/XS/PC

• The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak - July 5 -PS5/PS4/Switch/PC

• Gestalt: Steam & Cinder July 16 - PC

• Reynatis - September 27 - PS5/PS4/Switch/PC

• Metaphor: ReFantazio - - October 11 - PS5/PS4/XS/PC

• Assassin's Creed Shadows - November 15- PS5/XS/PC

Final Thoughts

Summer reveal season is upon us. Here’s hoping that we get some more clarity on a number of RPGs that have been announced but with no confirmed release date. I’m hoping for release dates for games like Dragon Quest III 2D-HD, Sacrifire and the Suikoden remasters. Fingers crossed for some big reveals like whether a Final Fantasy IX Remake is real or simply a rumor, only time will tell.

Thank you for reading The Thirsty Mage Monthly RPG Newsletter!