RPGs Coming This Week, 3/2/25

Everhood 2 – March 4th (Switch, Windows)

We’re getting a sequel to Everhood, the trippy, Undertale-inspired rhythm game/action RPG hybrid. We absolutely adored the original; in fact, our final takeaway was that we wanted more, and it seems developer Foreign Gnomes is all too happy to oblige. If you need to know how Everhood 2 compares to the original, I ask that you consult this helpful chart.

Air – March 5th (Windows)

We’ve steadily been getting re-releases of the classic visual novels by the esteemed developer Key. If you’re a genre enthusiast or just a big anime watcher, you may have heard of works like Clannad and Kanon before. Now, we’re getting Air, which is actually coming out for the first time outside of Japan. There’s been a manga and several anime adaptations over the years, too.

This new PC (via Steam) release is bordering on a remaster, in my opinion. Not only have visuals have been retouched but also the dialogue is now fully voiced! That’s a big deal for any VN. If you’re on a tablet PC or Steam Deck, there’s even touch controls. So if you’re in the mood for a moody, atmospheric (dare I say, airy) romance story with branching paths, this might be the next one for you.

by Gio Castillo

Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone (Entering Early Access) – March 6th (Windows)

The sequel to Polish developer The Farm 51’s Chernobylite enters early access this week. Like its predecessor, Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone features a gripping blend of post-apocalyptic action, survival, and RPG elements. Players will take on the role of a planewalker (No, not Planeswalker. Sorry, MTG fans.) on a quest for the elusive Chernobylite, a rare, high-energy resource. The game’s setting is a handcrafted landscape based on the real Chernobyl Exclusion Zone.

At Chernobylite 2’s core is an open-world shooter with the freedom to switch between first- and third-person perspectives. The game encourages thorough exploration to uncover hidden details and secrets. Along the way, players will need to defeat challenging nightmare creatures and balance resources to survive. With robust crafting, base management, and a focus on faction dynamics — along with the option for co-op — Chernobylite 2: Exclusion Zone has a lot to offer. It should especially resonate with fans of open-world survival games or fans of post-apocalyptic games like Fallout 4 and Metro 2033.

by Jimmy Turner

Despera Drops – March 6th (Switch)

Despera Drops, an otome visual novel from Aksys Games, is coming this week. In Despera Drops, players are thrust into an unexpected predicament, finding themselves handcuffed in a van alongside six criminals. The game takes place in Europe and follows the protagonist, Mika Amamine, who witnesses a murder and becomes embroiled in a web of suspicion. Following a harrowing accident that liberates her and her fellow captives, Mika and the group embark on a chaotic quest for survival while being hunted by enigmatic figures targeting her unique abilities.

As Despera Drops’ story unfolds, players are to navigate a series of gripping mysteries while exploring relationships with the six other companions. The potential partners have their own unique personalities, complete with complex backstories to explore and unravel. The companions also somewhat represent the various European nations they are from, including France, Switzerland, Spain, and Austria. These numerous story paths give Despera Drops abundant replay potential. Fans of narrative-driven games, romance, and/or crime thrillers should be eager to unravel this game’s mysteries.

by Jimmy Turner

Dragonkin: The Banished (Entering Early Access) – March 6th (Windows)

Developed by French studio EKO Software (Warhammer: Chaosbane), Dragonkin: The Banished enters early access this week. One look at its visuals and gameplay is enough to invoke comparisons to Path of Exile and Diablo 4. With an isometric ARPG in the same style, the developers hope to use the EA period to fine-tune and build a community around the game. On Steam, the developers note: “We are eager to consider players’ suggestions and implement them in the game to improve it.”

An EA roadmap over the next year has been laid out. The launch version will allow players to choose three of the four main heroes, play through the first campaign chapter, and experience some endgame content. The fourth hero is scheduled for release in the summer. Multiplayer will be unavailable at launch (standard fare for most ARPGs), but it’s planned for implementation in the fall. One intriguing aspect is the Ancestral Grid, which is the game’s skill tree system, aimed at facilitation customisation and tinkering with build combos. Any fans of Path of Exile and Diablo, as well as those looking for new experiences in the genre, might consider giving Dragonkin: The Banished a shot on March 6th.

by Jimmy Turner

Ever 17: The Out of Infinity & Never 7: The End of Infinity – March 6th (PS4, Switch, Windows)

Oh, here we go. You may have heard of Kotaro Uchikoshi, the brilliant though somewhat disturbed mind behind the Zero Escape games. But before them, he was most known for four (at the time) VNs collectively known as the Infinity series, and like his later work, they are famously full of plot twists. The first two of these games, Never 7: The End of Infinity and Ever 17: The Out of Infinity, have been remastered all these years later, and will finally, officially, be available outside of Japan.

Our own Sean Cabot has already gotten through Never 7, and you definitely want to check out his thoughts on the game as a newcomer. Just make sure to skip past the spoilery parts, if you’d rather go in blind.

by Gio Castillo

Slime Heroes – February 13th (XSX, Switch, Windows)

NOTE: We’re bringing back Hilary’s write-up from the February 9th edition of the column since the game got pushed back to this week.

Hope everyone is ready for some slimy, family-friendly Souls-like fun! Slime Heroes is an adorable but surprisingly strategic action RPG where you combine gems to grant your customizable cute little friend a wide variety of abilities. You can also team up with a friend and enjoy questing together. If you’re looking for a comfort game that doesn’t have too many repeating tasks, and one that plays like a satisfying RPG, look no further! As far as being family-friendly, it also includes loads of features that you can toggle on/off, making it particularly accessible (a Whitethorn Games staple). If you’re still unsure, take a look at our preview of it from PAX East 2024 (but watch for slime puns).

by Hilary Andreff

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars – March 6th (PS5, XSX, PS4, XB1, Switch, Windows)

Suikoden I & II HD Remaster: Gate Rune and Dunan Unification Wars is the much anticipated remaster of two of the greatest JRPGs on the PS1 and, arguably, of all time, period. Although held in high esteem by many, it may be the first chance for more eager players to finally bask in the warm, nostalgic glow of this classic duo, given their console exclusivity, secondhand price inflation, and sheer age (Suikoden came out in 1995 and Suikoden II came out in 1998).

First announced in 2022, Suikoden I & II HD Remaster was initially planned for a 2023 release, but has since experienced multiple delays, including an indefinite one. In February 2024, fans learned of the sudden sad loss of series creator Yoshitaka Murayama at just 55, on the veritable eve of his spiritual successor to Suikoden, Eiyuden Chronicle: Hundred Heroes. Speculation circulated that Konami may have respectfully abstained from publishing Suikoden I & II HD Remaster anywhere near the release window, to give Murayama’s last title room to shine. All of this is to say, it’s been a long and somewhat somber wait for a set of remasters that so many fans have wanted for almost 30 years.

Suikoden I & II center around a cast of rebels — the so-called “Stars of Destiny” — seeking to oppose an oppressive national force, banding together to stop war and bring justice and peace to their homeland. There are some subtle but ultimately rewarding connective elements between the first and second games, originally obtained by save file bonuses when starting Suikoden II. While the stories are rather standard in many ways, the real fun comes with the various characterizations and myriad secondary uses afforded by the games’ enormous cast. It is yet to be seen how the various quality-of-life enhancements will improve the already snappy and enjoyable gameplay. Based on what we know, it appears Konami has made a not less than serviceable and sufficiently faithful treatment of two classic RPGs, ready for longtime fans and newcomers to enjoy.

by Claton Stevenson

Go Fight Fantastic – March 6th (Switch)

The multiplayer hack-and-slash game Go Fight Fantastic is coming this week to Switch. If you’re looking for a fast-paced action game to play with up to three friends, or even solo, here’s a new option for you.

by Gio Castillo