UPDATE February 12th: Slime Heroes, originally scheduled for release this week, has been delayed until March 6th. Details below.
It’s a new week and RPGs are happening! This week, Gio is taking a well-deserved break, so I’m here to introduce some cool RPGs coming this week, from the massive adventures that await in Trails through Daybreak II, to the cutest co-op Souls-like games you’re likely to find this week. It’s also a killer week for indie games, with the minimalistic pixel goodness of Urban Myth Dissolution Center to the poignant Afterlife EP, and a promising “where did you come from?” dungeon crawler, Shujinkou. Let’s dig in!
Intro by Mike Salbato
Shujinkou – February 12th (PS5, PS4, Windows, macOS)
Dungeon crawler Shujinkou was not on many of our team’s radars until recently, but it’s looking like one of the RPGs coming this week to keep an eye on. And if you’re a fan of Etrian Odyssey in particular (one of this game’s influences), I’d double that… so I guess, keep both eyes on it? Forced phrasing aside, Shujinkou is notable for a feature that allows you to progress by learning Japanese kanji, vocabulary, and grammar. While the level of depth and whether or not you even use this component is optional, I’m going to go out on a limb and guess it will be of particular interest to many of our readers!
by Mike Salbato
Slime Heroes – February 13th March 6th (Windows, Switch, PS4, PS5, XSX)
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).
UPDATE: On February 12th, the day before Slime Heroes was intended to launch, it was “unavoidably” delayed to March 6th. Publisher Whitethorn Games said the following:
We understand that those following Slime Heroes were excited about its planned Thursday release. In the interest of ensuring that players have the best possible experience on both platforms, a decision was made to take some extra time to make sure this happens.
by Hilary Andreff
Urban Myth Dissolution Center – February 13th (PS5, Switch, Windows)
Urban Myth Dissolution Center is a “psycho-detective” visual novel adventure packed with paranormal mystery and supernatural intrigue. As young detective Azami Fukurai, a rookie detective with an aptitude for the arcane, players will investigate a series of hauntings, interdimensional incursions, and unknowable ancient artifacts.
The story of Urban Myth Dissolution Center plays out episodically, as each chapter presents an urban myth for investigation. Clues both physical and informational can be used to unravel, and perhaps dissolve, these urban legends.
With a retro pixelated look, this game may not wow some players graphically, but it certainly has a style and vibe, with colours used sparingly but to maximum effect. I’m thinking the Venn diagram for those most likely to enjoy this game would be equal parts Ace Attorney and Junji Ito.
by Claton Stevenson
Afterlove EP – February 14th (PS5, XSX, Switch, Windows)
Afterlove EP, a love story and the final project from Mohammad Fahmi, the late developer of Coffee Talk, is hauntingly beautiful. This slice-of-life focuses particularly on loss and what comes after, from the perspective of a young musician in Jakarta, the capital of Fahmi’s native Indonesia. It’s all the more touching knowing how colleagues of Fahmi have worked so diligently and so long to make sure this final project is complete and available for all of us. What a labor of love! For fans of visual novels and stories with emotional weight, this looks to be a satisfying tale.
by Hilary Andreff
The Legend of Heroes: Trails Through Daybreak II – February 14th (PS5, PS4, Switch, Windows)
Certainly the biggest of RPGs coming this week, The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak II continues the adventures of Van Arkride and the found family of his spriggan agency Arkride Solutions. A series of grisly and mysterious serial murders in the Republic of Calvard’s capital has the group delving into even more secrets and dark machinations. Can they uncover the truth or will the city be engulfed in a chaos that threatens the entirety of the Zemurian continent once again?
I greatly enjoyed the first The Legend of Heroes: Trails through Daybreak, and am eagerly awaiting the second installment of this new story arc in Falcom’s grand opus. Featuring both turn-based and action RPG battle systems seamlessly woven together that was already polished in its predecessor, I’m eager to see the additions and tweaks this sequel brings to the table for Van and his party!
by Audra Bowling
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