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Adventure Corner ~ Melbourne: Route 96 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 photography-themed thriller visual novel Melbourne: Route 96 on PC. Melbourne: Route 96 Platform: PC Release Date: 05.05.2025 Publisher: Lindsay Mansfield Developer: Lindsay Mansfield Official Site Active listening is important and something many of us neglect, but sometimes mishearing something can have a good outcome. My colleague was telling me about a game called Road 96 , which I misheard as "Route 96," and because I misheard her, I searched up "Route 96" and Steam presented me with a game called Melbourne: Route 96 . I thought this was the game she had been referring to, and for the price of three whole Canadian dollars, I bought it, only to tell her and find out it was the wrong game. Thankfully, Melbourne: Route 96 , with its short runtime and replayability, is a happy accident that I am beyond happy to recommend. Most people can relate to taking public transit and eavesdropping on people's conversations, often without context. In Melbourne: Route 96 , players follow a nameless protagonist as they purchase an instant camera and board the Route 96 tram. On the tram ride, players listen to multiple conversations, and though they are mostly harmless, there is an underlying eeriness that cannot be ignored. The player accidentally hits the end of the tram line, only to stay on, and everything changes: events are backwards, and they are clearly moving in the wrong direction. Here is where the game's mystery lies, and it's up to the player to put the pieces together. [caption id="attachment_180176" align="aligncenter" width="640"] Eavesdropping on conversations without context.[/caption] Melbourne: Route 96 is a peculiar game: it's part travel log and part thriller. While each playthrough takes around fifteen minutes or so to complete, it's important to pay close attention to how information changes as decisions are made. Considering it is loosely based on the developer's travels, there are numerous discussions being had, much like one would hear on a train. From heavy political venting to relationship drama, all of this seems normal until one starts to realize that there is something ominous being hinted at in these conversations. The writing is excellent, and the horror elements are subtle yet rewarding once the player begins to piece things together. It's a story that focuses on how the mundane can transform into something uncomfortable fairly quickly. While the game is mostly a visual novel, some interactive elements come in the form of using the instant camera. During the story, there will be moments where the game will prompt the player with a little red circle in the bottom right-hand corner to take a photo. However, it's not always easy to catch these, and it's not always obvious. By taking photos, the player gets a distortion of reality, adding to that subtle horror that looms over the game's narrative. From strange tentacles to facial distortion, these images allow the player to interpret whatever hidden meaning they wish to glean from the image. It's interesting, and the show versus tell aspect is so important to a game like this, as it's particularly uncomfortable, and it also asks the question of what is fact and what is fiction. [caption id="attachment_180177" align="aligncenter" width="640"] A return home.[/caption] It also helps that the artistic direction in Melbourne: Route 96 is so distinctive, blending photorealism with hand-drawn graphics. Colour is also something that is used sparingly, which definitely gives a moody, unsettling vibe throughout the game’s runtime. There is also a travel journal that can be flipped through, which is a gorgeous mishmash of visual styles, making the player feel like they are flipping through someone else's memories. The messiness and stylistic choices felt so familiar, especially as someone who grew up cutting out magazines or clipping photos and pasting them into a spiral notebook; it feels so nostalgic. There is not a lot of music in the game, but what is there is subtle and fits the game's overall dark tone. As I stated at the beginning of this review, Melbourne: Route 96 was a happy accident, and one that I want to share with anyone who loves visual novels. Lindsay Mansfield has crafted something that feels both so familiar and yet so uncomfortable, and while each playthrough is short, each one builds upon the other in interesting and unexpected ways. While the game is unsettling at times, gaslighting the player multiple times throughout, that's part of the game's strange charm. Melbourne: Route 96 is a conversation piece that will have any player wondering if what they saw was real or an elaborate piece of fiction. The post Adventure Corner ~ Melbourne: Route 96 appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 26

Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades Coming to Steam Early Access Publisher Hooded Horse announced it is partnering with Fell Seal: Arbiter's Mark developer 6 Eyes Studio on the studio's latest title, tactical RPG Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades . The game is in development for PC and is planned to be released on Steam Early Access , though a date has not been announced. It will support English, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Polish, Czech, Hungarian, Turkish, Ukrainian, Russian, Brazilian Portuguese, Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Korean, and Japanese language options. Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades sees players leading a company of mercenaries on Stormtossed Isle. Players can choose from a selection of origin stories, or create their own, and can elect whether to follow a traditional mercenary path, focus on elements like business or exploration, or some combination thereof. The game features a procedurally-generated world map with various dungeons, towns, enemies, and secrets. Combat sees players deploying up to eight units at once on hex-based maps. Each unit has their own class and skills, with players able to hire, equip and train their mercenaries. Contracts and story events will have multiple resolution options and outcomes, with the game also planned to support modding including a map editor, spell editor, and modifiable data files. [foogallery id="180242"] The post Pathbreakers: Roaming Blades Coming to Steam Early Access appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 26

Destiny 2: Renegades Expansion Gets Pre-Launch Media Ahead of the release of Destiny 2 ' s Renegades expansion next week, Bungie released both an early launch trailer and a new "ViDoc" video. The trailer gives a cinematic introduction to the Star Wars -inspired expansion, while the fifteen-minute ViDoc gives a behind-the-scenes look at the creation of the expansion and the collaboration between Bungie and LucasFilm Games. Destiny 2: Renegades is part of the “Year of Prophecy” content , which starts the multi-year Fate Saga story for the game, and will release on December 2, 2025, for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Renegades sees players join a crew of underdogs aiming to challenge a powerful Cabal faction known as the Barant Imperium. It includes a new Lawless Frontier game mode, new characters, the new Tharsis Outpost social hub, and a new Blaster weapon archetype. Lawless Frontier sees players taking on high risk, high reward contracts such as smuggling, bounty hunting, and sabotage. The mode also features unique upgradeable abilities, new weapons and gear, and a Notoriety system. The post Destiny 2: Renegades Expansion Gets Pre-Launch Media appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 26

RPGs on a Budget As the holiday season begins, we at RPGamer recognize that money has become tighter over the last few years, and that keeping on top of the latest releases is ever more challenging. With inflation and the world in a strange place at the moment, many people haven't been able to afford the hefty price tags that many games are fetching at. We decided to look at "budget" titles, wherein the staff were tasked with picking a small selection of great RPGs for less than $20 USD as the base price. We hope we've put some interesting titles on your radar that you'll consider giving a try or gifting to someone who may need a little gaming pick-me-up. Of course, we also invite our readers to share any additional suggestions. 8-Bit Adventures 2 Price : $19.99 Nostalgia is a powerful drug; fortunately, indie RPGs that harken back to the classics of the '90s can be found quite readily. Critical Games’ 8-Bit Adventures 2 stands out among this pack for having a truly emotional and exciting story that grips players easily and never lets go. The combat is enjoyable and not too complicated, and the cast of characters is so endearing that you’ll never want the game to end. A quality passion project that oozes charm is something that is easily worth $20. While big-name developers have more resources, in 8-Bit Adventures 2 — and even more recently with Quartet — Something Classic Games demonstrates that with the right timing, planning, and execution, standing up against the heavyweights in the industry can be achieved at any level. Underdogs typically start with less, but playing through this classic turn-based indie gem goes to show just how many are capable of shining just as brightly as past powerhouses. — Ryan Costa House of Necrosis Price: $11.99 "Roguelike" encompasses a wide swarth of games these days, but the roots of the genre are most closely displayed in titles like Mystery Dungeon . House of Necrosis unifies the play style of Mystery Dungeon with the themes of Resident Evil and gives you a low-poly, retro mansion to explore filled with four dungeons, three of which are post-game. The game can be quite punishing, having you lose all your gear on death (at least before the endgame), but once you figure out what enemies are capable of and display a certain level of care, a game over should be a rare occurrence. The biggest strength of the game lies in weapons and consumable effects, allowing for all kinds of surprises. The game has a lot to offer: explosive throwing weapons, consumables that level up enemies to more dangerous versions, and allows all effects in the game to be used against its four bosses. — Benedikt Geierhofer The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky Price: $19.99 USD The game that started it all, The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky is still an incredible introduction to Nihon Falcom's long-running Trails series, which sits at over a dozen games. While it did receive an excellent remake earlier this year, the original still holds up surprisingly well 26 years later. The visuals are a bit dated at times, with character sprites having extremely limited animations, but the art direction holds up surprisingly well even when played on higher resolutions. Being the first game in a long running franchise, the combat system is unrefined and easily exploited, but it still manages to be a fun time and does the job well. Narratively, while the first Trails in the Sky game is a bit of a slow burn at first, the game’s world and characters are some of the best in the whole franchise. It takes a bit of time to get going, but the final two chapters of the game are some of the most nail-biting of the whole franchise, accompanied by a series-defining soundtrack. — Ezra Kinnell Low Magic Age Price: $14.99 Who says that RPGs need a point or anything important to them beyond fun combat and loot? While many players typically would, sometimes it’s just as important to unwind and sink hours into an enjoyable turn-based battle simulator. That’s what Low Magic Studios’ Low Magic Age brings to the table. Based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game, specifically the 3.5 edition rules, it is a consistently updating combat simulator where players can take a created party and just go questing for loot. It basically just amounts to a combat generator for a tabletop game, but who hasn’t lost themselves for hours dreaming about being a hero and taking out the generated villains of a dungeon? Now expand that singular dungeon into a never-ending quest to get the best gear and just have fun. For under $20, I’ll easily take the hundred-plus hours I put into Low Magic Age and gladly do it again for another hundred. — Ryan Costa Monster Sanctuary Price: $19.99 There aren’t many who would so boldly mix turn-based RPGs with Metroidvania-style exploration, but Monster Sanctuary does so quite successfully. Choosing your monsters based on their abilities in battles and in exploration makes team building more tactical than the typical RPG monster collector, and it’s a genuine joy to watch your progress both going forward as well as backtracking to areas newly opened to you. A worthy buy for its price, for both monster collectors and platform explorers. — Robert Sinclair Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth Price: $19.99 Knowledge of the Record of Lodoss War franchise is not a prerequisite to enjoy this excellent Metroidvania RPG codeveloped by Team Ladybug and WSS Playground. Record of Lodoss War: Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth plays quite a bit like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night but sets itself apart with gameplay twists unique to its elven protagonist. Despite a short run time, this game is easy to become immersed in thanks to its fluid pixel art, buttery-smooth controls, and catchy soundtrack. Likewise, the minimalist story leaves an impact in its own quiet way. Those seeking a refreshing palate cleanser game would do well to consider Deedlit in Wonder Labyrinth . — Casey Pritt Weird and Unfortunate Things Are Happening Price: Free Free games often receive a bad rap, either for being full of microtransactions or having content gated behind a paywall. Sapphire Dream Games' Weird and Unfortunate Things Are Happening is a fantastic example of a free RPG that offers intense and memorable storytelling, with a loveable cast of characters, and some intense moments of pure horror. It also sports a simple but effective turn-based combat system where status effects play a huge role in success and failure. This is one of those games where the story does a phenomenal job of building on itself to keep the player wanting to investigate more. Also, the heroine clubs everything with a baseball bat and has quite the potty mouth. She's my kinda gal! In all fairness, despite it being made in RPGMaker , Weird and Unfortunate Things Are Happening is truly a wonderful experience, especially for any RPGamer who appreciates narrative and complex characters, and for the price of free, how could you possibly go wrong? — Sam Wachter Ys Origin Price: $19.99 Although its visuals are looking a touch long in the tooth, Ys Origin is a timeless master class in action RPG design. Players climb the Devil's Tower as one of three combatants, mowing down demonic hordes and vanquishing tough bosses to the sweet sounds of heavy metal music. Each playable character's move set is as unique as their personality, with all routes offering further exploration into the nature of the fabled land of Ys and its fall from grace. This game serves as a distant prequel to Adol Christin's adventures, which kick off in Ys I & II , and it can be played either before or after those two entries. Once the true final boss has been conquered, players can enjoy extra time attack, boss rush, and arena modes, adding all the more value to this affordable adventure. — Casey Pritt We hope you enjoyed our selections for this feature. Please tell us in the comments your favourite budget RPGs! The post RPGs on a Budget appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 26

Caves of Qud Switch Version Pushed to January Kitfox Games and Freehold Games announced that the planned Nintendo Switch release for roguelike Caves of Qud has been pushed back. Previously planned for release later this year, the Nintendo Switch version is now set for January 2026. Released on PC, Mac, and Linux in December 2024 after fifteen years in development, Caves of Qud is billed as a science fantasy RPG with deep simulation aspects. Players create their own character with over seventy mutations and dozens of cybernetic implants available allowing players to fly, teleport, hypnotise goats, swap bodies with a robot, and more. The game includes over seventy factions, while all monsters and NPCs are fully simulated with their own levels, skills, equipment, faction allegiances, and body parts. It includes the Classic roguelike mode as well as friendlier Roleplay and Wander modes. (Original Switch announcement trailer) The post Caves of Qud Switch Version Pushed to January appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 25

Dragonero: The Rise of Draquir Getting Free Master Mode DLC Developer Operaludica announced a free upcoming expansion for turn-based fantasy RPG Dragonero: The Rise of Draquir . The Master Mode DLC will include three creation tools -- the Dungeon Wizard, Creature Wizard, and Quest Wizard -- that let players build and share their own adventures. A release date has not been announced, but a beta version is planned to be made available as part of Steam's Turn-Based Carnival event starting on January 27, 2026. Dragonero: The Rise of Draquir released for PC in September 2024 and is based on the Dragonero Italian comic series by Sergio Bonelli Editore. The game features five playable characters — Ian Aranill the Scout, Gmor Burpen the Orc, Myrva Aranille the Technocrat, Alben the Luresindo, and Sera of Rômelinwe — each with their own storyline available before they join forces for the main campaign. It is set in the open world of Erondàr, which features a mixture of prodecurally-generated and hand-crafted dungeons. The longer the party spends in a dungeon, the greater the danger and rewards it offers, with the game featuring resting mechanics that let players craft, hunt, and heal before resuming their adventure. The post Dragonero: The Rise of Draquir Getting Free Master Mode DLC appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 25

LumenTale: Memories of Trey Gets New Trailer, Spring Release Window Team17 and Beehive Studios released a new trailer for creature collecting RPG LumenTale: Memories of Trey . The three-minute video, framed as young character Ales watching a documentary video, gives an introduction to the game's setting of Talea, which is populated by both people and Animon, creatures made from an energy called Anivis that flows through the whole world. The video comes with the announcement of a new spring 2026 release window for the game, which will be available on PC and Nintendo Switch. LumenTale: Memories of Trey sees players use a device called a Holoken to catch Animon -- which possess the ability to affect emotions and interact with the souls of every living being -- in the field and recruit them to their party. There are around 140 known species across thirteen elemental types, with each having their own abilities and skills. Battles can be either single creature duels or team encounters. Players can trade their Animon with others. Players can also craft items and cook food, as well as customise a zone detached from the world called the Anispace, where captured Animon reside and train. The post LumenTale: Memories of Trey Gets New Trailer, Spring Release Window appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 25

Doloc Town Receives Thrives & Ties Update RedSaw Games and Logoi Games have released the second major Steam Early Access update for farming sim Doloc Town . The "Thrive & Ties" update includes two townie friendship storylines and various NPC personal quests, the Rico Mountain faction, main storyline progression, more customisation options, more items, a calendar feature, and more. Doloc Town features 2D pixel art graphics with side-scrolling exploration and combat. It is set in the eponymous oasis in a post-apocalyptic world, which is filled with abandoned ruins and unique architecture. Players are tasked with looking after their crops, including shielding them from weather such as acid rain. They can create automated production systems and unlock and upgrade farming skill trees. Outside of the town, players can explore a variety of biomes including forests, caves, and ruins while searching for secret relics and treasures. During exploration, players encounter threats and engage in fast-paced combat alongside customisable drones. The post Doloc Town Receives Thrives & Ties Update appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 25

Octopath Traveler 0 Reveals More Companions, Interactions Square Enix released new details and screenshots for Octopath Traveler 0 ahead of its release next week. The latest update reveals more companion characters in the game, as well as more details about Path Actions, amity levels, Party Chat, and sailing. In addition, Square Enix announced that a physical 2-CD soundtrack will be released in December 2025 for $35.99, including a booklet with roundtable discussion from composer Yasunori Nishiki and music production staff. During the game, players can recruit various companions as party members, including characters from the original Octopath Traveler , characters met during the main story, and other travelers. Delitia is a hunter from the deserts of the Sunlands who wears a traditional lightweight outfit. She is proud of her clan and is currently searching for her brother, who is next in line to be its leader. Esperre is an apothecary aiming to save as many people as possible. His father was also a renowned apothecary and he seeks to live up to that legacy. Goodwin is a dancer who also works as a playwright and actor specialising in adventure tales. He was driven out of the city due to artistic differences and attempted to perform at sea, but was involved in a shipwreck. Octopath Traveler 0 features the series' returning Path Actions, where players can interact with characters for various rewards. Actions available in Octopath Traveler 0 vary based on the player's influence and whether the character values wealth, power, or fame. Those can who value wealth can be bought from or hired, those who value power can be contended against or impressed in combat, and those value fame can be entreated or recruited. Players can also invite those who wish to relocate to the rebuilt town of Wishvale. Once players develop their town before a certain level, they unlock amity levels. These represent the closeness between the player character and their companions, and can be raised by interacting with them in Wishvale. Increasing amity levels gives players access to more valuable items and increases the capability of the characters' resident skills. Players may need to give items, such as their favourite food, to raise a character's amity level. The game also features Party Chat, inter-party conversations based on story or other events. These conversations offer glimpses into the bonds and personalities of the characters and players can replay any they might have missed from the main menu. Finally, Octopath Traveler 0 will let players sail both the Middlesea and Outersea. There are uncharted islands to discover, but also unknown and dangerous creatures that they may encounter on the water. Octopath Traveler 0′ s story draws from that of mobile title Octopath Traveler: Champions of the Continent . Players control a created protagonist from the town of Wishvale. On the annual Day of Reverence festival, the town is attacked and engulfed in flames, setting the protagonist on the path of revenge or restoration. As players journey across the world of Orsterra on their quest, they form a party of eight members from a total of over thirty recruitable travelers. Octopath Traveler 0 is set to release for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2 on December 4, 2025. A demo is currently available on all platforms, with save progress transferring to the full game. [foogallery id="180183"] The post Octopath Traveler 0 Reveals More Companions, Interactions appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 25

Utawarerumono: Shiro e no Michishirube Platforms Revealed Aquaplus revealed the platforms for its latest Utawarerumono title, Utawarerumono: Shiro e no Michishirube . The game is planned to release for PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch 2 in Japan in 2026. A western release has not yet been announced. Some new screenshots were also shown during a presentation of the current details for the game. Details about the game's story have not yet been revealed, but it is confirmed to include previous characters from the series including Munechika, Shunya, Oshtor, and Mikazuchi. It is being worked on by many returning staff members from previous titles in the series including scenario writer Suga Munemitsu, character designers Suga Tatsuki Amazuyu and Misato Mitsumi, and music director Naoya Shimokawa. The game will feature gameplay built upon that of prequel title Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten . Source: Gematsu [foogallery id="180148"] The post Utawarerumono: Shiro e no Michishirube Platforms Revealed appeared first on RPGamer .

RPGamerNov 24