Every day, I am constantly blown away by the creativity on display in the horror genre. Whether it’s from AAA developers or small indie creators, horror games continue to uphold a consistent level of quality that most genres can’t say they possess. Recently, I got to see a new example of this standard with Shutter Story. I had the opportunity to play the demo for this horror game ahead of time, and I was immediately surprised by its unique mechanics.
Shutter Story begins with you taking the role of an amateur photographer, visiting the home of your young friend, Eli. Upon entering, you notice multiple strange oddities. For starters, there is a strange mass of mold on the wall in the shape of a person. Eli claims to have seen worms coming out of the toilet. Most notably, he has noticed faces and strange figures in the background of old pictures.
While his parents seem to strangely overlook all of the obvious signs of something more sinister going on behind the scenes, the unnamed protagonist decides to help Eli and get to the bottom of what is going on. You see, the protagonist isn’t just an ordinary photographer: he specializes in paranormal activity. After Eli gives him the pictures, he uses software called SpectralAware to look deeper at the scans and find out the truth of what is happening in this house.
The demo only lasts around twenty minutes, but it still did a great job of selling me on what this game has to offer. The premise is fantastic in how it offers a unique spin on the traditional “haunted house” setup. Rather than seeing ghosts right in front of your eyes, you essentially have to play detective to find these apparitions in the background of Eli’s photos. The uncanniness of the visuals helps to emphasize the game’s tension, which only heightens as you start to realize that Eli’s fears aren’t unfounded.
Is that a face behind her, or is that just her shadow?
The act of examining these photos is also delightfully compelling, in spite of its simplicity. In theory, zooming into photos, adjusting the exposure and contrast, and seeing if you can find something in the background doesn’t sound like much fun. When I first played the demo, I was a bit skeptical of the mechanics. This was particularly because of how often I found myself struggling to find anything at all in these images. On a second playthrough, though, I realized that my recognition of patterns that may not have been there at all only heightened the tension.
Every time I scrolled to a new image, I fiddled around with the different filters (which in this demo, include normal, negative, and night vision) and the different exposure and contrast levels. Sometimes, I would spend minutes at a time looking in the background of an image only to find nothing there, which lulled me into a false sense of security.
But sometimes, I would get to an image or even a video, adjust the levels, and find a mysterious figure hiding in plain sight. Every time this happened, my heart would sink, and I’d find myself laughing out of sheer terror. This was how I knew that I stumbled upon a game that has the potential to be truly special.
Sure, the demo isn’t perfect. I did have some minor concerns about the controls, as occasionally my inputs wouldn’t register while I was playing on a controller. That said, these issues were relatively minor in the grand scheme of things. As a whole, I loved my brief time spent with Shutter Story.
The narrative premise is intriguing, even though I was only able to see fifteen minutes of it. Further, the gameplay loop of examining images, consulting a manual to find the best way to look for the different types of ghosts, and parsing through which pictures had these strange figures is deeply thrilling. The fact that the game’s ending is apparently determined by how many times you accurately identify the correct figure in the background of a picture has me so interested to see the finished product.
Overall, as a huge fan of the horror genre, I cannot wait to play Shutter Story when it releases in Q2 2026 for PC via Steam. Special thanks to Frostwood Interactive for providing an early look at the demo for the game, which is available now.
Sanctuary Games has announced its debut game, Zanerdin: The Unbound, which will release for PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam. The release date for the game is currently unknown.
A press release from Sanctuary Games describes Zanerdin: The Unbound as a gacha RPG without microtransactions. Additionally, it states that it will reveal the pricing for the game at a later date. Check out the first trailer for Zanerdin: The Unbound below:
The press release has a more detailed overview of the upcoming game:
Welcome to Kalatos, a fantastical world forged and protected by the power of the six Blessings: Water, Fire, Earth, Metal, Wind, and Electric. Each person is born with the power of one of these elements, defining their personal strength, social standing, and destiny. At the core of Kalatos lies the Chaos region, a desolate environment where all are born without any powers. Lead Zanerdin, born into the Chaos, into the Blessed lands to discover the truth about his family. Embark on the epic journey of Zanerdin: The Unbound; explore unknown lands and overcome the danger and conflicts that await, while shaping the fate of the planet and forging new legends.
Key Features:
Strategic Turn-based Gameplay – Each of the 25+ playable characters harness special abilities based on their inherent elemental Blessing and Position. Enter the fray with a team built around character skill sets and tactical use of the “Theme” and “Synergy” systems to triumph in battles!
Progression without Paywalls – Engage in gacha mechanics without microtransactions by defeating 60 turn-based battle stages, Boss Raids, Abyss Boss Raids, and a hidden Raid to unlock gacha materials and currency to rank up gear.
Grow Collection and Increase Battle Strategies – Over 25 playable characters, 10 distinctive pets, and tactical formations can be collected through linear progression and free map explorations for more tactical battle strategies.
Continue the Chaos with Endgame Content – Re-enter the fray in a 5v5 tournament with an AI-controlled opponent. Equip the best gear to face the challenge and become the champion to unlock a post-game “Hardcore” battle stage. Additionally, new story content and additional playable characters will be made available via DLC.
Nintendo has officially announced a Nintendo Switch 2 Edition of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition. It is available today as a five dollar upgrade if you already own the original, and a physical edition will release on April 16.
The Nintendo Switch 2 Edition includes faster frame rate, up to 60 FPS. Additionally, it also features 4K resolution. Unlike other Nintendo Switch 2 Editions, it features no new additional content. Check out the trailer showcasing Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition below:
Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition initially released in March 2025 for the Nintendo Switch. With it, all four Xenoblade Chronicles games are available on the platform. It is currently unknown whether or not the other games in the series will receive upgrades. We reviewed Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition, and gave it a 4.5/5.
We described it as a game that is “bigger and better than ever on Nintendo Switch. The numerous quality-of-life upgrades and additions make the experience even more satisfying, and there simply is nothing like roaming the world of Mira inside your Skell. Jump in, get in that robot, pump up that music, and have a heck of a time doing it.”
Lastly, the Nintendo eShop has an overview of Xenoblade Chronicles X: Definitive Edition:
Rebuild humanity on the mysterious planet Mira
The massive sci-fi adventure returns for a new generation. Explore the planet Mira and defend yourself against enemies using giant, weaponized robots.
The visually enhanced edition of this open-world RPG contains newly added story elements and more.
Combat basic training
Choose from a huge variety of special attacks, skills, and classes in a combat system that’s as deep as you want it to be.
WiZmans World is a turn-based RPG that eluded fans in the West when it released in Japan as a Nintendo DS exclusive in 2010. Since then, WiZmans World has been an enigma of sorts, and you could barely find any relevant information about the game if you comb the internet. Fortunately, that’s about to change with the release of WiZmans World Re;Try by Clear River Games and City Connection. The HD remaster allows fans to experience this Jaleco and Lancarse-developed RPG for the first time in English, and despite the game showing some of its age now, the remaster does a decent job modernizing it for the latest generation of consoles. There’s quite a lot that makes WiZmans World Re;Try a standout title among the slew of RPGs out today, for better or worse.
The story of WiZmans World Re;Try focuses on Claus, a young man who was taken in the care of the mage Giselle in Wizarest—a strange city that is cut off from the outside world due to some rather strange circumstances. Anyone who attempts to leave the city and head into the lush forest surrounding it will be put into a dungeon that periodically shifts in form. This shift is capable of killing anyone inside the dungeon, or at least severely injuring them. While investigating this phenomenon at the behest of Archmage Adan, Giselle goes strangely missing, and it’s up to Claus to search for his parental figure and discover why Wizarest is sealed between dungeons. Along the way, you are also given the chance to make important decisions that will affect the outcome of your journey.
WiZmans World Re;Try is a Turn-Based RPG Through and Through
From the get-go, WiZmans World Re;Try makes itself known as an intriguing, and at times unsettling, turn-based RPG. The strange sense of calm in Wizarest, along with the game’s ominous opening sequence, really makes you wonder why the city is in such a position and who or what is responsible for it. At its core, though, WiZmans World Re;Try is a traditional turn-based RPG that puts the player in control of a young but promising mage who can use an arsenal of magic spells to defeat monsters. After a few minutes of speaking to the Archmage, you’re tasked with seeing the world for what it is firsthand, and you really don’t have much preparation to make, either. This is certainly by design in order to introduce the turn-based mechanics and on-field encounters in the dungeons, which are all simple to grasp and understand.
After braving the Leering Forest for the first time, you’ll be aided by three homunculi created by Giselle: Aen, Doe, and Toori. Your fairy-like companions make up the other three members of the party, making up the party of four. Aen, Doe, and Toori can fuse with the souls you collect from slaying monsters and take on their appearance through Anima Fusion, the game’s primary upgrade system for the party. Claus will level up and gain new abilities and spells on his own, but the rest of the party must undergo Anima Fusion in order to get stronger and obtain new abilities.
That being said, the turn-based mechanics involving the four party members are very straightforward, and if you played any turn-based RPG, you’ll know exactly what to do. You’ll have turns to attack, heal, or defend against enemies in a standard turn-based system with a turn order to keep track of. There are Fire, Wind, Water, and Earth elements to consider, with each being weak to another element. Claus is unique, as he’s not weak to any element in particular, and he can use a range of elemental magic and a neutral spell that deals magic damage not tied to an element.
While performing attacks and offensive spells in succession, you’ll notice your Chain count go up. WiZmans World Re;Try rewards you for being able to effectively take out enemies and interrupt their attacks by increasing parameters during the Chain, such as attack damage, loot drop rate, XP, and the SP you recover immediately after using a spell. This is especially helpful when you need to level up or gain certain monster souls to strengthen your party in Anima Fusion. Back at home, you can use Claus’ cauldron to fuse the homunculi with different monster souls to inherit their skills and elemental affinity. You can also gain items called catalysts, which offer additional stat boosts and skills that can stack with whatever equipment and accessories you have equipped per character.
For the most part, WiZmans World Re;Try‘s combat is about making the most out of your turns, meaning that you’ll have a lot of success with a party that can take on weaknesses for the enemies in the areas you’re currently exploring. In addition, you’ll want to be at a respectable level compared to the enemies on the field. The game isn’t particularly difficult, but you can expect to do a lot of grinding since the major bosses serve as a sort of level check. If you’re too weak for a boss fight, you will know it for sure, and you will need to make sure you save often to avoid losing progress, since there are no auto-saves. You can manually save at any time, though.
What’s New in This “Re;Try“
There’s no new story content, but WiZmans World Re;Try comes packed with numerous quality of life changes and features as an HD remaster. Along with the ability to save anywhere, you can skip dialogue, use auto battle features to make grinding sessions easier, and select from various language options that weren’t present in the original game. The user interface has been improved for the game’s higher resolution compared to the DS version, and there’s also new character artwork that complements the game’s updated UI.
The 2D dot graphics in WiZmans World Re;Try look amazing to say the least. Character animations are quite expressive in this style during combat, and NPCs certainly have personality to them as well, despite what might appear to be a limited art style with those graphics. The music of WiZmans World Re;Try is also really great, and all of it was remade and rearranged by soLi. The boss themes certainly stood out to me, specifically.
These may seem like minor features on paper, but it does go a long way in making the game feel right at home on consoles and PCs, especially if you’ve seen gameplay or screenshots of the DS version. The Nintendo Switch version runs flawlessly at its full resolution, and there are no problems running on Switch 2, either.
After finishing the game, you can also replay the game with New Game+, so there’s that option if you feel like having another go at the story. There’s a “real” ending to pursue here, but I definitely recommend just playing and making the decisions you really want when presented.
There are a few gripes I do have with WiZmans World Re;Try, however. I think the lack of voice acting is a miss for sure. I would have definitely enjoyed some Japanese voice acting for Aen, Doe, Toori, and the rest of the supporting cast. In an unrelated and ironic matter, the omission of auto saves may trip some people up, since there’s no retry feature when you get a game over. As I’ve said before, you should regularly save to avoid losing a lot of progress.
WiZmans World Re;Try is a Good and Time-Friendly RPG Remaster
Surprisingly, WiZmans World Re;Try isn’t that long of an RPG. You could probably finish a playthrough in about 30 hours if you’re solely focused on the story and leveling up to defeat every boss. If you want to 100% the game and reach the true ending, you’ll be looking at around 50 to 60 hours, but your playtime will vary. This is all to say that WiZmans World Re;Try is a good RPG that will respect your time but will also present some challenges. The bosses in this game will happily end your party if you aren’t prepared.
It’s not the ideal remaster, but WiZmans World Re;Try is a really good game with a story that’s full of mystery and intrigue in its unique world and premise. If you like turn-based RPGs, you’ll more than likely enjoy WiZmans World Re;Try for one aspect or another, whether it’s the tried-and-true turn-based gameplay, the fantastical story and cast of characters, or the really great soundtrack. Just be ready to grind and rise to the challenge when the time comes. These shifting dungeons don’t play around.
WiZmans World Re;Try is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: Clear River Games provided a Nintendo Switch key of WiZmans World Re;Try for review purposes.
Idea Factory and Compile Heart have released the opening movie for Villion: Code, a new “school RPG” by Megami Tensei and Persona series co-creator Kouji “Cozy” Okada. The opening movie for Villion: Code features the theme song “Rebirth Code” by FRAM.
In addition, four new BGM sample videos were released with tracks composed by Megami Tensei series composer Tsukasa Masuko, who is the sound composer of the new RPG.
Villion: Code is set in a near-future university town that’s on a floating island in Tokyo Bay. On the island, students and teachers mutate into monsters. Dungeons in the game are procedurally generated and allow for 360-degree movement in every direction. This is possible in the dungeons’ tube-shaped environments with no ceiling. Combat is described as “real-time speed action.”
The game is teased as “Kouji Okada’s final message to the next generation.” Okada is the producer of the new school RPG, and he’s joined by scenario writer Tadashi Satomi, who previously wrote the stories of Revelations: Persona, Persona 2: Innocent Sin, and Persona 2: Eternal Punishment. Ilya Kuvshinov (Ghost in the Shell SAC_2045) is the character designer.
The voice cast includes:
Kengo Kawanishi
Aimi
Shunsuke Takeuchi
Atsushi Tamaru
Aoi Nagatsuki
Asami Shimoda
Villion: Code launches on June 25 for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5 in Japan. The PlayStation 4 version is a digital-only release.
Pre-orders are available now through Ebten on its own for 3,960 yen and in an “Ebten DX Pack” bundle featuring a B2-sized tapestry and mini acrylic blocks. Fans may also pre-order the Official Visual Collection on Amazon Japan.
FANTASY LIFE i: The Girl Who Steals Time is available now for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The free “The Sinister Broker Bazario’s Schemes” DLC is available now to all players.
Lastly, here’s an overview of the game, via Steam:
Step into this Slow-Life RPG where you can freely switch between 14 unique jobs, so called “Lives,” and enjoy a carefree life in a fantasy world.
Fish, cook, shape the island to your liking, or team up with friends to battle monsters across the vast world. It’s up to you to choose what kind of Life you’ll live!
A Dragon Guides You to a Mysterious Island
You are an adventurer who sets sail with the archaeologist Edward and his team.
Following the light emanating from a dragon’s fossil, you discover an uncharted, deserted island.
A vast abyss, a dragon made of bone, and a girl’s message that begs you to save the world…
Travel between the island that thrived 1,000 years ago and the present-day island to unravel the mystery of its downfall!
14 Unique Lives to Make Yours Brighter
In this world, a “Life” is the equivalent of a job.
Each has its own characteristics and provides various ways to enjoy yourself.
Collect ingredients or materials with Gathering Lives, create weapons or cook dishes with Crafting Lives, or fight monsters with Combat Lives. You can switch between any Life at any time, creating a life that’s uniquely yours.
Shape the Island! Create Your Town!
Use Lives to gather materials and restore the island to its former glory!
Not only can you place houses and objects, but you can also alter the landscape and draw rivers and roads to create a truly unique island.
Expand your house, place some furniture, and decorate the interior however you like!
Embark on an Open-World Adventure!
Freely explore the largest continent in the series!
Climb ledges, swim across rivers and lakes, or ride on mounts – With these new actions you can explore the world without limits!
Endless Fun with Multiplayer!
Enjoy multiplayer with up to 4 players!
Invite friends to your island, explore dungeons, or find your own ways to have fun together!
If you have two controllers, you can also use the 2 Player Family Co-op feature where one player can join the adventure as your travel companion without needing to connect online!
VIZ Media has announced that the TV anime adaptation of Shu Sakuratani’s Rooster Fighter manga will be streaming on Hulu in the U.S. and Disney+ around the world starting March 15. Streaming access to the Rooster Fighter anime on Disney+ will vary per region outside the U.S., as previous releases have shown.
Shu Sakuratani’s Rooster Fighter manga made its debut on Hero’s Inc.’s Comiplex back in December 2020. 10 volumes of the manga have been released in Japan as of July 4, 2025. Lastly, VIZ Media licensed the Rooster Fighter manga in English and describes the story as follows:
The neighborhood cock of the walk is more than just an ordinary rooster—he’s humanity’s greatest defender! His opponents may be ten stories tall, but nothing is bigger than his stout heart and his fearsome battle cry—cock-a-doodle-doo!
Hulu will begin to stream Medalist Season 2 with Japanese audio and English subtitles on February 20 in the U.S. Fans can visit the Medalist Season 2 page on Hulu to see the release time in their respective time zones, according to Disney senior manager of English dubbing Reuben Lack.
The Medalist Season 2 anime premiered on January 24 at 25:30 JST / 11:30 a.m. EST on the “NUMAnimation” programming block on TV Asahi and 23 other affiliate channels. Disney+ and Hulu are streaming the anime in various regions around the world. A Medalist sequel film is set to premiere in Japanese theaters in 2027.
HANA performs the opening theme song “Cold Night.” Conton Candy will perform the ending theme song “Rookies.”
The anime’s new cast members include:
Natsuko Abe as Yūna Yagi
Mao Itou as Rinna Sarukawa
Maria Naganawa as Roba Manaka
Minami Tanaka as Yotsuha Ushikawa
Hikaru Tōno as Kurumi Risu
Takako Tanaka as Sakina Anaguma
Yūko Natsuyoshi as Sana Niwatori
Hibiku Yamamura as Iruka Okazaki
Kotomi Aihara as Riina Kojō
Ai Kayano as Marika Kurione
Hazuki Nakamura is the art director of Medalist Season 2, and Kentaro Kashiwagi is the compositing director of photography. Japanese figure skater Rika Hongo will take part in the anime’s motion capture film alongside former Olympic skater Akiko Suzuki, who choreographed the skating routines for the first season. Suzuki collaborated with retired figure skater Yuhana Yokoi and active figure skater Hinano Isobe.
Tsurumaikada launched the manga in May 2020 in Kodansha’s Afternoon magazine, and it’s still ongoing. Kodansha USA Publishing licenses the manga in the US.
Lastly, here’s an overview of the manga, via Kodansha:
Tsukasa, whose dreams were crushed. Inori, left to fend for herself. These two share a dream…and their tenacity may be the only thing that sees them through. Their destination? The ice…on the world’s stage!
CyberConnect2 has restocked merchandise for the .hack series following its surprise announcement of .hack//Z.E.R.O. earlier this week. The .hack merchandise, including plushies, can badges, and artbooks, is available for purchase now in the CyberConnect2 Store. Fans outside Japan can purchase the products with international shipping via WorldShopping.
.hack//Z.E.R.O. is currently in development and will release worldwide as a multi-platform title designed for home consoles, according to CyberConnect2 president Hiroshi Matsuyama. The story of .hack//Z.E.R.O. is not connected to previous .hack titles, so fans and newcomers can jump right into this game.
The game’s development team comprising of veterans who worked on previous .hack games and younger staff who grew up playing the games. The development of the Fuga: Melodies of Steel series and the “Revenge trilogy” (Fuga, Tokyo Ogre Gate and Cecile) served as the groundwork for .hack//Z.E.R.O.’s development system.
Fans of .hack and newcomers can replay or catch up with the .hack series with .hack//G.U. Last Recode, which is available now for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam.
Bandai Namco has announced that a new update for Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO will launch on February 19 for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2 with the limited-time Extreme Warrior Time Attack mode. The new Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO update for Switch and Switch 2 will also add new selectable scenarios, cutscenes, and text options.
Added a new limited-time mode where players battle characters with significantly increased strength. (This mode is unavailable when not in the event period.)
Versus
In Battle Together, all stages can now be selected.
Note: All stages become selectable only when either the Nintendo Switch 2 version or the Nintendo Switch version is played on a Nintendo Switch 2 console with the update data applied.
Feature Changes and Adjustments
Custom Battle
Added new selectable scenarios, cutscenes, and text options.
Other
Improved usability and overall system stability.
Fans can also look forward to new DLC for Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO featuring new playable characters, costumes, stages, modes, and much more. Dragon Ball Sparking ZERO will also receive a new theme song “ZERO” by Hironobu Kageyama, the voice of Dragon Ball’s most iconic theme songs. The Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 versions will receive DLC and update content at a later date. A new update with Survival Mode is also planned for spring 2026.
Dragon Ball: Sparking ZERO is available now for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. Final Weapon previously reviewed Dragon Ball Sparking! ZERO and went over the Switch 2 version’s features and crisp visuals.
