RPGFan's Random Encounter

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about the games we're most excited about in 2023! Each and every December, RPGFan publishes one of the year's biggest features: a look ahead at the upcoming year. And this week on the show, our panel gets to geek out over it! What games do we think will be delayed? What games do we think are going to be disappointments? And what games will end up...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're catching up on some of the biggest and best RPGs over the last few weeks and months. First, Niki walks us through the bug-laden fields of Pokémon Scarlet & Violet ! Then, Des flies us into the great beyond with his thoughts about Star Ocean: The Divine Force ! And finally, Hilary and Jono get to geek out at the surprise drop of a brand-new game from t...

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono and Michael Sollosi team up to speak with the gang behind Zeboyd Games about their latest title: This Way Madness Lies ! Robert Boyd and William Stiernberg at Zeboyd Games have been turning out innovative indie RPGs since Breath of Death VII: The Beginning in 2010. And in their latest release, This Way Madness Lies , they improbably mash up the popular Jap...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about asexual representation in video games. A few weeks ago, RPGFan published a feature by our own Caitlin Argyros, focusing on asexual characters in RPGs. Spoiler alert: it's a pretty short list. Though queer representation has been on the rise over the last decade, the aspec community still struggles to be seen and heard in all forms of media,...

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono and GC are taking a comprehensive look at Yakuza/Like a Dragon ! Every now and then, RPGFan publishes a game primer to help newcomers get into a new series. We've covered Trails , Tales , and Xenos , and now it's time to cover Yakuza ! With its recent rebranding into " Like a Dragon ," the long-running Yakuza series looks to be taking another big step into...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's Random Book Club again! Here at RPGFan, we love our JRPGs: Tales , Trials , and everything in between. But to understand where the genre came from, we need to look back almost forty years to two legendary Japanese creators: Yuji Horii ( Dragon Quest ) and Hironobu Sakaguchi ( Final Fantasy ). In the recent JRPG history book, Fight, Magic, Items: The Histor...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're tackling one of the biggest news weeks in recent memory! First up, we're discussing the recent Nintendo Direct, speculating about the big Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom announcement, and wondering how these 2023 release dates can possibly be coming up so fast. Then, we're embracing our inner fanboys to discuss the massive amount of Yakuza... I'm sorry, the m...

On this episode of Random Encounter, Jono is, once again, tempted to play Final Fantasy XIV ! With the release of the 6.2 patch of FFXIV , Mike is taking up the torch to try and convince Jono to create an account. Will he be successful? And Audra is here to chat about Dusk Diver 2 , an anime-inspired action RPG with more than a few elements of Yakuza/Persona ! Plus, Gamescom was last week, so ever...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're going virtual! First, Caitlin examines the origins of a virtual band in the music biopic game, We Are OFK . Then, Brian steps into a virtual fantasy world in one of the only full-scale JRPGs available on VR platforms, RuinsMagus . And finally, Jono is back in Nova Scotia and is trying to teach his Mom how to play video games. It's... not going great, but...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're going handheld with two highly anticipated RPGs for the Nintendo Switch... First, Izzy digs into the HD-2D remake of the classic Super Famicom/Super Nintendo RPG, LIVE A LIVE . Now, not only do Western audiences FINALLY learn how the title is pronounced, but we have the opportunity to enjoy this seven-character epic with stunning graphics and remastered m...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's Random Book Club time! Do you know what we love almost as much as video games? Books ABOUT video games! Bitmap Books just released their third edition of The Art of Point-and-Click Adventure Games , and Hilary got an exclusive first look at this incredible volume. You know what that means, right? It means that Jono and Hilary get to geek out about adventur...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about the joy of hunting monsters! First, the panel chats about the RPGs and adventure games that caught their attention in the highly-anticipated June Nintendo Direct. Then, Jono gives Dom and Des a chance to geek out at length about the new expansion to Monster Hunter Rise, Monster Hunter Rise: Sunbreak!   Featuring: Jono Logan, Des Miller, Dom...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about sequels and demos!  Zach chats about his time with AI: The Somnium Files – nirvanA Initiative, the new sequel to the beloved "mystery box" game. Mike shares some of his favorite RPG and adventure game demos from the 2022 Steam Next Fest. And the entire panel breaks down the big news stories of the week, including the Final Fantasy VII Rebirt...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's Not-E3 time! Even though the illustrious gaming show is skipping a year, that doesn't mean there isn't a ridiculous amount of gaming news to sift through. Our panel talks about their favorite games of each day of the "show," and discusses what the future might hold for E3 and other gaming events in 2023 and beyond! Featuring: Jono Logan, Brian Mackenzie, M...

On this episode of Random Encounter, the panel breaks down everything they’ve played over the last few weeks! Caitlin survives her first experience with the children of the night in Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong . Audra enjoys a bit of video game nostalgia with Arcade Spirits: The New Challengers , a visual novel that celebrates the world of arcades. And Jono digs into his comfort food of Fal...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about some of the best games we've played so far in May!  As one of the biggest fans of the Suikoden series at RPGFan, Zach relished the opportunity to dig into Eiyuden Chronicle: Rising , but did it live up to his high expectations? Sollosi revisits the past with Prinny Presents NIS Classics Vol. 2 , giving him another opportunity to enjoy two ta...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time for some indie goodness down on the farm! Tarah makes her first appearance on the podcast, talking about the retro farm-sim Bit Orchard: Animal Valley for the Switch. This indie homage to Harvest Moon and Game Boy apparently makes for a very relaxing time (provided that you don't need to catch any frogs)! Next, Audra returns to Random to chat about th...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're taking a page from Retro Encounter and talking about some of our favorite games of the past! Tyler is here to talk about his recent feature "So You Want to Get Into the Xeno Series," a deep dive into the series that started with Xenogears on the PSX and is heading toward Xenoblade Chronicles III on the Switch this September. Izzy and Jono get into a deep...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s tabletop RPGs, farms, and Zelda-likes. Oh my! Neal returns to Random to talk about the recent Borderlands spinoff, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands , Brian shares his thoughts about how Rune Factory 5 has advanced the series, and Greg returns to chat about Arietta of Spirits ! Plus, Jono and the entire panel chats about the recent E3 cancelation and if the former g...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's pure chaos as the panel walks Jono through their thoughts on some of the latest RPGs! Making their first appearance on the show, Izzy is here to break down the "story of an angry man" that is Stranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin . Then Niki shares her thoughts about Square Enix's latest 2D-HD entry, Triangle Strategy . And Des (another first-timer!)...

On this episode of Random Encounter, the panel looks back to the golden age of RPGs with the Pixel Remasters of Final Fantasy IV , V , and VI ! We tackled the first three entries in the Pixel Remaster series ( I, II, and III ) back in Episode 221, but it's time to move to a new generation of console, the Super Nintendo! Cory dives into the first SNES entry, Final Fantasy IV , to see if it still ho...

On this emergency episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about a game that has every RPG fan buzzing: Elden Ring ! The latest Souls-like masterpiece from the wizards at FromSoftware, Elden Ring looks to be the current front-runner for Game of the Year (and maybe Game of the Decade if these crazy-high review scores are to be believed). This week, Jono is talking with Bob Richardson about what m...

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking about two games that take place in very different types of open worlds! First up, Caitlin walks us through the expansive open world of Horizon Forbidden West , the sequel to Horizon Zero Dawn . Improving on the original in almost every way, Forbidden West allows you to adventure in a world full of post-apocalyptic beauty (with better climbing mech...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to pull out our pencil-and-paper Pokédex because we're going back to when Pokémon ruled the Earth! Pokémon Legends: Arceus is the latest entry in the long-running Pocket Monsters series, and just about everyone is talking about how it could revitalize future titles. Our panel discusses what they think about the new semi-open world, beautiful 19th-cent...

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's time to look at some of the best games of the previous year! RPGFan has released our annual Games of the Year feature , and this week, we're taking a deep dive. Join Jono, Alana, Brian, and Wes as they dig into the various categories, pick out their personal favorites, and (inevitably) end up adding multiple games to their backlogs for 2022!  Featuring: Jo...