Welcome to Digitally Downloaded’s weekly catch-up news feature, the catch-up coffee. With each issue I will bring you the best news that you may have missed. Grab the biggest mug you’ve got, fill it with your favourite brew, and catch up with us (and our favourite news anchor, Dee Dee)!
Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical launches in August
I’m sure I’m not alone when I say I’ll be playing the crap out of Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical as soon as humanly possible, which turns out to be this August. The narrative-driven adventure and interactive musical game has an insane team of developers behind it, including David Gaider (lead writer and creator of the Dragon Age setting) and Austin Wintory (musician behind Journey, Banner Saga). The cast is slowly being announced too, and includes Laura Bailey (World of Warcraft, the Last of Us Part II) and Mary Elizabeth MyGlynn (Silent Hill 2, Resident Evil).
The game is set in a modern fantasy world where the Greek Gods live hidden among “normal” people. Grace is granted the power of a Muse to draw others into musical numbers, a power she needs to learn the truth about before time runs out. The mystery unravels based on the player’s choices. They can strong-arm, charm, or negotiate through the world of branching songs. Playthroughs will vary depending on your choices, and a new game could result in an entirely new story.
Developed by Summerfall Studios and published by Humble Games, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical will be released for PC via Steam on August 3. At this time, there’s been no console version announcement.
The latest instalment in the Utawarerumono series launching “this fall”
I say “this fall” in quotations since the publisher really means “this fall in the northern hemisphere and this spring in the southern hemisphere,” basically Q4. The game is titled Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten. The Japanese version first launched in Japan last December, and this western version will include Japanese audio with English text versus Japanese audio and text.
Follow young fighter Oshtor, who lives a quiet life with his small family. But his world is shattered when he meets a Shunya, a mysterious young girl who claims that Oshtor’s deceased father is still alive. Who is she? Where did she come from? Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten is all about is about Oshtor’s journey to discover the truth about his father and the mysteries surrounding Shunya. Gameplay features include classic turn-based RPG battle and systems with modern quality of life features.
Developed by Aquaplus and published in the west by NIS American, Monochrome Mobius: Rights and Wrongs Forgotten will be released in North America, Europe, and Oceania in Q4 2023.
Labyrinth of Zangetsu will be released this week
Get ready for some dungeoning (I know, probably not a word, right?) in dungeon RPG Labyrinth of Zangetsu, which will be released late this week. The game’s artwork blends traditional Japanese art and modern design that illustrates itself, making it something that feels entirely new. It’s about fighting with terrifying Yokai beasts with an intense strategic turn-based battle system. Take a look:
In the moonlit city of Ido, the world has been blackened by the Ink of Ruin. Players will conscript a team of warriors and venture deep into the labyrinths to conquer and sanctify the land. But living in those labyrinths are Yokai beasts and other monsters steeped in Japanese folklore. These creatures will stand in the way, challenging the player’s skills and strategy.
Developed by KaeruPanda and published in the west by PQube, Labyrinth of Zangetsu will be released digitally for PC via Steam, PlayStation 4, and Nintendo Switch on April 20. It will also get a physical release for both consoles. The game first launched in Japan, published by Acquire, last September.
Cross Tails launches this July for PC, consoles
Cross Tails is a tactical strategy RPG announced in late 2022, and it is already ready to see the light of day. Well, close to ready: it will be released in July. The game promises to be rich in character development, as it follows a story-driven plot with turn-based battles and a wide array of characters (each with their own classes). It is set in the Kingdom and Ranvenfurt, a country of the Hundians, and the Republic of Hidiq.
The “lengthy” game follows two perspectives: dogs (Hundians) and cats (Felis). Train allies, take on each stage, and guide your party to victory. Each side has unique allies to fight alongside, as well as their own strategies. The game’s 30-plus jobs have their own skill tree to be unlocked and upgraded by spending Job Points. Passive skills can be learned without even changing jobs. Each side has multiple endings. The game features four difficulty settings to choose from (hello, the easiest option available).
Developed by RideonJapan and published by Kemco, Cross Tails will be released digitally for PC via Team, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series, and Xbox One worldwide on June 20. Physical editions will be available in Japan.
