On this episode of Random Encounter, ex-host Random Greg Delmage returns to share his film expertise while chatting about the new Fallout TV show!

Video game adaptations are hot right now, and Amazon has just dropped what might be the best one yet: Fallout! Based on the long-running RPG series, Fallout, the show is an exploration of the far future after a nuclear war in the 21st century destroyed all of civilization. With a pitch-perfect mix of dark humor, brutal violence, and a retro-50s future aesthetic, Fallout translates everything we love about the games into a brand-new, in-continuity story set in the LA Wasteland.

Jono reviewed the entire series for the site last week (spoiler: he loved it), and he's excited to be reunited with Greg to chat about why this series should be of interest to all of the RPG fans out there!

Featuring: Jono Logan and Greg Delmage; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Fallout Season One Review
Retro Encounter 412 – Fallout Encounter
Fallout Review
Fallout 2 Review
Fallout 3 Review
Fallout: New Vegas Review
Fallout 4 Review
Fallout 76 Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at a game-of-the-year contender and the latest from one of the industry's most visionary indie devs. 

First up, Izzy is here to chat about Dragon's Dogma 2. The sequel to Capcom's cult-classic Dragon's Dogma, DD2 is the true realization of many of the ahead-of-their-time gameplay mechanics of its predecessor. However, this positive fanfare has recently been overshadowed by the controversy of predatory microtransactions included in this full-price game. Do these money-grubbing measures really impact players' overall enjoyment of the title?

Then, Tim is here to chat about Lucas Pope's latest game, Mars After Midnight. Known for his indie classics Papers, Please and Return of the Obra Dinn, Pope has moved from consoles and PC over to the crank-enhanced handheld known as the Playdate. Does the tiny screen and simplified gameplay hurt MaM, or do the limitations inspire brilliance?

Featuring: Jono Logan, Izzy Parsons, and Tim Rattray; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Dragon's Dogma 2 Review
Dragon's Dogma Review
Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen Review
Mars After Midnight Review
Return of the Obra Dinn Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at two very different kinds of follow-ups to beloved games: a spiritual successor and a fan game.

First up, we're talking about a long-awaited revival of Ogre Battle-style SRPGs with Vanillaware's Unicorn Overlord (the most bizarre name for a game since Triangle Strategy). Featuring a mix of real-time strategy, turn-based party combat, and overworld exploration, Unicorn Overlord really hit the sweet spot for Josh. Is it a game for everyone, though?

And the overwhelming amount of fan content inspired by 2015's Undertale finally reaches its logical culmination with an incredible fan game that actually has the blessing of creator Toby Fox: Undertale Yellow. A prequel that follows the story of a previous soul who fell into the underground, Yellow delivers an experience that doesn't just live up to its inspiration but surpasses it in some ways. Aleks' feature, Undertale Yellow Feels Like a Legit Prequel, not only brings attention to this incredible labor of love, but also helped to open his eyes to the potential of fan games!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Joshua Lindquist, and Aleks Franiczek; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Ogre Battle: The March of the Black Queen Review
Unicorn Overlord Review
Undertale Yellow Feels Like a Legit Prequel
Undertale Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're taking a look at a long-running RPG series that has only made sporadic, but noteworthy, appearances here in the West!

Mystery Dungeon began as a Dragon Quest IV spinoff back in 1993, but since then, there have been dozens of games in the series, including crossover titles with Final Fantasy (Chocobo’s Dungeon 2) and Pokémon (Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Rescue Team DX), along with a standalone series (Mystery Dungeon: Shiren the Wanderer). And with the release of the latest entry, Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island, we thought it would be a great time to take a deep dive into the series in preparation for our "So You Want to Get Into the Mystery Dungeon Series..." feature! Ben Love is here to walk us through these mystery dungeons and tell us everything we need to know to get started on our own JRPG rogue-like adventure! 

Featuring: Jono Logan and Ben Love; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Shiren the Wanderer: The Mystery Dungeon of Serpentcoil Island Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, it's finally time to talk about one of the most anticipated "Part 2s" in video game history: Final Fantasy VII Rebirth!

Ever since part 1 of the FFVII remake trilogy, Final Fantasy VII Remake, was released in 2020, we've been desperate to know where the story is heading. Will it continue along as we remember it, or diverge in unexpected and, no doubt, controversial ways? Never fear, because Zach is here to chat about his review of Rebirth, sharing his thoughts about the story, characters, battle system, world, and where he thinks the final part of this trilogy might go (hopefully before 2030).

Oh, and don't worry, no spoilers will be found here about who may or may not die in the game!

Featuring: Jono Logan and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Final Fantasy VII Rebirth Review
Final Fantasy VII Remake Review
Final Fantasy VII Remake Intermission DLC Review
Final Fantasy XVI Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're "cranking" up our game to chat about a farming-centric piece of DLC for a pixel-art action RPG and a rogue-like on a tiny, black-and-white screen.

First, Nick is here to share his thoughts about the farming DLC for 2021's Eastward, Eastward: Octopia. Having received solid reviews back when it was released, this new DLC strips out all of the combat and replaces it with some robust farm-sim mechanics. Coming in at around 20 hours' worth of gameplay for $6, Octopia might be an essential purchase for anyone who loves the original title or farming games!

Then, Tim makes his first appearance on Random to chat about the rogue-like RPG Under the Castle and the tiny handheld console you need to play it, the Playdate. The Playdate is a fascinating piece of hardware, looking like a tiny, high-resolution yellow Gameboy Pocket with a crank on the side. The system is pricy, but does Tim think it and Under the Castle are worth the money?

Featuring: Jono Logan, Nick Mangiaracina, and Tim Rattray; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Eastward Review
Eastward - Octopia Review
Under the Castle Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're looking at a remake of an 18-year-old game and the release of a game that felt like it took 18 years to come out.

Since its announcement in 2016, Granblue Fantasy: Relink has been on many RPG fans' most anticipated lists (it was on ours in 2020, 2022, 2023 AND 2024). And after seven years, it's finally here! Des dives into this long-awaited action RPG to discover if it can possibly live up to expectations! Then, Aleks revisits a new iteration of an old favorite: Persona 3 Reload. There have been many versions of Persona 3 since its first release in 2006 (including the original, FES, and Portable). Can this brand-new remake live up to Aleks' memories of this beloved classic turn-based RPG?

Featuring: Jono Logan, Aleks Franiczek, and Des Miller; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Granblue Fantasy: Relink Review
Persona 3 Reload Review

On this episode of Random Encounter, we're chatting about the latest installment in the Yakuza franchise, Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, and the indie point-and-click adventure game, Lil' Guardsman.

First, Jono dives into Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, the direct sequel to 2020's Yakuza: Like a Dragon. Does Infinite Wealth live up to the lofty turn-based JRPG expectations set by its predecessor? Then, Audra mans the review guardshed with the Canadian indie title, Lil' Guardsman. Does she let this adorable, cartoon-inspired point-and-click adventure pass into the Editor's Choice club? Finally, the entire panel discusses the state of the games industry in 2024. After what can only be described as a monumental 2023, will the big releases this year be able to live up to that standard?

Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, and Mike Sollosi; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth Review
Yakuza: Like a Dragon Review
Lil' Guardsman Review

Welcome to 2024! This year at Random Encounter, we're on the road to episode 300, so let's start the new year right by chatting about some games!

First up, Jerry is here to talk about the experimental visual novel, Slay the Princess. In complete opposition to just about every video game plot ever, here you need to kill the princess or the world is doomed! Or is it? With a ton of endings and twists around every choice, Slay the Princess has captured Jerry's attention as a potentially overlooked gem of 2023.

And speaking of overlooked gems, Aleks has another one for you from 1999 with Planet Laika, a Japanese-only game from Quintet, the developer of Soul Blazer, Illusion of Gaia, and Terranigma. This lost 32-bit-era adventure/RPG hybrid features a highly experimental narrative, mind-bending graphics, and a philosophical bent that would have sent any translator in the late 1990s into a stress-related leave (which might be why it was never localized). Thankfully, Planet Laika now has a high-quality fan translation! So, let's find out what we missed out on!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Aleks Franiczek, and Jerry Williams; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Slay the Princess Review
Planet Laika Review

On the final 2023 episode of Random Encounter, we're chatting about all the games we're excited about that are coming in 2024!

At the end of December, RPGFan publishes one of the year's biggest features: our most anticipated games expected to come out next year. And that means a chance to get together on Random Encounter to have a year-end freak out about all the games that will inevitably be added to our backlogs!

2023 was a banner year for gaming, but will 2024 follow in its footsteps? From Final Fantasy VII Rebirth to Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth to Metaphor: ReFantazio, here are our thoughts about what's to come in the year ahead!

Featuring: Jono Logan, Hilary Andreff, Joshua Lindquist, Mike Salbato, and Zach Wilkerson; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
RPGFan’s 30 Most Anticipated Games of 2024
RPGFan Shop: RPGFan Review Card Collection

On this episode of Random Encounter, we chat all of the news from the 2024 Game Awards, and delve into two recent indie RPGs.

First, The Game Awards came and went faster than the music playing off the winners! Baldur's Gate 3 was the champion of the evening with Best Game, but Alan Wake 2 walked away with a good share of the awards, as well. Join the panel as we gossip about the absolute boatload of game announcements that we can expect in 2024 and 2025 (and, if we're being really honest, probably 2026 and beyond)! 

Then, Abe walks us through the dark, foreboding woods to chat about Little Goody Two Shoes, an indie horror RPG with life-sim, dating-sim, arcade, and roguelike elements. Is this fairytale-inspired game a "Grimm" experience, or does it deliver a happy ending? Then, Izzy dives into the timestream with the time-looping indie RPG, In Stars and Time. Do the game get tiresome, or do they want to replay it again and again?

Featuring: Jono Logan, Abraham Kobylanski, and Izzy Parsons; Edited by Jono Logan

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This Episode's Related Links:
Baldur's Gate 3 Review
Little Goody Two Shoes Review
In Stars and Time Review