RPGFan's Random Encounter

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Join the staff of RPGFan as they discuss the latest news and topics in the world of role-playing games.

  1. 349 - Not-E3 2026 Extravaganza!

    2 days ago

    349 - Not-E3 2026 Extravaganza!

    On this week's Random Encounter, the 2026 Summer Game Fest season is officially upon us! For video game fans, mid-June is still basically early Christmas. Even though E3 is firmly in the history books, the nonstop gaming announcements haven't slowed down and, this year, there are a lot of presents under the tree for RPG fans! Our panel has been working overtime keeping up with all the major digital events, so it's time to break down our absolute favourite games from across the summer showcases including Final Fantasy VII Revelation, Persona 6, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake! Featuring: Jono Logan, Ben Love, Matt Wardell, Stephanie Sybydlo, and Zek Lu; Edited by Jono Logan Water photo in graphic sourced from Marissa Rodriguez on Unsplash. Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:No Rest For The Wicked To Leave Early Access This October for PlayStation 5 and PCFinal Fantasy VII Revelation Closes Out A Meteoric Trilogy For Consoles & PC in Spring 2027Stellar Blade: Blood Rain Brings Stylish Combat & Colossal Cityscapes In Reveal TrailerThe Wolf Among Us 2 Finally Coming in 2027 & The Wolf Among Us Remastered RevealedAtlus Reveals Persona 6 at the Xbox Games ShowcaseFable Brings Villainy & Heroism on February 23rd, 2027 for Xbox Series, PlayStation 5 and PCPersona 4 Revival Brings Shadows, Social Links, & More on February 18th, 2027The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time Remake Returns Fans to Hyrule on Nintendo Switch 2 in 2026School is in Session for the Next Entry in the Xenoblade Franchise, Xenoblade Genesis, in 2027Final Fantasy Embraces HD-2D with Final Fantasy Resonance on October 22nd, 2026New Kingdom Hearts IV Trailer Teases New Characters, Expands Game to All Major PlatformsFire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave Commences the Heroic Games on September 17th, 2026Tales of Eternia Remastered Brings Destiny To Consoles & PC on October 16thVanillaware to Bring Muramasa: Revenant Blades to Consoles, and Yes, PC, in Early 2027

    2h 26m
  2. 348 - Mina the Barista

    1 Jun

    348 - Mina the Barista

    On this episode of Random Encounter, we're digging for some sweet, sweet caffeine! First up, Bob is here to chat about Yacht Club Games' newest title, Mina the Hollower. Yacht Club struck gold a decade ago with their retro side-scroller Shovel Knight and its various campaigns, but since then, they've apparently been on the bubble financially. Well, that doesn't seem to be a problem anymore because Mina the Hollower appears to be a hit! This top-down, Link's Awakening-esque and Castlevania-esque soulslike currently has everyone talking, and Bob and Jono certainly can't stop chatting about it! Spoiler alert: it's absolutely fantastic! Next, Audra and Mike are here for a steaming cup of Coffee Talk Tokyo. As the third entry in this lo-fi, relaxing visual novel series, the game moves its setting from rainy Seattle to neon Tokyo. Does the charm of Coffee Talk successfully make the jump across the Pacific? Oh, and we also chat about our hopes for next week's Not-E3 (and be sure to stay tuned for our 2026 Not-E3 Extravaganza episode)!   Featuring: Jono Logan, Audra Bowling, Mike Salbato, and Jerry Williams; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:Mina the HollowerCoffee Talk TokyoCoffee Talk ReviewCoffee Talk 2: Hibiscus & Butterfly ReviewDragon Quest XII: Beyond Dreams

    1hr 7min
  3. 347 - Darkness and Retro Light

    11 May

    347 - Darkness and Retro Light

    On this episode of Random Encounter, it's all about the aliens! First up, Directive 8020. The latest game in Supermassive Games' The Dark Pictures Anthology series, 8020 brings choice-based horror movie vibes into space. Pulling from the classic horror sci-fi films The Thing and Alien, did this interactive space adventure have Paul hiding behind the couch? Then, Radical Fish Games, the maker of the retro darling CrossCode, is back with the first taste of its latest retro-looking adventure, Alabaster Dawn. Featuring stunning 2.5D pixel-art visuals, bullet-hell-inspired combat, and compelling characters, all set in a world that appears to have been invaded by aliens, Alabaster Dawn has already impressed the heck out of Bob, and it is only in early access! Is it worth picking up, even if the game is still in development? Featuring: Jono Logan, Jerry Williams, and Paul Skevington; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:Directive 8020 ReviewAlabaster Dawn Hands-On: Modern Retro Done Right

    1hr 9min
  4. 346 - Will the PS5 Rescue Starfield?

    27 Apr

    346 - Will the PS5 Rescue Starfield?

    On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking all about two older games that have recently been revitalized with new gameplay! First up, Starfield. When it was released in 2023, it was divisive, to put it mildly. Some said it was one of the best games ever, some said it was the worst game ever, but most greeted it with a disappointed "meh." Now, Bethesda has finally released the game on PS5, along with its last expansion: the story DLC Terran Armada and the space flight gameplay revamp, Free Lanes. So, does Zek think this DLC improves the game, or is the game just as buggy as ever? Then, one of the greatest CRPGs of all time, Pillars of Eternity, has been given a brand-new gameplay mode: turn-based combat! Originally released with real-time-with-pause combat, the addition of turn-based combat brings the game back to the very roots of its genre. Mark is a massive fan of the classic turn-based games that inspired Pillars of Eternity, such as Baldur's Gate, so what does he make of this unexpected addition to this brilliant RPG? Featuring: Jono Logan, Mark Roddison, and Zek Lu; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:Starfield ReviewStarfield: Shattered Space ReviewPillars of Eternity ReviewSolasta II Early Access Review

    1hr 11min
  5. 345 - PAX East 2026 Roundup!

    13 Apr

    345 - PAX East 2026 Roundup!

    On this episode of Random Encounter, we're talking all about some of the RPGs and adventure games found at this year's PAX East! Originally known as the Penny Arcade Expo, both PAX East and West have become long-running institutions in the video game industry. This year, our fearless editor-in-chief braved the masses and delivered a ton of articles about the event! And we have him right here on Random to chat about some of the most interesting indie games that will be coming to us in 2026 and 2027! Want to find the best of the show? Listen on (or read the articles at RPGFan.com)! Featuring: Jono Logan and Mike Salbato; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:PAX East 2026 – Disgaea Mayhem Hands-On: Frenetic Fan ServicePAX East 2026 – High Times: Crafting Donuts & MoodsAether & Iron Dev Interview – PAX East 2026PAX East 2026 – Brigandine Abyss Hands-On: Hexagonal StrategyPAX East 2026 – Spirit Rancher’s Spirit-Fueled Farming is a Refreshing Change of PacePAX East 2026 – Terra Nova: Legend of the Runes is a Retro JRPG to WatchPAX East 2026 Roundup & 9 More Games to Watch

    1hr 30min
  6. 344 - Life is Strange: Carmageddon

    30 Mar

    344 - Life is Strange: Carmageddon

    On this episode of Random Encounter, we talk about cars ramming one another and time travel. And no, for once, this isn't a Back to the Future reference (although it could be)! First up is Matt chatting about the big grand finale of the Life is Strange franchise, Life Is Strange: Reunion (although we're sure there will be another one coming out in a few years). After the disappointment of the previous game in the series, Life is Strange: Double Exposure, fan anxiety went through the roof when it was announced the next game would be the long-awaited reunion between Chloe and Max. Does this reunion deliver? And then Jerry is here to talk about the noir-soaked decopunk atmosphere of the new strategy RPG, Aether & Iron. It's time to explore a massive, floating version of 1930s New York as you save a dame, throw back a drink, and hit the road in strategic car combat! For the first game from the developer Seismic Squirrel, Aether & Iron absolutely punches above its weight!  Featuring: Jono Logan, Jerry Williams, and Matt Wardell; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:Life is Strange: Reunion ReviewLife is Strange Remastered Collection ReviewAether & Iron Review

    1hr 20min
  7. 343 - Pokémon vs. The World

    16 Mar

    343 - Pokémon vs. The World

    On this episode of Random Encounter, it’s the end of the world as we know it, and Ditto feels fine! First up, Ben is here to chat about the latest Pokémon spin-off, Pokémon Pokopia. Man is dead, and the Pokémon rule. We don’t think that anyone expected that we’d get a post-apocalyptic Pokémon game, but it turns out that it may have been the delightful life sim we were all waiting for! Ben certainly enjoyed it! And then Matt is here to take us to the mysterious land of Toronto, Canada, in 20XX with Scott Pilgrim EX. The sequel to the beloved 2010 beat-em-up, Scott Pilgrim Vs. the World: The Game, EX brings us back to the classic video-game coded world of Scott Pilgrim and Toronto, along with the amazing chiptunes of Anamanaguchi. Mixing RPG mechanics and progression with classic beat-em-up gameplay, Scott Pilgrim EX looks to stand alongside its PS3-era predecessor. Does it live up to those high expectations?  Featuring: Jono Logan, Ben Love, and Matt Wardell; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:Pokémon Pokopia ReviewScott Pilgrim EX Review

    1hr 9min
  8. 342 - Adventure Islands!

    2 Mar

    342 - Adventure Islands!

    On this week's Random Encounter, we're talking about two new games that both take place on very different islands! First, Bob is here to chat about the standalone sequel to 2023's Paranormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo, Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse. This visual novel brilliantly mixes real-world history with folklore to create a compelling tale with a tinge of 80s nostalgia (and a CRT filter throughout)! Did Bob enjoy it as much as he enjoyed the original? Next, Ben is here to talk about a new indie 2D Zelda-like, Under the Island. This adorable game pulls a lot from A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening while doing its own thing with a modern island setting and a hockey stick as your primary weapon (this Canadian approves). Does Ben feel like it lived up to its inspirations, or does it fall a bit short? Finally, Jono beat Hollow Knight: Silksong, which we don't cover, but it is Silksong and he REALLY wanted to talk about it, so… Featuring: Jono Logan, Ben Love, and Jerry Williams; Edited by Jono Logan Get in Touch:RPGFan.comRPGFan ShopEmail us: podcast@rpgfan.comTwitter: @rpgfancomBluesky: @rpgfan.bsky.socialInstagram: @rpgfancomThreads: @rpgfancomFacebook: rpgfancomTwitch: rpgfancom This Episode's Related Links:Paranormasight: The Mermaid's Curse ReviewParanormasight: The Seven Mysteries of Honjo ReviewUnder the Island Review

    1hr 22min
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Join the staff of RPGFan as they discuss the latest news and topics in the world of role-playing games.

Information

  • Channel
    RPGFan
  • Creator
    RPGFan.com
  • Years Active
    2010 - 2026
  • Episodes
    357
  • Rating
    Clean
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  • Show Website
    RPGFan's Random Encounter

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