New Releases: August 30th-September 5th

This week, one of Japan’s most popular franchise makes its Western debut, with the arrival of Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. But that’s not the only export to make the jump, with 428: Shibuya Scramble, Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Mars, and Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle making appearances this week.

Header image: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age, PS4 and PC

PlayStation 4
428: Shibuya Scramble (physical and digital, $59.99)
Claybook (digital, $TBA)
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition (physical and digital, $59.99)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age (physical and digital, $59.99)
Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle (digital, $13.99)
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (physical and digital, $59.99)
Penguin Wars (digital, $TBA)
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet – Collapse of Balance (DLC, $9.99)
Think of the Children (digital, $TBA)
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Mars (digital, $29.99, PSVR supported)

Switch
ACA NeoGeo Crossed Swords (digital, $7.99)
Bloxiq (digital, $9.99)
Claws of Furry (digital, $9.99)
Fall of Light: Darkest Edition (digital, $13.49)
Freedom Planet (digital, $14.99)
God Wars: The Complete Legend (physical and digital, $39.99)
Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle (digital, $13.99)
Into the Break (digital, $14.99)
Mini Metro (digital, $9.99)
Moonfall Ultimate (digital, $12.99)
Ninjin: Clash of Carrots (digital, $14.99)
Phantaruk (digital, $4.99)
Realpolitiks (digital, $24.99)
Son of a Witch (digital, $14.99)
The Messenger (digital, $19.99)
The VideoKid (digital, $4.99)
The Walking Dead: The Complete First Season (digital, $24.99)
Toy Stunt Bike: Tiptop’s Trials (digital, $4.99)

Xbox One
Divinity: Original Sin 2 Definitive Edition (physical and digital, $59.99)
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker (physical and digital, $59.99)
Sword Art Online: Fatal Bullet – Collapse of Balance (DLC, $9.99)

PC
428: Shibuya Scramble ($49.99)
Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age ($59.99)
Gun Godz ($TBA)
Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker ($49.99)
Notified (free to play)
Shadows: Awakening ($33.99)
The Messenger ($19.99)
Ultimate Fishing Simulator ($16.99)
Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner Mars ($29.99)

Robert’s Pick: The ubiquity of primitively priced collector’s editions, downloadable content, and revenue-generating systems like lootboxes occasionally make me nostalgic for gaming’s past. But then I’ll look at this week’s release list at marvel at the number of great games that are coming out this week. From a remake of Zone of the Enders: The Second Runner, a localization of 428: Shibuya Scramble, and Haunted Dungeons: Hyakki Castle transition to Switch and PS4, there’s a lot of tempting titles inbound. But being a hardcore fan of the franchise, my eyes are on Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age. The series has always been the role-playing equivalent of comfort food for me, generating a feeling of satiating contentment, without inducing nuisance. This week, I’m looking forward to a big bowl of slime as my nightly gaming nourishment. If you appreciate traditional role-playing recipes, you might want to do the same.

Ryan’s Pick: Dragon Quest XI: Echoes of an Elusive Age is my clear choice for the week. The release of the latest Dragon Quest is almost too perfect. As of late I’ve been marathoning Gintama on Crunchyroll and the franchise is constantly referenced in a lot of episodes, so Yorozuya Ginchan has definitely been making me want to get back into playing a Dragon Quest game. Another very important reason, is that it’s a family tradition to play the game with my wife. Dragon Quest seems to trigger what I will coin as a latent gambling fever for her, so she is clearly excited to learn that gambling is back for Echoes of an Elusive Age. Personal feelings aside, you really cannot go wrong with Dragon Quest games if you like turn-based RPGs. They are engaging, easily accessible for those new to the genre, and still have plenty to satisfy seasoned travelers for over 100 hours.

Matt’s Pick (Editor, DigitallyDownloaded): Dragon Quest is the obvious option, and I do indeed love DQXI with a complete passion – it’s the finest traditional JRPG we’ve seen in a long time. But I’ll do with Divinity to be a bit different. The sequel to the love letter to RPGs of old (you know, the stuff like Baldur’s Gate), Divinity 2 tells a monstrously in-depth story, with a deep, complex and very challenging combat system to boot. If the isometric perspective doesn’t sell you with the promise of something very nostalgic, then the non-linear approach to just about every event and conversation will; no two plays of this game will play out in quite the same way, and the rich web of narrative arcs will keep you enthralled from start through to finish.

Zack’s Pick (Senior Editor, RPG Site): From everything I heard during its original launch in Japan, Dragon Quest XI is one of the best entries in the franchise. In fact, it garnered one of our incredibly rare 10/10 scores (one of only 8 games to do so). Just like Matt, though, I’m going to go with something a tad different just because that’s an incredibly easy recommendation.

Instead, I’ll go with Zone of the Enders: The 2nd Runner- Mars. This is easily one of the best action titles to ever come out on the PlayStation 2. Konami and Cygames have done an absolutely phenomenal job in enhancing the game to 4K standards for its upcoming release on the PlayStation 4. 2nd Runner was already covered in this amazing aura of finesse thanks to its killer visual and sound design. Coupled with Hideo Kojima’s trademark cinematic storytelling, and you have the recipe for something downright superb. While I wish I owned a VR headset to try out the full game in VR (something I got to try out for a little bit during last year’s PlayStation Experience), I still had an absolute blast with the Orange Case demo. For only $30, you don’t have any excuses to pick this game up (unless you don’t own a PS4 or capable PC).