We’ve reached the end of 2025, and this is the final recap before the new year. Here are the most recent RPGs and turn-based strategy games that have launched over the past few days. There isn’t a huge amount to cover, since this is typically a quieter period for both news and new releases.
That said, everything new worth trying is right here, featuring a few fresh PC releases and a small but notable presence on consoles as well.
Away From Home
- Developers: Squishy, Cameron Smith-Randick
- Platforms: PC
- Release Date: December 20, 2025
- Steam Page 
I’m kicking off this recap with a new release, an intriguing JRPG-style adventure featuring a truly top-tier pixel art visual style.
Away From Home is a rhythm RPG from Squishy and Cameron Smith-Randick, released on Steam on December 19, 2025 that mixes Earthbound-style overworld exploration and dialogue with music-timed missions and battles.
Late at night, you “inhabit” a girl named Abby as she travels with her brother Michael through unfamiliar places, character conflicts, and decision points that can change routes and outcomes.
Combat runs in a third-person view with a simple command UI (fight, special, items, block), but your inputs are tied to the beat; timing actions correctly builds action points for specials, while enemy specials can throw you into quick-time sequences where missed prompts mean big damage.
Progression leans hard on optional content, lengthy side missions that unlock moves and items, plus random town events, and the game calls out replay value through alternate paths, mutually exclusive content, and multiple endings, all wrapped in detailed pixel art animation and voiced character moments backed by a multi-artist soundtrack.
FRONT MISSION 3: Remake Demo
- Developers: MegaPixel Studio S.A.
- Platforms: PC, Xbox, PlayStation
- Release Date: January 30, 2026
- Steam Page
Its launch on Nintendo Switch wasn’t well-received due to some issues related to AI usage and balance problems. That said, news broke in recent days that the remake of the third entry in the Front Mission saga now has a release date for PC, PlayStation, and Xbox, along with a playable demo available on Steam.
Demo gives you an early slice of FRONT MISSION 3: Remake, *MegaPixel Studio’*s modern rebuild of the mech tactics RPG where squads of customizable Wanzers trade turns across battlefield maps and every engagement is about positioning, part damage, and loadout choices.
The setup follows Kazuki Takemura and his friend Ryogo as a routine delivery drags them into a military incident, then splits into two full story routes based on an early decision, one path ties Kazuki to his sister Alisa, the other pairs him with operative Emma Klamsky while a covert project called M.I.D.A.S. sits at the center of the wider conspiracy.
Alongside updated visuals and animation and a reorchestrated soundtrack, the remake adds Wanzer camouflage options and a separate Quick Combat mode built for jumping straight into fights. The full game is scheduled to launch on PC via Steam, PlayStation, and Xbox on January 30, 2026.
Lootbane
- Developers: Milo Panta
- Platforms: PC
- Release Date: 2026
- Steam Page
You won’t be able to resist this pixel-art roguelite RPG with minimalist visuals paired with deep, systems-driven gameplay. That’s exactly why I’m here to point you toward the playable demo of Lootbane.
Solo Milo Panta develops Lootbane, set up around a clean risk-reward loop where loot is power and every run asks how far you’re willing to push it.
You pick a hero, gear up with whatever drops you manage to extract, and assemble a band of followers whose passive auras and active abilities stack into build-defining synergies, then you plot your route through shifting regions where each step is a choice between things like dungeons for rare gear, towns for trading, recruiting followers, mystery merchants, or cursed ruins.
Dungeons lean into the “cash out or go deeper” tension: items are randomized and their powers stay hidden until you bring them out or clear combat, deeper floors multiply gold and your odds of legendary loot, enemies scale up with you, and death wipes the run, so the real strategy is pathing, preparation, and knowing when to take your winnings. The Steam page lists a 2026 release window for the full game.
Vagrus – the Riven Realms At the Heart of Ruin. (Nintendo)
- Developers: Lost Pilgrims Studio
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch
- Release Date: December 22, 2025
- Steam Page
And I’ll wrap things up with one of the deepest and most expansive RPGs available on PC and consoles, one that has continued to grow over the years thanks to a steady stream of new expansions. The latest expansion landed on Nintendo Switch just a few days ago, and honestly, it’s not something you should miss.
Vagrus: The Riven Realms’ second expansion, At the Heart of Ruin, hit Nintendo Switch on December 22, 2025, bringing a new Mountains of Fire campaign zone built around the series’ usual mix of narrative choices, caravan management, and hard-edged survival strategy.
The DLC shifts the tone toward smaller-party expeditions through rugged, ruin-choked terrain tied to the remnants of an old Dwarven kingdom, then layers in new locations and enemy types, three rival scavenger factions with their own questlines and rewards, and unique quests gated behind committing to one of two new minor factions.
A key mechanical addition is “Exploration Encounters,” which injects procedurally generated challenges, obstacles, and loot opportunities outside the more scripted story beats, so travel can swing from reading-heavy events to quick, resource-driven risk checks.
Nintendo’s US store lists the expansion at $19.99 (launch discount shown at $17.99 at the time of listing), and a separate Ruinous Supporter Pack adds companion outfit cosmetics with no gameplay effects.
That’s everything I wanted to highlight regarding the latest releases. I’m currently working on a new article featuring 25 extremely interesting RPGs and Strategy Games coming in 2026, and I can’t wait to share it with you. In the meantime, have a great weekend. Ciao