An Owl and a Vampire Walk Into an Item Shop

What the report says

We always have a variety of games in RPGs Coming This Week, but I’m always pleased when a single week can bring us everything from an 8-bit-styled retro adventure to a AAA-caliber open world action RPG by industry veterans. Our two “big” 3D games both promise blood — one even has it in its name — but if you are more keen on mecha strategy, running a shop, or simply being an adventurous owl, this week has you covered.Intro by Mike SalbatoCrimson Moon – September 1st (PS5, XBX, PC)Since late 2025, American devs ProbablyMonsters have released a couple indie titles across various genres, though Crimson Moon is their first, very bloody stab at action RPGs.

As a human-angel hybrid, you (and potentially one friend through online crossplay co-op) must cleanse the monsters from the holy city of Gildenarch. The combat seems to be a faster, more ability-focused take on Souls-likes, and, despite the gruesome demons and vampires, the corrupted castles, forests, and cathedral environments seem very colourful in a way that reminded me of Diablo III.ProbablyMonsters recently released a heavy-metal trailer for Crimson Moon at this year’s gamescom, and the vibes are very Doom-y. Hey, that sounds like what I’ll be killing September 1st—probably monsters!by Matt WardellMoonlighter 2: The Endless Vault – September 2nd (Exiting Early Access) (PS5, Switch 2, XBX, PC)Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is the long-awaited follow up to Digital Sun’s action roguelike/shopkeeper simulation hybrid Moonlighter.

While the previous game was entirely 2D (with quite charming pixel art), the sequel shifts to a polygonal visual style that maintains the colorful hues and expressive visual design of the original while substantially increasing the verticality and complexity of the game’s procedurally generated environments. The shopkeeping simulation layer that sets the game apart receives a significant upgrade as well, with a bigger shop and more potential sales events and customization potential for your store displays. If you enjoyed the original title’s gameplay loop, this sequel doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but promises to meaningfully expand your options.

Key details

If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it…but you can sell it instead!by Ben LoveThe Blood of Dawnwalker – September 3rd (PS5, XBX, PC)Many of the developers at Polish studio Rebel Wolves worked on Cyberpunk 2077 and The Witcher 3, including the latter’s director, Konrad Tomaszkiewicz, who returns to direct The Blood of Dawnwalker. Black Death has ravaged the Carpathian Mountains in the 14th century, and a host of vampires (led by a Nosferatu-looking lord, Brencis) has swept in to take control. Players embody a half-human, half-vampire “Dawnwalker” with thirty days and nights to hack, slash, and, erm, suck away the vampiric infestation.

On the surface, The Witcher 3‘s DNA is clear in the combat and environmental exploration. Interestingly, though, the thirty days afforded players can be utilized freely, blending a timeless open world with time-advancing quests that can be tackled (or ignored) at players’ whims. It’s an ambitious, self-contained action RPG, but one that Rebel Wolves hopes leads to other games within the same blood-sucking universe. Hopefully this one is worth sucking your time and wallet!by Matt WardellChaos Front – September 3rd (Windows)Chaos Front is the newest release in the Chaos Galaxy series, a long-running indie SRPG franchise inspired by Bandai Namco’s crossover mecha SRPG series, Super Robot Wars.

Players can choose from over 100 mercenaries to form their company and choose missions across the galaxy in non-linear progression as they build up their skills and reputation. The grid-based space battles and flashy, 2D animated battle scenes will be familiar to any Super Robot Wars aficionado, as Chaos Front wears its inspirations firmly planted on its sleeve. What sets Chaos Front apart is the faction system, allowing your mercenary core to gain reputation with various factions in a conflict, with your alignments (and battle performance) potentially deciding the outcome. The developer’s previous entries are all rated positively on Steam, so if you love tactics RPGs and mecha anime, this one is likely worth your time.by Ben LoveIsle of Reveries – September 4th (PS4, PS5, Switch, XB1, XBX, Windows, Linux)Isle of Reveries is an obvious love letter to the Game Boy Color Zelda titles (Link’s Awakening, Oracle of Ages & Seasons), from the color palette and chunky pixel art to the 10:9 aspect ratio for gameplay (cleverly utilizing the remaining screen real estate for the UI).

More from the announcement

Leif, the game’s owl protagonist, even has a fairy companion that helps out with puzzles and combat (the fairy actually copies and spawns objects, much like Zelda’s friend Tri does in Echoes of Wisdom).