In our first episode of the year, we look back at the backlog games we've played over break and all the news in the last month.

Timestamps

• 0:00 - Introduction and end-of-year show/site notes
• 2:05 - Adam’s Backlog: Tales of Phantasia: Cross Edition
• 10:29 - Bryan’s Backlog: Octopath Traveler 0, Rise of the Ronin
• 12:00 - Josh’s Backlog: Kara no Shoujo trilogy, Warriors Abyss, Vital Shell, To Be Hero X
• 23:21 - James’ Backlog: Final Fantasy XIV, 2022 Square Enix RPGs
• 28:11 - Mikhail’s Backlog: The Hundred Line: Last Defense Academy, Cyberpunk 2077, various Switch 2 ports
• 37:09 - Chao’s Backlog: Trails beyond the Horizon, Emerald Dragon PCE, Baldur’s Gate 3, Gnosia anime
• 50:28 - Article shoutouts: Readers’ Poll results, personal top ten lists
• 54:27 - Article shoutouts: Code Vein II preview, Pokémon Legends Z-A DLC review, Phantom Blade 0 interview
• 1:03:18 - Article shoutouts: Yuka Kitamura interview, Nightdive interview, Hundred Line interview
• 1:17:07 - The Legend of Heroes: Trails beyond the Horizon note
• 1:18:13 - Larian Studios announces Divinity, its "'most ambitious title yet"
• 1:36:10 - Remedy Entertainment unveils Control Resonant for PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC
• 1:39:34 - Nagoshi Studio reveals Gang of Dragon for PC via Steam
• 1:44:24 - Star Wars: Fate of the Old Republic announced for consoles and PC
• 1:49:57 - Falcom reveals Trails in the Sky 2nd Chapter, set to release in Fall 2026 worldwide for PlayStation 5, Switch 2, Switch, and PC
• 1:52:23 - Dragon Quest VII Reimagined demo now available on PS5, Xbox, Switch 2, Switch, and PC Steam
• 1:56:46 - Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon - Sanctuary of Sarras expansion announced, set to release on December 15
• 1:58:14 - Final Fantasy IX animated series seemingly back in production at a new French studio with a 2028 release target
• 2:02:21 - Avowed launches for PlayStation 5 on February 17 alongside update adding new races, New Game Plus, and Photo Mode
• 2:10:28 - Sales updates: Digimon Story: Time Stranger, Final Fantasy Pixel Remaster series, Octopath Traveler series, Final Fantasy Tactics - The Ivalice Chronicles, Dragon Quest XI, Danganronpa series
• 2:14:39 - Granblue Fantasy coming to Steam on March 10, 2026 in the west
• 2:25:15 - Diablo IV Lord of Hatred releases on April 28, 2026 with pre-orders including Paladin early access now
• 2:27:47 - Wrap-up and sign-off