TheRetroArcade
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Joined: Feb 2026
Joined: Feb 2026
The distinctive RPG Maker look is finally evolving.
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Browse through Steam's unfiltered list of new games and you'll encounter at least one or two games made in RPG Maker every week. Few of these projects reach the popularity of something like Yume Nikki or Omori, and I'm guessing many are never played at all. But I love that a relatively simple toolset is still in such active use.
RPG Maker games tend to have a stigma attached to them, though: Many use stock RPG Maker assets, so there's a certain inevitable, unmistakable look about them (16-bit Final Fantasy, basically). There are loads of plug-ins, loads of RPG Maker editions, and you can make your own assets for your RPG Maker projects, but most people don't use them.
The RPG Maker "look" is about to undergo a pretty seismic shift, though: 2.5D is on the way.
Gotcha Gotcha Games teased as much yesterday, and if you love the style popularised by Octopath Traveler, but also used in other modern Square Enix RPGs like Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake or Star Ocean: The Second Story R, then you may feel like a pig in shit once this drops at some unspecified date in the future.
There's at least one obvious limitation compared to Square Enix's 2D-HD games, though: the models in the trailer above move along an invisible grid, whereas in Octopath Traveler movement is more free-ranging. But there's some impressive details, especially the shadows and the illumination. Best of all, for RPG Maker users inclined to make their own textures and character models, it doesn't look like the process will change much.
No word yet on when the release date will be, or even whether it's a discrete RPG Maker product or an expansion on a previous one.
To learn more about RPG Maker, at least from the vantage point of 2011, here's the secret history of underdog game engine RPG Maker and how it got its reputation.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Shaun Prescott is the Australian editor of PC Gamer. With over ten years experience covering the games industry, his work has appeared on GamesRadar+, TechRadar, The Guardian, PLAY Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, and more. Specific interests include indie games, obscure Metroidvanias, speedrunning, experimental games and FPSs. He thinks Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed is an all-time classic that will receive i...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
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When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
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Every Friday
GamesRadar+
Your weekly update on everything you could ever want to know about the games you already love, games we know you're going to love in the near future, and tales from the communities that surround them.
Every Thursday
GTA 6 O'clock
Our special GTA 6 newsletter, with breaking news, insider info, and rumor analysis from the award-winning GTA 6 O'clock experts.
Every Friday
Knowledge
From the creators of Edge: A weekly videogame industry newsletter with analysis from expert writers, guidance from professionals, and insight into what's on the horizon.
Every Thursday
The Setup
Hardware nerds unite, sign up to our free tech newsletter for a weekly digest of the hottest new tech, the latest gadgets on the test bench, and much more.
Every Wednesday
Switch 2 Spotlight
Sign up to our new Switch 2 newsletter, where we bring you the latest talking points on Nintendo's new console each week, bring you up to date on the news, and recommend what games to play.
Every Saturday
The Watchlist
Subscribe for a weekly digest of the movie and TV news that matters, direct to your inbox. From first-look trailers, interviews, reviews and explainers, we've got you covered.
Once a month
SFX
Get sneak previews, exclusive competitions and details of special events each month!
Browse through Steam's unfiltered list of new games and you'll encounter at least one or two games made in RPG Maker every week. Few of these projects reach the popularity of something like Yume Nikki or Omori, and I'm guessing many are never played at all. But I love that a relatively simple toolset is still in such active use.
RPG Maker games tend to have a stigma attached to them, though: Many use stock RPG Maker assets, so there's a certain inevitable, unmistakable look about them (16-bit Final Fantasy, basically). There are loads of plug-ins, loads of RPG Maker editions, and you can make your own assets for your RPG Maker projects, but most people don't use them.
The RPG Maker "look" is about to undergo a pretty seismic shift, though: 2.5D is on the way.
Gotcha Gotcha Games teased as much yesterday, and if you love the style popularised by Octopath Traveler, but also used in other modern Square Enix RPGs like Dragon Quest 3 HD-2D Remake or Star Ocean: The Second Story R, then you may feel like a pig in shit once this drops at some unspecified date in the future.
There's at least one obvious limitation compared to Square Enix's 2D-HD games, though: the models in the trailer above move along an invisible grid, whereas in Octopath Traveler movement is more free-ranging. But there's some impressive details, especially the shadows and the illumination. Best of all, for RPG Maker users inclined to make their own textures and character models, it doesn't look like the process will change much.
No word yet on when the release date will be, or even whether it's a discrete RPG Maker product or an expansion on a previous one.
To learn more about RPG Maker, at least from the vantage point of 2011, here's the secret history of underdog game engine RPG Maker and how it got its reputation.
Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals, as picked by the PC Gamer team.
Shaun Prescott is the Australian editor of PC Gamer. With over ten years experience covering the games industry, his work has appeared on GamesRadar+, TechRadar, The Guardian, PLAY Magazine, the Sydney Morning Herald, and more. Specific interests include indie games, obscure Metroidvanias, speedrunning, experimental games and FPSs. He thinks Lulu by Metallica and Lou Reed is an all-time classic that will receive i...Read more: Full article on www.pcgamer.com
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