JRPGs are a dime a dozen, with Square Enix remastering or remaking the majority of its classics, while other developers like Level-5 and Atlus continue to produce sequels and new IPs, like Metaphor: ReFantazio, and Persona 5. However, while many JRPGs stick to the tropes of the genre, standout games like the Persona series dare to do something different, offering social sim elements and a more magic realism setting, like no other game out there. Naturally, many may think this would lead to numerous copycats, and while there have been some, few have truly nailed the brilliance of Persona 5. u6d72

The Nintendo Switch has been an exciting era for Nintendo exclusives, from new titles to the increasingly strong library of classics accessible through Nintendo Switch Online, but there's one gaping hole in availability that's been a source of EarthBoundfan frustration for years. EarthBound and EarthBound Beginnings, respectively the second and first entries in the Mother series, are both available through Nintendo Switch Online. Mother 3, however, has kept up its legacy of absence outside of Japan, leaving the trio painfully incomplete on the platform.

2024 marks the 30th anniversary of beloved Nintendo RPG EarthBound, and it's high time that the game gets a new, freshened up treatment to introduce it to a new generation. The second installment in the Mother series, EarthBound takes a very different approach to the RPG experience from most of its contemporaries. With a unique modern American setting and a penchant for mocking genre staples,there's a reason that the title is especially well-ed today as an innovative game and thoroughly engaging experience.

At this point, it looks like Mother 3will never come out in the US. First released for the Game Boy Advance as a Japanese exclusive in 2006, the third game in the Mother series has since gained a worldwide cult following. It seems like a game perfectly suited for the US video game market: it draws heavily from the American cowboy mythos, and has a universal, if not easily translated, sense of punny, cartoonish humor. But despite consistent player demand, Mother 3 has still never had an official release outside of Japan.

RPGs have been hands-down one of the most popular genres for developers to explore since the inception of video games themselves. The trend shows no sign of slowing down any time soon, with highly-anticipated RPGs like Starfield and Forspoken slated to launch in 2023. Throughout the years, there have been many franchises that have shown great RPG promise, but with such an ever-changing gaming landscape many have been abandoned by developers for various reasons, like leaving to work on other projects or poor sales numbers.

With new games like Bayonetta 3 and Pokémon Scarlet & Violet coming in late 2022, fans will likely be exploring many fantastic new boss battles for the very first time.

Plenty of gamers have been celebrating Pride Month in their favorite games. Several games, from big AAA experiences to indie projects, have included LGBT+ characters (and character creation options). While has been largely normalized in the industry now, that hasn't always been the case.

The creator of Undertale recently discussed why he believes there won't be any more entries in the EarthBound/Mother series. There are three Mother games in the existence, yet only two of them have been localized, with Mother 3 remaining a Japan-exclusive title to this day, despite launching on the Game Boy Advance in 2006. Nintendo has had the chance to release the game on the Virtual Console or through Nintendo Switch Online, yet Mother 3 has still yet to be officially localized.

RPG fans have been long waiting for a North American version of Mother 3, as it was only released in Japan for reasons that might be unclear to many. However, just as with many secrets in the world of gaming, there are reasons behind this unwillingness to localize the game for Western audiences. Understanding these reasons could perhaps even help fans better predict the future of the Mother series.

The sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild is still largely a mystery, but Nintendo is poised to have a strong 2022 even aside from its most anticipated game. BOTW 2 wasn't at Nintendo's February 2022 Direct, which has reignited speculation about a potential delay, even though the last official word from the developer indicated a release date sometime this year. Only being a few months into the year, there is still plenty of time for BOTW 2 to finish up development and release before the calendar turns, but even if it does get pushed into 2023, Nintendo has plenty of other games launching on the Switch throughout the year.