New RPGs to watch
Indie and mid‑sized RPGs are getting chatter — Axis Saga is billed as D&D-style dark fantasy with weighty moral choices, Travelling Light experiments with narrative rewind mechanics, and conversations about non-linear design in games like Avalon are heating up among critics (x.com) (x.com) (x.com) (x.com) (x.com). Fans looking for story-driven, agency-heavy RPGs are flagging these as the ones most likely to scratch that old-school/adventure itch this season (x.com) (x.com).
Wyldwolf Games will launch Axis Saga: The War of Silence on Kickstarter on April 14, 2026, pitching it as a third-party setting compatible with D&D 5E. (techraptor.net)) The announced Kickstarter package lists GM tools, a bestiary, maps, faction lore, 12 new subclasses, an original class, VTT support (Roll20 and other platforms), and mechanics named Raids, Resonance, The Gift and The Silence Template. (techraptor.net)) IDUN Studio and publisher Yotsuba Interactive publicly unveiled Travelling Light in a March 18, 2026 press release and Steam listing that frame it as a narrative exploration about four friends. (gamespress.com)) Steam’s store page identifies the characters as Lars, Leah, Samson and Ivy and describes a rewind/replay/shift mechanic the developer says will let players revisit perspectives to recontextualize scenes. (store.steampowered.com)) Questline’s Tainted Grail: The Fall of Avalon—released from early access with a full launch on May 23, 2025—remains the focal “Avalon” critics cite when debating modern non-linear RPG design due to its branching quests and world-shaped-by-choice systems. (en.wikipedia.org)) Critical response is split: OpenCritic aggregates a “Strong” consensus while outlets including PC Gamer and IGN praised the ambition but flagged uneven combat and design choices, and the developer has issued major patches and content updates (including a March 2026 overhaul of the third act and additional DLC) after selling six-figure copies since launch. (opencritic.com))
