Game development is taking longer and longer these days. While I’m not familiar with the inner workings of a development team, it seems like advancements in technology and more accessible software are contributing to this trend. For instance, the developers of Expedition 33 shared that they built 95% of the game’s systems using Unreal Engine blueprints.
Despite being somewhat prepared for long waits, I’m still often disappointed when new JRPGs face further delays or a lack of updates. It’s common for these games to take two or three years – or even longer, depending on how ambitious they are – but I’m always surprised when things get stuck in development limbo.
Even though we haven’t heard much about them in years, I’m still hoping these Japanese role-playing games will eventually be released. Today, I’ll be highlighting some announced titles that have gone quiet, sadly disappointing fans who’ve been waiting for news.
8. Guns Undarkness
Still in the Dark
| Developer | Shoji Meguro |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Kodansha |
| Release Date | 2026 |
While development on Guns Undarkness hasn’t completely stalled, updates have been scarce, especially if you’re not actively following their Kickstarter campaign. A few posts online don’t really show how much progress is being made, and it’s easy to feel like the game isn’t moving forward. Guns Undarkness is a tactical RPG created by Shoji Meguro, the acclaimed composer known for his work on the Shin Megami Tensei and Persona series.
The role-playing game was first revealed in November 2021, and its Kickstarter campaign launched in September 2022. It quickly exceeded its funding goal in just four days, allowing development to begin. After a few years, a demo of Guns Undarkness was released in February 2025, but the feedback wasn’t great, so the developers decided to start over and make significant changes.
We’ve only received a few updates since then – mostly from Shoji Meguro on Kickstarter and the team on Discord. However, that doesn’t give us a clear idea of when the game will actually be released. Based on how long it took to get from the initial announcement to the demo, and now the time spent making improvements based on feedback, I’d estimate Guns Undarkness is still at least two or three years away from completion.
7. Oddity / Mother 4
A Fan’s Dream Almost Realized by Fans
The Mother/Earthbound series has a remarkably dedicated fanbase, so much so that fans began developing their own continuation of the series. While Mother 4 isn’t officially part of the main games, it closely resembled the original style and was widely accepted by fans. Later on, the game was rebranded and renamed Oddity.
Development on this project started back in 2006, but the last official news was a Tumblr post in 2016, followed by a short trailer in 2020. We haven’t heard anything about it since. Despite the long wait, the game looks beautiful and offers a unique combat system that combines turn-based strategy with quick timing. Plus, fans of the Mother series will appreciate its similar funny and charming writing style.
There’s been no sign that the project is still moving forward. We haven’t received any new official information on its website, Twitter, Reddit, or Tumblr. While some fans remain hopeful, there’s currently nothing to support that hope.
6. Earthlock 2
Release Date Was Set for 2022
| Developer | Snowcastle Games |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Snowcastle Games |
| Release Date | TBA |
I often play big, popular JRPGs, but I also enjoy searching for smaller, independent games to see what unique experiences they offer. Recently, I found Earthlock by Snowcastle Games, and it was a surprisingly charming and interesting RPG that really hit the spot.
I was really surprised when Earthlock 2 was announced in 2020. The announcement included an interview with Bendik Stang, a co-founder of Snowcastle Games, who discussed some of the changes coming in the sequel. Notably, while the original Earthlock was built in Unity, the second game was being developed in Unreal Engine and would move from turn-based battles to open-world action RPG gameplay.
Things have likely changed since the original announcement. Earthlock 2 was initially planned for release in 2022, and I still haven’t had a chance to play it! While a new cinematic trailer appeared in 2024, it felt more like a confirmation that the game is still in development than a proper preview. I’m remaining cautiously optimistic about Earthlock 2 until we see actual gameplay and get more concrete updates.
5. Decapolice
Searching for Clues on the Game’s Development
While Decapolice isn’t completely stalled, it’s been a while since we’ve heard much about it. Considering modern games often take three to five years to make, the lack of updates isn’t entirely surprising. However, Level-5 recently announced that the JRPG will now be released on Switch 2, PS5, and Steam instead of the original plan for Switch and PS4.
Originally announced in 2023 with plans to launch that same year, the game has faced several delays and is now expected sometime in 2026 – though another delay is still possible. This is disappointing because Level-5 has a strong reputation for creating excellent JRPGs, and Decapolice, with its unique detective storyline and crime-solving gameplay, looked to be another exciting and original addition to their collection.
4. Armed Fantasia
The Successor to the Anime Western
| Developer | Wild Bunch Productions |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Searching for one |
| Release Date | TBA |
I’ve been really impressed lately by Japanese game developers using Kickstarter to revive classic series. Games like Bloodstained, Mighty No. 9, and Eiyuden Chronicle are examples of this, and even if you don’t love these games, it’s great that they were made.
In August 2022, a unique Kickstarter campaign launched for two new games, Armed Fantasia and Penny Blood. These games are inspired by the classic PS1 and PS2 JRPGs Wild Arms and Shadow Hearts, and fans of those titles were thrilled. The idea of these beloved series potentially continuing with new installments seemed impossible until then. The campaign reached its funding goal in just one day, and within a month, it had raised nearly four times that amount. However, the success was soon followed by some unexpected challenges.
The development team behind Armed Fantasia continues to share updates, and they recently mentioned they’re creating a playable demo to show publishers, which is encouraging. I’m optimistic about the game eventually being released, perhaps even if it takes until 2030. Unfortunately, I don’t feel as hopeful about Penny Blood.
3. Penny Blood
A Situation as Grim as the Game’s Atmosphere
| Developer | Studio Wildrose |
|---|---|
| Publisher | Desperately searching for one |
| Release Date | TBA |
Unlike Armed Fantasia, the outlook for Penny Blood isn’t as strong. At first, it actually seemed to be gaining more traction, with plans for a spin-off game, Penny Blood: Hellbound, and a novel called Penny Blood: Inheritor’s Story that continued the game’s narrative. Studio Wildrose appeared to be hoping these extra projects would build excitement.
Honestly, the biggest problem was the game itself wasn’t getting any updates. It turned out the Kickstarter money was just to get things started, not to finish the whole project. The publisher, Dangen, didn’t pay what they owed the developers of Penny Blood, and that meant both Penny Blood and Armed Fantasia needed a publisher to keep going. Penny Blood ran out of money faster because of those funding issues with Dangen, while Armed Fantasia had a little more breathing room.
I’m still optimistic that Armed Fantasia will eventually come out, even with all the challenges. Unfortunately, I don’t feel as confident about Penny Blood. I’d really enjoy playing both of these RPGs for a long time, but we’ll just have to see if it happens.
2. Dragon Quest XII: The Flames of Fate
Return of the King
The Dragon Quest series is legendary – it practically invented the Japanese role-playing game (JRPG) genre. That means there’s a lot of pressure when creating a new game, especially after the huge success of Dragon Quest XI. But has it been too long? We’ve been waiting five years for Dragon Quest XII! We got a quick glimpse of it back in 2021, and updates since then have been very limited.
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I was really interested to hear they’re planning to update the command system in the next Dragon Quest game! It’s not like they’re ditching the classic turn-based battles we all love, but they’re looking at what worked well in games like Final Fantasy VII Remake for inspiration. The other big news, and it was a bit sad to hear, is that Yu Miyake, one of the producers, is leaving as they’re still working through some delays with Dragon Quest XII.
I’m a huge fan of Yuji Horii! Although we haven’t heard much about the next major Dragon Quest game, we’re getting a lot of excellent remakes, which are keeping fans happy while we eagerly await The Flames of Fate.
1. Kingdom Hearts 4
My Heart Will Go On
Honestly, if a game series leaving me bummed out more than Dragon Quest existed, it’d probably be Kingdom Hearts. And it’s especially frustrating because we did get a trailer for Kingdom Hearts 4 back in 2022! It’s supposed to be a direct continuation of Sora’s story, which is great, but it also makes me a little nervous knowing Nomura is involved – I still haven’t forgotten what happened with Final Fantasy Versus XIII.
If I had to pick just one game from this list to be made, even if it meant cancelling all the others, I’d choose Kingdom Hearts 4. After how the third game ended, I honestly didn’t expect a sequel—and let’s be real, that cliffhanger hook in the DLC was very typical of Nomura and a little frustrating.
It’s pretty bold of Square to announce that Kingdom Hearts 4 starts a new storyline, ‘The Lost Master.’ This implies they’re planning more games in the future, especially now that they’re no longer releasing titles on handheld consoles. If Kingdom Hearts 4 is already taking six or more years to develop, I wonder how long a potential follow-up, like a Kingdom Hearts 4.833/2, would take! It makes me understand why Nomura enjoys working with the Heartless – they’re endlessly reusable!
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2026-04-25 18:44