BitSummit 2025 RPG Roundup

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Every summer, despite the intense humidity that can feel oppressive in Kyoto, dedicated game developers and designers continue to attend BitSummit annually. This prestigious Japanese indie game festival has served as a platform for independent developers to exhibit their creations, connect with peers, and explore business possibilities for more than a decade. Notable studios and companies like Spike Chunsoft, Cygames, Nintendo, and Sony often make appearances to offer their support, while smaller development teams eagerly demonstrate the projects they’ve passionately worked on.

Each year, I make sure to visit BitSummit in Kyoto if possible, as the abundance of skill and passion for game creation showcased there always touches my heart. It’s easy to become disheartened by the negativity surrounding AAA gaming (like Microsoft), but stepping onto the BitSummit exhibition floor, interacting with developers, and playing innovative games quickly dispels any gloominess. Game development continues to thrive, even in the face of corporate efforts to suppress it.

Although I had an opportunity to test various game titles, it’s important to note that our primary platform is called RPG Site. We strive to emphasize and promote RPG games whenever feasible, which means some fascinating non-RPG games may not receive coverage here. My aim for the BitSummit article series is to draw attention to and present indie RPG and RPG-related games that might otherwise get overlooked amidst the massive Steam Marketplace. With this in mind, let’s explore what we found this year:

Voidling Bound

Instead of the traditional image that third-person shooters bring to mind, imagine a game called Voidling Bound. In this game, you capture extraterrestrial beings, merge your consciousness with them, and accelerate their genetic evolution so they can become more efficient at obliterating enemies. This unique take on the genre also features growth and leveling similar to RPGs, along with personal customization options for your evolved creatures.

The demonstration in this tutorial allows you to select only one line of evolution initially, yet it branches out into numerous possibilities. If you want your extraterrestrial scrimblo to emit flames rather than acid, there is a fire evolution path for that specific purpose. Alternatively, you can opt for the Organic route and have your alien creature release poisonous shots instead. Perhaps you require increased health – before each mission, if you’ve earned enough experience, you can allocate stat points as desired. In essence, it operates similarly to other creature collectors; instead of building a team, you’re constructing a stable and choosing the appropriate tool at the opportune moment.

Hatchery Games developers plan to release the game “Voidling Bound” in the first quarter of 2026. However, if you’re eager to delve into the concept of forced genetic mutation of non-sentient creatures, a demo is available for you to try out right now!

ShapeHero Factory

I openly acknowledge that games such as Factorio and Satisfactory are beyond my current grasp. I struggle with arranging things effectively, often find myself disoriented amidst numerous choices, and to be honest, this genre doesn’t particularly resonate with me. However, ShapeHero Factory streamlines the factory-building genre in a way that even someone like myself can grasp easily.

Before you is a large grid adorned with several sketched figures. The objective is to design production chains from these drawings to a gateway, while simultaneously establishing a collection route for raw materials and a manufacturing route to transform basic shapes into soldiers. As you proceed, you can accumulate resources that will enable you to enhance and personalize your units, boost the speed and potency of your processing, and more – all within a roguelike framework, offering fresh customization possibilities as you advance in the game.

The tutorial in this game might seem overly guiding for some, but the adorable graphics and engaging gameplay drew me in. If you have a keen interest in supply chains and have a knack for complex thinking, I recommend giving ShapeHero Factory a try. It’s available in Early Access at $18.99, and there’s even a demo version to test out before making a purchase.

Wretch: Divine Ascent

In my conversation with the developers, they referred to this game as a “Backpack Battler,” a term I will use in future discussions. However, it’s important to note that Steam has labeled it as “Wretch: Divine Ascent.” The unique aspect of Wretch lies in customizing your chosen hero class by filling their backpack with useful items, not just random junk. These items serve specific purposes, such as gauntlets that boost damage when used in a combo or potions that restore life when your character is at 50% health. It’s essentially the inventory management system of Resident Evil 4, but applied to an auto-battler PVP game featuring high fantasy characters.

Video games similar to this have been available on mobile devices for some time, but “Wretch” is unique in being offered on Steam. The game’s high-quality presentation, featuring excellent voice acting, captivating character models, and dynamic attack animations, makes it a pleasure to watch. However, the real enjoyment comes from strategically organizing your collection of trash items for more efficient use. Questions like “Should I sell the potion that removes debuffs to make space for the torch that boosts attack power by 15%?” or “What if my next opponent is a debuffer?” were constantly swirling in my mind while playing.

The game currently offers a playable demo featuring an online asynchronous PVP mode, leaderboards, and more. Keep in mind that it’s still under development, so you won’t find a completely finished product yet. Ogopogo plans to refine the game further, with additions like seasonal limited item pools, improved new player onboarding, and other exciting features. Despite being in early access, don’t miss out on the excitement of watching your Assassin gulp down a dozen potions at the start of battle, swiftly dismantling an armored Knight.

Algolemeth

If you’ve ever found yourself spending countless hours at your desk, puzzled over why your Unreal Blueprint code wasn’t functioning as expected, you might develop a touch of anxiety whenever you encounter a visual programming interface. When I first tried Algolemeth, I must admit, I experienced a bit of tension while connecting nodes, recalling an old professor’s criticism of my node organization being “disorganized”. However, all that stress dissipated once I saw my mini characters seamlessly navigating the dungeon, slaying goblins, opening chests, and maneuvering the floor effortlessly – that is, until some spike traps took out my more delicate units.

In Algolemeth, the success or failure of your golems as they navigate mazes depends on your visual programming abilities. You’ll be using commands like “If: Golem’s HP is less than 50%, Then: Action: Heal: Target Unit” by connecting various visual programming nodes. The tutorial does an impressive job of teaching you how these nodes interact, even if you haven’t used Blueprint or similar software before.

By blending educational programming with fantastic music by Yuzo Koshiro, known for his work on the renowned Etrian Odyssey series, and captivating character art by Sanaki, you’re creating what I believe will be an extremely enjoyable learning journey for those passionate about coding, dungeon crawlers, or a mix of both.

To set things straight, I personally selected this game as my top choice for the Best Game Design award at BitSummit. Be sure to watch out for it in the future!

SacriFire

SacriFire slightly favors the classic RPG style, featuring instanced combat arenas and character development based on stats. Yet, it also showcases unique elements. The game offers a visual aesthetic reminiscent of HD-2D, where characters are 2D within a 3D environment, making them easy to maneuver. However, the battles can stretch too long. To alleviate this, there’s an instant-kill feature that lets you skip up to 5 encounters before needing to engage in a full-fledged battle to recharge, which lessens the problem somewhat.

As a gamer, I must say this game has captivating pixel art and an intriguing narrative hook that definitely caught my attention. However, during my playtime on the Steam Deck, I noticed there was no audio – only sound from the Steam Deck itself, which lacked headphones. Regardless, the game ran smoothly on the Steam Deck, and its engaging elements have left me yearning to explore more of its world.

Alright, that wraps up BitSummit! With so many games showcased, it’s likely that some RPGs slipped through the cracks – there’s just not enough hours in a day to play every game at the event. If you’re intrigued about what else was available, feel free to explore the complete list here. Oh, and before I forget, I ought to double-check my house to ensure that Ao Oni figurine didn’t tag along…

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2025-07-21 00:56