Operation Backlog Completion 2026

Idea Factory May Be Teasing the 9 R.I.P. Sequel

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Mar 132026
 

Near the end of 2024, we discussed the spooky otome game 9 R.I.P., which I enjoyed quite a bit.

It had some flaws and a couple routes I didn’t like, but the overall package was entertaining enough that I enjoyed it and hoped that the sequel would be localized.

(I debated about whether to describe it as a sequel or a fandisc, until I looked it up and saw that its title is literally “9 R.I.P. sequel.” Guess that answers that.)

The sequel came out last September, and now it looks like we’re getting it too! Idea Factory International tweeted a cryptic message and picture today teasing a new otome announcement, and it appears to be related to 9 R.I.P.

I included the picture here, so you can see for yourself.

I remember when Temirana got delayed to 2026, it seemed like Idea Factory might be slowing down their otome localizations, but now 2026 has not only Temirana but also Homura coming at the end of this month, the Birushana fandisc set for later this year, and now a 9 R.I.P. sequel announcement on top of that!

You know what that means… I need to get to work on my backlog.

Are you looking forward to the 9 R.I.P. sequel?

The Final Trails Game Will Be Announced in 2031

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Mar 112026
 

The Trails series has been going for a long time, with the most recent entry being Trails Beyond the Horizon.

But since it’s a series with an overarching story, it has to come to an end someday… and that time might finally be approaching.

This year is the 45th anniversary of Falcom, and in a recent Famitsu interview, translated by Gematsu, Falcom president Toshihiro Kondo said that for the 50th anniversary, they will announce the final entry in the Trails series.

Specifically, the plan is to announce it in 2031 and finish it in 2032. The ending of the series has been decided.

That’s left fans debating about how many games might be released between now and then and whether or not it will actually be the actual final game or just the start of the final arc.

Now, I know I’ve been making the world’s slowest progress through the Trails series, but I really want to be caught up before the series ends so I can experience waiting for a new entry along with everyone else. It sounds like I’ve got my deadline set. 5 years should be plenty of time for me to catch up… right?

How do you feel about the end of the Trails series being on the horizon? Do you think the 50th anniversary announcement will really be the final game in the saga?

Falcom Announces a New Dragon Slayer Game

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Mar 092026
 

It’s the 45th anniversary of Nihon Falcom, and the company celebrated by teasing a new Dragon Slayer game.

The official website doesn’t show much of anything besides the logo and text saying it’s their 45th anniversary announcement, so everything about the game is a mystery right now.

Now, you might be wondering what Dragon Slayer is. Well, buckle down, because it’s quite an explanation.

All the way back in 1984, Falcom released an action RPG called Dragon Slayer. It basically paved the way for the action RPG genre. In 1985, they followed it with Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu.

If that title set off some bells, yes, Dragon Slayer II: Xanadu was the start of the Xanadu series, of which Tokyo Xanadu and its upcoming sequel Kyoto Xanadu are spin-offs, even though the first game was part of the Dragon Slayer series.

But it doesn’t stop there. Even as Xanadu became its own series, the Dragon Slayer series continued and eventually reached the sixth entry in 1989, which was titled Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes… yes, the same “Legend of Heroes” that starts out each Trails title, because after Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes and Dragon Slayer: The Legend of Heroes II, the Legend of Heroes continued as another spin-off series that first covered the Gagharv trilogy and then followed that with a game originally released under the title The Legend of Heroes VI: Trails in the Sky.

So to recap, Dragon Slayer is an old, old action RPG series that led to the spin-off series Xanadu and then later to the spin-off series The Legend of Heroes, which itself led to the Trails series.

It’s exciting to see them heading all the way back to their roots with a new Dragon Slayer game for the 45th anniversary! I’m looking forward to finding out what the game will be like. What do you expect from the new Dragon Slayer?

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