Free League Announces Anime-Inspired Twilight Sword RPG

Free League Publishing has announced Twilight Sword, a new collaboration with Italian games studio Two Little Mice. The new game is a fantasy RPG inspired by video games like The Legend of Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Ni No Kuni. Players explore the world of Radia in the game, exploring Landmarks and collecting Hope by defeating bosses. A 16-page preview of the game revealed five Kin that players can choose from, including the Huma, the cat-like Kedi, and the penguin-like Pengu. The preview did not reveal any details about the game system, but there appears to be a focus on exploration and defeating monsters.

One interesting part of this announcement is the collaboration with Two Little Mice. The Italian publisher was purchased by CMON back in 2021 to bolster that company's line of RPGs. However, CMON has had struggles this year, in part due to tariff uncertainty. CMON has sold off several IPs to other studios and has paused new game development to focus on current fulfillment, with many questioning about the publisher's future. Free League also partnered with Two Little Mice to publish Outgunned, so it's unclear whether Two Little Mice has gone independent once again or if this is an arrangement with CMON.

 

[timbannock]

I mean, technically it looks like Zelda cosplaying as link....

This is part of why I'm waiting for the full retail release.

 

[jian]

This is part of why I'm waiting for the full retail release.

I don’t think it’s that LoZ in execution (though to be fair I’ve only played a couple of Zelda games). PCs travel in groups, there are several types (fighters, bards, wizards, rogues etc.) and they have the usual range of abilities, both spells and non-magical. There are boomerangs and slingshots on the weapons list but it’s not as if you get cash for every pot you break and I don’t think you can start play with a hang-glider.

 

[timbannock]

I don’t think it’s that LoZ in execution (though to be fair I’ve only played a couple of Zelda games). PCs travel in groups, there are several types (fighters, bards, wizards, rogues etc.) and they have the usual range of abilities, both spells and non-magical. There are boomerangs and slingshots on the weapons list but it’s not as if you get cash for every pot you break and I don’t think you can start play with a hang-glider.

Sure, lots of people would agree.

I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about lawyers that have potentially zero knowledge of what a tabletop RPG is. (And frankly "worried" is probably overselling my feelings on the matter. It's just a minor consideration.)

 

[Reynard]

Sure, lots of people would agree.

I'm not worried about that. I'm worried about lawyers that have potentially zero knowledge of what a tabletop RPG is. (And frankly "worried" is probably overselling my feelings on the matter. It's just a minor consideration.)

I don't know. I think ShadowSun (DarkSun) and Shodorim (Skyrim) are more egregious and have been waiting for WotC's or Bethesda's lawyers to jump.

 

[Aldarc]

There are so many legally-untouched TTRPGs that are basically pre-existing IPs but with the serial numbers filed off. Twilight Sword isn't exactly unique in that regard.

 

[Aldarc]

Weird double post.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

There are so many legally-untouched TTRPGs that are basically pre-existing IPs but with the serial numbers filed off. Twilight Sword isn't exactly unique in that regard.

It also is very clearly not using Nintendo's IP.

Ripoffs arent actually illegal. Using protected IP unlicensed is.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

There are so many legally-untouched TTRPGs that are basically pre-existing IPs but with the serial numbers filed off. Twilight Sword isn't exactly unique in that regard.

Lawyers would keel over dead if they opened any of Two Little Mice's Outgunned books.

 

[jian]

Lawyers would keel over dead if they opened any of Two Little Mice's Outgunned books.

Yeah, Outgunned Superheroes is basically rubbing it in Kevin Feige’s face 100% of the time.

 

[Agamon]

If this ever comes remotely close to making as much money as PalWorld, then I'd start to worry. As opposed to, you shouldn't be worried anyway, but it is Nintendo, after all.