Summary
Unicorn Overlordis the next major release coming from Atlus andVanillawarein March 2024. Atlus is best known for thePersonafranchise, which is a spin-off from theMegami Tenseiseries, but the company has developed and published a wide array of titles. Between theMegami Tensei,Persona,andEtrian Odysseyfranchises, the company has become synonymous with high-quality JRPGS. As a result, their role as a publisher for Vanillaware makes a tremendous amount of sense. Known primarily for13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, Vanillaware’s unique approach to game design has recently come to the attention of far more gamers than ever before, andUnicorn Overlordis primed to take advantage of this boost in notoriety.
Vanillaware was formed in 2002 by George Kamitani, a Japanese developer with a unique approach to game design. Kamitani and his studio focus on making primarily 2D games. The studio has historically been mainly composed of artists and outsources very few elements of each game to other creators. Vanillaware aims to preserve as much artistic freedom and integrity as possible, a sensibility that can be seen inUnicorn Overlord’s 10-year development time. Because of the studio’s focus on art and storytelling, the stories of their games, such asOdin Sphereand13 Sentinels, are largely character-driven. Like its other titles,Unicorn Overlordwill be a strategy RPG with a big focus on character development.
Unicorn Overlord Tells the Story of Alain
Alain isUnicorn Overlord’s war-hero protagonist. He is the son of Ilenia and the heir to the kingdom of Cornia. After the fall of his mother’s kingdom, brought about by the betrayal of the Royal General Valamore, Alain must travel the world drawing on support from vassals and old friends to build an army and take back his kingdom. He also possesses the Unicorn Ring, a mysterious artifact that he inherited. Alain’s story may feel cookie-cutter to some long-time Tactical JRPG fans, butUnicorn Overlordis a homage to classic RPGs, similar toSea of Stars, one of last year’s breakout indie-game hits. His story may feel predictable for the genre at first, but there is still plenty of intrigue to keep it interesting.
When the Kingdom of Cornia was betrayed, and Ilenia was slain in battle, Alain was saved by the knight Josef and taken to Palevia. Josef is a loyal fighter for the fallen kingdom of Cornia and is responsible for saving Alain and helping teach him to fight. He was also instrumental in the foundation of the Liberation Army that Alain leads during the game. Josef was aided by his dear friend and close comrade, Clive, a fellow knight of the fallen kingdom. The loyal Knights of Cornia have laid the foundation for Alain to reclaim his throne whenUnicorn Overlordlaunches for multiple platformson Jul 23, 2025.
Alain Will Be Joined By a Colorful Cast of Characters
Like the various protagonists of many ofthe best strategy games, Alain will need to rely on a colorful cast of allies to succeed in achieving his goals. Thankfully for Alain, he has formed some friendships, and Josef has formed the basis of an army for him to lead. Early on, Alain will be joined by Scarlett, Lex, Chloe, and Travis. Scarlett is a priestess of the Palevian church who leaves her homeland to join him. Lex and Chloe are two close childhood friends of Alain, and Travis is a Cornian spy who eventually agrees to join his party in combat.
Unicorn Overlord Will Have a Large Cast
Over the course of his journey inUnicorn Overlord, Clive will meet more allies and enemies, such as his cousin Virginia and the leaders of other nations, like Gilbert, the prince of Drakenhold. Like many othermedieval strategy games,Unicorn Overlordis a tale of political intrigue filled with various factions, each with its own core cast of characters. As players move through the story of the game and learn more about Alain and the Unicorn Ring, they will develop relationships with and uncover the story of the game’s massive cast of characters.
