I first mentioned it back in 2023, but it kind of fell off the radar for a while. So, seeing it again at Tokyo Game Show 2024 was a real treat. I’m talking about The Starbites: Taste of Desert, a JRPG developed by the Korean indie studio IKINAGAMES. The game takes you to sprawling desert landscapes, where—alongside your trusty robot companion, which you can upgrade to suit your playstyle—you’ll journey across the war-torn desert planet of Bitter, ravaged by interstellar conflict.
You play as Lukida, an adventurer who scavenges the planet for treasure and technology, accompanied by her mech and a growing team of allies.
The gameplay centers on turn-based mecha combat, exploration, and scavenging materials to upgrade your mech. Combat is strategy-driven, with a focus on team synergy and tactical party compositions. Players can customize their mechs based on materials found throughout the wasteland, adding a layer of personalization to suit different enemy encounters and terrain challenges.
The game’s narrative revolves around Lukida’s discovery of the “Oracle,” a mysterious artifact that could change the fate of the planet. Alongside intense battles, you’ll explore Delight City, a hub where NPCs provide quests and crucial information. The city is slowly being overtaken by sand, and it hides secrets that drive the main story forward. Starbites: set to release in late 2024 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S.
Below are some screens, an overview, and the TGS 2024 Trailer.
The fate of a girl who was making a living in search of machinery debris and treasures lying in the desert as the traces of war, begins to change completely after finding the “Oracle.”
AIs getting deadly aggressive, abnormal phenomena all over the planet…
Explore secrets hidden under the 「Bitter」, and build companionships with various characters to achieve new information.
STARBITES is a storytelling RPG where you collect materials from the field to strengthen the Meka and move forward, growing up with your ally from the adventure.
▷ Delight City, where people of their own circumstances live on the planet 「Bitter」
– As the city in a form of a tower, Delight City is a pleasant and free city. Although, little by little, it’s being submerged in the sand. People who gathered to the city trade their materials and information to live day to day.
– There is a ‘hidden area’ in the city where no one has ever found. Discover a variety of NPCs and special objects to get clues and proceed the story to unlock a new floor.▷ Explore the desert planet and discover new areas throughout the adventure
– In each chapter, there awaits a terrifying boss and much stronger partners for you. What kind of world do they know? Meet your partners, build a strong connection, and listen to their stories.
– Go on an adventure with your Meka, a reliable partner who will protect you in the desolate desert! The world made of sand is wide and deep, and the secrets hiding underneath are much larger than ever.▷ Strengthen Meka’s core with materials gathered from the adventure
– You can win rewards by knocking down the enemy in battle, or collect materials around the field to strengthen Meka. Remodel Meka into your own style to roam the planet!
– Reinforce Meka as your taste to face the tricky enemy or terrain.▷ Turn-based battle riding on your Meka
– Enjoy thrilling battles by organizing a party with comrades and their unique Meka!
– There is a ‘synergy’ that applies depending on the combat member. Feel the charm of changing the flow of the battlefield by organizing the party according to the situation. Destroy the enemy’s strategy by forming various combinations and solving plans to your advantage!
