STARBITES, a turn-based mech role-playing game from developer IKINAGAMES and publisher NIS America Inc., seeks to mimic and expand upon the appeal of vintage JRPGs. The game was released in Japan last month, and publisher NIS America plans to release it for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, and PC via Steam in North America and Europe in early 2026. We had the pleasure of previewing the game last week in a private developer session with IKINAGAMES founder, Junho Bae.
The setting of STARBITES is the desert planet Bitter, which was formerly a popular travel destination but is now a dilapidated junkyard. Lukida, our main character, is a young woman who is frantically trying to get out of her lonely house. Together with her buddies, who make up the majority of the adventurous group, you accompany her as she makes every effort to accomplish her objective.
Gwendoll, the sniper character in STARBITES, adds fun, while muscular Badger tries out to be the team’s quiet pillar. Despite not being able to see them in the preview, we were informed that there are at least three additional playable characters.
Turn-based combat is an element in STARBITES, but you won’t be fighting on foot. Lukida and her group deploy enormous motorbots, or mechs, to defeat their opponents. Every character has a different robotic vehicle design. Gwendoll gets to ride a motorbike-like device, which she does so dangerously and occasionally bounces off to take potshots at her enemies; it’s classic yet compelling. As the group’s tank, Badger absorbs the damage, Gwendoll inflicts the misery, and Lukida offers support. Each team member has a specific function to play.
STARBITES has the qualities required to draw in a large number of players who enjoy classic JRPGs. When the game launches early next year, RPG players in North America and Europe will have the chance to discover it for themselves.
STARBITES is available to wishlist on PC via Steam, with a slated release date of 2026.
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