Marvelous Europe has unveiled Eternal Anima, a brand-new RPG that looks to blend the spirit of classic late-1990s and early-2000s JRPGs with a time-travelling story and some clever new ideas for turn-based combat.
Revealed during the latest Nintendo Direct, Eternal Anima will launch worldwide on March 4th 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and PC via Steam.
The game was originally teased in 2023 under the working title Project Life is RPG, but now we finally have a proper look at the ambitious adventure and the characters at its heart.
At A Glance
- Game: Eternal Anima
- Developer: Marvelous
- Publisher: Marvelous Europe / Marvelous USA
- Genre: RPG
- Platforms: Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC via Steam
- Release: March 4th 2027
Saving The Past To Change The Present
Eternal Anima places players in the kingdom of Urvis Ael, where simply wanting a better future is considered a serious crime. That’s where Wade enters the picture, questioning the beliefs that govern his society and ultimately finding himself forced to flee.
What follows is a journey that stretches across different eras and continents. Wade and his new companions must travel through time to prevent catastrophes that threaten civilisations of the past, while uncovering secrets surrounding a history that has seemingly been lost.
The past and present are therefore closely connected, with the actions of one generation capable of influencing those that come after it. Wade will even be able to team up with ancestors and descendants, creating opportunities to use the abilities of heroes from previous eras.
A Turn-Based Battle System With A Twist
While Eternal Anima clearly has its roots in traditional JRPGs, its combat system is looking to put a different spin on the familiar formula.
Wade possesses an ability called Psychometry, allowing him to uncover memories held within objects. More importantly for combat, he can inherit Classes and Abilities from heroes of the past, opening up different ways to build and customise his capabilities.
Then there’s Future Sight. The system allows Wade to predict when enemies will act and what the outcome of each turn might be. Players can then respond to those predictions, with commands capable of delaying or even cancelling enemy actions.
That should make each turn about more than simply choosing the strongest attack. Reading what is coming and deciding how to manipulate the future could become a key part of surviving the game’s tougher encounters.
A New Adventure With an Old-School Spirit
Eternal Anima is being positioned as a new IP for fans of the genre’s golden era, but it isn’t simply attempting to recreate an old JRPG. Its modern visuals and time-spanning story are being combined with familiar role-playing foundations and more contemporary ideas.
Marvelous has also confirmed physical editions, including a Limited Edition for Nintendo Switch 2 and PlayStation 5 containing a copy of the game, a two-disc soundtrack, character art cards and an art book.
With its mixture of classic JRPG influences and a combat system built around predicting and changing what happens next, Eternal Anima has plenty of room to establish its own identity.
Eternal Anima launches worldwide on March 4th 2027 for Nintendo Switch 2, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC via Steam.
