Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden

Voice of Cards: The Forsaken Maiden is a 2022 role-playing video game developed by Alim and published by Square Enix for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch and Windows. It was released for Android and iOS in 2023. Using the aesthetic of a tabletop role-playing game, the player controls a young man who escorts a magical maiden on her quest to collect relics and protect their home from destruction. Gameplay involves travelling between towns, completing story quests and fighting in turn-based battles. Following the release of Voice of Cards: The Isle Dragon Roars in 2021, Alim began development on a second game, with creator Yosuke Saito intending it as the next entry in a longer series. The first game's staff returned including creative director Yoko Taro, artist Kimihiko Fujisaka and music team Monaca. Production lasted four months. While using the same gameplay and world, it told a different story, which writer Yuki Wada made more melancholy. Reception was generally positive, with critics noting improvements to the story over the first Voice of Cards in addition to the artwork and narrative, but noting a lack of innovation in its gameplay. A follow-up, Voice of Cards: The Beasts of Burden, was released in September 2022.