I was scrolling my feed, and there was this crazy tweet from Genki. Artisan Studios apparently set up a private TGS showing of Lost Hellden, and this game sounds like somebody took all the best bits of classic JRPGs and threw them together with a little modern magic.
Lost Hellden is an upcoming indie JRPG being developed in France, and this is interesting in the way that, when you think about JRPGs, France doesn’t enter your mind first. They seem to be the greatest fans of that late PS1/2 era generation of Japanese role-playing games. You remember that golden age where games were the perfect balance between gripping storytelling and experimental gameplay mechanics.
Something that has really grabbed me-the combat system: “turn-based action combat”-sounds like total gibberish until you realize you freely choose between either of the styles. Like…want to play it traditionally turn-based? Sure thing. Feeling action-oriented? Go ahead. The freaking glory is that it should bring the whole player base under one roof, and there won’t be such a division on which system is superior.
What’s there to say about the visuals?? Genki said it was just like the animated Arcane TV series mixed with anime – you know, Arcane…So…whoa! Imagine gorgeous hand-drawn backgrounds to wander in-full 3D-while the environment takes a fixed camera to retain the classic JRPG feel. They are pretty much making a union of two worlds: painted cinematic visuals with very deep gameplay interaction.
The response to Genki’s tweet just ran wild-those are always fun to watch. Some were hyped right from the beginning; GoingToKourt said it reminded them of Baten Kaitos Origins (me too) and Bad as their most anticipated release ever. DeadDacian ranked it with FFVIIR3 and GTAVI on hype levels of serious company.
And then there was the usual internet argument. AJDraws just had to be that guy that popped in with a whole “It’s not a JRPG if it’s being made in France,” which, like…come on, man-it’s 2024, can we please put an end to purity tests? Games can be inspired by genres without actually being from the same country. At the same time, azersub was shocked that French people would be such big JRPG fans, setting off this whole discussion about how French developers and players have been quietly carrying the JRPG torch for years now.
The Artisan Studios made a sudden appearance, thanking everyone supporting the conversation, promising new gameplay footage and screenshots in the weeks to come-also confirming that they are indeed the same studio behind Astria Ascending, which does place them in genuine RPG circles, cred-wise.
Random negativity rose-xeno27991 simply said, “Looks shit,” for no reason because, of course, somebody just has to be negative for negativity’s sake. And for the most part, the vibes had gone up, with CosmicwolfXIII claiming that the indie devs “are doing what the big names refuse to do,” and which is honestly true at this point.
The leveling system sounded good, too-a totally customizable job system that should allow for many different ways to build your character. And 2026 being the aimed release date really is quite a long time away but might work well in favor for some; maybe it will give Artisan Studios ample time to polish away.
One thing that really gets me goin’ is the whole international development trend. French studio making a love letter to Japanese RPGs, with coverage from the likes of Genki, and, boom, a few players hyped from all corners of the globe. Welcome to the global gaming community.
Genki dropped the Steam wishlist link in reply to his tweet, so here it is if any interest arises: https://store.steampowered.com/app/2829830/LOST_HELLDEN/
Matching that Arcane-esque visual greatness with classic JRPG gameplay, not to mention an ability to freely switch between gameplay styles; now, it looks like Artisan Studios might be cooking something quite special. They’re not just replicating the classics but really pushing the formula into some very interesting directions.
Wait, so what was I saying? Oh, yes, Lost Hellden. It’s on the list for you to keep your eye on, especially if you happen to miss the PS2 time when JRPGs were perpetually midway through hundreds of new experiments and new forms. These, alongside a few others emerging from nowhere, make me really melancholic for entering yet another golden era of the genre.
So yeah, French developers making JRPGs with hybrid combat systems and beautiful art-one is beginning to wonder if 2026 is ever going to show up. The replies showcased that combined level of excitement and skepticism that always comes with anything new, but the general vibe was leaning toward hype. Sometimes, the best games come from the least expected places, and Lost Hellden seems to fit right into that category: a surprise hit that will remind us why we all fell in love with RPGs in the first place.
