Product Info

Platform

Switch, PlayStation 5, PC

Publisher

FuRyu

Developer

FuRyu

Genre

RPG

Players

1

Release Date (NA)

Aug 28, 2025

Purchase From

PSN Store

Steam

Varlet is currently in development and set to be published by FuRyu. With a development team of under 125 people, and after getting hands-on experience with a portion of the game, it’s clear that Varlet is a role-playing game (RPG) that fans should definitely keep an eye on.

The Choice is Yours

Varlet’s art style and settings resemble the Persona series but have their own unique flair. As the protagonist, you will direct the path of the story using the game’s dynamic Triad Stats system. This system can affect the game’s dialogue and battle skills based on the choices you make. Whether you look into a private journal or leave it be, this simple multiple choice can have an impact on your character’s personality. If you find yourself going down a route you’re not pleased with, you’ll have to pay the price and continue on that path, or start a new game save to try a different approach.

The game is set on school grounds where you are part of the Student Support Services (SSS), solving issues on campus. The actions and choices you make will alter the campus. You’ll notice students are being replaced by monsters, indicating something unusual is happening. You and your team will alternate between the “real world” and “glitches”. Glitches are alternate worlds where the hopes and dreams of every person reside. In these glitches, you’ll encounter tough foes and even characters you recognize from the real world who wish to battle you.

Make Your Move

Battles in Varlet are turn-based. Each character and foe will choose a move and depending on the option chosen, the battle order will be determined. The “timeline” located on the left side of the screen dictates this. Unlike many other RPGs, this timeline showcases who is attacking whom. This is quite helpful to ensure that you add buffs or heal a specific ally or attack a specific foe first before they attack.

When a foe is staggered, indicated by the yellow gauge bar being filled, you can initiate “Blitz Mode,” where your team and foe warp into a different battlefield to unleash heavy skill attacks. Once you reach the end of your time in this mode, the game will prompt you to have one of your characters perform a finishing move in a cinematic fashion. If the enemy is not defeated, you will warp back to the battlefield to continue the battle, and their staggered gauge will be empty again, or you will see a winning screen indicating that the battle is over.

Battling the boss in the demo we played was quite entertaining and left a positive impression. I wanted to play more. The colorful battlefield, character illustrations, and motion graphic visuals made it energetic, along with the orchestrated score. I wonder if many of the boss battles are like this too? I am eager to find out more when it comes out in late August.

The game seems to have many layers to strategize about, from choosing options that best suit your character to navigating the battlefield. I wonder what else is stored outside the demo we played. 

Not a Glitch

After playing the game’s demo for about half an hour, Varlet appears to be a fun RPG that will entertain you for hours. Speaking with the development team, you can expect at least thirty hours of storyline, with many more if you strive to complete the game at 100%.

Varlet is scheduled for release on August 28, 2025, for the PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Steam. Cat with Monocle greatly appreciates FuRyu for the opportunity to test the game.

Fans can visit the game’s official website for more details. Additionally, you can take the Triad Stats test to prepare for your upcoming adventure.