Aretha Collection 1993-1995 Released on Switch, PS4, PS5
The collection marks the 35th anniversary of the Aretha series, which has seen a revival effort including a crowdfunding project and soundtrack box sets, signaling sustained commercial interest in the retro RPG brand.
Key Facts
- Edia released "Aretha Collection 1993-1995" on July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5.
- The collection includes three Super Famicom games: "Aretha: The Super Famicom" (1993), "Aretha II: Ariel's Mysterious Journey" (1994), and "Rejoice: Beyond the Aretha Kingdom" (1995).
- The regular edition and download version cost 8,580 yen, and the special edition costs 16,280 yen, both including tax.
- The PS4 version of "Aretha Collection 1993-1995" is available only as a download.
- The Aretha series ran six titles from 1990 to 1995 and featured a female protagonist, which was rare at the time.
Reporting from 3 sources: 4Gamer.net, Denfaminicogamer, Game Spark.
Edia released "Aretha Collection 1993-1995" on July 30, 2026, for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PlayStation 5. The collection bundles three Super Famicom RPGs from the 1990s: "Aretha: The Super Famicom" (1993), "Aretha II: Ariel's Mysterious Journey" (1994), and "Rejoice: Beyond the Aretha Kingdom" (1995). The games were originally published by Yanoman, and Edia licensed the IP from the company. The regular edition and download version cost 8,580 yen, while the special edition costs 16,280 yen, both including tax. The PS4 version is available only as a download. The collection adds a viewing mode that lets players browse setting materials and videos from the 1990s. The special edition includes a large acrylic stand, a 300-piece jigsaw puzzle, an illustration booklet, and an original soundtrack CD with unreleased demo tracks. The Aretha series ran six titles from 1990 to 1995 and was noted for its female protagonist, a rarity at the time.
The three games in the collection each follow distinct storylines. In "Aretha: The Super Famicom," the girl Ariel holds one of three rings tied to the Aretha Kingdom and sets out on an adventure, unaware that a dark force targeting her stems from the ring. "Aretha II: Ariel's Mysterious Journey" finds Ariel, now queen a year after a war, leaving her kingdom to answer a distress letter from the magic doll who accompanied her in the first game. "Rejoice: Beyond the Aretha Kingdom" shifts perspective to a group of troublemaking boys in Ish town who steal a goddess statue and obtain the Book of Force, triggering a major incident.
The series was known for unusual mechanics, including a consultation system where characters exchange gameplay hints, and a hidden element that raises a character's level to maximum at once. "Rejoice" also supports two-player simultaneous play. The collection's viewing mode adds period setting materials and videos. Each title is also sold individually for 3,080 yen. The special edition's jigsaw puzzle matches a frame promoted by Yanoman, a company known for its jigsaw puzzles. The game carries a CERO A rating.
Synthesized by Yomimono from the 3 cited sources below, including Japanese-language reporting where cited, then editorially reviewed before publishing.