‘If you’re designing an RPG, you have to go back to the source:’ The post-apocalyptic RPG Entropy takes notes from Fallout and a long-abandoned Warhammer spinoff
Entropy is an early-access post-apocalyptic RPG that represents a significant creative shift for developer James Wragg, whose previous title Dread Delusion was a faithful homage to classic first-person RPGs like King’s Field and The Elder Scrolls.
In contrast, Entropy embraces a distinctly JRPG-influenced aesthetic, capturing the feel of titles like Final Fantasy 10 and Lost Odyssey. Yet the game avoids being a simple JRPG pastiche. It blends JRPG conventions with mechanics drawn from Western PC RPGs: it features large party sizes, tactical battle systems, permadeath mechanics, locational damage systems, and a storytelling approach that emphasizes player reactivity and meaningful choice—sensibilities more aligned with games like Fallout than traditional PS2-era JRPGs.
Wragg has described the design as intentional: “In many ways, if Dread Delusion was my take on The Elder Scrolls, then this is my take on Fallout.” The game also draws inspiration from lesser-known sources, including an abandoned Warhammer spinoff title, suggesting Wragg’s philosophy of studying classic RPG designs before creating new ones.
This hybrid approach positions Entropy as an attempt to synthesize the narrative strengths and aesthetic appeal of JRPGs with the mechanical depth and consequence-driven gameplay of Western RPGs, offering something distinct from both traditions.