One of the best roguelikes on PC is getting a farewell of sorts this week. Twitchy slashfest Dead Cells received its final major update, introducing new enemies, fresh weapons, and a few mutations. Unfortunately, all this new stuff is very cursed. In other words, it all toys with the game's "curse" status effect, a hex that causes you to be killed if you take even a single hit. You'll probably die a few times as a result of this update, which in some ways is a fitting finalé for this fast-paced jar smasher of a game. You can see the new features in the trailer below.
One of the best roguelikes on PC is getting a farewell of sorts this week. Twitchy slashfest Dead Cells received its final major update, introducing new enemies, fresh weapons, and a few mutations. Unfortunately, all this new stuff is very cursed. In other words, it all toys with the game's "curse" status effect, a hex that causes you to be killed if you take even a single hit. You'll probably die a few times as a result of this update, which in some ways is a fitting finalé for this fast-paced jar smasher of a game. You can see the new features in the trailer below.
HIGH Exquisitely designed and beautifully crafted.
LOW Basic mobility is a little funky towards the beginning of the game.
WTF Didn’t expect the baseball bat…
When Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus (Bō) first appeared on my radar, I rushed to request it. With my personal interest in Japanese folklore and visual art I was keen to jump right in, and I must say that I was not disappointed.
Bō is an adventure that draws from Japanese folklore and legend. Players must navigate Bō — an adorable lotus-shaped creature called a Tentaihana — through different worlds, meeting and helping other spirits and creatures along the way.
Bō is visually captivating, and exploring the worlds that Bō encounters is a treat. Bō’s landscape contains two and three dimensional elements, which Humble Games describes as 2.5D.
When playing, I felt as if I were gliding, jumping, and running through a painting. Every location is more beautiful than the last, but I was particularly enamored with the creepy, bruise-hued Kitsune Burrows. They provided a satisfying change in scenery in an otherwise pastel colored environment, and I found myself lingering there a bit longer than necessary just to look around. The crystalline Ice Caverns are also a favorite of mine, though the icicles are a bit tricky to maneuver. Everything looks so lush, and the accompanying musical score makes it feel all the more immersive.
While exploring, players can equip Omamori, little tabs that help Bō in a myriad of ways, and each tab triggers an effect that becomes increasingly more complex as players collect more of them.Because Bō is very combat focused, I found the health centered Omamori tabs to be the most helpful. I almost always had Vitality equipped, which heals Bō’s health based on the amount of enemies they defeat.
Shrines serve as spaces where Bō can refill their teapot — an important tool that helps Bō regain their health. It can be used both in and out of battle, and can be accessed in a pinch (which players may find themselves in, more often than not). The teapot also helps Bō during combat and contains a heat gauge that works in tandem with Daruma dolls. Daruma dolls each have specific effects and attacks that can be used to help take down difficult enemies — as the heat gauge rises, the Daruma doll’s attacks increase in damage. I will almost always choose ranged battle if I can swing it, so the doll which shoots homing orbs at enemies near Bō became a necessary part of my arsenal.
Players can also update their weapons as they progress. Bō has an earring that doubles as a staff that players access early on, which eventually evolves into other items when needed. I was amused by the baseball bat, and while it did feel a bit out of place it made for a quirky game mechanic. While it’s mostly used as a weapon that allows players to parry and attack enemies, it’s also necessary when completing certain quests for the spirits Bō meets. In one such quest, Bō must collect Armapillos (armadillo like creatures) for a spirit named Shimeji, and the only possible way to corral them is to hit them with the bat. Hitting the Armapillos felt a little mean! (And punting them back and forth required more precision and dexterity than I thought necessary…)
It’s a good thing that Bō gives the player these options, as it’s actually quite challenging to play! While the side-scrolling adventure genre is an undeniable part of Bō’s DNA, the amount of items, buffs, and weapons players can access make it so that Bō fits just as comfortably within the soulslike genre. Boss attack mechanics aren’t extremely complex, but can be quite difficult to dodge or counter, which can lead to silly mistakes. One awkward or poorly-timed jump and players might find themselves having to restart a tedious battle from the very beginning.
The first major boss battle, which takes place in the Uzumaki cave, was a bit of a pain for me. A lot of this had to do with the basic mobility control system, which ended up being my biggest gripe with Bō.
While the mechanics are simple in theory, players are often expected to push many buttons at once to perform a mechanic as straightforward as jumping. Jumping is a necessary part of gameplay and some of the Daruma dolls require that Bō be airborne to be effective in battle, so struggling to perform these actions might be a bit frustrating for some. I initially had the most trouble with a sequence of lanterns that Bō must hit in order to ascend towards their next location, but they must be hit perfectly. Otherwise, Bō will fall and the sequence must be started over. I quickly learned that patience was perhaps the most necessary tool for success in Bō, which is kind of lovely.
As Bō progresses their actions and attacks become a bit more effective, and when that initial roughness is left behind, the worlds that players encounter afterwardsare so beautiful that any early game hiccups are forgotten. Bō: Path of the Teal Lotus is exceptional. With its visually stunning worlds and exciting battles, Bō has all the elements of an indie action classic.
Rating: 8.5 out of 10
Disclosures: This game is developed by Squid Shock Studios and published by Humble Games. It is currently available on PS5, Switch, PC, XBO/S/X, and iOS. This copy of the game was obtained via publisher, and reviewed on PS5. Approximately 7 hours were devoted to the game, and it was not completed. There is no multiplayer mode.
Parents: This game is rated E by the ESRB and contains Alcohol and Tobacco references, Mild Fantasy Violence, and Mild Language. There is no blood, and no gratuitous battle sequences. Gameplay mechanics may be a bit complex for really young players, but not completely inaccessible.
Colorblind Modes: This game does not have colorblind modes, but it does have a high contrast filter.
Deaf & Hard of Hearing Gamers: The game offers subtitles. Subtitles cannot be resized. I was pleased to see that there are many audio accessibility options. Players with dyslexia can change subtitle and game font, game speed can be modified, action cue icons can be added, controller vibration can be modified, camera shake can be adjusted, and players have the option of making themselves invincible, or provide themselves with an infinite supply of mana. Therefore, the game is fully accessible.
Remappable Controls: Yes, the game’s controls are remappable.
Flora’s Delivery Service is Open For Business — Metroidvania-lite Meets Cooking Game Magical Delicacy Now Available on PC, Xbox, and Xbox Game Pass
In a delightful blend of Metroidvania-inspired progression and cozy cooking mechanics, Magical Delicacy has arrived, bringing its unique charm to PC, Xbox, and Xbox Game Pass. Developed by solo-developer sKaule and published by Whitethorn Games, known for their inclusive and accessible titles like APICO and Calico, this new game invites players to explore a magical seaside town, cook up enchanting dishes, and uncover the secrets of Grat.
About Magical Delicacy
In MagicalDelicacy, you step into the shoes of Flora, a young witch from the northern island of Ulport. Determined to hone her magical abilities, Flora relocates to the bustling harbor town of Grat. Here, she must earn her keep by delivering magical meals and potions to the town’s quirky residents, ranging from mysterious travelers to legendary craftsmen.
Key Features
Explore and Discover:
Navigate the enchanting town of Grat through light platforming and Metroidvania-inspired exploration. Discover new recipes, gather ingredients, and unlock hidden areas as you gain new abilities and traverse the dynamic pixel art landscape.
Cook and Customize:
Build your dream kitchen, complete with upgradeable tools and equipment. The extensive cooking system offers creative freedom to fulfill even the oddest customer orders. Collect ingredients from shops, forage around town, or grow them in your garden.
Engaging Storyline:
Experience a wholesome narrative filled with witchy wonder and intrigue. Meet colorful characters, uncover their stories, and delve into the deeper mysteries of Grat. Optional encounters and free play opportunities provide a rich, immersive experience.
Charming Aesthetics:
Immerse yourself in a vibrant, cozy pixel art style that brings both the environment and the culinary creations to life. The charming visuals are complemented by a soothing soundtrack, now available on various music platforms including Spotify and Apple Music.
Magical Delicacy is available on Xbox One and Series X|S, and free for Xbox Game Pass holders. Additionally, fans can purchase a special edition Magical Delicacy Treat Pack, which includes a Heji the Dragon patch, a sticker collection, a Flora enamel pin, and a PC code for the game, available on the Whitethorn Games shop.
Get ready to cook, explore, and uncover the magical secrets of Grat in this delightful new adventure. MagicalDelicacy will also be launching on Nintendo Switch on August 15th.
Constance, a stunning 2D hand-drawn adventure from indie developer btf, is set to launch in late 2025. I have been following its progress on YouTube and social media and i’m happy to share its release window. This metroidvania game features a unique protagonist, a paintbrush-wielding artist, striving to escape a colourful yet decaying inner world shaped by her deteriorating mental health. A new trailer has been unveiled at the MIX’s Guerilla Collective digital showcase, giving gamers a glimpse of this artistic journey.
A World of Paint and Peril
In Constance, players will enter a beautifully crafted 2D world on the brink of ruin. As the protagonist, you must master paint-based mechanics to navigate and survive. Transform into paint to dive into the ground and walls, slice through the air and enemies, and employ various brush techniques. However, these powerful abilities come with a risk: overuse will corrupt your paint, potentially leading to complete corruption. Thus, players must find a balance to progress effectively.
Diverse Biomes and Rich Storytelling
The game features more than six unique biomes, each representing different aspects of Constance’s psyche and personal history. Players will encounter diverse enemies and characters, uncover secrets, and explore multiple paths. The nonlinear interconnected world is filled with side quests and collectibles. As you advance, unlock new brush techniques, defeat formidable foes, and solve intricate puzzles to uncover Constance’s past. The journey is not just about escaping the inner world, but also about understanding personal struggles, unlocking creativity, and finding inner purpose.
Developer Insights
Sebastian Drews, Game Director at btf, shared the vision behind Constance: “With Constance, we wanted to create a platforming adventure that does more than look and feel great – it tells a relatable down-to-earth story about overcoming self-doubt and finding self-acceptance. We wanted to create something simultaneously wondrous and familiar, that our players can see themselves in. We look forward to sharing more with you soon!”
Mark Your Calendars
Constance is set for a late 2025 release. Keep an eye out for more updates and prepare to dive into this beautifully hand-drawn adventure that blends artistic expression with engaging gameplay.
Heart Abyss is a beat ’em up metroidvania with high-stakes ultraviolent combat signed by feudal Japan.
In Heart Abyss you are an anthropomorphic fox who breaks out of imprisonment and seeks vengeance on the ruthless slavers who locked him up. The game promises tactical but frantic combat where blocking, deflection, positioning, weapons and devastating combos all come into play. The game will also feature two … Read More
Oyster Wars is a challenging non-linear pixel art platformer where an angry fisherman uses a hook-shot as he seeks revenge on a greedy CEO.
In Oyster Wars you take on the role of Wade – a disgruntled fisherman who sets out to take down the greedy corporation that fired him. Traversing the game’s large non-linear world is tricky but you have a nifty hook-shot that … Read More
Somber Echoes is a Sci-Fi dark fantasy metroidvania where a Greco-Roman space vessel has become the breeding ground for horrors from an unknown dimension.
In Somber Echoes you are a powerful warrior who has been awoken by a mysterious force to prevent your sister from unravelling the universe. Your ship is in ruins and infested with untold horrors that you’ll need to dispatch to regain … Read More
Sometimes I have proper critical thoughts about games and sometimes I am Marge Simpson giving her opinion on a potato. Take LXD Red Honey, a free 2D metroidvania created in just 18 days for the Metroidvania Month 24 jam by sarn and OvergrownRobot, with playtesting by Oroshibu. I just think it's neat. So neat.
Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown's first story DLC got a two-second trailer during Ubisoft Forward on Monday, confirming its name and its coming release this September. Here's a more specific release date that'll matter more to some of you: The Lost Crown itself will come to Steam on August 8th.
Sometimes I have proper critical thoughts about games and sometimes I am Marge Simpson giving her opinion on a potato. Take LXD Red Honey, a free 2D metroidvania created in just 18 days for the Metroidvania Month 24 jam by sarn and OvergrownRobot, with playtesting by Oroshibu. I just think it's neat. So neat.
Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown's first story DLC got a two-second trailer during Ubisoft Forward on Monday, confirming its name and its coming release this September. Here's a more specific release date that'll matter more to some of you: The Lost Crown itself will come to Steam on August 8th.
Prince of Persia: Sands of Time's troubled remake has resurfaced during tonight's Ubisoft Forward showcase with the news it'll finally be arriving in 2026, some six years after it was initially revealed. More happily, Price of Persia: The Lost Crown and The Rogue Prince of Persia both have new updates launching today.
Ubisoft revealed it was remaking Sands of Time back in September 2020, when it was originally due to launch the following January. However, following a less than positive reception to its debut trailer, Ubisoft announced the first of several delays for the project, eventually moving it from original developers Ubisoft Pune and Mumbai to Ubisoft Montreal.
When we last heard from the remake at the end of 2023, Ubisoft announced it had "passed an important internal milestone", but things didn't sound especially far along given the publisher had revealed the rebooted project was still in the "conception" phase in May. A year on, it seems the Sands of Time remake still isn't a state that Ubisoft is confident to show; its re-appearance during tonight's showcase was anticlimactic to say the least, taking the form of a 30-second teaser trailer showing... a candle. We did, at least, get an updated release window, with Ubisoft confirming the remake is now targeting a 2026 launch.
It's a good thing I'm a big fan of Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown, because it's only that underyling fandom that's making me write this post about the upcoming story DLC. The tease during this evening's Ubisoft Forward did nothing for me, other than confirm a name, Mask Of Darkness, and a release window in September.
Five of the Best is a weekly series for supporters of Eurogamer. It's a series that highlights some of the features in games that are often overlooked. It's also about having your say, so don't be shy, use the comments below and join in!
Which was the first game to have a dash move in it? The earliest I can think of is the Mega Man series. But was that a slide or a dash? Because although they serve similar functions, I think they're distinct things. It's tricky! Today of course, dashes are synonymous with action games, and even other kinds of games, and it's probably more common to play games with them than without them. Dashes have become a fundamental part of our gaming lexicon. But the question is, which dashes have been the most memorable - which dashes are the best?
This year’s rather wonderful Prince of Persia Metroid-like The Lost Crown has dropped the second of its free post-launch updates, adding a new boss rush mode, some unlockable costumes for surviving said mode, an extra way to fast-travel and more.
Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing over the past few days. This week, we celebrate one of the best characters in the Uncharted series, and perhaps in games; we live out our Star Wars fantasies; and we try a new Metroidvania in a well regarded series.
What have you been playing?
If you fancy catching up on some of the older editions of What We've Been Playing, here's our archive.
Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing over the past few days. This week, we celebrate one of the best characters in the Uncharted series, and perhaps in games; we live out our Star Wars fantasies; and we try a new Metroidvania in a well regarded series.
What have you been playing?
If you fancy catching up on some of the older editions of What We've Been Playing, here's our archive.
Hello! Welcome back to our regular feature where we write a little bit about some of the games we've been playing over the past few days. This week, we celebrate one of the best characters in the Uncharted series, and perhaps in games; we live out our Star Wars fantasies; and we try a new Metroidvania in a well regarded series.
What have you been playing?
If you fancy catching up on some of the older editions of What We've Been Playing, here's our archive.
Hello and welcome back to What To Play! We've returned from a little hiatus, which you definitely noticed and have been very sad about, of course. It's finally edging towards spring here in the UK, but don't let that tempt you into going outside, there's video games to be a-playin'!
As ever, this is where we'll round up the best games from the month gone by, and the things we're most excited to play from the month ahead - plus, any other suggestions for what might complement it. Here's What To Play This May 2024.
Availability: Out now on PC, Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S.
Distinguishing one metroidvania from another is a dicey challenge, and not just because there's a 37.8% chance that saying the word "metroidvania" will cause RPS regular Sin Vega to materialise in the mirror and assassinate you with cheesewire. Metroidvanias stand apart for me only in hindsight - it's all about the precise ratio of abilities to ability gates, of jump-doublers to overhangs, all things that take time to assess properly. Echo Weaver sets itself apart early, however, by declaring that "time is your currency" and that "when faced with eternity, knowledge is the only gear you need", a phrase that, admittedly, I would probably have extended to "...oh, and a spacetime-folding glaive that works like a throwable fast travel point".
Of all the Metroidvania elements in Tales of Kenzera: Zau, my favourite are the trees. Simply enough, meditating inside a tree provides a health boost. It's here the camera pans out to reveal these great, almost magical, natural structures which provide safety, sanctuary and a moment of reflection. Protagonist Zau is a hot-headed and petulant young man desperate to revive his father, but sat quietly in the trunk of a tree, he's just a boy.
The trees are a key example of how Tales of Kenzera transposes the genre to its African setting, but also where its heart lies: with the relationship between a father and son. The game's creator, voice actor Abubakar Salim (best known for his portrayal of Bayek in Assassin's Creed: Origins), has been particularly open about the personal inspiration behind the game: his own experience of grief following the death of his father. There's even a moving short film released ahead of the game. Yet even without knowing this, Tales of Kenzera itself exudes passion and love.
It's a story-within-a-story set in the fictional Afro-futurist land of Kenzera, and it tells the tale of desperate shaman Zau who bargains with Kalunga, god of death, following the passing of his father. Zau must deliver three spirits to win back his father and, along the way of his adventure, he learns to cope with his feelings of grief. Kalunga becomes his father-figure guide who speaks in proverbs and commands Zau with stern yet comforting lessons; Zau in return listens, rebels, argues, and accepts.
Until I played Tales Of Kenzera: Zau I figured people had run out of ways to make original platformers, but an Afrofuturist story-in-a-story framing for a mythological platformer about healthy ways to deal with grief sure did teach me to not underestimate human creativity. I really liked a lot about Tales Of Kenzera, and got annoyed by a bunch of stuff too - and the division seems to be that a lot of the former falls on the story and design side, and the latter on the mechanical side, which I guess isn't ideal for a platformer. But still, I think it's worth persevering.
“In loving memory of those who touched our lives. This game is a tribute to their enduring spirit,” reads the opening screen of Tales of Kenzera: Zau, the new Metroidvania from EA Originals and Surgent Studios. My lip trembles. “Don’t start crying, you’ve barely started,” I chastise myself.
Among the onslaught of game trailers at the terribly named Triple-I Initiative was a release date for Gestalt: Steam & Cinder. It's a 2D platformer with a heavy dose of combat and a big upgrade tree, and there's a demo available now.
Some new videogame releases pounce on us like excitable Golden Retrievers, while others become apparent to us more insidiously, like undead Golden Retrievers creeping back from the grave to do their master's bidding unto eternity. Withering Rooms is one of the latter: released out of early access last week, and noticed by me just yesterday, it's a haunted mansion metroidvania in which you are a small girl in a nightie who must use meat cleavers, pentagrams and spells of self-enlargement or possession or incineration to overcome various monsters of the Silently Hilly and/or Residentially Evil persuasion. No, none of the monsters are Golden Retrievers.
The Xbox Partner Preview showcase offered us a look at a number of the third-party games heading to Xbox Series X/S this year. We were shown a variety of trailers during the 30-minute presentation, including a taste of the Japanese mythology inspried Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and the announcement of The Sinking City 2.
Whether you missed the presentation or want to revisit one of the spotlighted titles, there's a roundup of everything shown during the Xbox Partner Preview showcase below.
The showcase began with a look at Unknown 9: Awakening from Reflector and Bandai Namco. This body-hopping adventure will be arriving in the summer of 2024. Unknown 9: Awakening has a very strong Assassin's Creed vibe, so, if you're an Assassin's fan, this might be one for you.
Join us to watch Xbox's latest Partner Preview broacast, which is set to air will air today - Wednesday 6th March - at 6pm UK time. That's 1pm Eastern, or 10am Pacific if you're over the pond.
The video presentation will last 30 minutes and showcase a selection of upcoming third-party games coming to Xbox, with a mix of trailers, gameplay videos, and additional behind-the-scenes information.
So, what do we expect? Well, Xbox has teased a closer look at combat and traversal in the EA-published Metroidvania Tales of Kenzera: Zau from Assassin's Creed Origin star Abubakar Salim, new gameplay of Capcom's Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess, as well as another look at The First Berserker: Khazan, a Nexon-published action-RPG which was announced at The Game Awards 2023.
Polish developers Mighty Koi have announced The Night Wanderer, a new sci-fantasy Soulslike RPG with metroidvania level design – yes, yes, tick those genre boxes! - in which you are a grim bearded swordsman exploring an alien world that looks a bit like pre-industrial Scandinavia.
The two-person studio behind 2021's tip-top top-down action-RPG Unsighted yesterday announced their next game, a 3D metroidvania named Abyss X Zero. It's not out for a while yet but its look already reminds me of two things: the pleasingly clean art style of Mega Man Legends and the edgy anime schoolgirl styles of Kill La Kill. See for yourself in the announcement trailer below.
Out of all the Nintendo Direct announcements last week, the one I was most sad to see not get a PC release date was the sequel to the much beloved Metroidvania Ender Lilies. The announcement came as a bit of a surprise, all told, and I was worried I'd have to consign it to what I've now dubbed my Unicorn Overlord pile of games that are never coming to PC. Happily, publishers Binary Haze Interactive have now confirmed that Ender Magnolia: Bloom In The Mist is, in fact, coming to PC (and other consoles) after all, and that it's coming real soon, as its PC early access release has been set for just weeks away on March 25th. Result.
Turbo Kid is a 2015 movie set in a post-apocalypse in which a comic book fan battles a local tyrant, with gory, comedic, '80s-pastiching results. It was not a film I expected to get a metroidvania sequel, but here it is with a new demo and an April release date.
Prince Of Persia: The Lost Crown, Ubisoft's highly polished prototypical Metroidvania, was released last month and instantly earned its place on our list of the best of the genre. Now Ubisoft Montpellier say they're planning free updates to add extra content and modes, with the first to arrive soon.
"Baba…help me Baba…I need you Baba…." So says protagonist Zau at the start of Tales of Kenzera, his voice shaking. That's the voice of Abubakar Salim (Assassin's Creed: Origins), who founded Surgent Studios to create this game as he deals with the loss of his own father.
When he says those words, it doesn't feel like he's acting.
It's this raw, personal edge that lifts Tales of Kenzera above the usual influx of indie metroidvanias. The game's reveal at last year's The Game Awards was one of the more memorable moments of the show as Salim shared the poignant story of playing games with his father. It's this personal history with gaming that's inspired Tales of Kenzera and its paralleling father-son relationship. Playing the demo as part of Steam Next Fest is a striking experience.
"Baba…help me Baba…I need you Baba…." So says protagonist Zau at the start of Tales of Kenzera, his voice shaking. That's the voice of Abubakar Salim (Assassin's Creed: Origins), who founded Surgent Studios to create this game as he deals with the loss of his own father.
When he says those words, it doesn't feel like he's acting.
It's this raw, personal edge that lifts Tales of Kenzera above the usual influx of indie metroidvanias. The game's reveal at last year's The Game Awards was one of the more memorable moments of the show as Salim shared the poignant story of playing games with his father. It's this personal history with gaming that's inspired Tales of Kenzera and its paralleling father-son relationship. Playing the demo as part of Steam Next Fest is a striking experience.
When I first saw Never Grave: The Witch And The Curse rising up the Steam Next Fest charts at the end of last week, I thought, "Oh! That's a neat Hollow Knight-looking Metroivanida roguelike, I'll definitely give that a go." And having played its demo over the weekend, I can confirm: it's certainly an intriguing little thing that I'll be keen to keep an eye on when it launches into early access, possibly sometime next month.
The biggest surprise was that, despite its very Hollow Knight-looking visuals, it actually plays more like Dead Cells in practice. Instead of being a sentient lump of flesh able to inhabit infinite bodies, you're a magical witch's hat that can possess, discard and rematerialise your chosen sack of limbs at the touch of a button. The second thing that surprised me was that it also has quite a substantial base/village building aspect to it on the side, and the third - well, perhaps this isn't so much of a surprise given everything I've just said, because it also turns out this is the next game from Palworld developers Pocketpair. Yep, it all makes a bit more sense now.
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