Metroidvania
Ongoing coverage on Metroidvania.
Latest coverage
"I wish I had the formula" – 2Awesome Studio on navigating indie development while creating Altered Alma, its biggest project to date
Alexander Santiago, co-founder of 2Awesome Studio, discusses the challenges and strategies of indie game development while working on their largest project to date, Altered Alma. The studio navigates funding, market trends, and plans for future sequels, emphasizing a focused approach to game design.
How to get the Cell Key in Phantom Blade Zero
This guide explains how to obtain the Cell Key in Phantom Blade Zero, the first key item players will need for exploration. The key is found within the Outpost after progressing through the Weeping Creek Valley and navigating specific paths and stairs within a wooden house. Acquiring the Cell Key allows players to open a cell door, revealing their first Blackstone Fragment, which is crucial for increasing attack and guard-break stats.
Primal Planet’s Prehistoric Survival Hits Xbox And PlayStation
Primal Planet, a hand-crafted metroidvania blending pixel-art exploration with survival, crafting, and combat, has launched on Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 for £16.74. Developed by Seethingswarm and published by Pretty Soon, the game features a story about a cave dweller protecting their family in a prehistoric world filled with dinosaurs and an underlying alien mystery. It also supports local co-op and was previously available on Nintendo Switch and Steam.
Celeste Studio Announces Nintendo Switch, Switch 2 Versions of City of None
Extremely OK Games, the developer behind Celeste, has announced that its upcoming title, City of None, will be released on Nintendo Switch and Switch 2 in 2027, in addition to its previously announced PC version. The game features platforming, combat, and Metroidvania elements within a crumbling metropolis, with a distinct pixel art style. The studio also confirmed the cancellation of its previous project, Earthblade.
From Cryptids To Carinderias, Here Are 8 Games To Celebrate Filipino American History Month
This article highlights eight games developed in the Philippines that celebrate Filipino American History Month, showcasing distinct cultural elements. It features titles ranging from narrative-driven visual novels like Until Then and Lutong Bahay to simulation games like Jeepney Simulator and horror titles inspired by Filipino mythology, as well as a fighting game based on historical figures.
A long-overdue conversation with Jordan Mechner
In a decade-long pursuit, Jordan Mechner finally sat down for an interview covering his autobiographical graphic novel, the potential for The Last Express, and the many iterations of Prince of Persia. Mechner discusses the evolution of the Prince of Persia series, his involvement with Ubisoft's titles, and the creative process behind The Last Express, including its unique narrative structure and potential for a remaster.
Outpost - A new speccy game inspired by Dizzy series and modern metroidvania!
Juan J. Martínez has developed Outpost, a new platform-adventure game for the ZX Spectrum 48k inspired by the Dizzy series and modern Metroidvanias. Players explore a hostile alien planet, navigate 90 screens of platforming challenges, and collect 8 items to escape.
Phantom Blade Zero review - A new action RPG gold standard
Phantom Blade Zero is a stunning action RPG that sets a new gold standard for the genre, offering phenomenal combat, a beautiful world, and a confidently original story. The game masterfully blends Metroidvania exploration with deep action RPG mechanics, featuring intricate level design and a wide array of weapons and abilities that keep combat fresh and engaging. Boss fights are a particular highlight, often serving as spectacular, multi-phase encounters that are both visually impressive and mechanically challenging.
What makes Metroid Dread one of the best Nintendo Switch games ever
Metroid Dread is highlighted as one of the best Nintendo Switch games, praised for its engaging Metroidvania design, fast-paced gameplay, and satisfying story progression. Despite a forgettable soundtrack, the game's challenging boss fights, rewarding upgrades, and accessible design make it a strong entry in the series and a perfect starting point for newcomers.
How To Pass The Brittle King’s Test
This guide details how to defeat the optional Brittle King boss in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse to obtain the Excalibur greatsword. Players must equip the Builder Arcana, obtained by defeating Talos, to initiate the fight. The guide also offers strategies for dealing with the boss's shield, attacks, and a special light beam attack that intensifies in the second phase.
Think You’ve Beaten Fountains? Prove it in the Gauntlet
Crunching Koalas has released the Gauntlet mode for their souls-like action-RPG, Fountains. This new mode challenges players to defeat all ten bosses back-to-back, with an option to include bosses from the Shattered Shape expansion. The update is now live on Xbox, following its PC premiere, and the game is currently on sale.
How To Pass The Judge’s Test In Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
This guide explains how to unlock the Judge Arcana in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. Players need to reach the Court of Justice area and have at least four full health and mana heart upgrades to align the scales. The article also provides tips for finding hidden health and mana upgrades throughout the game's map.
After Beating Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse, Help Dracula Rebuild In This Awesome Roguelike
Following the release of Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, the indie roguelike Draftula offers players a chance to help Dracula rebuild his castle. The game, available as a demo on Steam, combines deckbuilding mechanics with tile-placement strategy, where players construct rooms to defend against a knight. Despite a minor criticism regarding the lack of an undo button, the demo is praised for its planning-focused gameplay, retro aesthetic, and chill music, with a new 'Nightly mode' adding further replayability.
This week in PC games: build a better zombie in Stupid Never Dies, glue together houses in Cutout Village, and settle brave new worlds in Star Trek: Outposts Unknown
This week's PC game releases include a variety of genres, from limb-swapping zombie action RPG Stupid Never Dies and city-builder Cutout Village, to Star Trek: Outposts Unknown and the HD-2D Final Fantasy Resonance. Other notable titles include the co-op puzzle game We Were Here Tomorrow and the run-and-gun Metroidvania A Sister's Journey.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Relics Guide
This guide details the 44 relics available in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse, explaining their effects and locations. It highlights powerful relic combinations for general traversal and boss fights, such as Obsidian Fang and Necro Charm for groups, and Vile Trinket or Shadow Veil for bosses. The Crypt Key relic is recommended for beginners as it restores health and mana upon opening chests.
How to descend the Catacombs of Paris in Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
This guide details how to navigate the Catacombs area in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. It covers strategies for overcoming traps, enemies like Bone Pillars and Mermen, and environmental hazards such as Chaos Shards and spinning blades, emphasizing the use of Holy Light and parrying mechanics.
Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Alucard Painting Puzzle Explained
This guide explains the Alucard painting puzzle in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. The paintings of Alucard, Dracula's son, are crucial for revealing hidden passages and secrets within the castle, including entrances to new areas, hidden weapons, and relics. Players must interpret the direction of Alucard's sword in each painting to find these secrets.
How To Climb The Clock Tower In Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
This guide details how to navigate the challenging Clock Tower in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. It covers strategies for overcoming obstacles like spinning blades, iron fists, and enemies, as well as how to find the true boss by manipulating platforms and breaking through specific walls.
All Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse Weapon Locations
This guide details the locations of all seven weapon families and their upgrades in Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. The game features a revamped combat system where the protagonist, Rose, can wield various weapons, each with four upgrade tiers found in chests throughout the game's Metroidvania-style world.
How To Solve The Hidden Puzzle In Notre Dame In Castlevania: Belmont’s Curse
This guide explains how to solve the hidden puzzle in Notre Dame within Castlevania: Belmont's Curse. Players must find three melodies to defeat the Shadow Arcana boss, Death, but a fourth, hidden melody can be played by deciphering symbols in the Stained Glass Gallery. Playing this tune unlocks a point in Death's Arcana and a new path leading to the War and Famine legendary dual-swords.
