There are a wealth of Metroidvanias worth your time nowadays; from Hollow Knight to Blasphemous, there's ample choice on the table. One of the most essential for my money, however, is Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Built by former Castlevania lead Koji Igarashi and the studio he co-founded, Artplay, it's perhaps the truest successor to the Konami series and a magnificent example of the side-scrolling action RPG format at its finest. Now, six years on, a sequel is finally on the way, and it's called Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement.
In fact, Metroidvania.
That world is the floating Ethereal Castle, a terrorizing force under the control of Demon Lord Elias and the six Sanguinaries that defend him. These vampire lieutenants each boast "powerful and unique abilities," so expect them to act as the major milestones of your trials. Its map is teased as the largest for the series yet, with shifting light and darkness as time es transforming both the environment and your gameplay potential.
Artplay also promises the return of all the other fundamentals that made Ritual of the Night so satisfying for completionists. There are countless weapons, armor, relics, resources, and ingredients to collect. Crafting and cooking return, along with the ability to customize the looks of both Leonard and Alexander, and there will be various NPC side quests to encourage you to explore even more deeply.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement is set to launch in 2026. If, like me, you're already eagerly anticipating its arrival, wishlist it on Steam to stay up to date with all future details.
Alternatively, take a look through the best platform games, to keep you busy right now.
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