Metroidvanias have made a real comeback over the years, with games like Hollow Knight: Silksong bringing a fresh take to the formula and old masters like Metroid Prime 4: Beyond showing everyone how it’s done.
If you’re a fan of metroidvanias there are plenty of games to play in that genre, one of which is potentially coming out next year and looks like a perfect blend between the magic of Harry Potter and tight platforming of Hollow Knight.
It’s called Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse, launching next year and definitely deserving of a spot on your wishlist.
Described as a “Metroidvania x Roguelite where you journey with the aid of a cursed hat,” Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse looks like a magical game with a lot of charm.
The description continues: “Use a variety of magic or possess your enemies to reach the lowest levels! Bring back loot, build new facilities in your village, make a living and strengthen yourself for the next battle! Supports up to 4-player multiplayer.”
Pocketpair Publishing
It was shown off during last night’s PlayStation State Of Play showcase, a unique presentation this time as it focused primarily on Japanese developers and publishers.
Some interesting stuff was shown off, including a trailer for Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse featuring some boss fights and general exploration/combat.
It looks very, very good and with all the success of Hollow Knight: Silksong there’s definitely a place for it in people’s libraries when it launches next year.
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse launches on 5 March 2026, for PlayStation and Steam users.
What else was announced during last night’s State Of Play?
Some juicy trailers dropped, with my personal favourite being a new DLC announcement for Elden Ring: Nightreign.
Unlike the colossal expansion Shadow Of The Erdtree, Nighreign is getting a smaller-scale expansion that adds more boss fights and two new character classes. It’s also bringing back the legendary Dark Souls boss Artorias, and I have a lot to say about that…
Another exciting announcement came in the form of some new hardware, specifically a gaming monitor.
Aside from delivering crisp and clear visuals whilst you’re playing games like Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse, it’ll even charge your controllers for you with a built-in charging port.
It was a pretty decent showcase, all things considered, and we’re already looking forward to the next one.
This sounds like an exciting blend of beloved franchises! The resurgence of Metroidvanias has definitely brought fresh energy to gaming. Looking forward to seeing how these elements come together in 2026!
Absolutely, it’s fascinating to see how the genre has evolved! The combination of Hogwarts’ rich lore with Hollow Knight’s gameplay mechanics could really introduce some unique exploration elements. I’m curious to see how they’ll integrate magic into the Metroidvania formula!
You’re right! The blend of Hogwarts’ rich lore with Metroidvania elements could lead to some truly unique gameplay mechanics. It’ll be interesting to see how they incorporate spells and exploration in a way that enhances both the story and the action.
Absolutely! The combination of exploration and storytelling could really enhance the gameplay experience. Plus, the unique abilities from Hogwarts could add interesting mechanics to the Metroidvania style, making for some creative puzzles and challenges.
I completely agree! The blend of exploration and storytelling in Metroidvanias can create such an immersive world. It’ll be interesting to see how this new game balances those elements, especially with the rich lore from the Hogwarts universe.