Never Grave Release Date: What We Know About Pocketpair’s New Metroidvania
Okay, gamers, let’s talk about Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse. You know, the new side-scrolling action game from Pocketpair, the same folks who unleashed the wild world of Palworld upon us? Yeah, that one. If you’re anything like me, you’re itching to get your hands on it, and the big question on everyone’s mind is: when is this thing actually coming out?
The Scoop on the Release Window
Alright, so here’s the deal. Pocketpair hasn’t dropped an exact date yet, but they have said that Never Grave is set to launch into Steam Early Access by the end of March. That’s right, we’re looking at a potential release in just a few weeks! While not set in stone, it’s the best we have to go on right now.
Now, this isn’t a full launch, mind you. It’s an early access release, which means the game will still be in development, and we might see some changes and additions as it moves forward. But honestly, I’m hyped to jump in and see what Pocketpair has cooked up.
What is Never Grave Anyway?
If you missed the announcement, Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is a Metroidvania-roguelite. Think exploration, platforming, and combat, but with the added twist of roguelike elements. What this means is that each time you enter a dungeon it’s going to be different. You’ll be collecting temporary upgrades during your run, and permanent resources that can be used to rebuild the town. Oh, and it’s got co-op multiplayer for up to four players!
But here’s the really cool part – you’re not just playing a standard character. You actually start out as a hat. Yes, a hat! You then possess a lifeless girl, which becomes your default form. And that’s not all. The cursed hat also lets you possess enemies, using their unique abilities to your advantage. This adds a whole new layer of strategy to the gameplay, and it’s something I’m really keen to try out.
Gameplay and Features
Never Grave seems to be packed with cool features, including:
- Metroidvania x Roguelite Gameplay: Explore, fight, die, and repeat with procedurally generated dungeons.
- Possession System: As I mentioned, you’re a hat that can possess enemies. It’s a key part of the puzzle-solving as well as combat.
- Rebuilding a Ruined Village: Collect resources, rebuild the village, and prepare for your next dungeon delve. This makes it more of a “roguelite”, but who’s counting.
- Multiplayer: Team up with up to three friends and tackle dungeons together.
- Hand-drawn Aesthetics: The game boasts a cool, hand-drawn art style, reminiscent of a picture book.
- Dynamic Combat: You’ll need to master the combat system, as enemies can be tough, with some having no hit stun and quick attacks, and a few technical issues were present in the demo.
What About the Demo?
Good news! If you can’t wait until the end of March, there’s a free demo available on Steam right now! It’s part of the Steam Next Fest, so you can get a feel for the game and its mechanics ahead of the early access launch.
I gave the demo a go myself, and it’s definitely promising. The combat takes some getting used to, and there were a couple of crashes, but overall, the core gameplay loop is fun, and the aesthetic is very charming. It also got me even more hyped for the multiplayer which wasn’t available in the demo.
Why All the Hype?
So why is everyone so excited about Never Grave? Well, for starters, Pocketpair surprised everyone with Palworld, and now they’re jumping into a completely different genre. There are already comparisons with Hollow Knight, one of the most popular and loved Metroidvanias out there, which definitely makes people notice it.
Combine that with the unique possession mechanic, a charming art style, and roguelike elements, and you’ve got a game that’s definitely got people’s attention.
Final Thoughts
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is shaping up to be a very promising game, and it’s exciting to see Pocketpair trying their hand at a completely different genre after the huge success of Palworld. With the early access release potentially just around the corner, this is one to keep an eye on. Make sure you check out the free demo on Steam and maybe we’ll see each other on the dungeon floor!