Blighted: Drinkbox Studios’ Psychedelic Western Metroidvania Dares to Twist Genre Conventions

Every so often, a studio with a distinct voice drops something that immediately grabs my attention-and Drinkbox Studios is one of those rare teams. After their genre-bending hits Guacamelee and Nobody Saves the World, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected from these Canadians. So, when they announced Blighted, a “hardcore action Metroidvania set in a psychedelic Western nightmare,” my ears perked up. And after digging into the details, it’s clear Drinkbox is doubling down on their wildest ideas yet.

Blighted: Drinkbox Studios Risks Everything on a Psychedelic Western Nightmare

• Drinkbox is leaning into riskier, weirder territory-Blighted’s brain-seed lore and shifting difficulty are a big leap from their previous zany worlds.
• Blight-based dynamic difficulty seems like a smart twist for genre vets, shaking up the usual Metroidvania challenge curve.
• Co-op support at launch will be a game-changer for those who love shared struggles and want a less punishing path.
• Visuals and tone mashup (psychedelic Western fever dream) could help Blighted stand out in a crowded Metroidvania scene.

Let’s be real: the Metroidvania genre isn’t exactly hurting for options right now. Every indie developer seems to want their shot at the formula pioneered by Nintendo and Konami, and most fail to escape the shadow of Hollow Knight or Dead Cells. That’s why Blighted caught my eye-not just because I’m a sucker for trippy visuals and offbeat settings, but because Drinkbox has a track record for making their weirdest ideas work.

Blighted’s premise is bonkers in the best way. The world’s dead are buried with seeds in their brains (gross!), which grow into trees that bear fruit containing the deceased’s memories. But then Big Bad Sorcisto shows up and starts eating memories straight from the skull, unleashing the titular Blight. Suddenly, your hero is both a world-saver and a victim of the Blight, forced to fight mutated nightmares in a freaky Western landscape.

What stands out most to me is the risk/reward system Drinkbox is cooking up. The Blight infecting your character isn’t just window dressing—it actively warps the world, cranking up enemy difficulty and mutating the environment based on your mental state. This is a huge departure from the typical static difficulty of most Metroidvanias. If it works, it could force players to adapt on the fly, rewarding those who master the chaos and punishing anyone coasting on muscle memory.

Plus, the idea of devouring boss brains to gain power is just… deliciously dark. Drinkbox has always excelled at mixing irreverence with genuinely challenging mechanics, and I’m hoping this sinister upgrade path will push players to experiment. The promise of unlocking hidden realities and new mechanics as you layer on more Blight is exactly the kind of twist that could give speedrunners and completionists a field day.

That said, Drinkbox isn’t blind to the fact that their games can be brutal. To soften the blow, Blighted will include drop-in/drop-out co-op—a first for them in this genre space. As someone who loves dragging a buddy into my genre obsessions (“No, trust me, you’ll get it after this boss!”), I’m thrilled. Co-op should help open Blighted up to new players, not just the hardcore Metroidvania diehards.

Why Blighted Actually Matters For Metroidvania Fans

Drinkbox Studios could have played it safe after the success of Guacamelee, but Blighted looks like a full-on leap into the unknown. The genre is packed, and players are demanding more than just another “you got a double jump!” moment. By tying difficulty and discovery to a living, breathing infection system, Blighted promises to keep players on their toes—and possibly reward the kind of risk-taking that Metroidvania veterans hunger for.

If you’ve bounced off Metroidvanias because of stagnant combat or rote backtracking, Blighted’s dynamic world and co-op features might finally suck you in. And if you’re a lore hound, the twisted memory/brainseed setup offers a new flavor of worldbuilding you won’t find anywhere else.

Of course, Drinkbox still needs to prove that all these wild ideas will gel into a game that’s actually fun to play, not just weird for weirdness’ sake. But if their past games are anything to go by, I’m willing to give them the benefit of the doubt—and keep a very close eye on this one as it develops.

TL;DR: Drinkbox’s Blighted Is a Genre Shakeup Worth Watching

Drinkbox Studios is swinging for the fences with Blighted: a Metroidvania that mutates difficulty, visuals, and story into a psychedelic Western fever dream. It’s risky, weird, and exactly the kind of bold twist the genre needs right now. Whether it all comes together is anyone’s guess, but Metroidvania fans should absolutely keep this one on their radar.