As someone who’s spent untold hours diving into Metroidvanias-especially those that channel classic Castlevania energy-this announcement genuinely made me sit up. ArtPlay and Koji Igarashi are back with Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement, a brand new prequel that finally feels like the series is doubling down on what makes it special instead of just coasting on nostalgia. Here’s why this caught my attention, and why fellow fans should care.
| Feature | Specification |
|---|---|
| Publisher | ArtPlay |
| Release Date | TBA |
| Genres | Metroidvania, Action RPG |
| Platforms | PC (Steam), Consoles (TBA) |
It’s hard to overstate how important Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night was to Metroidvania fans when it launched. After years of Konami putting Castlevania on ice, Koji Igarashi and ArtPlay essentially made the “real” successor, with all the gothic trappings, exploration-first map design, and RPG mechanics that fans had been desperate for. Now, six years after Ritual of the Night, the team is back with a prequel that actually tries to build on that legacy instead of just recycling what worked before.
This time, you’ll step back into 16th-century England-no Miriam in sight, but instead, Leonard Brandon and Alexander Kyteler, two protagonists who can be swapped on the fly. That’s a very deliberate nod to classic Castlevania moves (think Portrait of Ruin), and it could mean some genuinely fresh combat and puzzle dynamics. I love when these games offer a meaningful reason to switch characters, and I’m hoping ArtPlay leans into that, rather than just making one a glorified backup.
The real wildcard here? The Ethereal Castle itself. ArtPlay is touting this as the largest map in the series, but what really stands out is the promise that the environment will actively change as time passes. Shifting light and darkness isn’t just a visual gimmick—it’s supposed to affect both the castle’s layout and the way you interact with enemies, obstacles, and maybe even sidequests. If they pull this off, it could make exploration feel genuinely alive and reward players for revisiting old haunts at different times. But I’ll admit, I’m cautiously optimistic; ambitious design like this often ends up being more predictable than advertised, so I’ll be watching to see how dynamic the “shifting” castle really is in practice.
Of course, it wouldn’t be Bloodstained without weapons, relics, armor, and enough crafting to sink a ship. The devs are promising hundreds of bits to collect, cook, and customize, and the RPG nerd in me eats that up. Sidequests and NPCs are also back, which is great news for anyone who likes their Metroidvania with a dash of world-building instead of just a monster gauntlet. If you’re the kind of completionist who got lost for hours in the last game, there’s plenty here to obsess over.
The bosses are another big draw: six vampire lieutenants (the Sanguinaries) and a newly revealed Demon Lord, Elias. Each is supposed to have unique abilities that force you to switch up your approach. It sounds like they’re trying to give us the kind of memorable, multi-phase fights that made the best Castlevanias legendary. But let’s be real—boss design was good in Ritual of the Night, but not quite on the level of FromSoft or even the gnarlier indie Metroidvanias. If they can deliver here, it’ll go a long way toward cementing Bloodstained as more than just a nostalgia trip.
With so many Metroidvania clones flooding the market, it’s easy to get cynical. But Bloodstained is one of the few series that genuinely feels like it has a legacy to build on—and with Iga still at the helm, there’s a reason to believe The Scarlet Engagement will push things forward. The shift to dual protagonists, a more reactive world, and deeper boss encounters could keep the series from feeling like it’s just iterating on Ritual of the Night’s formula. And honestly, after seeing so many cash-grab spiritual sequels that miss the point, it’s refreshing to see ArtPlay swinging for the fences instead of just recycling pixel art and hoping for nostalgia bucks.
That said, we’ve all seen grand Metroidvania promises before—massive maps that turn out to be empty, or “dynamic” castles that only change a handful of rooms. I’ll be watching closely for gameplay footage and hands-on impressions, because ambitious design is only as good as its execution. Still, if you love the genre (and especially if you still have the Ritual of the Night platinum trophy proudly displayed), this is definitely one to put on your radar.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement looks like it could be the most ambitious entry in the series yet, with dual protagonists, a living castle, and proper boss showdowns. It’s a real test for ArtPlay and Iga: can they deliver a Metroidvania that’s more than just a nostalgia fix? If they can, it might just set a new standard for the genre’s next wave.
Source: ArtPlay via GamesPress