Curse of the Sea Rats is an action RPG adventure presented as a ratoidvania platformer. Players control one of four anthropomorphic rats navigating a non-linear map set along the 18th-century Irish coast. The core loop centers on exploration, combat against enemies and bosses, ability upgrades, and story progression toward lifting a curse placed by a pirate witch.
Gameplay
The game features hand-drawn 2D character animations layered over detailed 3D environments with lighting and shadow effects. This creates a 2.5D platforming perspective where movement, jumping, and attacks feel precise and expressive. Four distinct characters offer different combat approaches: David Douglas provides a balanced option, Buffalo Calf emphasizes durability in close range, Bussa focuses on ranged attacks, and Akane Yamakawa incorporates magical elements with supportive capabilities. Each character starts with unique strengths and limitations that influence platforming and enemy encounters.
Progression involves collecting upgrades that enhance offense, defense, or grant new special skills and magic. Exploration rewards hidden paths and secrets across a large interconnected world. Boss encounters require learning patterns and adapting character abilities. The experience includes multiple endings based on choices and completion criteria. Total playtime exceeds twelve hours for a standard run, with additional time needed for full exploration and character mastery.
Game Modes
Single-player mode lets one person switch between the four characters or stick with a preferred one throughout the campaign. Local co-op supports up to four players simultaneously, with each participant selecting a different character. All players share the same screen and progress together through the shared world. Multiple controllers are required for this mode. No online multiplayer or additional competitive modes exist.
Story and World
Four prisoners transformed into rats must track down the witch Flora Burn to reverse the curse. The setting draws from historical pirate themes along Irish shores, with shipwrecks, coastal areas, and interior locations forming the map. Narrative elements unfold through exploration and boss confrontations rather than extensive dialogue trees. Secrets and collectibles expand on the background of the characters and the curse.
Is It Worth Playing?
Curse of the Sea Rats suits players who enjoy Metroidvania-style exploration combined with local co-op and character variety. The hand-drawn animation and 2.5D presentation stand out as consistent strengths across reviews. Mixed reception appears on major aggregator sites, with Metacritic scores falling in the low-to-mid 60s range depending on platform. Those seeking a substantial single-player campaign with optional couch co-op and multiple endings will find the core systems rewarding. The game launched in 2023 and remains available without ongoing seasonal content or major post-release expansions. Fans of classic 2D platformers with RPG progression elements represent the primary audience.
