Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse stands out as a 2D Metroidvania roguelite action game that blends exploration with procedural elements and unique possession mechanics. Released in early 2026, this indie title invites players into a world where a cursed hat grants extraordinary abilities, allowing control over enemies and strategic advantages in combat. With its hand-drawn animations and picture-book-like backgrounds, the game creates a visually captivating experience while challenging players through ever-changing dungeons and boss encounters.
Gameplay
At its core, the gameplay revolves around navigating procedurally generated dungeons filled with ruins, botanical gardens, and other varied terrains that shift with each playthrough. Players control a witch who uses magic to fight enemies, identify attack patterns, and leverage the environment for victories. The possession system lets you take over foes with the cursed hat, unlocking their unique abilities to solve puzzles, open new paths, and gain edges in battles.
Beyond combat, rebuilding a ruined village forms a key loop. Gather materials from dungeons to clear rubble, construct facilities, and cultivate crops. Cooking food and utilizing skill trees enhance your character's power, preparing for tougher challenges. Exploration expands through artifacts that grant moves like double jumps, while traits from magic and items create synergies that alter playstyles on the fly.
Game Modes
The game supports single-player adventures where you delve into dungeons solo, focusing on personal progression and village development. For cooperative play, it offers multiplayer for up to four players, enabling friends to team up and conquer dungeons together, sharing resources and strategies.
No distinct competitive modes exist, but the cooperative aspect emphasizes joint exploration and boss fights, with procedural generation ensuring fresh experiences in group sessions.
Key Features and Mechanics
Controls feel responsive and tactile, emphasizing precise movements in a Metroidvania structure. Boss battles demand more than pattern memorization, requiring adaptive strategies and no-damage runs for mastery. The combination of roguelite elements means death resets progress but retains village upgrades, encouraging repeated runs with evolving builds.
- Possession mechanic for enemy control and ability use
- Procedural dungeons with obstacles and puzzles
- Village building for long-term progression
- Artifact-based exploration unlocks
Is It Worth Playing?
For fans of Metroidvania roguelites who enjoy possession-based combat and base-building, this game delivers a fresh take with its cursed hat system and cooperative multiplayer. Player reception shows mixed feelings, with Steam reviews at 67% positive from 421 users, highlighting strengths in art and mechanics but noting issues like a convoluted story and underwhelming audio. On PlayStation, it averages 4.36 out of 5 from 225 ratings.
With its recent release in March 2026 and ongoing support implied through its indie development, it suits players seeking replayable 2D action without heavy narrative demands. If tactical enemy control and procedural adventures appeal, it's a solid choice, though those wanting polished sound design might wait for potential updates.
