Palworld publisher reveals demo for their new title 

Palworld publisher PocketPair is following up on their huge success with something a bit different. Coming to PC (Steam), Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is set to put a fresh spin on the metroidvania x roguelite genre. Playing as a witch, you must battle through varied dungeons with the aid of your cursed hat. A free demo was released on January 25, with the full game set to come out sometime in the first quarter of 2024. 

The 2D action platformer is being developed by PocketPair’s subsidiary Frontside 180 Studios. As a metroidvania- style title, it promises many dungeons to explore, but these will be randomly generated,– giving you a different experience each time you play. As well as using magic and sword attacks to battle enemies, your witch character will also be able to use her cursed hat to possess enemies and utilize their unique abilities.

Unusual for a metroidvania, Never Grave also has a multiplayer option that allows up to 4 players to battle through dungeons together. The game will also feature a town building aspect, as you will be able to use the materials you find in the dungeons to rebuild a ruined village and cultivate crops. You will also need to work out a game play strategy, stocking up on potions in the village to prepare for your next dungeon exploration. 

Never Grave will feature traditional Japanese hand-drawn animation for the characters’ movements, as well as detailed backgrounds that add a sense of depth to the 2D game. It will likely appeal to fans of Hollow Knight, and even those who like older dungeon exploring/village building titles like the Dark Cloud series.  

Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is due to release on PC (Steam) in Q1 2024. It is currently in Early Access and a free demo is available.