It’s a good time to be a fan of 2D action platforming games.Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nightreleased this summer to critical acclaim, and we all have our fingers crossed for aHollow Knight: Silksongrelease in early 2020.AeternoBlade IIis here to help us pass the time in-between. It arrives on PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on August 14, 2025.
Billed as a “time-manipulation action & puzzle side-scrolling platformer featuring world exploration and RPG elements,“AeternoBlade IIseems to borrow heavily from games in theCastlevaniafranchise, both with regards to its mechanics and its art style. However, it does bring several new features to the table. The double-jump is a little played out at this point, so I’m excited about the “grapple” mechanic that is featured in the trailer below. “Time-manipulation” also sounds interesting, and I’m sure it will afford some creative solutions to difficult puzzles.
From the trailer you may also see that this game has some 3D sections.Bloodstainedflirted with 3D perspective occasionally, but those inAeternoBlade IIlook a bit more involved. I’m actually reminded ofNier: Automataand the way that game effortlessly switched between 2D and 3D perspectives.AeternoBlade IImay not be as good asNier, but incorporating some 3D platforming here and there might be a neat touch.
There are three unique playable characters inAeternoBlade II.Freyja uses a sword in combat, Bernard a halberd, and Felix a whip blade. Each character has unique attacks and abilities, and it seems like you will have to use all of them in order to solve the game’s puzzles.
Yet another game I’m reminded of isBloody Spell.Bloody Spellhas received a lot of attention lately for being a janky-but-funDark Souls.AeternoBlade IIlooks like it might be a janky-but-funCastlevania. Maybe it’ll be even better. You’ll be able to try it out and decide for yourself soon enough.
AeternoBlade IIreleases for PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on July 13, 2025.
