Solateria is a brand-new, hand-drawn Metroidvania aiming for a March 12 release on Steam. A future Nintendo Switch launch is also in the works.
Heavily focused on parrying mechanics, hand-drawn Metroidvania Solateria is set to launch on March 12 for Steam. Developer Studio Doodal and publisher SHINSEGAE I&C have worked on this experience since 2024, aiming for a difficult yet balanced approach to combat and exploration. Evoking a mix of Ori and the Will of the Wisps due to its whimsical look and Hollow Knight thanks to its desolate environment, the goal is to eventually launch on the Nintendo Switch too.
Players will take on the role of Tott, a small fire warrior who’s journeying to find the Primordial Flame, the world’s last hope against the Shadow Plague. Having personally recently played the demo, now available, I can definitely attest to the clean feeling of its well-timed parry. Enemies do not attack at an impossibly fast pace, and once the deflecting movement connects, the whole world slows down for the main character to inflict major damage. Plenty of challenging boss fights are to be expected in this journey.
Solateria’s gorgeous illustrations can be easily appreciated, with Studio Doodal’s devs stating, “With Solateria, we build upon the hand-drawn style established in LAPIN to portray an even more beautiful and richly varied world. We also put significant effort into the technical aspects. We actively utilized Unity’s URP and post-processing technology to enhance the completeness of each biome.” As backtracking and curiosity are fundamental to the genre, the visual aspect aims to ease potential players into its imaginative world.
Having formerly worked on LAPIN, another 2D game with a stunning 2D art style, the studio hopes to build on its previous precision platforming knowledge to deliver a Metroidvania that will deliver a deeply engaging experience.
Solateria will release on March 12, 2026, on Steam, with a Nintendo Switch port in the works.
