Drinkbox Studios, the acclaimed indie team behind hits like Guacamelee!, Severed, and Nobody Saves the World, has officially revealed its next major project: Blighted. Announced during Summer Game Fest 2025, the game received an in-depth spotlight during Day of the Devs: SGF Edition, where Lead Designer Ian Campbell and Art Director Augusto 'Cuxo' Quijano offered fans their first look at the game’s unique mechanics and vivid nightmare-inspired world. Check out the reveal trailer down below:
Set to release in 2026 for PC and consoles, Blighted is a Metroidvania Action-RPG that blends a psychedelic western aesthetic with brutal, fast-paced combat and a world warped by supernatural infection. Players step into the boots of a lone survivor in a ruined land, battling to reclaim the lost memories of their people and to resist being overtaken by the deadly “Blight” themselves.
The story is steeped in surreal mythology. In this world, the dead were once honored with brain-seeded trees that bore fruit containing their memories and preserving knowledge through generations. That tradition shattered when a figure known as Sorcisto corrupted the ritual by consuming brains directly, destroying the memory forest and spreading a toxic blight across the land.
Now, players must journey through a constantly evolving world warped by the Blight, unlocking secrets, devouring memories, and challenging fate itself.
Key Features:
- Psychedelic Western Setting: Traverse a vivid, nightmarish world teeming with infected wildlife, shifting biomes, and cryptic ruins.
- Combat Depth: Engage in tight, deliberate battles with timing-based combos, finisher moves, and evolving enemy threats.
- Dynamic Difficulty: The “Blight” you harness alters gameplay in real time—changing enemies, environments, and your own stats.
- Consume Memories: Defeat bosses and consume their brains to unlock new skills and branching paths.
- Exploration & Secrets: A world full of hidden lore, unlockables, and surprises for players who pay attention.
- Drop-In Co-Op: Play solo or team up with a friend through seamless drop-in/drop-out multiplayer.
- Original Score by Jim Guthrie: The eerie and atmospheric soundtrack comes from the renowned composer of Sword & Sworcery, BELOW, and Nobody Saves the World.
"Blighted is our largest and most ambitious game to date," said Graham Smith, co-founder of Drinkbox Studios. "We’ve built on everything we learned from our past games while pushing into new and twisted territory."
Blighted marks a bold new chapter for Drinkbox Studios blending haunting art direction, responsive action, and surreal storytelling into what may be one of the most distinct indie RPGs on the horizon. Expect more updates as the team approaches its 2026 release.
What are your thoughts on the reveal and trailer? Does the game look interesting enough for you to pick up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section down below!
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