**Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse Announced During November 2025 State of Play Japan**
The upcoming 2D roguelike metroidvania, *Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse*, was officially announced during the November 2025 State of Play Japan event. Published by Pocketpair Publishing—the publishing arm of Palworld’s developer—this game promises visually stunning 2D environments, four-player online co-op, and a unique mechanic reminiscent of *Super Mario Odyssey*, where players can use their hat to possess certain enemies.
Yasuomi Sakai, who serves as the producer, director, level designer, and programmer, appeared during the showcase to share more insights about the game. Sakai emphasized the game’s numerous “pretty difficult to beat” bosses. These bosses are designed to be attempted multiple times and require mastery to conquer, adding a significant challenge for players.
If you’re getting *Hollow Knight* vibes from this 2D metroidvania with multiple challenging bosses, you’re not alone. However, *Never Grave* sets itself apart from Team Cherry’s indie darling in several key ways. According to its description on the PlayStation Blog, the game places a stronger emphasis on its roguelike elements over the metroidvania ones. The core gameplay centers around persistence, encouraging players to try repeatedly to overcome challenges.
While it’s not yet clear if the map will change between runs, players can expect multiple dungeons. Additionally, stat upgrades, weapons, and other equipment will be randomized with each playthrough. The game features a skill tree that resets between runs, ensuring that no two builds are the same.
Designed with both solo play and online four-player co-op in mind, *Never Grave* aims to deliver a balanced experience. Players can explore the world, battle bosses, and build their village alongside friends. The village-building aspect is particularly intriguing, though only minimal details were shared during the trailer and on the blog. Players can be seen placing buildings, farming, cooking, and sharing meals with creatures they have captured.
*Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse* is set to launch on March 5, 2026, for PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, and PC. It is also confirmed to be “coming soon” to Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, and Xbox One. Stay tuned for more updates as the release date approaches!
https://www.gamesradar.com/games/roguelike/this-stunning-2d-roguelike-with-hollow-knight-vibes-is-the-latest-indie-being-published-by-palworld-developers-publishing-arm-and-it-even-includes-4-player-online-co-op/
