Skautfold: Moonless Knight is a semi-open world game sent to me by Red Art Games. I find myself having a hard time truly describing this one. I feel like Soul Like gets tossed around far too easily these days, but I feel like not using the term also would be dishonest. With a system that relies heavily on your ability to guard and dodge, and will both punish and reward you for doing so. I would almost say the game may be unbeatable if you can’t manage these systems well.

The story, however, is still the main selling point here. You play as Gray, a 2nd Knight from Brittania. You are sent to aid in a negotiation in Japan that quickly goes badly when a cult that is well known to both sides decides now is the time to kill the Emperor. Your mission quickly becomes to aid the Dawn Empire in freeing the castle from the clutches of this evil cult and the magic they have trapped you all in.

Now, if you are looking for something new from this Metroidvania, you won’t really find it here. The combat, story, and graphics are all things we have seen in some capacity before, if I am being truly honest here. How many times have most of us shot a zombie or killed a Nazi in WW2, however? These things exist because they are fun and they work or challenge us. That is where Skautfolt: Moonless Knight shines. It takes all these things and puts them into a tight package you can enjoy at a nice $15 price point.

While the game will feel unfair to many in terms of difficulty, for those who enjoy a challenge, it offers a story worth seeing. It is a 7/10 title that could use a few tweaks, but is well worth the price asked. Best wishes, and may the gaming gods bring you glory.