Sundered
Sundered is a horrifying fight for survival and sanity, a hand-drawn epic from the creators of Jotun. You play Eshe, a wanderer in a ruined world, trapped in ever-changing caverns teeming with eldritch horrors. Harness the power of corrupted relics to defeat gigantic bosses, at the cost of your humanity.
What it feels like
The atmosphere builds slow-mounting anticipatory fear of the eldritch horrors and the corrupting cost of power, not immediate menace. A crushing, suffocating heaviness pervades the ever-changing caverns and the weight of embracing corruption. Eshe is a lone wanderer trapped in ever-changing caverns, with pervasive solitude reinforced by the claustrophobic setting.
What it's about
Eldritch horrors and the dread of ancient incomprehensible powers are the central subject matter and setting. The primary aim is to frighten and disturb with grotesque eldritch imagery and oppressive atmosphere. The central choice to resist or embrace corruption poses questions of self-definition and the cost to one's humanity.
How it plays
Jumping and navigating the cavern geometry is a core challenge alongside the metroidvania structure. Combat against gigantic bosses with melee action against many enemies in a fast-paced style. Deep melee combat against stylish boss encounters rewards execution and positioning.
How it looks and sounds
Hand-drawn animation and illustrated 2D art is a defining visual signature of the game, explicitly emphasized by creator and community. Eldritch horrors and body horror imagery drive the visual language of the enemies and world design.
How it's structured
A hand-drawn metroidvania is the explicit genre and core structure, with ability-gated progression through corrupted relics unlocking traversal. Corrupted relics serve as traversal and key abilities that gate progress through the metroidvania structure. Local co-op is explicitly available, allowing shared-screen cooperative play through the metroidvania.
Kindred games
Shares Dread, Cosmic Horror, Metroidvania, Oppressive.
Both lean into Dread, Cosmic Horror, Metroidvania, Oppressive.
Shares Hand-Drawn 2D, Metroidvania, Platforming, Hack-and-Slash.
Both lean into Hand-Drawn 2D, Metroidvania, Platforming, Hack-and-Slash.
Shares Metroidvania, Platforming, Oppressive, Dread.
Both lean into Metroidvania, Oppressive, Platforming, Horror.
Closest hidden gems
A lesser-known kindred — Dread, Cosmic Horror, Oppressive, Lonely. 86% positive across 4,772 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Dread, Cosmic Horror, Oppressive, Lonely.
A lesser-known kindred — Platforming, Hand-Drawn 2D, Dread, Hack-and-Slash. 94% positive across 4,416 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Platforming, Hand-Drawn 2D, Dread, Hack-and-Slash.
A lesser-known kindred — Metroidvania, Platforming, Identity & Self, Character Action. 86% positive across 4,974 Steam reviews.
Both lean into Metroidvania, Platforming, Identity & Self, Character Action.