Released in 2019, Blasphemous presents a Metroidvania experience leaning more toward the Castlevania side, with hand-drawn pixel art, a Gothic world, and high-difficulty exploration. Rather than striving for a balanced fusion of both traditional genres, this title chooses to push brutal combat, character building, and gloomy narrative into more prominent positions.
Blasphemous was developed by The Game Kitchen and published by Team17. The game is set in Cvstodia, a land of suffering cursed by "The Miracle," teeming with grim creatures and religious imagery with body horror elements. All visuals are meticulously crafted using handmade 2D sprites, allowing bloody executions and grotesque enemies to maintain a distinct artistic style amidst their exaggeration.
The game features a non-linear map design, allowing players to discover new areas on their own rather than following a single path. Traps within the environment also pose major challenges, as mistakes often lead directly to death. When the character falls, their maximum health is reduced, requiring the player to return to the location of their death and restore their status through prayer.
In combat, players primarily wield the "Sword of Penitence," unlocking new combos and abilities through upgrades, and using movement techniques, prayers, and executions to deal with enemies. Rosary Beads and Relics can be equipped in limited slots to provide various passive bonuses; when facing punishing bosses, both equipment combinations and operational proficiency are crucial.
These systems bring Blasphemous closer to the Castlevania: Symphony of the Night approach, which emphasizes character growth and equipment builds, while also incorporating Metroid-style ability unlocks and map exploration. The fluidity of its combat and adjustable build options also reflect modern genre design principles exemplified by Hollow Knight.
The sequel, Blasphemous 2, was released in 2023, adding new weapons to the foundation of the first game and offering more combat styles and greater exploration space. Castlevania: Curse of Belmont, scheduled for release in 2026, also focuses on shaping a Gothic world, though its level of darkness and gore differs from that of the Blasphemous series.
The extent of Blasphemous's influence on later works remains debatable, but its hand-drawn art, strong religious imagery, challenging levels, and character building collectively demonstrate that the Metroidvania tradition can continue to evolve in a darker direction.