Curse of the Sea Rats, from Petoons Studio, is a 'Ratoidvania' role-playing platformer where four cursed prisoners explore an 18th-century Irish coast to reclaim human forms. The game combines Metroidvania non-linear exploration with RPG-style progression, branching skill trees, and boss fights, and it supports solo play and four-player local co-op. It showcases frame-by-frame hand-drawn character animation and aims at players who enjoy cooperative exploration and animated visual style on Nintendo Switch.

What kind of game is this Ratoidvania?

In this game, you guide four prisoners turned into rats across a non-linear map of the Irish coast, pursuing the pirate witch Flora Burn while facing platform challenges and bosses. The core loop blends classic Metroidvania exploration with action-platform combat and targeted boss encounters. Exploration, backtracking, and unlocking new routes are central, and the narrative premise supplies motive for revisiting cleared areas with new abilities.

How does local co-op shape the experience?

Here, local co-op supports up to four players simultaneously, each taking one of the distinct characters named in the cast. The title also permits solo play with character switching at designated rest points, so the same systems serve both single-player and shared sessions. The cast’s differing combat styles encourage varied team compositions and tactical choices when players coordinate in tight platform or boss encounters.

What does the game look and sound like?

Inside the coastal world, character work uses frame-by-frame hand-drawn 2D animation presented alongside detailed 3D environments, a combination the developer cites as inspired by classic animated films. That production approach places emphasis on expressive character motion and animated sequences. Information about sound design is limited in the materials, so visual craft is the clearest, verifiable strength of the presentation.

How steep is the learning curve and progression?

When you begin, progression relies on branching skill trees and a currency called 'spiritual energy' to unlock abilities, stat improvements, and special moves. Characters gain distinct unlockables that support different combat approaches, so experimentation with builds affects survivability and access to new areas. The system rewards players who test combinations, and progression choices directly influence how exploration and combat unfold.

Who should try this title and what to expect

User reception is generally positive to mixed: critics and players repeatedly praise the hand-drawn animation and the novelty of four-player local co-op, while reports cite long loading times and balance concerns in combat and progression. The game suits players who accept technical rough edges in exchange for multiplayer sessions and animated visuals; those seeking tightly tuned solo Metroidvania runs may encounter frustrations.