Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse, developed by Frontside 180, casts the player as a cursed hat tasked with restoring a ruined settlement and lifting a malediction. The game pairs Metroidvania exploration with Roguelite, run-based dungeons, a possession-driven combat loop, and permanent upgrades tied to base rebuilding. It highlights hand-drawn 2D animation, procedurally generated levels, and four-player online cooperation. Fans of challenging 2D action who value repeated runs and cooperative sessions are the primary audience.

What kind of game is Never Grave?

You begin the story as an animate hat in a damaged world, so narrative consequence sits before the mechanics and shapes your goals. The title blends Metroidvania-style ability gating with Roguelite, run-based dungeons that reshuffle layouts each attempt. Progress feels dual-layered: short-term runs carry risk, while village restoration and a skill tree provide persistent character growth that rewards repeated play.

How does possession affect combat and choice?

Piloting enemy bodies changes your options mid-run, so encounters become decisions about which form best fits the moment. The cursed hat unlocks enemy-specific moves, enabling puzzle solutions and tactical counters to boss patterns. Combat prioritizes situational thinking: selecting a body and complementary spells influences your survival more than rote repetition, encouraging experimentation with different combinations during a single session.

Does the game support four-player cooperative play?

Yes, online sessions allow up to four players to explore procedural dungeons and face large bosses together. Shared possession mechanics and overlapping abilities make team roles meaningful, so coordination alters both exploration and boss strategy. Co-op changes pacing, converting solitary runs into coordinated encounters where timing, role choice, and group synergy determine whether a party clears a zone or retreats.

What does the game look like?

The project presents a distinct visual identity through traditional Japanese hand-drawn 2D animation and richly painted backgrounds, which help set a dark fantasy tone. Artwork supports readability, making biomes legible even when layouts vary. Silhouettes and painted sets help you identify enemies and hazards quickly.

• character silhouettes suited to fast possession swaps
• detailed background painting that frames exploration

What keeps you coming back after the first session?

The loop ties risky, short runs to gradual base improvement, so earned materials fund village rebuilding and a skill tree that persist between attempts. That structure yields a steady sense of advancement even after failures. Replay drivers include:

• procedural dungeons that change layouts each playthrough
• permanent upgrades unlocked via collected materials

Early access reception praised fluid combat and the possession twist, which helped sustain repeated attempts.

A rewarding but patient action experience

Never Grave fits players who prefer deliberate pacing and adaptive challenge across multiple sessions, rewarding experimentation and persistence. Expect satisfying moments when your choices align, but accept that steady returns require repeated runs and attentive play. The late-stage resource loop may tire some players. Ultimately, the game favors action fans willing to invest time and tolerate a steady, methodical progression rhythm.