Moonscars is a 2D hack-and-slash Metroidvania developed by Black Mermaid and published by Humble Games, released on September 27, 2022 for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One and Xbox Series X and Series S. The game follows Grey Irma, a clayborn warrior who rises again and again in a world soaked in moonlight and blood, seeking the Sculptor who made her and the truth of what she is becoming. Beneath the gloom it keeps the genre’s familiar bones: a map that unfolds as new abilities open old paths, punishing close-quarters combat, and death that is never quite the end.

The game is the first from Black Mermaid and the opening work of the Moonscars series. It is best known for its grim, painterly look and its unsettling sound, and for a combat loop that asks for patience as much as aggression. Players who favor atmosphere over comfort will find much to chew on; those who come for a gentle ride should look elsewhere.