Metroid Dread dev channels that Castlevania: Lords of Shadow energy in a new action game with "almost infinite" ways to build your own weapon
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission.
Developer MercurySteam is probably best known for its modernized takes on both halves of the word Metroidvania, from Castlevania: Lords of Shadow to Metroid Dread and Samus Returns. Today, the studio has unveiled its new project Blades of Fire, an original action game that seems to channel a fair bit of that dark fantasy Lords of Shadow energy.
Blades of Fire was just unveiled today ahead of a May 22, 2025 release date, which is something of a refreshingly brief marketing cycle. You play as Aran de Lira, a member of a knightly order who's out to stop the increasingly evil Queen Nerea. You're accompanied by a scribe named Adso, who seems to function as something of a human Navi, offering insights into how to defeat all the enemies you'll come across throughout the game.
The central hook here is that you'll be forging your own weapons here, built based on items called "Forge Scrolls" that you'll collect over the course of the game. The official site notes that there are seven different weapon families, more than 30 Forge Scrolls, and various materials to use, promising "almost infinite weapon combinations."
Each weapon you forge will have different characteristics in categories like "weight, length, durability, penetrations and edge quality," and I promise you I am trying avoid obvious jokes about that phrasing. You'll need to be particular about your weapon choices because each enemy will have its own weaknesses, and you might need to specifically slash, stab, or bludgeon foes to most effectively deal damage against them. You'll also be able to attack specific enemy body parts.
The trailer and few details we've seen so far don't give a great sense of how all these systems work together, but the combat looks up close, personal, and satisfyingly brutal in a way that's certainly got me interested. We won't have to wait long for Blades of Fire's release on PS5, Xbox Series X, and PC via the Epic Games Store.
Get your blood pumping with the best action games available today.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Android Authority
an hour ago
- Android Authority
One of the greatest platformers of all time is currently free on Android
TL;DR Limbo is currently free on both PC and Android via the Epic Games Store. The stylish 2010 title is considered one of the best platformers ever made. It will be free until June 5, but it remains in your account forever once claimed. Platforming games have long been one of the best suited to playing on phones, and if you act quickly, you can grab one of the best platformers of all time for keeps. The essential horror/puzzle/platform title Limbo is the latest free game on the Epic Games Store, and it's available on both PC and Android. In case you somehow missed Playdead's 2010 classic, Limbo is a stylish black and white platformer where you control a boy searching for his sister in a dangerous land. Many of the game's puzzles rely on trial and error, with the expectation that the player will frequently die and restart from the last checkpoint. Once claimed, the game will remain on your account forever. Each of those deaths is pretty gruesome. You'll be impaled by giant spiders, crushed in hydraulic presses, and smashed by bear traps as you make your way to the end of the game. Despite this, watching your character ragdoll due to the unique physics engine is actually a highlight. The game was released on Android over a decade ago, but the critically acclaimed 2016 sequel Inside has not. It was ported to iOS way back in 2017, but for whatever reason, it never received an Android release. Playdead's third game has been in development for more than eight years at this point, but there's still no news on a release date. Regardless, you can claim Limbo from the Epic Games Store for free until June 5, so don't miss out. Once claimed, it will remain on your account forever. On PC, you can grab both Limbo and Tiny Tina's Wonderland. Got a tip? Talk to us! Email our staff at Email our staff at news@ . You can stay anonymous or get credit for the info, it's your choice.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
NYT Strands today – my hints and answers for May 28 (#451)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, May 27 (game #450). Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. • Today's NYT Strands theme is… Top contenders Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. TILE THEN FILE SAIL WINE SHINE • Spangram has 12 letters First side: left, 3rd row Last side: bottom, 5th column Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM. The answers to today's Strands, game #451, are… WINNER CHAMP TITLEHOLDER VICTOR MEDALIST SPANGRAM: FINISH STRONG My rating: Easy My score: Perfect I got off to a great start today, finding the word DINNER – which immediately led to WINNER. From there it was a fairly straightforward race to victory. I was convinced TITLEHOLDER was going to be the spangram as I was tapping it out, but that went to the marginally longer FINISH STRONG, which I'm not entirely sure works. You can finish strong and be a loser if you didn't start well in a race, championship or game and equally if you finish badly but started well you can still be a CHAMP. The reality of becoming a MEDALIST is that the quality that a competitor or team needs the most is consistency, which is why serial winners are often compared to machines. Before that though, it's important to lose a lot and almost win things, otherwise people will compare you to a robot and no one wants to cheer for a robot. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. FARM GAMES ANIMAL TALE HUNGER HANDMAIDS SPANGRAM: DYSTOPIAN NOVEL Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
NYT Strands today – my hints and answers for May 29 (#452)
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Looking for a different day? A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Wednesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Wednesday, May 28 (game #451). Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints. Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game. SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers. • Today's NYT Strands theme is… It's a little buggy Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system. GIANT SPARE SPAM SALE FAST ANTICS • Spangram has 6 letters First side: left, 5th row Last side: right, 4th row Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM. The answers to today's Strands, game #452, are… BUTTERFLY MOTH WASP FLEA HORNET DRAGONFLY SPANGAM: INSECT My rating: Easy My score: Perfect After getting BUTTERFLY, MOTH and WASP in succession, I thought we were looking for a spangram describing flying minibeasts. Instead it was the much more straightforward INSECT A six-letter spangram is very off-brand for Strands these days, but this game's ability to keep players guessing is impressive. That said, this was one of our easier days. I know many people like them, but the sight of a DRAGONFLY freaks me out a bit as I've got an irrational fear that they're going to fly in my mouth. So, whenever I see one I clamp my mouth shut. I guess I'm the freak, not them. That said, they do breathe out of their rectums, so there is that too. I don't want something that breathes out its rectum in my mouth, thanks. How did you do today? Let me know in the comments below. WINNER CHAMP TITLEHOLDER VICTOR MEDALIST SPANGRAM: FINISH STRONG Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile. I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.
