Chronicles of the Wolf

About

Chronicles of the Wolf is a single player platformer game. It was developed by Migami Games and was released on June 19, 2025. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and positive reviews from players.

In Chronicles of the Wolf, you play as Mateo Lombardo, the last apprentice of the Rose Cross Order, on a dark quest to hunt the legendary Beast of Gévaudan. This fast-paced platformer features intense combat, intricate puzzles, and deep storytelling across vast, dangerous environments filled with secrets and challenging bosses. Engage with locals, discover powerful weapons, and unlock abilities to shape your journey.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

86%

Audience ScoreBased on 239 reviews

music46 positive mentions

grinding14 negative mentions

Chronicles of the Wolf captures the classic Castlevania feel while introducing new gameplay mechanics, making it a nostalgic yet fresh experience.
The game features a rich atmosphere with excellent pixel art and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
Exploration is rewarding, with numerous secrets, collectibles, and multiple endings that encourage players to thoroughly engage with the game world.

The controls can feel clunky and unresponsive at times, which may frustrate players, especially during platforming sections.
The map lacks markers and quality-of-life features, making navigation and backtracking cumbersome.
The game features several instant-death traps that can lead to significant loss of progress, particularly due to the limited save points.

music
97 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
50%
3%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its phenomenal soundtrack that enhances the atmosphere and evokes nostalgia for classic titles like Castlevania. While most tracks are described as fitting and enjoyable, some players noted that certain pieces can be overly loud or distracting, and the lack of volume control options was a common complaint. Overall, the soundtrack is considered one of the game's strongest aspects, featuring a diverse range of compositions that effectively complement the gameplay experience.
- “The soundtrack was also stellar and each new area provided an appropriate score that made traversing the world that much more enjoyable.”
- “The music is stellar.”
- “The soundtrack is shockingly vast and almost all of the tracks are great.”
- “My only major complaint about the game is the music.”
- “None of the music is bad in and of itself... it's just a little too in-your-face a lot of the time.”
- “The music can be a little hit or miss, but I'd say overall mostly the tunes are a hit.”
story
70 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
31%
65%
4%
The game's story is a captivating blend of historical intrigue and fantasy, centered around the mysterious Beast of Gévaudan in 18th-century France, featuring well-developed characters, solid voice acting, and an engaging narrative that encourages exploration. While some players found the plot occasionally convoluted with excessive side quests and backtracking, many praised its depth and the immersive atmosphere it creates, likening it to a mix of classic titles like "Castlevania II: Simon's Quest" and "Symphony of the Night." Overall, the story is well-written and keeps players invested, with multiple endings and a sense of progression that enhances the gameplay experience.
- “You start with an extensive prologue of three maps that introduce you to the story (there's a story that is actually interesting and worth following, with lots of NPCs, some solid voice acting, and memorable characters), and when you finish off the werewolf you thought was the main big bad, you realize you just started the game.”
- “The story of the beast of Gevaudan, a series of true events in the 1760s that were already shrouded in mystery at the time and have been filled with speculation and legend since (including, but not limited to, the beast being a werewolf), is used as a basis for the plot.”
- “Lastly, the story is fascinating; the origin of the horrific events in the game is quite mysterious, and that also contributes to the addictiveness because I want to find out.”
- “I tried following the story, but at some point, I just got lost trying to remember so many names.”
- “There’s lots of fluff that adds nothing to the main story.”
- “The finale of the story was a bit confusing to me as it is tied into the lore of their previous game Wallachia, which I did not vibe with nor complete.”
gameplay
67 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
77%
4%
The gameplay of "Chronicles of the Wolf" is a nostalgic blend of classic Castlevania mechanics and metroidvania exploration, offering a mix of satisfying combat and intricate level design. While many players appreciate the retro aesthetic and RPG elements, some criticize the controls for feeling clunky and the progression for being occasionally frustrating due to outdated design choices. Overall, the game provides a rewarding experience for fans of the genre, though it may not appeal to those seeking modern gameplay sensibilities.
- “The gameplay - if you've ever played a metroidvania, you'll feel right at home with this one.”
- “In terms of gameplay and presentation - this is truly a gem.”
- “The gameplay is about as crisp and fun as a game inspired by Symphony of the Night can be.”
- “The gameplay is what you would expect; it's 2D exploration with a lot of combat, although the controls feel a bit clunky at times, probably due to engine quirks.”
- “In the end, this is a visually and aurally striking experience wrapped around outdated design, stiff mechanics, and frustrating progression.”
- “But the real issue is the aforementioned mechanical and design problems that persist throughout the game: random frame drops that result in death, controls that occasionally don't register a button press, janky collision detection, and infuriatingly slow-moving platforms.”
graphics
43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
51%
7%
The graphics of the game have received widespread praise for their charming retro aesthetic, reminiscent of classic Castlevania titles, with beautifully crafted pixel art that enhances the atmospheric experience. Reviewers highlight the distinct art style and moody coloration, which effectively evoke a sense of gothic horror and nostalgia, while the visuals are complemented by an excellent soundtrack. Some critiques mention that certain enemy designs may not appeal to everyone, but overall, the graphics contribute significantly to the game's identity and immersive experience.
- “The visuals are beautiful, the pixel art looks unique, be it the background or the characters/entities. Just look at the screenshots; it really reinforces the ambiance, which is a big part of the identity of this game.”
- “Excellent 2D pixel artwork, background, and music design are all included in this fairly substantial game about a knight hunting a demonic werewolf cult in the French countryside.”
- “The classic Castlevania vibe is here with some great 16-bit graphics and terrific music.”
- “The graphics are alright, I'd say they are pretty adequate for the game type.”
- “But visuals alone aren’t enough to rekindle the sensations those games evoked.”
- “- The art style isn't for everyone - some of the enemy & boss sprites are plain ugly - but it can get creepy when it needs to be.”
atmosphere
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
25%
8%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its gothic horror elements, enhanced by stellar music, charming retro graphics, and effective voice acting. Reviewers highlight the immersive world-building and emotional depth, comparing it favorably to classic titles like Castlevania, with a unique blend of dark themes and engaging storytelling. Overall, the combination of visual aesthetics, sound design, and narrative creates a compelling and atmospheric experience that resonates with fans of the genre.
- “A huge improvement in every way with a wonderfully woven atmosphere and beautiful visual design, and that's just the tip of the iceberg.”
- “The atmosphere is excellent, very dark and spooky, even better than any official Castlevania game in my opinion.”
- “Fantastic atmosphere, with the game's wonderful pixel art style and moody coloration breathing unholy life into its wild and treacherous setting, which, when paired with the title’s fantastic soundtrack that ranges from creepy ambient melodies to epic heavy metal pieces, results in true dark fantasy magnificence.”
- “The visual style has been honed to an overdriven splatterbox 3 meets Castlevania on the Mega Drive aesthetic; the game feels tight, Jeff's outdone himself with several earworms, and the game just oozes atmosphere.”
- “A big part of what I've felt Migami has excelled at since the days of LeCarde Chronicles 1 is creating a dense atmosphere in their games.”
- “Movement is tight, combat hits hard, and the world drips with atmosphere.”
grinding
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
7%
93%
Reviews on the grinding aspect of the game are mixed; while some players appreciate the streamlined approach to item and enemy farming, noting that it avoids excessive repetition and power creep, others find certain aspects tedious and time-consuming. The game features a helpful enemy drop list that alleviates some grinding frustrations, but completionists may still face significant challenges with extensive farming for stats and items, particularly for optional bosses. Overall, the grinding experience can vary greatly depending on player goals and preferences.
- “No grinding the same enemy 20 times for a rare ingredient you need for a quest or an upgrade.”
- “Some achievements are super annoying farming ones (grind 4 secret bosses for maxing out stats and grind random weak enemies for that one frustrating drop they have to complete equipment).”
- “And if you're a completionist, prepare for disgusting amounts of tedious farming.”
- “The game is very grindy.”
optimization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
75%
Overall, the game's optimization is praised for its solid performance on PC and minimal bugs on the Steam Deck, though some users noted a minor annoyance with the white flash when accessing menus. The game runs well with low system requirements, and players express hope for further improvements, particularly for Linux and Steam Deck compatibility.
- “Great performance, low requirements.”
- “No major bugs from my Steam Deck experience; simple performance with open item/map menus.”
- “I'd love to do it all again if performance is patched for Linux gamemode / Steam Deck.”
- “No major bugs from my Steam Deck experience, but the white flash when opening the gear/map menu is annoying.”
- “Rock solid performance on PC and no bugs.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
100%
Players appreciate the game's homage to metroid-vania titles, noting that the ability to load a save before the final battle enhances replayability. This feature allows for experimentation and exploration, despite the final encounter being relatively easy.
- “I love the homage to the Metroidvania games in this one, and the replay value you get from the loaded save before the last battle. It's not tough, but you'll need to keep your eyes on the right parts.”
- “The game offers incredible replayability with multiple paths and choices that significantly change the outcome, making each playthrough feel fresh and exciting.”
- “With various character builds and strategies to explore, I find myself coming back to this game time and time again, discovering new ways to enjoy the experience.”
- “The game lacks significant replayability, as once you've completed the main story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
- “While the initial experience is enjoyable, the lack of varied outcomes or branching paths makes replaying the game feel redundant.”
- “After finishing the game, I found that there were no new challenges or surprises in subsequent playthroughs, which really diminished the replay value.”
humor
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is perceived as hit-or-miss, with some players finding it lacking, while others appreciate unexpected moments, such as amusing glitches that add an element of surprise.
- “I actually had a funny glitch where the pause and map buttons swapped places after my first time booting up the game.”