Gravethorn

About

Gravethorn is a single player role playing game with fantasy, drama, dark fantasy and violence themes. It was developed by Volviir and was released on February 3, 2026. It received overwhelmingly positive reviews from players.

An ancient curse has spread its malignant thorns across every living soul, shattering the fragile balance between hope and despair. Awaken as the Inquisitor—a solitary wanderer marked by the roots—and step into a realm where the echoes of forgotten legends merge with the relentless grip of darkness. Embark on an epic journey through a non-linear world where decaying temples, spectral forests, and…

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96%

Audience ScoreBased on 25 reviews

story8 positive mentions

music3 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging Soulsvania-style combat with smooth, responsive controls and fluid movement.
Deep customization through various trinkets, sigils, forbidden arts, and mutations allowing diverse build options.
Excellent map system that automatically notes important locations and quests, improving navigation and exploration.

Some bugs and technical issues, including occasional freezes, camera problems, and enemies clipping or disappearing.
Limited moveset and weapon variety leading to repetitive combat and sometimes frustrating boss fights with spongey health.
Certain game design choices (e.g., parry timing in close combat, delayed or unused abilities, fast travel costs) can negatively affect gameplay flow.

story
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
50%
14%
The story is generally praised for its engaging and mysterious narrative, with meaningful player decisions and multiple endings enhancing replayability. While some find it cryptic or "meh," many appreciate its dark, atmospheric tone reminiscent of Bloodborne, supported by intriguing side quests and unique story elements that gradually unfold. Overall, the story effectively motivates progression and adds depth to the gameplay experience.
- “Your decisions matter in the story and that's all I will say.”
- “There are also many unique story elements in the game that are quite hard to discover, but once found they add a very different atmosphere to the experience.”
- “For now I like how the story progresses, I like the story elements which are not exposed and so obvious but mysterious.”
- “The story is meh.”
- “☐ no story”
- “The map is basic and doesn't mark collectables or give you markers, but it does mark any important main quest/story related areas and is easy to read and navigate, so you're unlikely to get stuck when trying to at least complete the game.”
gameplay
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
42%
The gameplay is engaging and addictive, featuring enjoyable boss fights that are easy to learn but still challenging. It introduces mechanics steadily, offers responsive controls, and encourages strategic decisions, drawing favorable comparisons to similar well-known games. Overall, the gameplay is well-designed, varied, and keeps players invested for extended periods.
- “The bosses are fun to fight, and their moves are often easy to memorize, so you'll have them beat after a few tries. Nonetheless, the game is engaging and tempting enough to keep you playing - I played for 5 hours straight after purchase, which speaks to the game's fun and addicting gameplay.”
- “The game does a good job of introducing mechanics to you at a steady pace, and bosses will test you in different ways.”
- “Gameplay has been responsive and is fun and comfortable to get used to.”
music
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
25%
75%
The music is generally considered fun but lacks personality and can feel boring, partly due to the use of AI-generated elements. While some titles are noted, the overall impression is that the soundtrack does not stand out or engage strongly.
- “I also didn't mention the fact that the developer used AI for voice acting and music.”
- “The music, whenever you do hear it, feels boring.”
- “There's no personality to the music at all.”
graphics
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The graphics are praised for their dark, gritty aesthetic reminiscent of Bloodborne and Souls-like games, effectively enhancing the game's atmospheric storytelling within a 2D metroidvania style.
- “I bought the game after I read the reviews and was intrigued by the visuals and setting.”
- “Would recommend if you’re into the dark aesthetic of Bloodborne and Souls-likes embodied in a 2D Metroidvania styled game with a great story!”
- “It's an indie platformer; the grittiness adds to the dark storytelling.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The game's atmosphere is consistently grim and dark across most levels, creating a somber tone. However, hidden unique story elements, once discovered, introduce a distinct and enriching variation to the overall experience.
- “There are also many unique story elements in the game that are quite hard to discover, but once found they add a very different atmosphere to the experience.”
- “The atmosphere feels the same in almost every level.”
- “Atmosphere is really grim and dark.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
Grinding is minimal and streamlined, with no stamina restrictions or traditional gear progression, preventing players from overpowering challenges through upgrades alone. This design encourages skill over repetitive stat grinding.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is generally impressive, offering performance that exceeds expectations for its price, though users hope for further fixes and improvements in future updates.
- “Overall, it delivers a performance above expectations for its price”
- “Would love to see more fixes and optimization in the future.”
character development
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The character development is visually appealing, featuring well-designed pixel art and backgrounds, though it lacks the detailed close-up artwork seen in some other games like Blasphemous.
replayability
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find the game's replayability engaging and entertaining, highlighting its ability to provide enjoyable experiences across multiple playthroughs.