Skelethrone: The Prey

About

In "Skelethrone: The Prey," embark on a Metroidvania-style adventure inspired by Castlevania and Dark Souls, complete with challenging boss battles and exploration of a vast, hand-crafted world. Your choices shape the story as you unlock upgrades and confront bloodthirsty monsters in this epic journey through the Dark Ages.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 228 reviews

graphics14 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Engaging combat mechanics with a variety of weapons and challenging bosses that require unique strategies.
Stunning art style and atmospheric sound design that enhance the dark fantasy experience.
The demo serves as a promising introduction to the full game, offering a free way to experience its Metroidvania and Souls-like elements.

Clunky controls and unresponsive mechanics that hinder the overall gameplay experience.
Repetitive music and minor bugs detract from the immersion and polish of the game.
Some players find the level design and hitboxes frustrating, leading to a trial-and-error gameplay experience that feels unfair.

graphics
30 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
47%
43%
10%
The graphics of Skelethrone have received mixed reviews, with many praising its unique and grim 2D pixel art style that evokes a dark fantasy atmosphere reminiscent of other metroidvania and souls-like games. However, some players noted issues with animation quality and a lack of detail, suggesting that while the art style is captivating, it could benefit from further refinement in the full release. Overall, the visuals are seen as a strong point, though not without their flaws.
- “Stunning well-crafted 2D pixel art style, a cool dark story with great eerie music, and is a brilliant metroidvania with souls-like elements.”
- “Skelethrone: The Prey is a captivating dark fantasy metroidvania demo that surprised me with its engaging gameplay and stunning art style.”
- “Despite not being a huge fan of the genre, I found myself drawn in by the game's grimy yet clear visuals and intrigued by the exploration and level design.”
- “The only fault I could really find was that the graphics are kind of ugly; everything else works fine.”
- “Graphics look similar to other gritty metroidvania/souls-like games (e.g. Blasphemous, Moonscars, etc.), could do with a bit more definition and detail.”
- “The only saving grace that I can mention is the art style, very grim and unique, but completely ruined when animated.”
gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
54%
13%
The gameplay features engaging combat mechanics with a diverse array of weapons, allowing for personalized combat styles, but is marred by clunky controls and frustrating wall climbing mechanics. While some players appreciate the smoothness and challenge reminiscent of Dark Souls, others find the overall experience lacking due to unresponsive controls and a sense of emptiness in the game world. Despite its captivating art style, the gameplay has received mixed reviews, with some praising its retro feel and others criticizing specific mechanics like dodging and parrying.
- “Skelethrone: The Prey is a captivating dark fantasy metroidvania demo that surprised me with its engaging gameplay and stunning art style.”
- “Nice game, the gameplay is smooth and it gives you a challenge with its Dark Souls-like style.”
- “Has a very cool retro feel with beautiful graphics and easy gameplay.”
- “Clunky controls: some players have reported that the controls feel a bit clunky and unresponsive, which can hinder the overall gameplay experience.”
- “Seems like it could be a good game, but it feels empty at times. The wall climbing mechanics are really poor when you have to climb vertically, and the highlighting of the character makes him feel like he is straight out of MS Paint.”
- “The worst dodge mechanics.”
music
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
30%
55%
15%
The music in the game is generally praised for its atmospheric quality and ability to enhance the dark, immersive experience, particularly during boss encounters. However, some players find it repetitive over time, which can detract from the overall immersion. While the soundtrack complements the game's art and story well, there are mixed opinions on its consistency, with some considering it less effective outside of specific moments.
- “Atmospheric art and sound design: the hand-crafted levels and environments, combined with fitting soundtracks, create an immersive experience that enhances the game's dark and foreboding atmosphere.”
- “Stunning well-crafted 2D pixel art style, a cool dark story with great eerie music, and is a brilliant metroidvania with souls-like elements.”
- “Same goes for music, especially during bosses; it just felt appropriate, like it belongs to this game's world.”
- “Repetitive music: while the music is praised for its quality, it can become repetitive over time, potentially diminishing the immersive experience.”
- “Music was a bit samey, but fit with the dreary tone set in this release.”
- “The music should probably fade a bit in the game menu so it doesn’t feel like the action is still going on in the pause screens when it isn’t.”
story
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
25%
25%
The game's story is praised for its excellent storytelling and dark, engaging narrative, complemented by stunning 2D pixel art and eerie music. While the current plot and style are appealing, there are concerns about the need for a more serious approach to the narrative in the full release, especially given the weight that soulslike games carry in their storytelling. Overall, the combination of a compelling story and artistic presentation makes it a standout in the metroidvania genre.
- “Excellent storytelling too.”
- “Stunning well-crafted 2D pixel art style, a cool dark story with great eerie music, and is a brilliant Metroidvania with Souls-like elements.”
- “I don't think that they'll hire a writer for the full release, but I pray that they go about the story more seriously there, as Soulslikes carry a lot of weight on their narratives.”
- “I don't think that they'll hire a writer for the full release, but I pray that they approach the story more seriously, as soulslikes carry a lot of weight on their narratives.”
- “The story I read, the graphics I saw in the trailer, and the fact that it was made with pixel art left me disappointed.”
- “It would have been awesome to have some no-hit boss related achievements in the main game as well, as that is what drew me back to experience the prequel story and face a few more bosses.”
atmosphere
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The atmosphere of "Skelethrone: The Prey" is highly praised for its immersive art and sound design, featuring hand-crafted levels and fitting soundtracks that create a dark and foreboding environment. Reviewers note that it successfully reimagines the essence of Dark Souls in a two-dimensional format, offering a unique blend of challenging gameplay and atmospheric depth. Overall, the game's atmosphere is considered excellent and a key highlight.
- “Atmospheric art and sound design: the hand-crafted levels and environments, combined with fitting soundtracks, create an immersive experience that enhances the game's dark and foreboding atmosphere.”
- “In conclusion, 'Skelethrone: The Prey' offers a compelling blend of challenging combat, exploration, and atmospheric design.”
- “Dark Souls reimagined in two dimensions, with its own distinct atmosphere, mechanics, and lore.”
stability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The reviews indicate that the game suffers from frequent glitches, suggesting significant stability issues that may affect the overall gameplay experience.
- “The game is plagued with glitches that ruin the experience.”
- “I encountered numerous glitches that made it unplayable.”
- “The stability issues are so severe that I can't enjoy the game.”