Book of Korvald

A dark Metroidvania with some unusual ideas, but repetitive combat and awkward gameplay mechanics hold it back

Rated M for Mature 2D Metroidvania that falls short of expectations

Pairing middling action with a plodding story and underwhelming voice acting leads to “Meh”

Book of Korvald is a dark fantasy 2D action-RPG (with a little bit of metroidvania thrown in) that mixes Norse mythology, themes of Lovecraftian fantasy, and as the cherry on top, some thicc erotica, in a storyline that’s surprisingly good, complemented by a distinct, grim art direction and atmosphere. Clearly made with love, the moment you pick up the controller it also becomes clear that this could be so much better with some extra care, especially as this is a port of something that was around for some time. Try it out only if found at a very good price, or keep an eye out for the PC version if you want to try the complete NSFW (and then some) variant.

The story is interesting and has moments that spark curiosity, but it could have been much better developed. The gameplay is clunky, unresponsive, and bugs frequently appear, hindering progress. The audiovisual aspect also doesn't help to sustain the experience.