Aeterna Noctis

Aeterna Noctis is a Metroidvania by Aeternum Game Studios. As the King of Darkness, you roam a cursed world with interconnected areas, demanding jumping sections, combat and new movement abilities.

Aeterna Noctis was released on Dec 14, 2021 for PC and the originally supported PlayStation and Xbox generations. On Nintendo Switch, the digital version launched on Nov 4, 2022, while Nintendo lists the physical game card as Nov 15, 2022. Later came the boss fight DLC Virtuoso and further content from the Ultimate Edition. The Switch date for the retail release is not an additional native platform release.

The game has native versions for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and Nintendo Switch. PS4 and PS5, as well as the two Xbox generations, are separate native platforms and not just compatibility options.

Virtuoso arrived as a separate DLC on Nov 9, 2023. The boss rush mode lets already defeated enemies face you again with new behaviors and additional rules. The Collector leads you through several groups of challenges. With the Clockwork Twins, the expansion also includes a new boss fight in its own arena.

Chaos has condemned the rulers of light and darkness to an endless cycle of combat, death and rebirth. In Aeterna Noctis, you experience the path of the King of Darkness. Ruins, inhabitants and hand-drawn environments tell the story of this world. The narrative is part of the wider Aeterna universe.

According to the developer, the world consists of 16 interconnected areas. New movement abilities open up previously unreachable branches, secrets and side quests. Thrones serve as landmarks and connect the journey. The design rewards repeated exploration instead of a linear sequence of completed levels.

The King fights against numerous regular enemies and more than 20 bosses. Melee combat, ranged abilities and other unlockable powers require different timing depending on the enemy. Skill trees and power stones allow for different playstyles, without replacing platforming as the core of the Metroidvania.

In Aeterna Mode, challenges focus more on exploration and combat, while Noctis Mode keeps the particularly precise jumping sections and puzzles of the original version. According to the developer, you can switch between both modes at any time without losing your progress. Some achievements, however, are exclusive to Noctis Mode.

Crossing the world requires controlled jumps, dodging and later unlocked mobility abilities. New tools help not only in combat but also change exploration options. Especially in Noctis Mode, sequences of movement become an essential part of the challenge.

Found abilities, weapon upgrades, skill trees and equippable power stones allow the King of Darkness to be customized. Progress thus has two layers: developing the character and learning new paths through the interconnected world. Hidden challenges reward attentive exploration.

The Ultimate Edition expands the existing Aeterna Noctis with a new power and a hidden sanctuary. Both additions link to the later story of Aeterna Lucis. The studio describes these additions as an update to the original adventure, not as a standalone sequel. Earlier free content also added enemies and game areas.

Characters, enemies and places are created in a traditionally drawn 2D style, whose animations are designed frame by frame. Music is also a key part of the game world: according to the official Steam description, the soundtrack includes more than 40 tracks. This is meant to make each area feel distinct.

For Windows, Steam lists at least Windows 10, 8 GB memory and 20 GB free storage space. Minimum processors are Intel i5-8400 or AMD Ryzen 5 1500X, and for graphics Nvidia GTX 970 or AMD RX 570. Steam lists German menus and subtitles, but no full German voice audio. The eight listed languages should be distinguished by language features.

Aeternum Game Studios S.L. develops and publishes Aeterna Noctis. The game belongs to the Aeterna Universe, whose story picks up the conflict between the King of Darkness and the Queen of Light. Summum Aeterna covers the backstory in roguelite form, while Aeterna Lucis takes up the Queen's perspective. These titles are standalone games, not editions of Aeterna Noctis.