Summary
During the June 4 PlayStation State of Play showcase, developer ArtPlay revealed its upcoming action RPGBloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement. The long-awaited sequel to 2019’s award-winningBloodstained: Ritual of the Night,the new title will offer more of the 2.5D Metroidvania side-scrolling action that fans enjoyed so much. But rather than picking up where players left off,Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagementwill introduce two new protagonists in an entirely different setting.
Considered a spiritual successor to theCastlevaniaseries, theBloodstainedgames immerses players in rich, gothic worlds filled with otherworldly creatures, incredible magic, and impressive architecture. Three entries in the series have been released so far:Ritual of the Night,its companion retro-styledBloodstained: Curse of the Moon,and that game’s 2020 follow-up. But fans have been clamoring for asequel in the style ofRitual of the Nightsince its release, and developer ArtPlay will soon deliver.
Though revealed via a trailer during theJune State of Play event,Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagementwill be released on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC sometime in 2026. The game takes players two centuries further back thanRitual of the Night, dropping them on a floating castle in 16th-century England. The domicile of the Demon Lord Elias, the Ethereal Castle and its denizens have been terrorizing the local inhabitants, and previous attempts to destroy the threat have failed. Enter Leonard and Alexander, two heroes on a mission to put an end to the menace.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement Looks a Little Different
Although the graphics have been updated somewhat,The Scarlet Engagementoverall looks very similar toRitual of the Night.Fans of the previous game will have noticed two major changes, however, while watching the newly released trailer. The player characters and enemies now have a pronouncedcel shaded effectthat helps them stand out from the surrounding environment. And the cutscenes look noticeably different, with ArtPlay seemingly going for fully rendered 3D graphics and voiceovers this time around, rather than box-style dialogues.
Another major difference betweenRitualandThe Scarlet Engagementis the new buddy system that has players controlling both Leo and Alex simultaneously. One will be manipulated directly, while the other follows and assists, and players can swap between them at will. The mechanic might seem daunting at first, butpublisher 505 Games has statedthat it is a core gameplay element that will require mastery to make it through what is the largest map in the series to date.
Players navigating and fighting their way through the massive Ethereal Castle will come across relics, weapons, armor, and various ingredients that can be used for customizing the look of Alex and Leo, crafting, andupgrading skills similarly to how it’s done inRitual of the Night. The duo will also discover new moves in combat, learning unique attacks and powerful abilities that will be necessary to defeat Demon Lord Elias.
