This moody metroidvania could make the wait for Hollow Knight: Silksong a little more bearable

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Ghost Song has just launched and it's hitting all the right notes with Steam players

Ghost Song
(Image credit: Old Moon)

This atmospheric indie gives off serious Hollow Knight and Metroid vibes, and Steam players are here for it.

Developed by Old Moon, Ghost Song is a 2D Metroidvania that borrows heavily from Team Cherry's masterpiece with beautifully hand-drawn visuals that bring its haunting world to life in spectacular fashion. Set on the desolate moon of Lorian, you take control of the Dreadsuit, a sturdy battlesuit with a blaster that lets you take down all manner of alien opponents in a similar way to Metroid's Samus Aran.

"Journey beneath the surface on an atmospheric 2D adventure of self-discovery, ancient mysteries, and cosmic terror," reads the game's description on Steam. In typical Metroidvania fashion, you'll explore winding environments in search of items to expand your repertoire of abilities, granting you access to new areas. Along the way, you'll also find upgrades for your suit and blaster, which come in handy when facing off against the game's fearsome foes.

Having launched last week, Ghost Song is currently sitting pretty with a "very positive" user rating on Steam. Players praise everything from its art style and atmosphere to its gameplay mechanics and combat. One reviewer describes it as "something of a love letter to the early Metroid games", adding that it "does a good job of evoking that specific sense of lonely alien exploration while still very much being its own thing." Another says it's "easily the best Metroidvania since Hollow Knight and captures the feeling of 2D Metroid games like no other."

With a release date for Hollow Knight: Silksong still nowhere in sight, Ghost Song looks like the perfect game to make the long wait for the highly-anticipated sequel a little less painful. If you're keen to give it a whirl, it's out now on PC, Nintendo Switch, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Game Pass.

For more great titles from independent developers, check out our guide to new indie games 2022. 

Anne-Marie Ostler
Anne-Marie Ostler
Freelance Writer

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I've freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and GamesRadar+. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeating that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anything Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.