DaRmaZat Metroidvania action RPG Blighted is set to release this fall for Switch 2 and PC via Steam, developer DrinkBox Studios has announced.
Update – September 21, 2026: DrinkBox Studios has pushed back the release of Blighted from its previously planned fall 2026 window to 2027.
Created by the studio behind Guacamelee!, Blighted blends fast-paced combat with cooperative multiplayer and a surreal western aesthetic. The story unfolds in a world where the dead were once buried with seeds planted in their brains, growing into memory-bearing trees that preserved the knowledge and traditions of the village. That ritual was shattered when a figure known as Sorcisto consumed those brains to seize their power, destroying the memory forest and unleashing a reality-warping corruption known as the Blight.
Players assume the role of the lone survivor of this devastation, venturing through a psychedelic western nightmare to reclaim stolen memories before succumbing to the spreading infection themselves. Exploration follows a classic Metroidvania structure, with interconnected environments gradually opening up as new abilities are unlocked.
Blighted‘s combat is designed to be deliberate and punishing, encouraging precise timing, fluid combo chains, and decisive finishers. Central to the experience is the Blight mechanic, which functions as both a source of strength and a shifting difficulty layer. As players embrace more of the corruption, enemies, environments, and even the protagonist evolve, altering encounters and gating access to hidden areas. Defeating major foes allows players to consume their memories, expanding skill options while deepening the Blight’s influence.
The full campaign can be played solo or in drop-in, drop-out cooperative multiplayer. Accompanying the action is an original score by composer Jim Guthrie, further reinforcing the game’s haunting tone. With its blend of systemic difficulty, memory-driven progression, and co-op play, Blighted marks DrinkBox Studios’ next step beyond its previous genre-defining work.
