Swedish indie developer Decemberborn Interactive has announced Cathedral: Crow’s Curse, a standalone prequel to their 2020 retro action-adventure Cathedral. The game is set to launch on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and PC via Steam, reintroducing players to the mysterious world of Cathedral through a revamped visual style and a new protagonist, according to a press release.

Set before the events of the original game, Crow’s Curse puts players in the role of Crow, a skilled Shade Sentinel who previously appeared as an NPC. With the balance of the Shade Forest beginning to unravel, Crow must traverse cursed woods, ancient ruins, and familiar lands to uncover the origins of the Sentinel order and the curse threatening its existence.

Departing from the original’s 8-bit NES aesthetic, Cathedral: Crow’s Curse features a detailed pixel art style enhanced by dynamic lighting, fluid animation, and tighter, more responsive controls. Developer Decemberborn describes it as a visual and mechanical evolution of the series, designed to offer both returning fans and newcomers a richer gameplay experience.

Combat in Crow’s Curse is fast-paced and skill-based, requiring players to master dodge timing, parries, blocks, and carefully placed strikes. The game also introduces stealth mechanics, allowing players to bypass enemies or take them down with calculated backstabs. Enemy encounters are influenced by visual, auditory, and proximity-based detection, encouraging players to adapt their approach to each encounter.

The official teaser trailer showcases the game’s ominous atmosphere and the character model players will be interacting with, a green hooded man with a dagger. The combat seems to include typical attacks, with the inclusion of both parrying and what appears to be either assassination or finishing moves. Sound design is particularly notable within the trailer, with a strong metallic sound and weight behind certain attacks.

“We’re passionate about making games that resonate with players,” said Decemberborn founder and CTO Eric Lavesson. “Returning to the world of Cathedral and telling this story in our own way is something we’ve poured our hearts into. We hope that passion shines through in every part of Crow’s Curse.”

The world of Crow’s Curse blends classic Metroidvania exploration with a more seamless and interconnected landscape. Players will explore new biomes alongside familiar locations from the original game, unlocking upgrades, acquiring new movement abilities, and expanding Crow’s skill tree along the way.

Cathedral: Crow’s Curse does not yet have a release date, but an official announcement trailer is now available. More information is expected in the coming months.