Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse (2026)

Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is a roguelike that does well with strange notions. The sentient hat mechanism alone makes Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse stand apart from other games in the same genre. The ability to possess enemies also adds a new level of creativity to both battle and exploration.

Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse is a good mix of things that are familiar and things that are new. It gets the basics of Metroidvania and roguelike design right, adds some really original ideas, and wraps it all up in a visually and mechanically appealing package.

There really was a lot that I liked about Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse, but the repetitive nature and over-emphasis on grinding really hold it back. The core combat is silky smooth, the possession mechanics are good fun, and the art direction is absolutely top-tier, but the artificial roadblocks, repetitive grinding, and lack of narrative really hold it back. It can be a rewarding experience if you have the patience for it, but if I’m being honest, there are better roguelikes out there that respect your time more. Here’s hoping a patch or two can improve the game in the future, because Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse really has a lot going for it… it’s just not quite there yet.

Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse is a gorgeous-looking roguelike that presents some fun gameplay elements over different stunning backdrops and challenging platforming locations. Some of its elements, like the possession system, are fun, but the devs needed to put more time into making other gameplay elements work and flow throughout. It leaves Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse as a mixed bag, but it’s a fun experience if you don’t care too much about clunky basebuilding or rich environmental lore.

After Palworld, Pocketpair once again demonstrates its willingness to experiment with varied mechanics. Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse blends multiple gameplay ideas into an experience that remains surprisingly solid overall. While the breadth of its systems does lead to some compromises in depth, it is still a game worth spending time with.