Nocturnal Arrives on Current Gen Consoles and PC

Written by Brandon Hofer on June 07, 2023

News: A new flame-wielding platformer is now available to play on with different trials so you can customize your challenge.

Indie developer Sunnyside Games, in partnership with Dear Villagers, have launched their flame-wielding platformer Nocturnal on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series platforms for $19.99 / €19.99. It is also available on Steam for $16.99 / €16.99; with a 10% discount on the Steam, Epic and Microsoft stores through its first week of sale. Nocturnal is an action exploration odyssey that will task players with repelling a nefarious mist as it enshrouds an ancient isle.

After a difficult journey across a troubled sea, Ardeshir, a soldier of the Enduring Flame, returns to his home island of Nahran. Engulfed in a shadowy mist, Ardeshir must rely on fire to extinguish the sinister forces that have overtaken his native land. Flame has many uses here. It can ward off the Mist, ignite the scenery, turn on machinery, and be used to burn beings of dark magic impervious to conventional weaponry. But be forewarned: one cannot breathe in the Mist, so you’ll have to use your wits as you find new ways to keep it at bay.

You can grow more powerful by offering collected ashes to the flame. Gain powers that help you expand your lifeforce, hold your breath longer, or sacrifice ashes in hopes of gaining new powers along the way.

Nocturnal encourages challengers to brave its beautiful ruins with a host of optional trials. Those seeking the glory of a true challenge can enable a host of speedrunning features, like faster transitions, skippable cutscenes, and a pausable timer. Only the fiercest warriors will try their hand at Permadeath Mode, where you only have one life to undertake the entire journey.

“We’re so happy that people can finally play Nocturnal in its entirety,” said Sunnyside Games co-founder Gabriel Sonderegger. “Our aim with Nocturnal was to craft an experience that is highly focused on a core concept. We tried to respect the player’s time by avoiding needlessly stretching out the playtime and put a lot of heart and effort into polishing this short but hopefully genuine experience.”

Check out the trailer that the team at Sunnyside Games released and then tell us what you think. Will you be playing Nocturnal?