If you’re tired of the same old roguelike formula, Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse might be the fresh take you’ve been waiting for. Announced during Sony’s State of Play Japan event on November 10, 2025, this hand-drawn 2D roguelike action game is launching March 5, 2026, across PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
What sets this apart from other roguelikes flooding the market? You play as a cursed hat. Yes, you read that right. The game drops you into a dark fairy tale where a young witch loses her soul to an Ancient Witch and gets cursed to wander forever. Your job is to help her break the curse, and you’ll do it by possessing enemies and stealing their powers.
The Possession System Changes Everything
The core mechanic that makes Never Grave stand out is its possession system. That cursed hat isn’t just for show. You can use it to take control of enemies throughout the procedurally generated dungeons, gaining access to their unique abilities. Each possessed enemy comes with hand-drawn animations and distinct combat mechanics.
This isn’t just a gimmick for combat either. The possession system opens up new paths for exploration, helps you solve environmental puzzles, and even lets you gather materials in creative ways. The developers at Frontside 180 Studio mentioned that even within their own team, players discovered surprising builds that cleared dungeons in ways they never anticipated during development.
Want to go full brute force? Stack strength buffs and possess melee enemies. Prefer cunning magic? Focus on spell-casting creatures. The skill tree system combines with gear you find to create completely different builds each run. This flexibility extends to whether you want to optimize for combat, exploration, or village development.
Dungeons That Actually Challenge You
The dungeons in Never Grave aren’t just randomized corridors with enemies scattered around. Each procedurally generated area features ruins, botanical gardens, and other environments packed with traps, puzzles, and enemies that require actual strategy. You’ll need to master magic attacks, study enemy patterns, and use the terrain to your advantage.
Boss fights ramp up the intensity. Expect to face a colossal golem shooting lasers, a guardian summoning destructive storms, and a volcano lord controlling rivers of lava. The developers emphasize that memorizing patterns alone won’t cut it. You’ll need to leverage the possession system smartly and adapt your approach based on your current build.
Build Your Village Between Runs
Here’s where Never Grave shifts gears from pure combat grind to something more satisfying. Between dungeon runs, you return to a ruined village that you gradually rebuild using loot and resources collected during your adventures. This hub isn’t just cosmetic. You can craft potions, grow crops, and construct facilities that provide permanent upgrades.
The contrast between the heart-pounding tension of exploring dangerous dungeons and the calm satisfaction of village building creates a gameplay loop that keeps you coming back. It’s that “one more run” feeling, but with tangible progress that carries over even when you die. The developers specifically designed this balance to capture the sense of achievement that comes from persistence.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Release Date | March 5, 2026 |
| Platforms | PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, PC (Steam) |
| Price | $16.99 (Standard) / $20 (Soundtrack Bundle) |
| Players | 1-4 (Online Co-op) |
| Developer | Frontside 180 Studio |
| Publisher | Pocketpair Publishing |
Four-Player Co-Op Gets Chaotic
Never Grave supports online co-op for up to four players across all platforms. The game doesn’t force everyone to play the same way either. One friend can focus on combat while another handles village improvements. You can team up to tackle powerful bosses, or split responsibilities based on everyone’s preferred playstyle.
The developers welcome all kinds of approaches. Whether you’re coordinating strategies for boss fights or just causing chaos with three friends, the multiplayer system adapts. PlayStation Plus members can grab a 10 percent discount on pre-orders, which opened on November 11, 2025.
Hand-Drawn Art That Pops
The visual style deserves its own mention. Never Grave uses traditional Japanese hand-drawn limited animation for character movement, combined with thickly painted backgrounds that create depth. It looks like you’re moving through an illustrated storybook or a world made of detailed cut-out pictures. This art direction gives the game a distinctive warmth despite its dark narrative about souls and curses.
Producer and director Yasuomi Sakai emphasized that the team focused heavily on striking a visual and gameplay balance. The hand-drawn animations required significant effort, especially for the possession system where each enemy needed unique movement sets and ability animations. The result is a game that stands out in screenshots and in motion.
Pre-Orders and What’s Next
Pre-orders are live now on PlayStation Store, with other platforms following soon. You can grab the standard edition for $16.99 or spring for the $20 bundle that includes the official soundtrack. The developers are currently in the final stages of development and promise more updates before the March 2026 launch.
If you’re interested in following development progress, Frontside 180 Studio maintains social accounts with regular announcements. The team wants the game to become the kind of adventure players return to repeatedly, which explains their focus on build variety and replayability.
FAQs
When does Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse release?
The game launches on March 5, 2026, across all announced platforms including PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Can you play Never Grave with friends?
Yes, the game supports online co-op for up to four players. You can team up with friends across all platforms to explore dungeons, fight bosses, or focus on village building together.
How much does Never Grave cost?
The standard edition costs $16.99. A bundle including the official soundtrack is available for $20. PlayStation Plus members receive a 10 percent discount on pre-orders.
What makes the possession system unique?
The cursed hat lets you possess enemies and use their unique abilities for combat, exploration, puzzle-solving, and resource gathering. Each possessed enemy has hand-drawn animations and distinct mechanics that can change your entire playstyle.
Is Never Grave a pure roguelike or does it have progression?
It blends roguelike elements with permanent progression. While dungeons are procedurally generated and change each run, you can rebuild your village hub and unlock lasting upgrades through a skill tree system that carries over between attempts.
Who is developing Never Grave?
Frontside 180 Studio is developing the game, with Pocketpair Publishing handling the publishing duties. Pocketpair is the same publisher behind other notable indie titles.
Are pre-orders available now?
Pre-orders opened on November 11, 2025, starting with PlayStation Store. Other platform pre-orders will become available closer to launch.
Conclusion
Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse combines hand-drawn artistry with meaningful roguelike mechanics that go beyond the typical run-and-gun formula. The possession system adds strategic depth, the village building provides satisfying progression, and four-player co-op opens up chaotic possibilities. At $16.99, it’s positioned as an accessible entry point for both roguelike veterans and newcomers curious about the genre. March 5, 2026, can’t come soon enough for fans of 2D action games looking for something different.