Cellar Door Games, creators of Don’t Starve and Rogue Legacy 2, unveils Neath – gothic Metroidvania plunging players into infinite underground kingdoms teeming with eldritch horrors and forgotten civilizations. 2026 launch promises non-linear exploration across procedurally-shifting caverns where torchlight reveals impossible architectures and ancient atrocities. Announcement trailer showcases fluid combat, environmental storytelling, and haunting isolation defining the studio’s signature style.
Players awaken in lightless depths navigating biomes from fungal cathedrals to crystal ossuaries. Torch mechanics demand fuel conservation – darkness consumes health, light attracts predators. Metroidvania progression unlocks abilities piercing deeper strata while survival elements track hunger, sanity, infection. Non-linear kingdoms rearrange entrances creating labyrinthine navigation.
Light vs Darkness Survival
Torchlight becomes double-edged sword. Fuel scavenged from fungal husks, bone candles, crystal shards burns precious minutes. Darkness drains health while revealing hidden passages. Light exposes murals chronicling kingdom falls, attracts subterranean hunters. Sanity meter warps audio-visuals during prolonged darkness.
Combat blends melee precision with environmental kills. Torch bashes stun predators, oil slicks ignite hordes, crystal stalactites impale climbers. Ability progression unlocks chain hooks piercing ceilings, fungal spores paralyzing packs, shadow cloaks evading patrols.
Infinite Kingdom Generation
- Procedurally-shifting underground kingdoms
- Torchlight survival mechanics
- Metroidvania ability progression
- Gothic environmental storytelling
- Sanity/hunger/infection management
- Non-linear biome exploration
Cellar Door’s Signature Style
Studio behind Don’t Starve’s survival purity and Rogue Legacy’s roguelite mastery crafts atmospheric horror. Hand-painted gothic art reveals details under torchlight – bone chandeliers drip wax stalactites, fungal murals depict kingdom extinctions. Dynamic soundtrack swells from dripping echoes to choral swells during boss rituals.
| Biome | Hazard | Ability Unlock |
|---|---|---|
| Fungal Cathedral | Spore infection | Chain hook |
| Crystal Ossuary | Echo madness | Shadow cloak |
| Iron Kingdom | Rust collapse | Fungal spores |
Procedural Narrative Depth
Kingdoms generate with interconnected histories. Bone murals depict predecessor falls, fungal spores whisper extinction logs, crystal resonators replay final broadcasts. Non-linear progression reveals chronological atrocities – surface collapse, fungal infestation, iron kingdom wars, current silence. Multiple endings based on torchlight philosophy – burn eternal or darkness embrace.
Steam demo showcases fungal cathedral available Next Fest. $24.99 premium includes soundtrack, artbook, kingdom editor. Accessibility options include torch tweaks, sanity sliders, puzzle hints.
Cellar Door Legacy
Don’t Starve pioneered survival roguelite, Rogue Legacy 2 perfected heirloom progression. Neath combines atmospheric isolation with metroidvania freedom. Solo/small team development promises focused vision avoiding scope bloat. Community testing shapes procedural balance, ability curves.
2026 launch targets polished experience. No microtransactions planned. Workshop integration post-launch for kingdom sharing, enemy variants.
FAQs
Torchlight core mechanic?
Fuel conservation reveals/damages. Darkness survival vs light predation.
Procedural or hand-crafted?
Kingdoms generate with authored biomes, murals, histories.
Combat focus?
Melee/environmental hybrid. Torch bashes, oil slicks, stalactite impales.
Demo available?
Fungal cathedral Steam Next Fest demo.
Length expected?
15-25 hours main path, 40+ completionist.
Multiple endings?
Torchlight philosophies yield kingdom fates.
Mod support?
Workshop kingdom editor post-launch.
Conclusion
Neath plunges Cellar Door Games into gothic underworld mastery. Torchlit fungal cathedrals, sanity-warping ossuaries, collapsing iron kingdoms demand light vs darkness survival. Procedural kingdoms weave extinction tapestries across non-linear Metroidvania freedom. Studio’s atmospheric perfection – Don’t Starve isolation, Rogue Legacy fluidity – illuminates eldritch depths 2026. Conserve fuel, pierce shadows, uncover buried atrocities – Neath’s infinite kingdoms await descent.