Voidwrought | Switch Review

As a lover of the 2D gear-gated genre of video games, I was very eager to get my hands on Voidwrought from developer Powersnake. This looked to be a game that would scratch the exploration itch I’ve been craving for a while. After completing this title, I’m happy to report that I’m very satisfied with how it played out in the end. It’s quite a bit different from what I expected, but was a great twist on the genre that challenged my reflexes. I may be fuzzy on the details of the game’s setting and story, but that didn’t affect the sheer fun I had working my way through this environment. It has a lot going for it and is well worth your time. Don’t let it get buried amidst the massive amount of games released this year, especially if you’re a fan of this style of games.

Run That By Me Again…?

I’d love to tell you what’s going on in the world of Voidwrought, but I found myself utterly confused by its story. The best I can do is to give you the synopsis from the press release, because even after finishing the game, this was all news to me.

“Voidwrought lets players delve into the thawing ruins of the First Civilisation to strike down the primaeval gods that dwell there. The coming of the Red Star heralds a new age. Emerging from its cocoon, the Simulacrum is driven to collect Ichor, the blood of the gods, from the monstrosities who hoard it.”

If that made little sense to you, then we’re in the same boat. My issue is how the universe is presented. Most of the lore is told through cryptic stones you discover while exploring. The text from these feel overly written in a way that try to make it deeper than it needs to be. I found myself tapping through these portions of explanation, because I simply stopped caring.

Thankfully, this didn’t affect my enjoyment, as the gameplay superseded any issues I had with the story. Would I have like to have had a purpose for exploring and taking out massive bosses? Maybe, but it was fun enough to forgive.

Defining Factors

Voidwrought‘s gameplay has a lot going for it that sets it apart from other gear-gated games. The most notable is the fact that there is no defined path. You’re given a waypoint at the very beginning of the game, but once you reach it, that’s the last one you’ll see. From that point on, you can go in any direction you like and acquire new gear in any order. The lack of direction, while frustrating at first for me, wound up making exploration a fascinating endeavor. It felt like true exploration instead of merely following a trail of breadcrumbs. The path I followed to complete the game could be a totally different experience than how you go through it. The level design is brilliant to allow this kind of freedom and still function properly.

Another aspect I found interesting about this title is its difficulty. This game is no walk in the park, especially when it comes to boss fights. At least at the early portions of the game. The very first major enemy I encountered had five different stages and took me several tries to overcome. I’m not used to that, as most games offer you a softball when it comes to early bosses. Voidwrought takes the opposite approach with how challenging it is. Until you acquire new abilities, health upgrades, and mana slots, taking down enemies is an uphill battle. While this might turn off some players who don’t like difficult games, I found this juxtaposition pretty satisfying. By the time I was more upgraded, I felt like nothing could stop me. The last two bosses were a cake walk by comparison and felt like I truly earned my status.

On Another Note

I don’t normally dedicate an entire section of my reviews to a soundtrack, but this might be my absolute favorite part of Voidwrought. Jouni Valjakka‘s composition might be my favorite and most underrated soundtrack of the year. Admittedly, I had never heard of him prior to playing this game, but I’ll definitely be paying closer attention to his work in the future.

I don’t know that I’ve experienced music in a game that added so much to a game like this one does. It’s simply astounding, and I would argue that it does more to evoke its atmosphere than the gorgeous graphics do. From the ominous undertones to the heart-thumping metal notes in later levels and boss fights, the music stakes center stage. I simply can’t talk highly enough about how much this soundtrack added to my overall enjoyment of the game. I’ve literally been listening to the soundtrack on Spotify ever since completing the game. It’s that good.

Voidwrought Final Verdict

Voidwrought wasn’t a perfect game for me personally. The lack of story and early difficulty were both very frustrating. There’s also quite a bit about the game that isn’t explained at all and you have to figure out on your own. But once the game got going, I couldn’t put it down. It’s a slow burn that pays off in spades and offers a ton to search for even after you defeat the final boss. The controls are tight and responsive, and the upgrades are far from what’s typical in this style of game. It’s a refreshing addition to the genre, and I recommend it, but only if you’re up for the challenge.

To hear me talk more about Voidwrought, be sure to listen to our December 5th, 2024 episode of The Gaming Outsider Podcast around the 1:04:03 time stamp.

This review is based on a Nintendo Switch copy of Voidwrought provided by Press Engine for coverage purposes. It is also available on PC via Steam and Epic Games Store.