Extremely OK Games, the creators of the beloved indie platformer celeste, shared a first trailer for the studio’s next game, Earth knifeat The Game Awards 2022 on Thursday.
In Earthblade, you play as a character named Nevoa as you explore a “free-roaming, dynamically-loading map,” according to an email sent shortly after the trailer debuted. The game features 2D pixel graphics celestebut Earth knife seems to be set in a more fantasy-inspired world.
The trailer doesn’t reveal too much about the game itself, but the email has a few details about what to expect. “We think this ‘seamlessness’ is likely to be Aardblades defining feature, and it’s related to why we’re hesitant to call this game a ‘Metroidvania,'” Extreme OK Games’ Maddy Thorson wrote in the email. “It features character growth and progression – your moveset isn’t static as in celeste – but structurally it doesn’t feel quite right to promise something that ties in nicely with those legendary Metroids and Vanias.
Earth knife was first shown in April 2021 in a limited “vibe reveal”. At the time, it was listed with an extremely vague “20XX” release date, but at The Game Awards, Extreme OK Games said the game will be released in 2024.
