[Industry news] Crimson Capes Is Out Now, Bringing the Souls Formula to 2D

This is a press release posted in addition to our usual editorial content.

Crimson Capes is out now on PC via Steam, inviting players to step into a 2D sword-and-sorcery world built around mastery, tension, and discovery. Developed by indie studio POOR LOCKE, the game translates the core philosophy of the Souls formula into two dimensions, with a strong focus on deliberate swordplay, player-driven exploration, and shared online experiences.

Set in the kingdom of Amvros, players take on the role of Milon the Tempest, a witch-hunter operating beyond the reach of public authority. As the leader of the Crimson Capes, a guild tasked with eliminating threats the crown cannot openly confront, players embark on contracts across the realm, uncovering a web of conspiracies and darker forces that challenge their understanding of power, loyalty, and consequence.

At the heart of Crimson Capes lies a combat system built around animation commitment and realistic sword-fighting principles. Every encounter is a calculated exchange of feints, thrusts, cuts, and guards, where timing, positioning, and reading the opponent determine survival.

With four playable heroes, each offering a distinct weapon style, moveset, and progression path, the game emphasizes learning and mastery over raw stat progression, while elemental magic abilities are seamlessly integrated into combat rather than treated as separate systems. Exploration is non-linear, following a Souls-inspired design that rewards curiosity and player agency.

Players can team up in online co-op to tackle hunts together as Capes, or disrupt another group’s mission by invading as a Deathblade, introducing unpredictable PvP encounters that can dramatically alter the flow of a hunt.

Visually, Crimson Capes combines hand-drawn pixel art environments with rotoscoped graphics, creating a tactile, grounded aesthetic inspired by classic pulp sword-and-sorcery tales such as Conan and Elric.

“The time has finally come to release Crimson Capes to the world after years of blood, sweat and tears,” said Dimitris Tsatsis and Kostas MacFarlane, developers at POOR LOCKE.

“Our goal was to make players feel like master swordsmen, while being captivated by the environments and world we’ve created. We’re equally excited and terrified to finally see players experience our creation for themselves.”

KEY FEATURES

Souls-like, 2D combat with tight reads, punish windows, and build variety

Boss fights that will test your mettle

Sword-and-Sorcery adventures in a fantasy world filled with secrets

Online Co-op & PvP: Play online with a friend, or invade other witch hunters

Optional Dynamic Hunts with unique enemies and bosses, randomly generated each time (reminiscent of Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons)