Wild West Metroidvania reveals giant map worthy of Red Dead Redemption 2

The Western soulslike Tombwater's Lovecraftian aspects were enough to intrigue me when it was first announced earlier this year, but now the developers have revealed the sheer size of the game, enough to rival the likes of Red Dead Redemption 2, and I am even more invested and impressed. Going one better, you can check out a piece for yourself on Steam for free now.

The upcoming game, which comes from publisher Midwest Games and Moth Atlas, has nearly 20 distinct biomes for players to progress through in true Metroidvania fashion.  It looks like you'll be able to explore different areas at once, while some parts will require you to gain certain abilities, procure specific items, or defeat bosses before you can dive in to explore the Lovecraftian horrors that await.

Lead developer Max Mraz notes that the huge size of the map in Tombwater is a result of the fun the team had while playing the game.  Max Mraz goes on to say that, "We got together one evening to play through the game's main path - and, six hours later, we weren't even halfway through! The world map here doesn't even touch on Tombwater's various mines, sewers, tunnels, or Lost City deep in the heart of the mountain."

The developer has also showcased the sheer size of the map by posting a comparison of the Tombwater map to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. It'll be no surprise then that you can expect 20 to 25 hours of gameplay when the game launches later this year.

In Tombwater, you step into the worn boots of a lone gunslinger searching for a lost friend. Sheriff Elliott Flintwood has vanished into the gloom of this ghost town, and it'll be up to you to uncover the truth behind his disappearance, facing against the horrors that watch from the shadows of this eerie town. Ken noted, as a fan of Max Mraz's fan demake of Bloodbourne Yarntown, that the "haunting pixel-art horrors" are a sight to behold.

If it sounds like Tombwater is calling you, partner, then you can step into this desolate town for free by checking out the demo now. Be warned though, this slice of the game only shares only 5% of the title's extensive map, and might leave you hungering for more.

There's no release date as of yet for Tombwater, although it has been slated for launch later this year. You can find out more info about the game on Steam here.

In the meantime, you can check out these best RPGs in our latest guide, or you can also read about the best soulslikes available now.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We've also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.