Constance

And I’ll just put a happy little tree RIGHT ACROSS YOUR FACE.

Platforming and Metroidvania go hand-in-hand, but few games simultaneously tap into what makes both of these genres so great as well as Constance does. Constance takes notes from what many consider to be the pinnacle of both genres—those being Celeste and Hollow Knight. Its various puzzle challenges that require you to fully understand all of your techniques are reminiscent of the former, while its pleasant hand-drawn art style, along with its combat and enemy variety, are similar to the latter. As someone who’s first true foray into the Metroidvania genre was through Hollow Knight: Silksong, ...

Although it never really does anything we haven’t seen before, Constance is well-made enough to be worthy of your time, and does enough to earn its place in a crowded genre.

Constance is a beautiful and enjoyable Metroidvania that doesn't outstay its welcome. Filler free, the game instead throws plenty of well-designed and enjoyable boss fights at you, interspersed with tight, challenging platforming action. It follows the formula too closely to make it remarkable, but what it does it does with charm and flair. And the ending is a 'chef's kiss' moment.

Constance is a beautiful and challenging action-adventure game that uses metroidvania mechanics to explore the hardships of mental and emotional burnout.

Constance is a fantastic game that I would recommend to anyone who’s a fan of the genre. It draws heavy inspiration from Hollow Knight, which is clear as day, but brings fresh ideas to the table that make it feel like a unique experience. The story, where players bounce between the real world and a world inside the protagonist's declining mental state, is a sad tale that sends a powerful message about depression and anxiety. Constance tackles subject matter that we don’t typically see enough of in the gaming industry, at least with this much depth, and it’s refreshing to see them explored here...