Mio: Memories in Orbit Reviews

MIO: Memories in Orbit leaves a strong first impression and continues to deliver quality content throughout, despite a few questionable design choices here and there. Some clever level design, a fantastic soundtrack, and a gorgeous art style make the entire experience worthwhile.

The game's visual identity is striking, and the spacecraft's transformation as it comes alive is excellent. There's a great sense of atmosphere that's reinforced as you keep moving forward, that eventually gives out because of uneven and frankly, unnecessary combat.

MIO: Memories In Orbit is a deceptive experience that lulled me into thinking that it might be retreading some of the roads that had already been masterfully done by its genre-siblings, but only a few hours had me appreciating every crevice and finely realised detail throughout its lush world. It manages to stand all and establish itself as a fantastic metroidvania that draws upon the strengths of the genre, while creating a world all its own.

MIO: Memories in Orbit was first announced at an edition of Nintendo Direct way back in 2024, with an initial release window merely slated as “2025”. Despite being picked up by a bigger label, the game took its time to come out, and for a simple reason: it was an artistic-driven metroidvania being released in the same period as, well, the most anticipated metroidvania of all time, Hollow Knight: Silksong. Being one of the first games of the genre to come out after that massive juggernaut,...

MIO wears its tough-as-nails metroidvania influences proudly, but spends enough time contorting familiar ideas into punishing gauntlets and rewarding patience with dazzling artistic spectacle that it truly comes into its own.

A strikingly beautiful, sci-fi alternative to Hollow Knight: Silksong, but one which is consistently off the mark when it comes to the balance between difficulty and frustration.

A solid game in its own right with a uniquely gorgeous aesthetic, MIO: Memories in Orbit is marked by bizarre design choices and a lack of variety to combat.

Even after finishing the game and getting the sense that much has already been discovered, there is still so much to explore.

Hairlow Knight

Mio is a tiny robot who awakens on a vast spacefaring vessel that is rapidly deteriorating. You must guide her on a path to save all that she knows, even without any memory of who or what she is, and as both the ship and Mio herself are gradually falling apart. Following in the footsteps of challenging, artistic, and sprawling search action games like the Ori and Hollow Knight series, Mio is a study in meticulous design decisions, subdued but gorgeous audio and visual aesthetics, and an appro...

A melancholic metroidvania that dares to drift in familiar space.

The dichotomy of the Metroidvania as a genre is an interesting one. Its world is always ruined, cruel, hostile, perhaps once beautiful, now broken, but the genre asks you to imagine that it wasn’t always that way. That it was beautiful, once, worthwhile, and that no matter how hostile it is now, it might be something you can survive, something you can conquer. You must hold both of these ideas in your head simultaneously if the genre is to make sense. The Metroidvania is a genre of imitation, of something that reminds of something else. You must be able to imagine that the world of the Metroidvania could be a happy one for the trick to work.

MIO: Memories in Orbit stands out as one of the best modern Metroidvania experiences. Even if its combat could use more work, the exploration aspects and mesmerizing art style make it an unforgettable experience for fans of the genre.

MIO: Memories In Orbit can be described in four words: beautiful, engaging, challenging, and frustrating. It is a game that will be those who really like a tough as nails platforming and boss fights, but it will frustrate those who do not like getting stuck on sections because your reaction times come up short. I fall somewhere in the middle of the two camps, with the game’s story taking me nearly 50 hours to complete, and there are still some sections of The Vessel I have yet to see.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a stunning metroidvania with satisfying gameplay, set in an interesting science fiction setting.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a visually stunning Metroidvania that nails exploration, atmosphere, and that “one more room” feeling. The module-based progression keeps combat fresh, and the story has enough mystery and emotional weight to keep you pushing forward. But the game isn’t without issues, including unclear direction, overly punishing platforming sections, limited accessibility options, and a frustrating story moments that can remove hard-earned health upgrades. It’s a great experience overall, albeit with a few flaws.

A mesmerizing, intertwined, decaying world awaits. You are MIO, a nimble robot with extraordinary abilities. You wake up in the Vessel, a space ship drifting aimlessly in space.This enormous technological ark, whose initial purpose remains unknown, lies now as a field of ruins, overgrown with lush vegetation and machines gone rogue. Nobody knows why the Pearls, The Vessel's AI caretakers, have ceased functioning. Forgotten by all, the Vessel faces imminent shutdown. Dive into its depths to revive its lost memories, as you unravel your true past and destiny.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is yet another challenging but rewarding Metroidvania for genre fans to sink their teeth into. It suffers from many of the frustrations typical of the genre, such as difficulty spikes and troublesome backtracking, but its unique visual style and intriguing world make up for it.

MIO: Memories in Orbit doesn't quite hit the highs of the genre greats, but developer Douze Dixièmes clearly understands what makes a Metroidvania sing, with a stylish, thoughtful, and enjoyable adventure. It starts slowly, and a few elements aren't fully realised, but this is a fabulous game for newcomers and fans of the genre who will feel right at home.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is a beautiful Metroidvania that features wonderful platforming segments alongside challenging encounters. The world encourages exploration, with each route rewarding you, further incentivising you to venture into the unknown. Although the game follows conventions, it delivers a fascinating adventure that fans of the genre will adore.