Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse – Releases as Full 1.0 Game

Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse is Pocketpair’s upcoming Metroidvania roguelite game. Originally, it was going to launch in Early Access. But now, the team has changed plans. The game will release as a full 1.0 title instead.

This move is quite rare. Most studios start with Early Access. They then gradually build up the game based on player feedback. Pocketpair is doing the opposite. Why? They want players to have a complete and polished experience from day one.

Why Pocketpair Skipped Early Access

On June 24, 2025, Pocketpair made a big announcement on Steam. They will not launch Never Grave via Early Access. Instead, they plan a full launch.

They explained:

“Due to the valuable feedback from many players during the demo period, we have decided to deliver the game in its complete form… Stay tuned!”


In short, the demo gave them the insight they needed. Because of that, there is no need for a slower, staged rollout.

This is a bold decision. Usually, studios use Early Access to catch bugs and ask players what they like. Pocketpair did that during the demo and then rolled most changes into the full 1.0 version.

It’s refreshing. Especially for gamers tired of waiting for Early Access titles that take years to finish. This way, everyone gets a polished game from the start.

Pocketpair’s Track Record

Pocketpair is known for Palworld. That game mixed Pokémon-like creatures with base-building and multiplayer. It became a hit due to this blend.

With Never Grave, Pocketpair tries something different. They borrow the style of Hollow Knight—a challenging, high-quality Metroidvania. But they don’t stop there. They add roguelite elements (like random dungeons and runs). They bring in 4-player co-op. They even let players possess enemies, a mechanic similar to something out of Super Mario Odyssey.

Now, with a full launch, Pocketpair shows confidence in this design. They think it’s strong enough to skip Early Access.

What is Never Grave?

Never Grave blends many genres:

1. Metroidvania – Explore a connected world full of secrets, platforming, and abilities. You slowly unlock new paths.
2. Roguelite – Dungeons are randomized. Each run is different. You can try again, with lessons learned.
3. 4‑Player Co‑Op – You can team up with friends and take on dungeons together.
4. Base Building – You gather materials and rebuild a ruined village. Then you use its resources on the next run.
5. Possession Mechanics – A cursed hat lets you take control of enemies and use their powers.

Let’s break these parts down:

Metroidvania Style

The world is 2D side-scrolling. You explore ruins, forests, caves. As you gain jump boosts or new spells, you access more places. This is classic Metroidvania.

Graphics are hand-drawn. Characters animate with traditional Japanese techniques. The backgrounds look like storybook art. This gives the game a warm and artistic feel.

Roguelite Dungeons

Dungeons change each run. One time it may be a botanic garden. The next time it might be a ruined castle. Enemies, items, rooms, and traps all differ each time.

This keeps the game fresh. You never know what you will face. Each run teaches you more.

Co‑Op Gameplay

The game supports up to four players. You can team up with friends online. Pocketpair says it will also support cross-play—across PC, Xbox, PlayStation, and Switch. This means everyone can play together.

This cooperative play can make dungeon runs more fun. You can plan who does what. Team up to fight big bosses. Or just explore.

Base‑Building Upgrades

Between runs, you return to a ruined village. You use materials you collected in dungeons. You clear rubble, plant fields, build facilities like craft tables or houses.

Building gives bonuses. Maybe it spices up your next run. Maybe it helps later bosses. It’s a layer of progression that ties the roguelite dungeon runs together.

This makes the game feel less grindy, and more like a story.

Possession Mechanics

One special feature is the cursed hat. You can use it to take control of enemies. Once you control an enemy, you gain its abilities.

Maybe the enemy can fly, or climb walls, or shoot fire. That opens new paths. Maybe that ability helps you beat a boss or reach a hidden area.

This adds clever puzzle elements. You can solve platform challenges by using enemy powers. It also makes combat dynamic. You’re not limited to one type of action. You adapt.

Platforms and Cross‑Play

Never Grave will be available on all major platforms:

• PC (Steam and Microsoft Store)
• Nintendo Switch
• PlayStation 4 and 5
• Xbox One and Series X|S

All versions will support cross‑play. Players on different platforms can team up easily. That’s great news. It reduces waiting time for online matches.

The Power of the Demo

Pocketpair ran a demo during Steam Next Fest in late 2023. Originally, it was meant to prepare for Early Access. The demo feedback was so good and insightful that the team pivoted.

Instead of Early Access, they decided to polish and go directly to full release. The demo was taken down to focus on final improvements.

This is smart. It avoids Early Access burnout. The team can focus on finishing content, fixing issues, and bringing a strong launch.

Why This Matters

Skipping Early Access is rare. It shows their faith in the game. It shows that demo feedback was rich enough.

For players, this offers benefits:

• You avoid repeated builds and buggy early versions.
• You get a full experience from launch.
• You play on a complete version with optimized mechanics.

For the studio, advantages include:

• A clear roadmap to 1.0 release.
• A marketing point: “No Early Access, fully launched.”
• Focused development over patching demos.

What to Expect in 1.0

Here’s what Pocketpair plans to deliver in full release:

1. Polished story and mechanics – No placeholder bits. Everything refined.
2. Full metroidvania map – Explore locked areas, backtrack, unlock secrets.
3. The possession system integrated in puzzles – Not just combat.
4. Base building with progression – Tools and upgrades available.
5. 4-player co-op with cross-play – Multiplayer ready at launch.
6. Rogue-lite run structure – Randomized dungeons mix up each session.
7. Polished art, animation, and audio – A high standard from the start.

If Pocketpair delivers all this, it’ll be a strong debut.

Comparisons with Other Games

• Hollow Knight: Beautiful 2D map, platforming, fantasy world.
• Dead Cells: Roguelite dungeons, randomized levels.
• Palworld: Surprise hit, combining features from different genres.
• Cult of the Lamb: Encouraging village-building as a core feature.
• Super Mario Odyssey: Possess enemies and use their powers.

Never Grave blends all these inspirations. It adds its own twist with co-op and possession.

Challenges Ahead

Even with demo success, there are challenges:

1. Keeping online servers stable for launch day.
2. Balancing multiplayer—making co-op fun and fair.
3. Refining the possession system so it’s intuitive and fun.
4. Keeping dungeon runs fresh over hundreds of hours.
5. Ensuring optimization across platforms, especially Switch.
6. Building hype without Early Access buzz. They need good marketing.

Early Impressions

Early reactions to the demo were positive:

• Players praised the hand-drawn art and animation.
• Critics liked the possession mechanic.
• Village-building was called a strong bonus between runs.
• Feedback helped fix issues and shape quality-of-life changes.
• Some critique focused on control tightness or balancing magic vs melee.

This feedback shaped the final push to version 1.0.

Final Thoughts

Never Grave: The Witch and the Curse looks promising. It blends strong inspirations with fresh ideas:

• A well-crafted Metroidvania world.
• Roguelite repeatability and replay value.
• Multiplayer co-op and cross-play across platforms.
• Possession mechanics that open puzzles and strategy.
• Base building that rewards dungeon efforts.

And now it skips Early Access for a full release. This gives players a full game from launch. It reflects confidence. Players tired of buggy alpha builds should be relieved.

If Pocketpair delivers on their promises, Never Grave could be a sleeper hit. It has great art, fun gameplay, and tight design. It may even surpass its demo buzz once players dive in.

Key Highlights

• No Early Access – Direct launch on all major platforms.
• Metroidvania + Roguelite – Blends exploration with randomized runs.
• 4-player Co-op & Cross-play – Invite friends across devices.
• Possession mechanic – Unique and strategic gameplay twist.
• Base-building – Adds progression and reward between runs.
• Art and animation – Hand-drawn visuals and cut-out backgrounds.
• Random dungeons – Ruins, gardens, and themed levels for replayability.

FAQ

With strong art, new mechanics, and focused development, Never Grave is shaping up to be a fresh and fun take on Metroidvania and roguelite design. Watch for its full release—this might become a must-play indie title in 2025.