Salt and Sanctuary

This game is a very acquired taste -- you'll need to be undeterred or frustrated by failure or dying, as no progress here is easily won. That, honestly, is intended as the appeal of this game, which is a tribute to titles such as Castlevania and Dark Souls, with gameplay shown as a side-scrolling defense-focused action and strategy game. You're ultimately staring down learning the block and parry systems, studying the sizable character-skill trees, and experimenting with what works best for you over multiple hours. This makes the game both frustrating and rewarding, although it's definitely supposed to be both. The Switch version works better by including simultaneous local two player adventuring, and you'll need the help at times, because this game is very difficult. Even with the extra help, you're not guaranteed that you'll survive some battles. But that's what makes playing and fighting through this game so appealing, because you feel like you've earned your progress with each monster beaten.

Rewards also come via exploration, as the painterly visuals entice you to poke around to see what else the foggy world contains and what awaits you there. You'll need to get used to seeing the same areas over and over, as a big part of the difficulty derives from retrieving your items and money lost when you're bested by a foe. If you can make it back there, and kill whatever killed you, you reclaim what you lost. But you're extremely vulnerable and likely to die again while making your way back there again. People who have played Dark Souls will recognize this sort of trajectory. What's different here is a shift in the camera and a greater emphasis on platforming in dungeons and monuments to a mysterious land. Players that are looking for a challenge or those willing to fight for every inch of progress will appreciate the arduous journey.