Auridia is a very unassuming but well-crafted Metroidvania. It’s definitely not the most pretty or eye-catching game on the market, but the underlying mechanics and level design are very well designed.

The game’s abilities are unique and feel GREAT - probably the biggest strength it has. You get a very easy to use grappling hook, a teleportation ability, an Ori style bash, projectile blocking (which also lets you bounce on hazardous surfaces), and even a flying ability. The majority of these are very seldom seen, and all are a blast to use.

Level design is also a major strength, the way you slowly unlock each biome is super satisfying. The games biggest weaknesses are the writing and art, but mostly the writing. This may come down largely to personal preference, but it’s all centered around arcana type mythos which is just… not at all interesting to me. I don’t care about runes and ancient civilization and spells and rituals… but maybe you do.

Overall, a solid 6-8 hour Metroidvania and one of the better ones I’ve played this year, though it’s been a somewhat disappointing year so that’s not saying a lot. I do recommend it for anyone looking for a mechanically well crafted Metroidvania with some very unique mechanics.