Shueisha Games announced the 2D adventure project Chronoscript: The Endless End on September 25. The game is being developed by DeskWorks studio and is positioned as a fresh look at the Metroidvania genre with the studio's characteristic hand-drawn graphics and animation.
Project Director Tom Fujii, Designer Nam Namboy, and Producer Masami Yamamoto discussed the inspirations and features of Chronoscript.
"When discussing the roots of the game, it's impossible not to mention the Metroid and Castlevania series. We also looked to Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, and ENDER LILLIES: Quietus of the Nights... There are many other great Metroidvanias that are fun to play and develop, so we considered them as benchmarks. Hollow Knight particularly impressed me with its depiction of the insect world," said Fujii.
Producer Yamamoto adds that DeskWorks retains its signature style and artistic direction.
"Although we are guided by these games, we are constantly working on originality. Chronoscript inherits the legacy of RPG TIME: The Legend of Wright, but in a more mature dark fantasy style that harmonizes with the player's skills."
The original twist on the genre is evident not only in the style—the developers call the game "Metroidvania +".
"We love Metroidvanias and put everything into the game. The "+" emphasizes the studio's strengths and the unique elements of the project", explains Fujii. .
One of the innovations is the map. In most Metroidvanias, players often look at the map because the exploration is non-linear. In Chronoscript, the map is created from connected sheets in 3D, while the main gameplay is in 2D. To find out the location, you need to zoom out from the playing field, combining 2D and 3D perspectives, which are equally important.
Chronoscript: The Endless End will be released in 2026 on PC and PlayStation 5.
