Lunarium Review

Lunarium may not reinvent the Soulslike formula, but its stunning world, satisfying combat, and heartfelt duo make it one of the genre's most charming indie adventures.

The Soulslike genre has never been more crowded. Every few months, a new game comes out promising intense boss fights, fascinating worlds, and combat that requires precise timing. Most of them are heavily indebted to the classics, but very few manage to create their own character.

Lunarium isn't looking to topple the giants of the genre. It's about getting the basics right. Lunarium Studios' indie action RPG blends punishing battles with stunning fantasy locations, exploration that pays off, and a companion-driven plot that gives the experience considerably more heart than its conventional premise suggests at first blush.

Its greatest strength isn't in introducing revolutionary mechanics. It's that practically every mechanism comes together to provide a reliably fun experience. Every corner has recognizable themes, yet they're slick enough that you can't help but be drawn into Abe and Lon's trip.

Lunarium opens with a really easy setup. Abe is a young knight from a tranquil town. She's been sent to take care of a rising monster problem that threatens her home. After killing perhaps the biggest monster, some unknown entity called the Nihilus brings it back to life in an even scarier form. Abe is killed in combat, but finds herself next to Lon, an ancient Starfarer with immense heavenly powers but very little knowledge of her past.

Lon knows the black power immediately. The Nihilus has haunted the world for generations, poisoning life wherever it has touched. But this time there is something unusual. The threat is worse than ever, and the couple must go across kingdoms, lost ruins, and dreamy landscapes in search of answers before all is devoured by darkness.

It's a classic fantasy tale. Light versus darkness, an ancient evil, a reluctant hero—it has all been done before. Players looking for shocking twists probably won't find them here. Fortunately, the real story isn't about saving the world. It's about the relationship between Abe and Lon.

The conversations seem genuine rather than forced.

They poke fun at each other, have each other's backs, and steadily build a bond that carries the emotional weight of the experience. There's definitely chemistry between the two, and while the game never really goes for romance, it allows just enough space for players to speculate where their relationship could eventually go.

There are many stories to tell in the world itself. Hidden journals, lost letters, and old archives slowly expose the fate of prior civilizations and explain the origins of the Starfarers. Environmental storytelling makes the world feel lived-in, even without dozens of NPCs or long side quests. Lunarium is an isometric action RPG that combines Soulslike gameplay with exploration and character development.

During the quest, players control Abe, who Lon helps with more magic from the sidelines. Instead of continually jumping between the two characters, Lon's powers are integrated immediately into the action, with teamwork feeling seamless. A tap of the screen will launch magical arrows that will immediately lure Abe's foes nearer for aggressive follow-up strikes.

Command charges with better support abilities to break heavy armor or create greater openings. This method adds a nice rhythm to battles. Instead of just attacking over and over, players are urged to blend Abe's swordplay with Lon's spells to maximize damage.

Exploration is also vital away from conflict. Every setting is packed with secret passageways, secret rooms, optional bosses, crafting supplies, and precious upgrades. It's the kind of game where taking an extra minute to check behind a waterfall or climb an overlooked staircase often pays off.

Returning to town also becomes part of the gameplay loop.

Gathered resources can be utilized to construct improvements, unlock new cloaks, improve equipment, or buy helpful goods before heading off again. Character creation is not very deep, but there is enough freedom to play about. The skill tree eventually unlocks new powers, such as the ability to deflect projectiles, enhanced dodges, and other fighting talents.

Eventually you will unlock most upgrades, but your choice of which active abilities to equip can still impact the course of combat. Things get more complicated when it comes to the cloak system. Each cloak modifies Abe's combat technique differently. Some boost health or attack power, while others completely change attack animations or add brand-new dynamics.

Embroideries act as passive modifiers that fit into each cloak, allowing players to increase damage, improve healing, generate more magical energy, or specialize in riskier high-reward builds. It's a familiar RPG system, but it's flexible enough that different playstyles actually feel distinct. Combat is where Lunarium truly earns its place among modern Soulslikes. Nearly every encounter revolves around timing.

Enemies have stagger meters that slowly build through attacks but fill much faster when players land perfectly timed parries.  Once the meter breaks, enemies become stunned, creating a short opportunity to unleash massive damage. The game makes one thing very clear from the beginning. Parrying isn't optional. Players who prefer rolling away from danger will stay alive, but battles become much longer because dodging barely contributes toward staggering enemies. 

The fastest path to victory is standing your ground and learning enemy attack patterns.

For players who enjoy mastering difficult combat, this system feels incredibly rewarding. Enemies' animations are expertly telegraphed, parries feel satisfying when they work, and wins always seem earned, never lucky. Every boss is gradually transformed from an insurmountable impediment to a well-rehearsed dance.

But here's the catch. Not everyone enjoys parrying. And the Lunarium asks for it constantly. Players who dislike reaction-based combat may struggle to enjoy some of the tougher encounters, especially since certain bosses almost demand perfect timing to avoid lengthy battles.

Boss fights remain one of the game's biggest highlights. Enemy animations telegraph effectively, successful parries are satisfying, and wins always seem earned, not lucky. Each boss slowly becomes an impossible obstacle, then a beautifully learned dance. But there's the catch. Some later bosses begin to look a little similar, particularly in the Scanstone region, but mechanically they continue offering fresh challenges.

The checkpoint system also deserves praise. Rest benches are placed generously enough that dying never becomes an exhausting chore. Instead of spending several minutes running back to a boss, players can jump straight into another attempt and continue learning.

The progression feels continuous throughout the adventure. Enemies drop experience and crafting materials, while exploration provides a steady stream of resources needed to upgrade gear and skills. The game also lets players upgrade both healing goods and magical energy, allowing them to survive longer confrontations over time without making the game significantly easier.

Ultimately, the impact of the cloak and embroidery systems in shaping each character construct is far larger than just leveling up.

One player might focus on aggressive damage, another on survival or magical support. Although these systems never become as deep as those found in larger RPGs, they provide enough variety to keep experimentation enjoyable from beginning to end. If combat keeps players invested, the visuals make them want to stay. The Lunarium is absolutely gorgeous.

The developers drew heavy inspiration from stained-glass artwork, fairy tales, and classic fantasy paintings. Every place feels handmade, with faded ruins, incandescent buildings, overgrown forests, and gorgeous coastlines that are always beckoning you to explore. Each region introduces its own personality.

One moment players are wandering through dense forests full of wolves and towering beasts. The next thing they visit is Roman-like cities protected by mechanical giants, and finally they arrive at coastal communities modified by the rise and fall of the tides.

Character images are painted in delicate, watercolor-like colors that complement the game's melancholy mood, while adversary designs flow seamlessly into each setting. Performance also seems quite impressively polished. The PC version, insiders say, has smooth frame rates throughout the adventure, even during big monster bouts full of visual effects.

The music quietly stands as one of Lunarium's biggest achievements. Instead of bombarding players with endless symphonic bursts, the soundtrack reacts to whatever is happening on screen.  The exploration is accompanied by peaceful sounds, which grow increasingly throughout the fight. Sitting on benches, again, lessens the soundscape, allowing for a modest emotional breathing space between stressful meetings.

Boss themes also need consideration.

Every big fight has music that matches its personality, making every encounter feel more theatrical without being repetitious. The sound design is equally outstanding. Each swing of the sword, successful parry, magic spell, and heavy blow has enough heft that combat feels responsive from start to finish. Because accurate timing is so critical, these aural cues are as important as visual ones.

The Lunarium succeeds because it understands exactly what it wants to be. It isn't trying to revolutionize Soulslikes. It isn't trying to become the next Elden Ring. Instead, it delivers a focused adventure built around rewarding combat, satisfying exploration, memorable art direction, and two protagonists who are enjoyable to spend time with.

The story rarely surprises, and several progression systems borrow heavily from games that came before it. Even so, strong execution keeps everything engaging from beginning to end. Combat will always be the greatest decisive factor. If you prefer to understand boss patterns and nail exact parries, there's lots to love here. Those looking to avoid timing-heavy mechanics may struggle to truly appreciate what Lunarium has to offer.

But it's hard to disrespect how boldly the game commits to its concept. Great settings, engaging gameplay, rewarding exploration, and an emotional core partnership come together to make an indie action RPG much more memorable than its conventional premise would suggest. Sometimes a game doesn't need to recreate a genre; it just needs to remind gamers why they fell in love with it in the first place. So the real question is: are you ready to master the parry, or will the Lunarium convince you to accept it fully?