Key Takeaways
- Mark of the Deep blends the Soulslike and Metroidvania genres, with callbacks to Hades and Dark Souls.
- The game features the pirate protagonist Rookie who explores a cursed island, and the narrative boasts multiple endings.
- With over 80 enemies and comparisons to Soulslike difficulty and Metroidvania action, Mark of the Deep aims to be a top indie title.
Gamers will be treated to a brand-new pirate experience very soon when the indie action-adventure game Mark of the Deep releases next year on Steam. Being described as a Soulslike Metroidvania, Mark of the Deep combines two of the most popular and punishing genres in video games for Steam users to dive into and notably takes inspiration from classic games of this ilk, including Hades and the Dark Souls franchise.
Developed by Mad Mimic and published by Light Up Games, Mark of the Deep joins a varied catalog of vibrant PC games from the studio. Mad Mimic’s Dandy Ace was released in 2021 with a very positive Steam rating, following an energetic magician’s stance against the Green-Eyed Illusionist by way of his magical cards in combat, similar to X-Men’s Gambit. Multiplayer No Heroes Here and the cute puzzle title Latarnix Puzzle also come from the developer’s portfolio, but Mark of the Deep is expected to make an impression on Soulslike enthusiasts.
Related
A Smaller Soulslike Could Be a Boon for FromSoftware Stories in the Long Run
The next Soulslike by FromSoftware should be much smaller than Elden Ring, as that would ironically provide more room for experimentation.
Mark of the Deep will introduce players to the protagonist pirate Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey, who is tasked with exploring a cursed island in search of missing crew members. A fully-voiced shipmate cast will greet players, and hard choices will be integral to gameplay. Several indie games feature multiple endings to enrich the narrative, and Mark of the Deep will also use several conclusions to strengthen the consequences of pirate life. Existing as a Mark Keeper, Rookie will gather new abilities and unlock different fighting styles, with skills, weapons, and trinkets to upgrade essentials.
Pirate Game Mark of the Deep Blends Soulslike and Metroidvania Genres
Enemies populating the beautifully illustrated world of Mark of the Deep include abyssal monsters, sinister cults, and undead creatures, accumulating over 80 adversaries and 16 bosses, which is where the game’s Soulslike influence will make its mark. The notorious difficulty of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls combat, for example, is being compared to this indie’s encounters, and the art style and high-octane action echo Supergiant Games’ roguelike Hades. Mark of the Deep has the potential to join the best Soulslike Metroidvania games on the market, and combining its genre elements with a pirate aesthetic and lifestyle is a compelling concept.
Mark of the Deep has showcased a new gameplay trailer and has been given the release window of January 2025, launching on Steam and Epic Games, and the game’s initial details tease it as a best indie pirate game contender. Interested gamers can lock into Mark of the Deep’s demo, which is available to play right now, and the Mad Mimic Discord server will allow excited players to meet the community and share their experiences.
Steam
Steam is a digital video game storefront and program developed by Valve that allows gamers to purchase, play, and mod their titles all through one convenient program.
- Brand
- Valve
- Original Release Date
- September 12, 2003
- Original MSRP (USD)
- N/A
- Weight
- N/A