Elypse

Introduction

Elypse is a dark atmospheric 2D action platformer developed by Hot Chili Games and published by PID Games. It's about precision movement, challenging traversal and somber storytelling. It is set in a world where once in ten years, a child gets sacrificed into an abyss. You play the last offering-the one who miraculously survived. Years later, you have to pass through the dangerous depths of the Abyss in search of escape. Inspired by great titles like Celeste and Hollow Knight, Elypse aims to merge a deeply melancholic narrative with striking visual design and very fluid platforming.

Gameplay – 8/10

Elypse is that a thrill rides tight, fast-paced platforming with a unique rhythm and flow. It gives a dash-motion effect: momentum and precision are key — chaining jumps, wall-clings, and aerial bursts feels so snappy and gratifying.

It follows a metroidania-lite structure - a minor exploration and upgrades, but the main engine is on challenges rather than on combats. There are some light combats, but these are desktop items rather than core features: encounters usually break even the most intense traversals.

The difficulty curve shoots up rapidly. It is nowhere near the punishment of the old "soulslike" era, but it tests great patience and timing to compete with Elypse, particularly during later stages where the platforming gets deceptively difficult. Checkpoints are generous, which keeps frustration pretty low, even in repeated failure.

Visuals & Art Style – 8.5/10

Beautiful and haunting, the world of this game is created using another hand-drawn, silhouette-driven style, one that puts heavy emphasis on a Gothic and muted palette, eerie color choices, and foreboding textures. Ori and the Blind Forest comes to mind, albeit with darker and brooding thoughts.

Each zone in the Abyss has its own atmosphere, be it dripping caves, lost ruins, or throbbing organic landscapes. Animation flows like silk in the game, especially with the player character's fluidity in motion and the seamless transitions in the environment. But while bleak, this world by its own path has an alarming vibrancy.

Sound & Music – 8/10

Elypse features a moody, orchestral soundtrack that accentuates the game’s somber tone. The music is haunting and elegant, never overpowering but always present, setting the emotional backdrop for each area you traverse.

Sound effects are crisp, particularly during platforming — jumps, dashes, and collisions have weight and clarity. Ambient noise design helps immerse players in the oppressive silence of the Abyss, occasionally broken by unsettling whispers or environmental groans.

Narrative & Atmosphere – 7.5/10

The Elypse tale is quite understated and symbolic, principally told through images, short utterances, and environmental cues. It dealt with sacrifice, survival, and rebirth using the Abyss as a metaphor for emotional and psychologic trauma.

The game has several NPCs and lore scattered everywhere, but it's not really a "story"-driven game. Instead, it's the setting that does the heavy lifting, really. The internal monologues of the protagonist give it a bit of character and introspection, but for those expecting a grander narrative scope, it might feel rather meager.

Replayability – 6.5/10

While the core experience is compact, there are collectibles, hidden rooms, and time-based platforming challenges to revisit. There’s also some value in speedrunning, as the movement mechanics lend themselves to mastery. However, once completed, there isn’t a huge incentive to return unless you're aiming for 100% completion or refining your skills.

Final Verdict – 8/10

Elypse is a gorgeous and emotionally resonant platformer that will appeal to fans of precision platforming, moody art styles, and minimalist storytelling. It doesn’t try to reinvent the genre, but it executes its vision with confidence and polish. For those who enjoy difficult but fair traversal challenges wrapped in a poignant visual and audio experience, Elypse is a worthwhile descent into the darkness.