Hollow Knight seriously shifted my perspective on giving games a proper chance. Uncertain about the cult-classic Metroidvania despite its reputation, it took much egging on from friends and two separate attempts for me to stick with it, only for it to become one of my favorite games of all time. Of course, I’m now left waiting for news of Hollow Knight Silksong just like everyone else. But, just as it feels more real than ever before, another contender to the throne has caught my eye. Little Mage is a stunning, hand-crafted spin on 2D action platformers, and I’m already eager to try it.
Built by UK-based indie developer Violoken, Little Mage puts you in the cloak of the eponymous Aether Mage, who is “the first to awaken in a world ravaged by the Fall.” The formerly bustling city of Hornedrose is now but a tomb imprisoning a group of elder spellcasters known as the Sixteen, locked away following their involvement in a world-shattering catastrophe. It’s therefore up to you to figure out what has happened, wandering the devastated districts in a fashion familiar to the best Metroidvania games and attempting to find a way to preserve what’s left.
Immediately, the stunning, hand-crafted environments of Little Mage pulled my eye in – the comparisons to Hollow Knight are certainly easy to make, yet Violoken has carved out a distinctive look of its own. The studio promises everything I want from a good action-driven platform game: navigation challenges “rewarding skillful movement and platforming mastery,” striking boss battles that push your skills to the limits, and plenty of character progression with the ability to “level up, unlock powerful gear, and tailor your play style as you explore.”
Of course, given the framing, you can expect plenty of spells, with elemental magic a core focus – you’ll have the ability to wield the forces of fire, earth, metal, aether, and other options. I’m particularly curious about the colossal, screen-rending explosion seen at the very end of the reveal trailer, and whether that’s something we’ll gain access to ourselves.
Violoken also says that Little Mage will offer “immense replayability,” with plenty of secrets to discover, all manner of equipment to offer various ways to craft your builds, and the ability to “explore new pathways with each playthrough.” As if that’s not enough, the developer has one more trick up its sleeve in DARC, “a strategic, fully integrated card mini-game with thousands of drops for added fun.” I’m already prepared to be entirely distracted from the main quest in true Gwent fashion.
There’s no set release date for Little Mage, but developer Violoken is planning to launch a Kickstarter soon. You can wishlist the game on Steam right now, if you’re as eager as I am to keep track of its progress.
Want something you can play right now? Here are the best single-player games we recommend in 2025, along with a selection of the best soulslikes if you love rich exploration, rewarding boss battles, and mysteries galore.
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