ICYMI: The Crypt of Charon is like Zelda viewed through the lens of Dark Souls, and it rules

Considering how many games are coming to Switch each week, we can certainly be forgiven for missing out on a strange gem here and there. In the past, when possible, we have tried to retroactively correct this error, and today we want to shed some light on Crypt of Charon – Even death can dieabsolutely fantastic adventure in a retro gothic style, Dark souls– inspired look at Zelda but has many of its own unique ideas.

First, these visual effects. The team behind the game explicitly chose the look and feel of the Game Boy Color for this game; while we doubt real GBC has managed to achieve some of the fancier visuals, but it’s still brilliantly authentic. The Zelda vibe is evident too – from the way the dungeons are displayed to the map screen and visually similar inventory management, it really does feel like you’re playing a dark, sinister version of the famous Nintendo series.

However, despite borrowing many gameplay elements from 2D-Zelda, Kharon’s Crypt offers many new ideas. You take on the role of Charon – a being believed to be death incarnate – and you must escape your titular tomb, where you’ve been imprisoned by a selfish ruler who believes he can cheat death by keeping you under lock and key.

Charon’s main form is a ghostly spirit, and as expected, you can partake in all sorts of ghostly fun. However, if you really want to progress, you need to possess various fallen enemies. Skeletons, for example, have arms that can be used to interact with objects in dungeons. You can also pick up weapons and items from enemies you have killed. There are also a variety of Zelda-like puzzles to solve, such as moving around statues and using beams of light to advance.

The game features 11 boss battles as well as hundreds of collectibles, including over 100 pages describing various items and expanding lore. There is a lot going on in this seemingly simple game.

What’s more, Kharon’s Crypt scores huge for accessibility considering the three types of color blindness: protanopia, deuteranopia, and tritanopia. An impressive feat considering the team’s small size.

Kharon’s Crypt is out now on Switch for $14.95 / £10.95. If you’d like us to do a full review, please let us know below.