Sunnyside Games has revealed the first gameplay trailer for Nocturnal 2, the atmospheric sequel to their 2023 action-platformer Nocturnal. The trailer offers a glimpse at the game’s elegant flame-carrying mechanics, fast-paced combat, and mysterious world, set within the slumbering city of Ytash. The game is set to launch later this year on Nintendo Switch and PC via Steam.
A City Trapped in Eternal Sleep
Nocturnal 2 casts players as a lone wanderer on a mission to rekindle a forgotten city, whose lifeless streets and ancient shrines are cloaked in darkness. The core mechanic revolves around carefully carrying and preserving flame, which acts as both a weapon and a key to progression. From reigniting dormant engines to warding off shadowy threats, the fire becomes your constant companion through this melancholy, ash-streaked journey.
The game builds on the original’s tight 2D action with aerial combat, platforming, and puzzle-solving, all framed around a non-linear Metroidvania structure. Players must recover scattered fragments of a forgotten poem, revealing the city’s tragic history piece by piece.
Features at a Glance
- Flame-Centered Exploration: Avoid hazards that can snuff out your flame while using it to ignite torches, power machines, and awaken the island god Ytash.
- Fast-Paced Aerial Combat: Master a juggle-heavy combat system enhanced by a “burn-out” mechanic that keeps encounters intense and strategic.
- Environmental Storytelling: Uncover the history of a self-consuming city through poetry fragments and atmospheric exploration.
- Compact Metroidvania World: Navigate a focused island map designed around a singular mechanic, with plenty of hidden paths and secrets to discover.
A Poetic Sequel to a Cult Favorite
While Nocturnal 2 maintains the side-scrolling combat and platforming DNA of its predecessor, the sequel expands the world significantly. Where the original was a tightly contained adventure, the follow-up introduces a broader narrative scope and mechanical depth, grounded in themes of fire, memory, and decay.
The debut trailer teases boss encounters, interconnected regions, and intricately layered environments steeped in mystery and symbolism.
Coming to Steam and Switch
Nocturnal 2 will release in 2025 on Nintendo Switch and Steam, with a specific date still to be announced.
