Magnavale: Eternal Soul – Indie Metroidvania Pays Homage to Castlevania on Steam
Magnavale: Eternal Soul, the latest title from indie developer Barrier Studios, has officially unveiled its brand-new Steam page and trailer, further solidifying its place among the most anticipated upcoming Metroidvania games.
Previously known simply as Eternal Soul, this indie project drew early attention for its faithful homage to Konami’s iconic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Now carrying its finalized title, Magnavale: Eternal Soul, fans can watch an all-new trailer and wishlist the game on Steam for the latest updates. Background and Inspiration Barrier Studios has set out to deliver a Metroidvania that doesn’t just mirror the broad strokes of the genre but faithfully channels the detailed atmosphere and mechanics of Castlevania’s 1997 masterpiece.
The game casts players as Amrita Magnadyne, who must navigate the mysterious and foreboding Castle Lexington.
Visually, Magnavale: Eternal Soul draws direct inspiration from Symphony of the Night, with intricate sprite work and layered gothic environments reminiscent of the classic’s haunting grandeur. According to Barrier Studios, some animation frames in early previews closely resembled assets from Castlevania, but the team clarified that these were placeholders, emphasizing that the final animations will be fully original.
"We wanted our prototypes to evoke the iconic look and feel of Symphony of the Night, but our final assets will be entirely our own creations," a developer at Barrier Studios explained via social media. Gameplay Features and Mechanics Magnavale: Eternal Soul looks to offer a robust gameplay experience.
In addition to exploration and atmospheric world-building inspired by Dracula’s Castle, the game promises a range of special abilities and a comprehensive RPG-style leveling system.
Combat mechanics introduce a dual-weapon setup, allowing players to wield both a light and heavy weapon simultaneously—a decision influenced by Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow’s system, but streamlined for accessibility. "Dawn of Sorrow allowed players to switch between weapons using the Doppelganger mechanic, but we found it more practical to assign each weapon to its own button for smoother combat flow," the team shared in a development update.
This focus on control intuitiveness demonstrates Barrier Studios' commitment to both honoring classic design and enhancing modern playability. Expansion to Steam and Community Engagement With its new Steam page now live, Magnavale: Eternal Soul is poised to reach a wider PC gaming audience while maintaining active engagement with its community via development updates and social channels.
While a Nintendo Switch release or eShop listing has not yet been confirmed, the game’s classic genre pedigree and accessible combat system make it a natural fit for future consideration on Nintendo platforms. Fans eager to stay informed about Barrier Studios’ progress are encouraged to follow the studio on Twitter and add Magnavale: Eternal Soul to their Steam wishlists.
With its combination of gothic visuals, refined mechanics, and clear reverence for Castlevania, this indie title stands out as one of the most promising entries in the ever-expanding Metroidvania genre.
Previously known simply as Eternal Soul, this indie project drew early attention for its faithful homage to Konami’s iconic Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.
Now carrying its finalized title, Magnavale: Eternal Soul, fans can watch an all-new trailer and wishlist the game on Steam for the latest updates. Background and Inspiration Barrier Studios has set out to deliver a Metroidvania that doesn’t just mirror the broad strokes of the genre but faithfully channels the detailed atmosphere and mechanics of Castlevania’s 1997 masterpiece.
The game casts players as Amrita Magnadyne, who must navigate the mysterious and foreboding Castle Lexington.
Visually, Magnavale: Eternal Soul draws direct inspiration from Symphony of the Night, with intricate sprite work and layered gothic environments reminiscent of the classic’s haunting grandeur. According to Barrier Studios, some animation frames in early previews closely resembled assets from Castlevania, but the team clarified that these were placeholders, emphasizing that the final animations will be fully original.
"We wanted our prototypes to evoke the iconic look and feel of Symphony of the Night, but our final assets will be entirely our own creations," a developer at Barrier Studios explained via social media. Gameplay Features and Mechanics Magnavale: Eternal Soul looks to offer a robust gameplay experience.
In addition to exploration and atmospheric world-building inspired by Dracula’s Castle, the game promises a range of special abilities and a comprehensive RPG-style leveling system.
Combat mechanics introduce a dual-weapon setup, allowing players to wield both a light and heavy weapon simultaneously—a decision influenced by Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow’s system, but streamlined for accessibility. "Dawn of Sorrow allowed players to switch between weapons using the Doppelganger mechanic, but we found it more practical to assign each weapon to its own button for smoother combat flow," the team shared in a development update.
This focus on control intuitiveness demonstrates Barrier Studios' commitment to both honoring classic design and enhancing modern playability. Expansion to Steam and Community Engagement With its new Steam page now live, Magnavale: Eternal Soul is poised to reach a wider PC gaming audience while maintaining active engagement with its community via development updates and social channels.
While a Nintendo Switch release or eShop listing has not yet been confirmed, the game’s classic genre pedigree and accessible combat system make it a natural fit for future consideration on Nintendo platforms. Fans eager to stay informed about Barrier Studios’ progress are encouraged to follow the studio on Twitter and add Magnavale: Eternal Soul to their Steam wishlists.
With its combination of gothic visuals, refined mechanics, and clear reverence for Castlevania, this indie title stands out as one of the most promising entries in the ever-expanding Metroidvania genre.
