Today’s Niche Spotlight is Lost Ruins, a 2D Metroidvania by Altari Games and Dangen Entertainment.

You play as a young girl that awakens in a maze of mysterious and ancient ruins. After being rescued by the magician Beatrice, you must delve into the darkest depths of the ruins to discover the truth and find a way home.

Fight a wide range of monsters (including powerful monster-girl bosses) with an arsenal of spells, weapons, and equipment. Use hazards in the environment, like flammable liquids or traps, to help thin down groups of deadly monsters.

You can find the earlier release date trailer below.

Lost Ruins is available on Windows PC, Linux, and Mac via Steam for $19.99.

You can find a rundown (via Steam) below:

Story

A young girl wakes up in a dimly lit dungeon without any of her memories. Surrounded by horrible, bloodthirsty monsters, she is rescued by a mysterious magician, Beatrice. With Beatrice’s help, the girl goes on a perilous journey to find answers and unlock the secrets of the Lost Ruins.

Gameplay

Engage in Combat
Combat in Lost Ruins is in real time, and can be both fast and methodical. Slash away at enemies, burn them to a crisp, or even deflect their projectiles back at them. Arm yourself with a variety of swords, axes and other assorted medieval weaponry, and hack monsters to pieces.

Master Spells
For those with an affinity for magic, Lost Ruins allows you to cast a variety of spells through wands, tonics, and scrolls. Burn monsters, freeze bosses, and heal yourself when in danger. Choose what works for your playstyle and make a magic casting character that’s totally your own.

Choose Your Accessories
The world of Lost Ruins is a dangerous one and being armed to the teeth with awesome weaponry is sometimes not enough. That’s where accessories come in. Accessories are unique pieces of equipment with all manner of effects. One accessory might protect you against fire, while another might heal you when you’re poisoned. The right combination of accessories can create different strategic options for your adventure.

Make Use of the Environment
As you explore the depths of Lost Ruin’s dimly lit dungeons, you will find that while everything around you might bring about your death, you can also use the environment around you to your advantage. Elements within the world will react with other elements realistically. Flammable liquids will be set ablaze when in contact with lit lanterns. Ice magic will freeze bodies of water, making them dangerously cold. The more you understand the environment and how to use it to your advantage, the more dangerous you will become.

If you’re a developer and want your game showcased on Niche Spotlight, please contact us!

This is Niche Spotlight. In this column, we regularly introduce new games to our fans, so please leave feedback and let us know if there’s a game you want us to cover!