A retro sword-and-whip action game
Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is a 2D side-scrolling action game with a dark, 8-bit look and classic sword-and-whip combat, built with modern playability in mind. You take control of Zangetsu, a swordsman from the far east who holds a deep grudge against demonkind and the alchemists who summoned them. He fights his way toward the demonic stronghold, cutting through the game's many stages along the way. The multiple-scenario structure from the previous title returns, with a new story supervised by Koji Igarashi himself.
Characters and ways to play each stage
Zangetsu does not have to make the trip alone. He can ally with the cast of characters he meets on the road and add them to the playable roster. Three brand-new playable characters appear in this game, including the exorcist Dominique, and every character from the original Curse of the Moon is playable as well. Each character brings their own abilities and gameplay options, so the same stage can be approached in different ways depending on who you bring. That variety is the core of the game: pick a character, learn what they can do, and find new routes through stages you have already played.
Playing together with friends
Curse of the Moon 2 introduces 2-player local co-op to the series for the first time. Two players pick different characters and combine their strengths to push through stages that would be harder alone. Mixing and matching the roster gives you plenty of ways to tackle a level, and swapping characters between attempts keeps the run fresh. Remote Play Together is also supported, so a friend can join your session even if they are not sitting next to you.
Before you start
The game carries a Difficult tag, so expect stages that demand precise jumps, careful timing, and repeated attempts. It is a retro-styled platformer in the truest sense: short stages, tight combat, and enemies that punish sloppy play. The multiple-scenario structure means there is more than one path through the story, and the full character roster opens up as you go. Give yourself time to learn each character's abilities before judging a stage as unfair — most of them have more than one solution.