A castle full of secrets to open up
Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is an exploration-focused, side-scroller action RPG by Koji Igarashi. You play as Miriam, an orphan scarred by an alchemist's curse that slowly crystallizes her body. To save herself and all of humanity, she fights through a demon-infested castle summoned by Gebel, an old friend whose body and mind have become more crystal than flesh. The castle is built around the Metroidvania idea: paths stay shut until you find the weapon, spell or ability that opens them, so backtracking through familiar halls with new gear is a core part of the loop. Combat is tight and fast, with a huge pile of weapons and spells to find, upgrade, level up and visually customize. The world is rendered in 2.5D, using 3D models on a 2D playfield, and the story cut scenes and NPC interactions are fully voiced.
Playing it together
The Steam version carries Online Co-op, so a friend can drop in and fight through the castle alongside you rather than trading turns on the couch. There is also Online PvP for when the group wants to test builds against each other instead of the demons, and Remote Play Together for streaming the game to someone who does not have it installed. Three playable characters are included, two of which have yet to be revealed, so a group can split up and see the castle from different angles. Voice acting from David Hayter, Ray Chase and Erica Lindbeck gives the shared run plenty to listen to between fights.
Before you start
Expect a long, dense game rather than a quick session. The castle rewards patience: doors stay locked, secrets hide behind breakable walls, and the crafting and upgrade systems mean time spent in menus pays off in damage later. The "Speed Demon" update adds Speed Run Mode and Boss Rush Mode if the group wants a shorter, more competitive format, plus the Pure Miriam outfit. The game carries tags for Sexual Content, Nudity and Difficult, so it is worth knowing the tone and the challenge level before the whole squad commits to a playthrough.