A punishing 2D action RPG
Salt and Sanctuary is a side-scrolling action RPG set on a cursed, uncharted island. You take the role of a doomed sailor shipwrecked on its shores, moving through fog-shrouded valleys, forgotten cities, blood-soaked dungeons, and desecrated monuments. The combat is fast, brutal, and complex, demanding careful timing and positioning against shambling figures and the fallen lords that once ruled the realm. Alongside the fighting sits a deep layer of RPG systems, with over 600 weapons, armor pieces, spells, and items to discover, craft, and upgrade as you push deeper into labyrinthine passageways beneath crumbling, salt-worn structures.
Playing together
The game supports local co-op, so a group can share the experience on one screen as you explore the island and take on its horrors side by side. Remote Play Together is also available, letting friends join in over a network connection as if they were sitting on the same couch. Either way, the shared session keeps the focus on working through the island's challenges as a team rather than trading the controller back and forth.
Before you start
This is a difficult game by design, with a dark fantasy tone that includes gore and horror imagery. Expect to die and retry as you learn enemy patterns and the island's layout. The exploration leans into Metroidvania-style traversal, so paths that seem blocked at first may open up once you have the right gear or abilities. Bring patience, and treat each death as information about how to handle the next stretch.