Pocketpair Announces Nevergrave: Metroidvania Roguelight for March 2026

Pocketpair, the developer behind viral hit Palworld, announced Never Grave: The Witch and The Curse during Sony's State of Play Japan livestream on November 12, 2025. The metroidvania-roguelight hybrid launches March 5, 2026 across PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, Steam, and Microsoft Store.

Metroidvania Meets Roguelight

Developed by Frontside 180 Studio, Pocketpair's internal development division, Nevergrave combines interconnected environment exploration characteristic of metroidvania games with procedural roguelike elements. The fusion creates a hybrid experience blending the exploration-focused design of titles like Hollow Knight with the replayability and permadeath mechanics of roguelite games.

The gameplay centers on a unique cursed hat mechanic that accompanies players throughout progression. While specific story details remain undisclosed beyond the "Witch and The Curse" theme, the cursed hat appears to serve as both a narrative device and gameplay system integral to the experience. This mechanic suggests players will unlock new abilities or face different challenges based on the curse's evolution throughout each run.

Multi-Platform Launch Strategy

The comprehensive platform coverage ensures accessibility across current and last-generation consoles, Nintendo's hybrid system, and multiple PC storefronts. By supporting PlayStation 4 alongside PlayStation 5, Pocketpair acknowledges the substantial install base still active on last-generation hardware. The dual PC release through Steam and Microsoft Store maximizes potential reach across different digital ecosystems.

The simultaneous multi-platform launch represents a significant logistical undertaking for an indie studio. Coordinating certification processes, optimization for varied hardware specifications, and platform-specific features across six different systems requires substantial resources and planning. Pocketpair's financial success with Palworld likely enables this ambitious scope.

Studio Evolution and Genre Positioning

Pocketpair established itself as a major indie developer with Palworld's explosive launch in early 2024. The creature-collecting survival game sold millions of copies within days, becoming one of the most-played titles on Steam and Xbox Game Pass. Nevergrave represents the studio's expansion into multiple concurrent projects, demonstrating ambitions beyond a single franchise.

The metroidvania-roguelight combination targets a different audience segment than Palworld's survival-crafting focus, potentially broadening the studio's portfolio. This multi-project approach reflects a maturation strategy common among successful indie developers like Supergiant Games and Team Cherry, diversifying offerings to reduce dependency on a single IP.

The metroidvania genre has seen consistent growth in the indie space, with titles like Hollow Knight and Blasphemous achieving critical success. The roguelight subgenre has similarly thrived with Hades and Dead Cells. Nevergrave enters a crowded but receptive market, with the cursed hat mechanic providing a unique hook that could distinguish it from competitors.

Development Timeline and Future Details

The March 5, 2026 release date places Nevergrave approximately four months from announcement to launch, suggesting significant development progress before the State of Play reveal. Additional details about progression systems, combat mechanics, and story structure are expected in the months leading to release.

Key questions remain about the balance between metroidvania exploration and roguelight randomization. The witch and curse narrative theme suggests potential for environmental storytelling and character development, staples of successful metroidvania titles. How Frontside 180 Studio integrates story with roguelight mechanics will be crucial to the game's reception, as recent roguelights like Hades have demonstrated that compelling narratives can coexist with roguelike structures.

Official Website: Nevergrave - Pocketpair