Aeterna Noctis

Lore & Background

The series narrates the story of a pair of monarchs who, after being cursed with immortality, have been fighting and killing each other for eternity. Then, a revelation unleashes a chain of events that helps the monarchs find a way to break the curse and find love in the process. The main protagonist is the King of Darkness, father of the Grey Soul, while the Queen of Light is the leader of the forces of light and his lover. Chaos is the Supreme God who rules all Creation and placed the curses on the King and Queen. Other characters include the Chronicler, an elderly being who chronicles all events in his library; the Grey Soul, child of the King and Queen; the Oracle, a mysterious being who helps the King; Lord Drake VI, an archaeologist and adventurer who sells Maps and Potions; the Collector, who resides in the graveyard and tasks the King with bringing rare specimens, giving him the bestiary; B-69, a robot who operates a train for fast travel; the Emperor, a powerful ruler who killed three gods before having his powers sealed by the Oracle; and the Celestial Dragon, a dragon from outer space disguised as a human, whom the King must chase to random parts of the world.

Reader's Guide

According to the source article, Aeterna Noctis received 'mixed or average' reviews from critics on PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch, as per Metacritic. OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 50% of critics. In a review for Push Square, Ollie Reynolds concluded that despite a distinct feeling of déjà vu due to unmistakable similarities to Hollow Knight, the game manages to nail the most important elements in a Metroidvania: exploration and combat. The game's legacy includes a second installment, Summum Aeterna, a roguelite prequel initially released for Steam in June 2022 and for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch in late 2023. A third installment, Aeterna Lucis, a sequel, is set for release on December 3, 2026.

Did You Know?

• The game was developed in Spain by Aeternum Game Studios.
• The King of Darkness and Queen of Light are cursed with immortality and have been fighting each other for eternity.
• B-69 is a robot who operates a train used as a fast travel mechanic between some areas.

Origins & Release

Aeterna Noctis is a Metroidvania action game developed by Aeternum Game Studios, a Spanish development team. The title launched in December 2021, arriving across four platforms simultaneously: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, and Xbox Series X/S. As a Metroidvania, the game's core design revolves around interconnected exploration and combat, inviting players to traverse a sprawling world while unlocking new abilities that open previously inaccessible regions. The Spanish origin of the studio roots the project in European game development. By targeting both current-generation consoles and PC at launch, Aeternum Game Studios positioned the title as a cross-platform experience from the very start, rather than a single-platform exclusive that might later receive a port. The December 2021 release window also meant the game entered the market during the holiday season, a period when it had to compete for player attention alongside a crowded slate of seasonal releases.

A World of Cursed Monarchs

The story of Aeterna Noctis centers on two sovereigns, the King of Darkness and the Queen of Light, cursed with immortality by Chaos, the Supreme God of all Creation. Bound in an endless cycle, they have spent ages fighting and killing one another. The Queen commands the forces of light and is the King's lover; their child is the Grey Soul. A pivotal revelation triggers a chain of events that gives the monarchs a way to break the curse and find love. The King, the playable protagonist, is aided by a vivid supporting cast. The Oracle, a mysterious being, guides his journey. The Chronicler, an elderly figure, maintains a library recording the world's entire history. Lord Drake VI, an archaeologist, trades Maps and Potions. The Collector, a graveyard resident, tasks the King with gathering rare specimens and provides a bestiary for documenting monsters. B-69, a robot, pilots a space-warping train that serves as fast travel between regions. The Emperor, who killed three gods before the Oracle sealed his power, is an optional boss. The Celestial Dragon, an extraterrestrial in human disguise, triggers a side quest that sends the King chasing it across random parts of the world.

Critical Response

Upon its December 2021 launch, Aeterna Noctis drew a middling critical consensus. On Metacritic, the PC, PlayStation 5, and Nintendo Switch editions all landed in the mixed-or-average band. OpenCritic offered a somewhat more positive picture, with half of surveyed critics recommending the title, a rating the site described as fair approval. A recurring observation across reviews was the game's obvious kinship with Hollow Knight. Push Square's Ollie Reynolds summed up the tension well: while the experience carries a strong sense of déjà vu owing to its clear parallels with that title, he felt it ultimately delivers on what matters most in a Metroidvania, namely exploration and combat. In practical terms, the game did not reinvent the genre, but critics broadly agreed that it executed the fundamental loop of traversing interconnected regions and engaging in tight combat well enough to merit a solid, if not enthusiastic, recommendation.

Legacy & the Aeterna Series

Aeterna Noctis proved to be the first entry in what Aeternum Game Studios has since expanded into a multi-part franchise. The second installment, Summum Aeterna, took a different structural approach by reimagining the world as a roguelite prequel to the original. It debuted on Steam in June 2022 and later expanded to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch in late 2023, giving the prequel a broader console audience roughly a year after its PC launch. Looking ahead, the third entry, Aeterna Lucis, is positioned as a direct sequel to the 2021 original and is scheduled for release on December 3, 2026. The series thus spans three distinct gameplay philosophies—a traditional Metroidvania, a roguelite prequel, and a sequel—while maintaining a shared narrative world. For Aeternum Game Studios, the trajectory from a single 2021 release to a planned trilogy underscores a studio that has built a recognizable brand around its cursed-monarch mythology and is steadily broadening both its platforms and its genre experimentation.