Summary
The recent reveal of Moon Studios' new gameNo Rest for the Wickedat The Game Awards 2023 has caught the gaming community’s interest, especially since the studio is known for its fantasticalOriseries. Given Moon Studios' debut gameOri and the Blind Forestand its sequel,Ori and the Will of the Wisps, were story-led mystical Metroidvania games,No Rest for the Wicked’s violent, precision-based combat and darker interwoven narrative comes as a stark contrast. The game’s trailer demonstrated this best after it showcased visceral fighting and malformed monsters underscored byNo Rest for the Wicked’s haunting theme music.
However, the sudden shift in tone, style, and gameplay isn’t a total shock, asMoon Studios confirmed it was working on new projectsaway from theOriseries. In particular, founder and CEO Thomas Mahler even suggested via social media that the studio’s next game could be a make-or-break moment, which could have been the first clue to how differentNo Rest for the Wickedwould be. But whether Moon Studios' shift in development forNo Rest for the Wickedproves successful or not, the studio’s new, more mature direction could potentially pose a risk of estranging fans gained across theOrigames.
Moon Studios' Journey From Ori to No Rest for the Wicked
While many players will think aboutHollow KnightorAxiom Vergewhen discussing successful Metroidvania games by indie developers,Ori and the Blind Forestis invariably included among these. The game proved so popular that it received a direct sequel withOri and the Will of the Wisps, featured its titular character in fellow indie games likeRivals of Aether, and even led to Microsoft looking into making theOriseries Xbox and PC exclusive. But even after the sequel received similar acclaim,Moon Studios' next game was something completely differentdespite fans hoping for a threequel.
Ori and Moon Studios Hit a Setback
When Moon Studios' confirmed it was working on an all-new action RPG shortly after the release ofOri and the Will of the Wisps, it did suggest that it might someday revisit theOriseries if given the opportunity. But when it was confirmed thatMicrosoft wouldn’t be publishing Moon Studios’then-unnamedNo Rest for the Wickeddue to allegations of oppressive workplace conditions, it seemed that theOriseries no longer had a future with ties between the two companies cut. The absence of Microsoft’s backing may have prompted Moon Studios' to take a bolder approach midway through developing its third game.
No Rest for the Wicked Might Be Moon Studios' Redemption
Though Moon Studios' was already aiming to expand its work into other genres, stories, and styles, it’s possible that a damaged reputation associated with the well-knownOrigames meant thatNo Rest for the Wickedneeded to put distance between the two. For example, while the stories of bothOrigames were bittersweet and fairytale-like,No Rest for the Wickedhas teased violent combat, medieval coups, and monstrous plagues. In doing so, Moon Studios' could be hoping for a redeeming fresh start, especially when it has already successfully diverted attention onto how different its new game is and away from its history.
No Rest for the Wickedis arguably so different from Moon Studios' earlierOrigames that players might not even realize it. Beyond transitioning from 2D platformers to a 3D top-down RPG,No Rest for the Wickedappears to offer more with homeownership, crafting, farming, fishing, multiplayer, and more. Even its Steam page confirms the game will be far more mature with warnings of possible gore, strong language, and nudity. The broad scope ofNo Rest for the Wicked’s gameplay might help balance its focus on older players, but it will remain to be seen if it’s enough to make Moon Studios and not break it.
