There must be something in the water during January, for after Prince of Persia: The Lost Crown got the Metroidvania genre off to a flyer in 2024, Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist is doing the same 12 months on. The follow-up to Ender Lilies: Quietus of the Knights refines what co-developers Adglobe and Live Wire achieved four years ago, elevating their addictive blend of combat, exploration, and platforming to new heights.

Just like its predecessor, Ender Magnolia doesn't do anything you haven't seen before; it simply presents those familiar mechanics at their best. Its rewarding combat system, which is expanded by absorbing the souls of fallen bosses, feels so fulfilling, with fast sword swings and fun long-range capabilities. You unlock the double jump and dash ability very early on, allowing the game to immediately open up and challenge your platforming skills.

The secrets you discover (character upgrades and collectibles) are mostly worthwhile, though backtracking with new abilities isn't quite as satisfying as other Metroidvanias — it's the one aspect where the game feels slightly too simple.

Its narrative proves more complex, but also difficult to follow. Ender Magnolia explores the Land of Fumes and how an artificial life form called Homunculi has been driven mad by toxic gas. While some plot points do make for touching moments, it's overall a story you'd need to put the work in to piece together accurately. Similar to a Dark Souls tale, it can at least be left as background noise to the action.

You could even match the difficulty to that of a FromSoftware effort thanks to customisable difficulty options that allow you to adjust factors like enemy HP, damage, and attack frequency at any rest point. The difficulty can be temporarily reduced if a particular boss encounter becomes a roadblock or even increased to garner more currency from defeating enemies.

What the difficulty sliders can't affect, though, is one or two particularly frustrating areas. The Crimson Forest especially, the game occasionally loves to flood zones with portals that don't communicate where you'll be teleported to. With main story progress blocked by the confusing labyrinth of gateways, the Crimson Forest proves a rare sore spot in the overall experience.

Gratifying combat, enjoyable platforming, and an impressive list of abilities help Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist comfortably overcome any minor missteps, however. Aided further through vibrant graphics and flawless technical performance, Adglobe and Live Wire have once again come together to showcase Metroidvanias at their best.