While dozens of Steam games can be found in just about every genre, indie developers have been releasing more and more soulslikes with each passing year. This is hardly surprising, as the success of Elden Ring proved just how popular the genre had become, with many gamers clearly craving experiences where they can truly put their skills to the test. And while indie soulslikes on the scale of Elden Ring aren’t really a thing, smaller games inspired by the older work of FromSoftware can still be worthwhile — especially if they have an interesting hook like Memoirium does.
At first glance, Steam’s Memoirium has a gimmick that’s been done in the past with other indie projects: a retro PS1 aesthetic. Used regularly by horror games due to the potential to increase scares, as there’s something inherently unsettling about older character models and environments, the style can also enhance a soulslike vibe by showing fans what could have been. After all, with no soulslikes on the original PlayStation, something with Memoirium’s gameplay style and visuals is going to feel new. However, what really sets this upcoming Steam game apart is its setting, as instead of being fully sci-fi or fantasy, this soulslike takes place entirely in the protagonist’s dreams.
Memoirium Features at a Glance
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- EXPLORE a world with all kinds of locations, from unsettling classrooms and graveyards to forests and castles.
- UPGRADE your character with armor and masks, with every gear piece serving a purpose and being more than a visual change.
- PROCEED CAREFULLY, as items replenish at certain points, ensuring players are limited on their healing and other tools.
- DECORATE your room with items found in the dream world, which serves as a first-person hub between combat sections.
- WIELD distinct weapons, clear dungeons with unique enemies and bosses, use numerous spells in combat, acquire “game-changing” armor sets, and collect consumable keepsakes.
Traverse a chaotic and crumbling realm of dreams composed of liminal spaces. Adapt to the world’s odd rules as a Dreamer, and defy others like you to escape the strange and eclectic subconscious landscape.
Variety is the Name of the Game in Memoirium
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Memoirium wears its FromSoftware inspirations on its sleeve, from items functioning like the Estus Flask to animations that look like they were ripped directly from the Dark Souls series. Seeing an enemy impale the protagonist on a blade is as eerily familiar as the dodge rolls and finishing maneuvers, with the lock-ons and health bars also lining up perfectly. As if that wasn’t enough, Memoirium once again strengthens the Dark Souls connection in its world design, promising a fully interconnected world with multiple paths to explore. Said pathways will lead to 8 dungeons, each of which offers unique standard enemies, mini-bosses, and major bosses.
However, because Memoirium thrusts players into a dream world, these dungeons can be massively different from one another. There’s no need to stick to a certain design aesthetic like one would need to in a full fantasy world, as developer GoldenGratus is free to change the environment out of nowhere. One second, players could be walking through a creepy abandoned classroom, while the next liminal space could be a gorgeous underwater setting that looks like a PS1 version of Abzu. And on these journeys, players will acquire and wield a staggering amount of content, including:
- 14 armor sets, masks, and off-hand items
- 25 consumable keepsakes, which provide passive buffs
- 31 distinct weapons
- 67 powerful lullabies, AKA spells
This much content to experiment with should guarantee that players never feel bored as they progress through Memoirium, and the armor sets feel particularly worthy of extra attention. Unlike certain video game armor sets that are purely aesthetic, or provide negligible boosts to certain stats, Memoirium’s gear lives up to its “game-changing” description. Some sets will make enemies react differently to the Dreamer, whereas others will counter negative statuses. All look unique, from a set that turns the player into a ninja to a design resembling the villain Electro from the Spider-Man franchise.
Who’s That Character?
Identify the silhouettes before time runs out.
Memoirium’s Room Decoration is the Icing on the Cake
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However, while a neat armor system, distinct visuals, and a setting allowing for experimentation would be enough to make Memoirium worthy of a spot on any soulslike fan’s Steam wishlist, developer GoldenGratus goes above and beyond with the game’s room customization. When players wake up from their violent dreams, they’ll be in their bedroom, a first-person space where they can write in a journal or relax. They’ll also be able to decorate the room with beds, tables, computers, and so on, with these items collected as they explore the soulslike portion of Memoirium. While this decorative element will likely be pretty limited as opposed to what one would see in a life sim, the fact that it exists is awesome, as it adds just a bit more depth and immersion to the game. Memorium is thankfully right around the corner, but players who simply can’t wait for August 13 can try the game’s demo right now.
