Crypt Custodian

Developer: Kyle Thompson

Release Date: 2024

Crypt Custodian is a charming metroidvania about cleaning up the afterlife. Play as Pluto- a mischievous cat who has died, and is sentenced to be the afterworlds janitor… FOREVER! Hang out with other doomed ghosts, battle beasts, and explore a vastly expansive landscape.

For a game that I expected to be action packed and all about the combat, I did not expect to be so completely and utterly charmed by the writing, dialogue and characters of Crypt Custodian, while a beat later holding back a tear.

The Crypt Custodian demo was huge. Every time that I thought ‘there can’t possibly be more’, there was more. More areas, more mechanics, more enemies. So much in fact that I didn’t complete this one. I reached a boss but after multiple attempts and multiple failures, I had to call time. There were optional upgrades that I could have pursued that could have helped me, as well as areas that I had yet to explore, so I am confident that with more time I could have made it through.

Generally, the game felt good to play. There is an overall reminiscence of Dark Souls with the bonfire-esque shrines, but the combat almost reminded me of The Binding of Isaac, not in mechanics but in rhythm. As you progress, you will meet new enemies and master the patterns of beating them, with that continuously being shaken up as you come across new waves and combinations. The health system is the other similarity being simple to understand, being hit takes away 1 health. Get hit 3 more times and you die. I personally didn’t get along with the dodge cooldown, finding myself frustrated at times, but there are difficulty options including both an easy mode and more personalised settings in the assist section of the settings menu.

Crypt Custodian is as much about exploring as it is about fighting, with worthy puzzles scattered around, sometimes halting and sometimes guiding your progress. The simple, colourful aesthetic perfectly complements the dark humour of the game and while I don’t have a hankering to continue with the fighting side of the game (which would be impossible to avoid as there are enemies around every corner), I could see myself making use of the difficulty features to make it though the rest as I feel quite enamoured by the world and the characters within.

Demo Length – 1+ hour
At a glance
+ Humour
+ Characters
+ Aesthetic
+ Exploration
+ Puzzles
+ Difficulty options
+/- Combat