The Blasphemous series has made waves as a unique retro-inspired action-platformer that blends a classic aesthetic with a delightfully dark story and imagery. Developed by The Game Kitchen, Blasphemous and its sequel have left a mark in the world of indie games, which has raised plenty of questions regarding a potential third entry.

Both chapters in the series have brought players a mix of brutal combat and religious imagery, making Blasphemous an incredibly unique Soulslike experience. While there are many fans out there who hope for a third game, The Game Kitchen continuing the game's story would present a fork in the road that will need to be addressed sooner, rather than later. If the developer expands Blasphemous' narrative, it may serve the series best if it were the last installment. On the other hand, though, it may be wiser for The Game Kitchen to go ahead and move on to a fresh IP.

It May Be Time For The Game Kitchen to Move On From Blasphemous

Blasphemous Needs to Avoid Overstaying Its Welcome

Yes, Blasphemous has been a strong addition to the indie genre, but trying to stretch the IP further than necessary also runs the risk of making its concept grow stale. Now that two chapters have explored the lore of its strange Gothic-inspired medieval world, a third Blasphemous could be pushing things too far. Of course, there is the possibility that The Game Kitchen could achieve what FromSoftware did with Dark Souls 3 and offer a balanced third chapter that doesn't feel like the series has gone too far, but that's definitely easier said than done.

The Game Kitchen May Want to Explore Dark Fantasy in Other Ways

Instead of diving into another Blasphemous game, The Game Kitchen may have better success with showcasing what it can do outside the horror fantasy IP by crafting original stories that are in the same genre. While the developer hasn't fully confirmed that this is the move going forward, The Game Kitchen's newest project may be implying that. The Stone of Madness brings players yet another dark story, this time set in an 18th-century Spanish monastery that players must escape.

Exploring various points of history through a bleak Blasphemous-inspired lens could present The Game Kitchen with a powerful tool for crafting strong stories that still retain a cohesive tone. The Stone of Madness focuses on stealth over its predecessor's brutal combat, which is an intriguing change of pace.

The Stone of Madness features five playable characters: Agnes, Leonora, Eduardo, Amelia, and Alfredo.

The Game Kitchen Continues to Broaden Its Horizons as a Studio

The Game Kitchen is also developing Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound. While this title foregoes the developer's more history-focused stories, it further demonstrates that the studio has a desire to branch out beyond the Blasphemous name. If the developer can prove its talents in other genres, then The Game Kitchen is likely to create better longevity for itself in the long run, even if that means stepping away from the series that helped put the studio in the spotlight.

  • Ninja Gaiden: Ragebound is scheduled for summer 2025.

Blasphemous launched in 2019, while its sequel was released back in 2023. So, even if a third game is greenlit, there may be a long wait ahead.

As it stands, it's unclear if Blasphemous 3 will ever become a reality. At IndieDevDay 2024 in Barcelona, Studio Director Mauricio García cheekily joked about the state of a third Blasphemous, stating that the game "is happening in the same year that Half-Life 3 is happening." Based on that response alone, Blasphemous 3 seems unlikely. There is always room for surprises, though, and if a third chapter ever enters development, making it the finale of the series may be the best way for Blasphemous to maintain its charm.

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Blasphemous Tag Page Cover Art

Blasphemous
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Metroidvania
Soulslike
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Systems
super greyscale 8-bit logo PC-1 PlayStation-1 Xbox-1
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Top Critic Avg: 79 /100 Critics Rec: 84%
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Released
September 10, 2019
ESRB
M For Mature 17+ Due To Blood and Gore, Nudity, Violence
Developer(s)
The Game Kitchen
Publisher(s)
Team17
Engine
Unity
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WHERE TO PLAY

DIGITAL
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A foul curse has fallen upon the land of Cvstodia and all its inhabitants - it is simply known as The Miracle.

Play as The Penitent One - a sole survivor of the massacre of the ‘Silent Sorrow’. Trapped in an endless cycle of death and rebirth, it’s down to you to free the world from this terrible fate and reach the origin of your anguish.

Explore this nightmarish world of twisted religion and discover its many secrets hidden deep inside. Use devastating combos and brutal executions to smite the hordes of grotesque monsters and titanic bosses, all ready to rip you limb from limb. Locate and equip relics, rosary beads and prayers that call on the powers of the heavens to aid you in your quest to break your eternal damnation.

Explore a Non-Linear World: Overcome fearsome enemies and deadly traps as you venture through a variety of different landscapes, and search for redemption in the dark gothic world of Cvstodia.

Genre(s)
Metroidvania, Soulslike
How Long To Beat
14 Hours
PS Plus Availability
N/A
OpenCritic Rating
Strong