Chris InglisINAYAH – Life after Gods is a 2D action-platformer with metroidvania elements, developed by Exogenesis Studios and published by Headup, and launched on March 27, 2025. Launching on consoles later in 2025, the game has you playing as Inayah, an orphaned outcast searching for her lost tribe in a world where brutal clans rule over the ruins of a once high-tech civilization. The core gameplay loop echoes Metroidvania classics like Ori and the Will of the Wisps where initial limitations give way to rewarding exploration as new abilities are acquired.
The world design is a clear highlight, with intricate environments that encourage thorough investigation. Crumbling ruins, overgrown pathways, and ethereal landscapes paint a picture of a world shaped by powerful, now-absent beings. Complementing the visuals is the game’s excellent sound design and music. The ambient sounds effectively enhance the sense of isolation and mystery, while the subtle yet impactful music, particularly in combat, reinforces the overall atmosphere. Voice acting is also well performed, and the audio design plays a crucial role in immersing you into Inayah’s world.
Early on, you will encounter obstacles that necessitate future ability unlocks, creating a satisfying sense of progression. This cycle of exploration, limitation, and eventual mastery of previously inaccessible areas forms the game’s engaging core, prompting revisits to older locations to uncover hidden secrets and new zones. As you progress, you need to make an early choice of three distinct weapon types: Blades, Fists, and Flail, eventually gaining access to all three. The Blades, my initial choice, offered enhanced mobility with an upward slash for increased jump height and a downward slash for enemy bouncing. Each weapon features upgradeable abilities, adding a layer of customization to combat and traversal. The strategic use of each weapon becomes crucial as you progress and face new challenges and bosses.
Environmental puzzles are well-integrated, requiring you to consider and utilise your current abilities in clever ways to progress, or note them to come back to later. These puzzles offer a satisfying mental challenge without feeling overly frustrating and often unlocks further progression or reveals intriguing lore snippets that deepen your understanding of the world’s history. The in-game map is well designed showing save and fast travel points, and quest markers to return to.
Overall, INAYAH – Life after Gods delivers a rewarding Metroidvania experience with a strong emphasis on exploration and satisfying ability progression. Its atmospheric world, clever level design, and strategic depth offered by its weapon and upgrade systems creates an exciting journey worth playing through.
This review utilised a key provided by Exogenesis Studios and INAYAH – Life after Gods is out now on Steam, GOG and Epic Games Store, and will be launching on consoles later in 2025.
#roundtablecoop
