Memories in Orbit, Hollow Knight-like game coming soon to Xbox Game Pass?

The Metroidvania genre has fallen apart a bit since then Hollow KnightAs a matter of fact always become oversaturated like the market like a busy soul, but MIO: Memories in class Can only break the mold. The dazzling, dramatic, and visually arresting side-scroller is slated for a January 20, 2026 release date, when it will launch Day-Date on Xbox Game Pass.

Hollow Knight It's an easy comparison to draw when discussing MIO: Memories in classBut the upcoming game can also be compared to something Ori and the blind forest Because of its emphasis on audiovisual simplicity, semi-3D environments, and intuitive platforming. Like its studio's last project, My shady side, MIO The hand-drawn, comic-book-style excels through the visuals and animations, which feel inspired by the work of Mobius while still feeling original. In short, the game's aesthetic is complex and unique, combining a pastel color palette with smooth animation, heavy black lines, and inventive, unusual character designs. but MIO: Memories in class It wants to be more than just a pretty face, and hopes to accomplish this through compelling storytelling, combat, and Metroidvania principles.

What is MIO: Memories of Class?

MIO: Memories in Orbit's Story

Players assume the role of MIO, a robot who has woken up on a giant spaceship called the Vessel, with no memories of themselves. As it turns out, the ship suffered a mysterious power blackout, causing many of its core systems to stop working. MIO must make his way through the strange and often unpredictable vessel, empowering its machine denizens, and ultimately uncovering the truth behind everyone's past.

To be perfectly clear, the plot itself doesn't seem very groundbreaking at first glance. MIO: Memories in class Follows the ubiquitous amnesiac hero trope, which has long been a clutch for video game storytellers: it's easy to impose unnatural expository dialogue, or make the player relate to the player-character by simply giving them amnesia. Amnesia can also heighten the tension or surprise of relatively mundane scenarios, as any and all revelations become important to the protagonist.

It doesn't mean this MIO Definitely not a good story. Developer Douze Diximes has described MIO's past as “tragic”, suggesting that the story will have real weight and impact, and that the fact that the protagonist's history clearly blends with the game's setting could make for some interesting world-building. at least, MIO: Memories in class All-robots can leverage the unique powers of far-future artists for beats of meaningful commentary, philosophy, and subversive lore. anyway, MIO There seems to be a lot more going for it beyond its story.

Of course, vague, abstract, and interpretable storytelling is often par for the course in Metroidvanias, so MIOThe cliché amnesiac premise may not be too much of a problem.

MIO: Memories in Orbit boasts slick, smooth traversal

Early impressions of MIO: Memories in class All focus on one corner of the gameplay sandbox without fail: traversal. The game features various layered obstacles in a low-gravity environment, making for a locomotion sandbox that is at once forgiving and disturbing. Douze Diximes aims to facilitate a kind of flow state through its movement mechanics, which push the player from point A to B quickly and efficiently, incorporating abilities like gliding, wall-running, and grapple-hooking.

The game's movement sandbox certainly looks appealing, and previews have been mostly favorable, but there's also been some conflicting talk. Pain points raised in previews include MIO's awkwardly slow motion speed, as well as various quirks with the grapple hook, such as inconsistent grip-point recognition. Nevertheless, within the traversal MIO Looks sleek and stylish, and may be one of its greatest strengths.

MIO: Memories in Orbit's Touchstone will be counter-balanced by originality and innovation.

Douze Diximes is clearly named Hollow Knight, Celesteand Dead cells As a comparison MIO: Memories in classAnd it's not hard to see why. Aside from the fact that these games are almost universally praised for their combat, traversal, or both, they're all notoriously hard – some that MIOWho's marketing certainly hasn't been afraid to brag yet. in fact, MIO: Memories in class Duje Dixims seems to lean heavily on its half-spirit-like effects, repeatedly describing it as satisfyingly challenging. According to the developer, MIO Players can expect death to be a regular part of the experience.

but MIO It promises to include other unique quirks that can set it apart from its competition. For example, it will feature a series of modifiers, which are compared with Nier: AutomataPlug-in chips by many previewers: Players will be able to sacrifice basic features like enemy health data for extra capacity bandwidth through this system. Douze Diximes promises that along with modding features, mechanically interesting bosses, tailor-made action set pieces, and an ever-inspiring art style. MIO: Memories in class A game worth sinking your teeth into, even for those who have already eaten Metroidvanias for years.