Crimson Capes launches February 12, Bringing the Souls Formula to 2D With Deep Swordplay, Online Co-Op, and Invasions

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Crimson Capes launches February 12, Bringing the Souls Formula to 2D With Deep Swordplay, Online Co-Op, and Invasions

Master deliberate blade combat, hunt witches, and uncover the true meaning of power in a hand-crafted sword-and-sorcery adventure.

Studio Poor Locke today announced that Crimson Capes will be coming to PC via Steam on February 12. Crimson Capes is a sword-and-sorcery action adventure that reimagines the core pillars of the Souls formula in two dimensions, blending deliberate combat, non-linear exploration and online multiplayer into a high-adventure fantasy world.

Players step into the role of Milon the Tempest, a witch-hunter tasked with dismantling a growing conspiracy of wizards across the kingdom of Amvros. Leading the Crimson Capes - a guild of elite witch-hunters - players will take on contracts throughout the realm, slowly uncovering darker forces at work and coming face to face with the true cost of power.



Combat in Crimson Capes is built around deliberate, animation-commit swordplay inspired by realistic fighting techniques, where feints, thrusts, cuts, and guards create a deadly back-and-forth defined by timing, positioning, and mastery.

Each of the four playable heroes features a distinct weapon style, moveset, and skill tree, encouraging experimentation over raw stat upgrades, while magic is woven directly into combat through elemental abilities such as wind, thunder, fire, and darkness.

Exploration follows a Souls-inspired philosophy, rewarding curiosity and player choice. Ruined towers, forgotten caverns, mystical forests, and ancient strongholds can be tackled in any order, with artifacts, abilities, and narrative threads waiting off the beaten path.

Crimson Capes also brings classic Souls multiplayer into two dimensions. Players can join forces in online co-op to hunt together as Capes, or invade another hunt as a Deathblade, introducing unpredictable PvP encounters that reshape each mission.

Visually, the game features pixel art animation and hand-drawn environments, with rotoscoped graphics. Inspired by classic pulp sword-and-sorcery tales such as Conan and Elric, Crimson Capes embraces a raw, mythic atmosphere rooted in classic fantasy adventure and discovery.

“From the very beginning, Crimson Capes was built around deliberate combat that rewards initiative, precision and quick thinking,” said Dimitris Tsatsis, programmer at Poor Locke.

“We wanted to bring the tension, discipline, and satisfaction of the Souls experience into 2D, by rethinking how the level design, vibe and multiplayer interactions work in a side-scrolling space.”

KEY FEATURES

Souls-like, 2D combat with tight reads, punish windows, and build variety

Boss fights that will test your mettle

Sword-and-Sorcery adventures in a fantasy world filled with secrets

Online Co-op & PvP: Play online with a friend, or invade other witch hunters

Optional Dynamic Hunts with unique enemies and bosses, randomly generated each time (reminiscent of Bloodborne's Chalice Dungeons)

AVAILABILITY

Crimson Capes will launch on February 12 at 10 am PT / 6 pm GMT for PC via Steam

The price will be 15$

Launch discount: 10% for 9 days

Instruction Manual & Game Guide PDF files, along with a printable world map, will be included in the game files

Console versions are planned for a later date

About POOR LOCKE
POOR LOCKE is an independent game studio led by programmer Dimitris Tsatsis, with art by Kostas MacFarlane and music by David Wurczel. The studio focuses on crafting hand-made, mechanically rich experiences driven by strong artistic identity and player agency. Previous titles include Windmills and Unbeliever. Crimson Capes represents the studio’s most ambitious project to date, merging classic sword-and-sorcery fantasy with modern Souls-inspired design.