A hand-painted metroidvania dropped today and critics are losing their minds over it. MIO: Memories in Orbit just hit PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and both Switch consoles with an 80 on OpenCritic and some reviewers already calling it "one of the best metroidvanias of 2026" despite the year being three weeks old.
From French studio Douze Dixièmes, MIO drops you into a dying space vessel as a tiny robot trying to piece together what happened. The art direction is absolutely gorgeous - we're talking hand-painted environments that reviewers can't stop gushing about. Joonatan Itkonen from Region Free straight-up called it a masterpiece, saying it's "one of the most beautiful games ever made."
But here's where it gets interesting: the difficulty discourse is wild. Some reviewers are calling it "tough-as-nails" and warning casual fans might bounce off. Others are saying it's actually one of the more player-friendly metroidvanias with flexible difficulty settings. The split is so dramatic it's like reviewers played different games.
What's actually happening? The game apparently gates some of its coolest content behind challenging optional sections. If you're a completionist who needs to see everything, you're in for pain. If you're cool just cruising through the main path, it's way more forgiving. Analog Stick Gaming loved the game but called out "severe accessibility roadblocks" that hold back an otherwise fantastic experience.
The other complaint showing up everywhere: unclear progression. Multiple reviewers got stuck not knowing where to go next, which in a metroidvania is kind of a cardinal sin. When your whole genre is built on exploration and that "aha!" moment of finding the right path, making players wander aimlessly kills the vibe.
But when it works? Critics say the movement feels incredible, the boss fights are memorable, and the interconnected world design is vintage FromSoft-level genius. The module-based upgrade system keeps combat fresh throughout, and the environmental storytelling hits those melancholic sci-fi notes that make you actually care about a dying spaceship.
The game's already on Game Pass, which is huge for an indie dropping day one. If you've been starving for something to fill that Hollow Knight: Silksong-shaped hole in your heart (aren't we all), this might be it.
Verdict: Would I speedrun this? Ask me after I get past whatever "severe accessibility roadblocks" the reviewers were complaining about. But yeah, probably. The movement tech alone looks spicy enough to optimize for months.
Just maybe wait for a patch that adds better waypoint markers. Or don't - figuring it out yourself is half the fun, right?
