In 2026, it can certainly feel like Metroidvania games are a dime a dozen. What can help make a new entry in the overcrowded genre stand out is a memorable narrative and beautiful art direction. MIO: Memories In Orbit provides both, but especially the latter, for an unforgettable experience.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is published by Focus Entertainment and is the second game developed by French video game Studio Douze Dixièmes, which Focus acquired in 2021. Set in a beautiful retro-futuristic world through an art deco lens, players control the titular MIO, a cute little robot making their way through a spacecraft, dubbed The Vessel, which has been ravaged by mysterious tremors and decaying by the moment.
The Pearls, the AIs who once maintained the ship, have ceased functioning, and everything is falling into disarray. Still, the NPCs you meet speak of a world that was once beautiful and orderly, before mysterious events such as “the Gloomwater.” As MIO, you’re tasked with exploring the world around you, hopefully finding answers and preserving hope for those you meet along the way.
MIO Review: A Story Without A Voice
Even without voice acting, the game does a good job of telling a story and conveying the danger of the world these robots are in. Throughout the campaign, there are numerous Fallen robots that are broken beyond repair. Each has a name, which adds an extra somber feeling as you’re forced to leave them behind and carry on your own journey.
Along the path to uncovering the mysteries of the world, you will encounter numerous bosses. Standard fare for Metroidvanias, the boss fights are designed for pattern recognition. You may die many times, but each time, you learn, and you’re also giving back to the game’s environment through Nacre. Nacre is the in-game currency. Of course, that will help you purchase modifiers. These modifiers will allow you to increase your health, equip new attacks, and more. Even your HUD is synced to an ability that you can switch on and off as needed.
However, Nacre also serves another purpose. Shii is an Overseer who acts as a guide and provides players with their first access to the map of the world in this game. Nacre droplets are sacrificed to Shii’s pond. As the pond fills up, Shii gains more power, eventually allowing them to explain more about the world, giving players more consistent access to the map.
Overall, MIO: Memories in Orbit feels like the first standout indie game of 2026 and one that Metroidvania veterans will enjoy sinking their teeth into, while newbies can explore a beautiful universe and get lost in the gameplay for hours at a time.
Wonderfully Frustrating Boss Battles
As you explore the different parts of the world, you will encounter numerous bosses. While the boss battles are simplistic, with attacks telegraphed, allowing players to get a sense of rhythm, they are the kind of wonderful frustration associated with the video game that will make you try for “just one more go,” even if it’s actually your fourth.
Each boss is tied to a specific area in the game, so the part of the ship with heavy vegetation sees players take on a rogue plant, there’s a robotic scarecrow in an abandoned attic, a fiery furnace comes to life, and more. Each boss teaches you more about the world, and when you finally defeat them, you’re left with the most gratifying sense of accomplishment.
However, if you are having a little trouble or if you just want to vibe with the incredible atmospheric world Douze Dixièmes created, there are assists in the options menu that will allow you to turn most enemies into pacifists or make boss battles easier by lowering the maximum HP of a boss after each failed attempt.
This adds replayability to MIO as players can mix up their configurations, try completing the game with fewer abilities, and test their skills, since the game is built around challenge but is also very possible to complete with very few upgrades. The campaign should take you around 14 hours to complete, but there are dozens of hours of extra content for completionists
Awe-Inspiring Atmosphere
The visual style of this game is easily its strong point. The world is beautifully hand-drawn, and the development team noted that it drew inspiration from other Metroidvanias, such as Hollow Knight, the work of Hayao Miyazaki, and popular science fiction.
Accompanying the wonderful art style is a mesmerizing soundtrack that brings every area of life to life, adds tension to every boss battle, and provides cues when those bosses are nearly defeated. You can get lost in the sounds of this game, and that is the perfect companion to the exploration that will dominate the bulk of your playtime.
MIO: Memories in Orbit Review Verdict
At its core, MIO: Memories in Orbit is, ultimately, another Metroidvania game in an overcrowded genre. Still, it manages to balance challenge and charm, combining an engaging sci-fi story about heart and perseverance with gorgeous visuals and a simple yet rewarding gameplay loop to create the first must-play indie game of the year.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is available on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Nintendo Switch 2. To talk about this game, and others, join the Insider Gaming Discord. And don’t forget to sign up for the Insider Gaming weekly newsletter.
MIO: Memories In Orbit
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MIO: Memories In Orbit
