Salt and Sanctuary

Name: Salt and Sanctuary
Rating: 8 (21788 reviews)

Developer / Publisher: Ska Studios

Mar 15, 2016

Visual

hand drawn
side scroll

Structure

ability gated
exploration
interconnected map
item gated
boss gated
Semi-Linear

Combat

action
corpse run
stamina system

Features

character creation
class system
Co-op
equipment
leveling
multiple endings
New Game+
skill tree
no map

Themes

fantasy
gore
gothic

Sub-Genre

RPG
Souls-like

Summary

Explore a haunting, punishing island in this stylized 2D action RPG. Salt and Sanctuary combines fast and brutal 2D combat with richly developed RPG mechanics in a cursed realm of forgotten cities, blood-soaked dungeons, and desecrated monuments.

Last updated August 17, 2026

Where to play

- Windows
- Mac
- Linux
- Steam Deck
- Steam
Nintendo
- Switch
PlayStation
- PS4
- Vita
Xbox
- Series X|S
- One

Resources

Links

IGDB
Website

Salt and Sacrifice

Developer / Publisher: Ska Studios

2022

62%

Mixed

1,913 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- hand drawn
- side scroll
- boss gated
- action
- corpse run
- stamina system
- character creation
- class system
- Co-op
- equipment
- fantasy
- gore
- leveling
- New Game+
- skill tree
- RPG
- Souls-like
- no map
- Differences
- non linear
- chase scene
Demon's Souls

Developer: FromSoftware

Publisher: Atlus, Namco Bandai Partners, Sony Computer Entertainment

2009

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- item gated
- boss gated
- action
- corpse run
- stamina system
- character creation
- class system
- equipment
- fantasy
- gore
- gothic
- leveling
- multiple endings
- New Game+
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Semi-Linear
- Differences
- realistic
- third person
- Has Hub
- parry
- stealth
- cosmetics
- medieval
- 3D
- discrete levels
Death's Gambit

Developer: White Rabbit

Publisher: Adult Swim Games, Skybound Games

2018

81%

Very Positive

5,560 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- side scroll
- action
- stamina system
- class system
- equipment
- fantasy
- gore
- gothic
- multiple endings
- New Game+
- skill tree
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Differences
- Has DLC
- non linear
- pixel
Mandragora: Whispers of the Witch

Developer: Primal Game Studio

Publisher: Knights Peak, MY.GAMES

2025

76%

Mostly Positive

3,674 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- side scroll
- stamina system
- character creation
- class system
- equipment
- fantasy
- leveling
- multiple endings
- New Game+
- skill tree
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Differences
- Demo Available
- non linear
- 2.5D
- parry
- timer
- difficulty options
- medieval
- 3D
- Metroidvania Lite
Ponyvania: Order of Equestria

Developer / Publisher: ZiggyLung

2018

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- side scroll
- action
- character creation
- class system
- Co-op
- equipment
- fantasy
- gothic
- leveling
- multiple endings
- New Game+
- RPG
- Semi-Linear
- Differences
- unofficial
- pixel
- accessibility
- multiple characters
Watcher Chronicles

Developer / Publisher: Third Sphere Game Studios

2022

87%

Very Positive

172 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- hand drawn
- side scroll
- action
- stamina system
- Co-op
- equipment
- fantasy
- leveling
- New Game+
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Differences
- non linear
Vigil: The Longest Night

Developer: Glass Heart Games

Publisher: Another Indie, Another Indie Studio

2020

86%

Very Positive

3,613 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- hand drawn
- side scroll
- boss gated
- action
- stamina system
- equipment
- gore
- gothic
- leveling
- multiple endings
- skill tree
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Differences
- Demo Available
- non linear
- fast travel
- Has Hub
- horror
- isolation
3000th Duel

Developer / Publisher: NEOPOPCORN Corp

2019

72%

Mostly Positive

628 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- side scroll
- boss gated
- corpse run
- stamina system
- equipment
- fantasy
- gothic
- leveling
- skill tree
- Souls-like
- Semi-Linear
- Differences
- Has DLC
- 2.5D
- fast travel
- contact damage
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Developer / Publisher: HeadlessTek

Coming soon

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- exploration
- interconnected map
- item gated
- side scroll
- boss gated
- action
- stamina system
- equipment
- fantasy
- gore
- gothic
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Semi-Linear
- Differences
- post apocalyptic
Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona

Developer: 70`Strike

Publisher: Valkyrie Initiative

2024

79%

Mostly Positive

304 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- side scroll
- action
- stamina system
- equipment
- fantasy
- gore
- gothic
- leveling
- multiple endings
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Differences
- Demo Available
- Has DLC
- non linear
- pixel
Souldiers

Developer: Retro Forge

Publisher: Dear Villagers

2022

69%

Mixed

3,084 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- side scroll
- action
- stamina system
- class system
- equipment
- fantasy
- skill tree
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Semi-Linear
- Differences
- pixel
- parry
- puzzle heavy
Maid of Salvation

Developer / Publisher: ORANGE POPCORN

2025

90%

Very Positive

263 reviews

MV Temperature
- Similarities
- ability gated
- exploration
- interconnected map
- action
- corpse run
- equipment
- fantasy
- leveling
- New Game+
- skill tree
- RPG
- Souls-like
- Differences
- Demo Available
- parry
- difficulty options
- 3D
- top down

Salt and Sanctuary

Summary

Where to play

Resources

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