Solateria is a hand-drawn action Metroidvania with a heavy bent on parrying. Fans of Nine Sols will be right at home in this adventure of a small ‘fire warrior’, who battles through the land of Solateria to find the Primordial Flame – the king and the last hope against the Shadow Plague.
The game’s soulslike action is fluid, stylish, and oh-so-shiny, but in true soulslike fashion, expect to have your flame extinguished again and again before you eventually clinch your hard-earned victory. Mastering the parry will be critical to success, especially learning to lead your parries into devastating counter-attacks against your foes.
Solateria also stands out with a very robust character upgrade system, so that you can hone your flame warrior to a build that brings out your strengths.
We had the opportunity to ask the game’s developer Studio Doodal a few questions to learn more about the game, and they managed to parry every single one of them. Here’s their answers below.
The interview has been edited for brevity and clarity.
Into Indie Games: Hello Studio Doodal! Tell us more about the studio, its founding, and its members.
Studio Doodal: We started in December 2019 as a student team formed while we were in university. We are now an eight-member studio, and our vision is to be an indie game developer that believes in the power of imagination and storytelling. We aim to create games that pursue deep worldbuilding and strong narrative experiences.
Our first title was LAPIN, a 2D precision platformer. We are currently developing Solateria, an action metroidvania.
IIG: As a 2D Metroidvania that’s heavy on parrying, Solateria immediately calls to mind Nine Sols. What can fans of Nine Sols expect from this game in terms of similarities and differences?
SD: Nine Sols is an outstanding game, and one that we truly enjoyed playing ourselves. With Solateria, we hope players will experience the core appeal of the metroidvania genre—the joy of exploring an intricately connected map, the satisfaction of overcoming powerful bosses, and the impact of striking presentation.
As another parry-focused metroidvania, Solateria also offers the thrilling satisfaction of reading enemy attacks and executing precise parries.
From an action standpoint, Solateria is defined by its fast-paced combat that seamlessly transitions from parry to counterattack, along with a stylish combat system built around the concept of a “Fire Warrior,” featuring a variety of flame-based abilities.
Beyond combat, the game includes a “Core Stone” system that allows players to develop detailed and diverse stats according to their preferred build direction. In addition, the “Parts” system—divided into four categories—can be freely combined, enabling players to craft distinctive playstyles that reflect their individual tendencies.
In the map system, we introduced a feature called “Information.” As players explore the world, they acquire Information through conversations with NPCs and field collectibles, and the locations tied to that Information are indicated by arrows on the map. This serves as a guidepost for “Pyron Warriors” as they venture through the vast world.
Finally, in terms of worldbuilding, Solateria follows the journey of a small Fire Warrior setting out to find the king in a world afflicted by the “Shadow Plague.” We hope that following this narrative will leave players with a lasting emotional impression.
IIG: What were your inspirations for the game, both in video games and otherwise?
SD: As long-time fans of the metroidvania genre, many games have influenced us—such as Hollow Knight, Ori and the Blind Forest, and Nine Sols. Outside the genre, we also greatly enjoyed the soulslike title Lies of P.
We wanted to create a metroidvania game that we ourselves would find truly exciting. Around that time, we began thinking about the concept of “fire.” Fire can bring warmth and life, yet it can also burn everything to ashes. With this duality in mind, we envisioned a world where beings use “warmth” as their life force, and we wanted to build a game around that idea, with fire as the central theme.
IIG: Solateria promises an interesting set of upgrade systems, including ‘Core Stones’, ‘Parts’, and even cooking. Tell us more about the game’s upgrade systems.
SD: Core Stones serve as the foundation of overall character progression. Stat Core Stones allow players to invest level-up points into specific attributes, shaping their playstyle. Through crafting, players can increase efficiency and gain additional effects and skills. Skill Core Stones unlock new abilities that expand not only combat options but also exploration routes.
Parts are not simple stat boosts; instead, they are unique-effect components combined in sets of four to create builds. Players can specialize in aggressive offense or focus on parry and counter-based combat, fundamentally altering how they approach battles.
Cooking acts as an exploration reward system. By collecting hidden ingredients and preparing dishes, players gain permanent growth-type enhancements.
What differentiates Solateria is that through point allocation, crafting, and Parts build combinations, players are encouraged to actively design their own growth path and combat style—tailored to their personal feel and preferences.
IIG: How long is the game for a single playthrough? What can we expect in terms of replay value, such as different endings or New Game+?
SD: There is both a standard ending and a true ending. Playtime can vary significantly depending on player skill, but reaching the standard ending will take at least around 25 hours. Achieving the true ending will require considerably more time.
IIG: Solateria releases on PC via Steam on March 12. Are console releases planned? If so, when can we expect them?
SD: We are currently targeting a Nintendo Switch release in Q2 2026.
We thank Studio Doodal for answering our questions, and Jessica Mcdonald from Heaven Media for facilitating this interview.
You’ll find Solateria, complete with a playable demo, over at the game’s Steam page.
Continue checking Into Indie Games for more coverage of Solateria when it launches on March 12.
For more articles on all things indie games, check out the links below:
- Into Indie Games Homepage
- Esoteric Ebb – Complete Walkthrough Hub
- Resident Evil Requiem – Walkthrough Hub
- Tales Of Berseria Remastered – Walkthrough Hub
- High On Life 2 – Walkthrough Hub
