Elderand

Elderand is a two-dimensional side-scrolling Metroidvania with action RPG elements. The player takes on the role of a nameless mercenary who washes ashore in a mysterious land overrun by creatures. Combat offers a range of weapon types such as swords, axes, daggers, whips, bows and magic staves, each with different statistics and combat uses. Shields can block incoming attacks and a backdash allows the player to evade.

An RPG-style leveling system lets players put points into health, strength, dexterity and mind, and the character's appearance can also be customized. Defeated enemies and exploration provide items that can be used to upgrade weapons. Progression unlocks traversal abilities such as a double jump, air dash and grappling hook. These abilities can be used to access previously blocked areas of the map.

Creative director Will Fernandes began developing Elderand solo around 2015. He initially built the project in GameMaker before migrating to Unity, where a larger developer community and wider talent pool could support the work. After the game won awards at Brazilian gaming events, Fernandes said the positive reception encouraged him to continue development, and an investment round made it possible to bring on more developers.

The expanded team included members from across Brazil and abroad, with development handled jointly by Fernandes' studio Mantra, based in Salvador, Bahia, and co-developer Sinergia Games. American publisher Graffiti Games signed on to publish the title internationally.

Elderand received "mixed or average reviews", according to review aggregator Metacritic. The Windows version holds a score of 70/100 based on 17 critic reviews, while the Nintendo Switch version also holds a 70/100 from 5 reviews. On OpenCritic, the game has an average of 70/100 from 22 critics, with 43% recommending it.

Several critics considered the game to lack originality. Scott McCrae of Nintendo Life praised the enemy design, worldbuilding and soundtrack, but felt the game did not break new ground, though he acknowledged it as an impressive debut.