Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night, the first game in the Bloodstained series from ArtPlay and 505 Games, is a fantastic Metroidvania game, but its post-release co-op mode was a complete afterthought. Thankfully, co-op seems to be a more integral feature in the upcoming sequel/prequel, Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement. The new game's campaign will feature two playable protagonists and (seemingly) 2-player local co-op right out of the gate, not unlike the Gal Guardians series. It's due out on Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and PC in 2026.
The Scarlet Engagement places place before Ritual of the Night. A demonic floating castle, the Ethereal Castle, appears to plague the citizens of of 16th-century England. Two new protagonists, Leonard Brandon and Alexander Kytele, must work together to thwart the demon lord and save their kingdom.
Features:
- Dive Deeper into the Bloodstained World - Experience an early chapter of the Bloodstained universe filled with a fresh cast of allies and foes. New players can jump in without prior knowledge, while long-time fans will uncover deep connections.
- New Buddy System - This journey will not be carried out alone! Play simultaneously as both Leo and Alex to defeat enemies, break through traps, and push toward victory.
- Navigate an Expansive World - Traverse Bloodstained’s largest map yet. Experience dawn, day, dusk, and night, including shifting light and darkness as time passes. Transforming not only the gameplay, but also the way you interact with the world.
- Experience The Epiphany Combat System - Discover new moves as you battle. Unleash unique attacks and uncover powerful abilities that allow players to master combat in innovative ways.
- Craft, Cook, and Customize - Experience personalization with a wide range of visually impactful armor changes, along with expanded character appearance options, crafting, and cooking side quests to strengthen your player.
The production values of The Scarlet Engagement look like a step up from the first game. Following Gal Guardians' two-character design is a smart move as well. Co-op works really well in those games, so we're hoping for the same implementation here. The game's Steam store page lists local co-op as a feature, but the Epic and Xbox pages do not, so we're seeking clarification from 505 Games. The only disappointment so far is the lack of a female protagonist. Where's the girl power this time? Perhaps there will be additional characters to unlock, as with the first game.
Bloodstained: The Scarlet Engagement will come to Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 5, Steam, and Epic sometime in 2026. Let's hope a Switch 2 version gets announced by then as well.