Defending a Mystical Island Home

Divinum is an action sidescroller that blends together hack-and-slash combat with Metroidvania exploration. It is currently being developed mostly by a solo developer, known as Sigil Games. The story centers around Fjor, a guardian blessed with celestial powers who defends her northern island home from any threats on the outside.

The combat mechanics are straightforward; you have a sword that you can slash your way through with various move sets, like launching people in the air, or you can do a heavy downward attack and even block or deflect the enemy's assault. Personally, I have always found that launching opponents into the air and executing combos is the most enjoyable aspect of these types of games. Blocking isn't just a simple defensive option; it rewards perfectly timed blocks that will stun the enemies, even the bosses. Fjor can also use spells to strike enemies with spikes on the ground, blink behind them, or heal herself. I always like it more when a move can be used in multiple situations. I constantly found myself escaping from sticky situations or performing area attacks on multiple enemies.

Runes & Progression

You'll find runes throughout your travels either by buying them or discovering them in hidden areas in the world. Like so many action games where you can equip items to build on your character, they were all passive skills. Two standouts included building on the dash, which I could do more often, and if I phased through an enemy, it would do a small amount of damage to them. I often used it more at the end of the demo because there were too many strikes to block. Some allow my moves to be stronger or maybe to throw out projectiles from my sword, a must when you are being crowded since it goes through them. The more you acquire and the more slots you unlock, the more it allows you to create distinct playstyles. When I was getting beaten, I could go and switch them around to help fight off what was a losing battle.

Art & Atmosphere

The pixel art visually captures your attention with its detailed character animations and atmospheric lighting effects, which transition between the rain-soaked forest and the torch-lit underground ruins. Every enemy is unique, with their visual designs reflecting their environments and behaviors. These include phantoms that phase in and out while firing fire, ancient warrior skeletons that emerge dramatically from the ground in the deeper areas, and simple bug-like creatures that scurry through the undergrowth of the forest.

The boss encounters showcase thoughtful design and varied attack patterns. When I dashed behind one to strike it, it immediately did a backswing that I later learned how to block, but when I didn't, I felt it when Fjor got knocked back.

The developer of Divinum, Sigil Games, is primarily a solo project. The developer put the game on hiatus for a while but has recently started working on it again. There was plenty of action in this demo, but I was hoping for more story, as there wasn't a single person talking, not even the main character.

Where can you find it

You can join the playtest and get selected to participate through the Steam page. Currently, there does not appear to be a release date for Divinum. I'll be keeping my eye on this one because even in the short time I played, I was having a lot of fun.