It is engrossing enough that getting lost is fun, but not so much when you get your head beat in by a difficult enemy and then you’re not sure where to go next. Thankfully, the flow is straightforward enough for this to not be a game-breaking issue, but the lack of guidance made me a little more cautious of going off what seemed to be the main path. The overall layout is reminiscent of a Metroidvania, but for better or worse, it has no map.

It’s a constant challenge and the open, level-less design makes it easy to stumble upon an enemy that’s potentially out of your league.

And brutal this game is, as the side-scrolling battles require precision and deftness, accounting for the length your attack animations take while also keeping an eye on the enemy so you can time your parry or riposte and try not to be overwhelmed. That weird contrast helps make the overall brutality a little duller but overall more palpable. The tone is pitch black, but little things like the cartoony look of character faces bring tiny bits of levity to the forefront. This world is brought to life in a distinctive hand-drawn style that is almost equally brutal and goofy, calling to mind the developer’s past work on more arcade-like beat-’em-ups like Charlie Murder. While my time with Salt and Sanctuary reminded me of some Soulsian frustrations I’m not a huge fan of, it also shined a new light on the poise and elegance of the style that requires a mastery of mechanics to survive and progress. If Ska Studios’ goal was to make 2D Dark Souls, they certainly succeeded with Salt and Sanctuary, a punishing, side-scrolling action game where you create a hero and make your way through a challenging world filled with darkness, overbearing enemies, and lots of death.

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