Self-described as the “world’s first Celestoidvania,” LUCID is an upcoming 2D side-scrolling action-platformer that’s set to release on Steam next year. Being created by solo developer Eric Manahan under the banner The Matte Black Studio and set to be published by Apogee Entertainment, LUCID is combining the fast-paced, precise platforming of Celeste with the frenetic action and sprawling level design of Metroid to produce a wholly original experience that will be available on PC via Steam.
LUCID began life as a Kickstarter project back in September 2023, where it earned $82,202 from 1,309 backers, achieving almost triple its $30,000 goal. LUCID released its first playable demo exclusively for Kickstarter backers in May 2024, and it’s continued to share regular gameplay trailers with the public since then. LUCID has just made an appearance at the Winter OTK Games Expo, where it was given an official release date of Spring 2026.
LUCID Is The “World’s First Celestoidvania”
In LUCID, players take control of Oenn, a young Sentinel who’s tasked with exploring the “crystal-punk” world of Aedyn, which has become infested with powerful enemies and bosses. Along the way, Oenn will absorb new movement and combat abilities that open up new pathways in the world. Fans can expect to see the following key features in LUCID when it releases next year:
- Precise platforming mechanics heavily inspired by Celeste‘s node-based traversal
- Side-scrolling action inspired by Super Metroid
- Obtain new combat and traversal Crystal Art abilities (like the Crystal Blade, Spear, and Axe) that will open new parts of the map as well
- Collect Crystal Shards to upgrade Crystal Art abilities
- Intense boss battles
- A vast, interconnected world with a varied range of biomes
- Original music by David Wise, a co-composer of Donkey Kong Country, Yooka-Laylee, and Star Fox Adventures
While Metroid and Celeste are two of LUCID‘s most apparent influences, a handful of other games are listed as sources of inspiration on the game’s Steam page. Mega Max X inspired LUCID‘s “tight controls and rewarding platforming,” Donkey Kong Country inspired its “Flow state inducing tunes,” The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time inspired its characters and puzzles, and Studio Ghibli’s Princess Mononoke is cited as inspiration for LUCID‘s interconnected story.
Those eager to try LUCID for themselves can download and play the free demo now via LUCID‘s Steam page. While LUCID will initially launch on PC as a Steam exclusive, console ports are planned for release sometime after the game’s Spring 2026 release.
