Salt and Sanctuary Critic Reviews

This tribute to Souls series is built on the proven mechanics, but it extends them beyond the "original" universe. Thanks to jumping segments, it offers a tougher challenge, yet it is fair and fun as hell.

Salt and Sanctuary is a souls-like metroidvania. And a very good one at that. Excellent character development and clever combat system.

Salt and Sanctuary is a quality platformer with well-implemented Metroidvania elements. It's brutal at times, but deeply satisfying to play. Is it thematically derivative of the Souls games? Yes, but not disgustingly so. Just get out there and give a few demons what for.

A fantastic, original take on the Souls-formula that maintains the addictive risk/reward loop we’ve come to expect from the genre.

Ska Studios deserves not to be overshadowed by From Software’s legacy, instead the team should be praised for delivering a stunning game in its own right.

A bi-dimensional Souls-like, bestowed with an original and compelling combat system. Waiting for the next Souls, this might be the perfect choice.

Ska Studios’ Salt and Sanctuary is obvious about trying to emulate Dark Souls, but offers enough deep gameplay and beautiful aesthetic to stand tall on its own.

Salt and Sanctuary is the perfect companion for the Souls series, adapting the core of that games into a 2D action-platformer that is also challenging and rewarding. It's long, clever and maybe the best metroidvania-style game since Guacamelee. A must have.

I wasn't bothered or distracted by Salt and Sanctuary's uncanny resemblance to the Souls games during my playthrough, because I was too busy gleefully exploring, or locking my controller in a vise grip while trying not to die. There's nothing crass about how those elements have been adapted, because they have also been celebrated, resulting in a stellar adventure with enough moments of surprise and excitement to rival even its own source material.

Ska Studios have done a fabulous job with Salt and Sanctuary, as the transition to 2D has created a more accessible game while also retaining all of the depth.

Quotation forthcoming.

It’s a ton of fun, a great challenge, and a wonderful new take on the Souls formula, with plenty of its own tricks to make it original and fun on its own merits. The couch co-op seals the deal, though online multiplayer would also be nice. Making matters even better, the game only costs $17.99. You can’t go wrong.

Ultimately, Salt and Sanctuary goes beyond simply aping the trademark difficulty of the Souls games. It has a lot to offer those looking to pass the time until the next Dark Souls release, as well as those willing to dive even deeper down the rabbit-hole.

Dark Souls in 2D? Yes, please!

The biggest developers out there would be hesitant to try and take on such a task as emulating one of the most distinctive approaches to game design, and to do something different with it, to boot. That Salt & Sanctuary mostly succeeds at that goal is just so incredibly impressive.

Excellent adventure with a fast-paced fighting system and sophisticated RPG elements could be compared to the “Souls-series” games thanks to its difficulty setting and some mechanics. However, it is so imaginative and visually successful, that it’s definitely not a rip-off. On the contrary it has the potential to create its own group of fans who will be discovering the secrets of the game for several more months.

Salt & Sanctuary is a brilliant piece of work that apes the Dark Souls franchise in all the right ways while still cutting its own path.

Salt and Sanctuary’s inspiration from the Dark Souls series is more than prevalent in a game that could very well be described as an unofficial spin-off. SKA Studios took the best qualities of From Software masterpiece and transferred it almost perfectly in 2D, an arguably no small feat.

Salt and Sanctuary clearly gets it’s inspiration and ideas from previous Souls games so there is a lack of innovation here, but developer Ska Studios does a masterful job of adapting the already proven formula of Souls into a exceptional 2D adventure.

More than merely a 20 copy of Dark Souls, Salt And Sanctuary has some of the most multidimensional, exquisite gaming torture you'll ever endure. A must-buy.