Thymesia

{{Short description|2022 video game}} {{Infobox video game | title = Thymesia | image = File:Thymesiacoverart.jpg | developer = OverBorder Studio | publisher = [[Team17]] | director = Mu-En Lee | designer = Ross Huang | programmer = Mu-En Lee | writer = Yung-Chuen Su | engine = [[Unreal Engine 4]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/blog/over-80-unreal-engine-powered-games-featured-during-2022-summer-gaming-events|title=Over 80 Unreal Engine-powered games featured during 2022 summer gaming events|author=|website=[[Unreal Engine]]|date=August 15, 2022|accessdate=August 15, 2023}}</ref> | platforms = {{Unbulleted list|[[Microsoft Windows]]|[[Nintendo Switch]]|[[PlayStation 5]]|[[Xbox Series X/S]]|[[Amazon Luna]]}} | released = '''Windows, Switch, PS5, Xbox Series X/S'''<br/>August 18, 2022<br/>'''Amazon Luna'''<br/>September 15, 2022 | genre = [[Action role-playing]] | modes = [[Single-player]] }}

'''Thymesia''' is a 2022 [[Soulslike|soulslike]] [[action role-playing video game]] developed by Taiwanese indie studio OverBorder Studio and published by [[Team17]]. It was released on August 18, 2022 for [[Microsoft Windows]], [[PlayStation 5]] and [[Xbox Series X/S]], alongside a [[cloud gaming|cloud-based]] version for [[Nintendo Switch]]; a cloud-based [[Amazon Luna]] version followed on September 15, 2022.<ref name="UnrealEngine">{{cite web |title=Over 80 Unreal Engine-powered games featured during 2022 summer gaming events |url=https://www.unrealengine.com/en-US/blog/over-80-unreal-engine-powered-games-featured-during-2022-summer-gaming-events |website=[[Unreal Engine]] |date=15 August 2022 |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="LunaYT">{{cite AV media |title=New on Luna+: Thymesia |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JsxYdbmLY4w |publisher=Amazon Luna |date=15 September 2022 |access-date=18 December 2022}}</ref><ref name="NintendoCloud">{{cite web |title=Thymesia - Cloud Version for Nintendo Switch |url=https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/thymesia-cloud-version-switch/ |website=Nintendo |access-date=22 October 2023}}</ref> The game's combat and plague-themed setting draw heavily on [[FromSoftware]]'s ''[[Bloodborne]]'' and ''[[Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice]]''.<ref name="IGN">{{cite news |last=Green |first=Jarrett |title=Thymesia Review |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/thymesia-review |work=[[IGN]] |date=16 August 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref><ref name="GameSpot">{{cite news |last=Hornshaw |first=Phil |title=Thymesia Review - Hunter Homage |url=https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/thymesia-review-hunter-homage/1900-6417937/ |work=[[GameSpot]] |date=16 August 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref><ref name="QooApp">{{cite news |last=Schpasm |title=Thymesia Interview – The Inspirations Behind One of 2022's Best Souls-Like |url=https://news.qoo-app.com/en/post/149997/thymesia-dev-interview |work=QooApp |date=20 February 2023 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref>

==Gameplay== Thymesia is a single-player third-person action role-playing game in which the player controls Corvus, a sword-wielding figure clad as a [[plague doctor]]. Combat emphasises fast, aggressive engagement and does not use a stamina bar; the player can dodge, parry and attack freely, with most actions instead gated by short cooldown frames.<ref name="QooApp" /><ref name="IGN" />

Each enemy has two health values displayed within a single bar: a white "true" health value that can be permanently reduced only by Corvus's claw attack, and a green "wound" value that regenerates over time if not finished off. Standard sword strikes create wounds, leaving the white value unchanged; the claw harvests the wound to do real damage. The design was inspired by the medieval practice of [[bloodletting]] and is intended to push the player toward aggressive play.<ref name="QooApp" /><ref name="WCCFTech">{{cite news |last=Pulvirenti |first=Nathan |title=Thymesia Review - In the Blood |url=https://wccftech.com/review/thymesia-in-the-blood/ |work=Wccftech |date=16 August 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref>

A central mechanic is the "plague weapon" system: by executing enemies, Corvus can copy their weapon (knife, greatsword, whip, flying daggers, scythe and others) for one-shot use, with permanent versions unlockable in a [[talent tree]] tied to "memory shards" earned through combat and exploration.<ref name="QooApp" /><ref name="GameCritics">{{cite news |last=Prakken |first=Alex |title=Thymesia Review |url=https://gamecritics.com/alex-prakken/thymesia-review/ |work=GameCritics |date=30 August 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref> Defensive options include a deflect-style parry and a thrown-feather ranged attack that can interrupt enemy combos.<ref name="QooApp" /><ref name="GameCritics" />

==Plot== The game is set in the Kingdom of Hermes, a once-prosperous realm that attempted to use [[alchemy]] to weaponise and contain a plague but instead saw its citizens mutate into hostile creatures. The player controls Corvus, an amnesiac figure who must revisit fragmented memories of the kingdom to recover his identity and the source of the plague. The narrative is conveyed primarily through environmental detail and short memory vignettes; the game has multiple endings determined by player choices.<ref name="QooApp" /><ref name="GamePressure">{{cite news |title=Thymesia Launches on PC and Consoles |url=https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/thymesia-launches-on-pc-and-consoles/z148c2 |work=Gamepressure |date=18 August 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref>

==Development== Thymesia is the debut commercial project of OverBorder Studio, a Taiwanese independent developer of approximately seven people at the time of release.<ref name="QooApp" /> The project was directed by Mu-En Lee, who also served as lead programmer, with Ross Huang as lead designer and Yung-Chuen Su as writer. The game was built on [[Unreal Engine 4]].<ref name="UnrealEngine" />

The combat system was conceived from the start as a fluid soulslike interpretation; according to Huang, the team began work before ''[[Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice|Sekiro]]'' was announced and spent roughly four years iterating on the combat loop, including more than a year tuning the dual-health enemy display.<ref name="QooApp" /> Huang has stated that the title is intended to evoke the Greek concept of memory and the trial-and-error rhythm of soulslike progression, the in-fiction explanation for Corvus repeatedly reviving being that he is recalling alternative memories rather than dying.<ref name="QooApp" />

A "plague vision" mechanic — letting the player see plague spread through the environment to track enemies and uncover secrets — was cut from the final release due to time constraints.<ref name="QooApp" />

==Release== Thymesia was first announced in March 2021 with a planned PC release date of December 7, 2021, which was subsequently delayed.<ref name="RPGSite1">{{cite news |last=Romano |first=Sal |title='Punishing Action RPG' Thymesia slices its way to PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X{{!}}S, and PC on August 9 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/12713-punishing-action-rpg-thymesia-slices-its-way-to-playstation-5-xbox-series-xs-and-pc-on-august-9 |work=RPG Site |date=3 May 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref> A free [[Demo (video games)|demo]] was released on Steam from May 2 to 9, 2022; based on player feedback from the demo, the studio adjusted attack wind-up animations, character responsiveness and enemy attack hitboxes, and the release was pushed from August 9 to August 18, 2022.<ref name="RPGSite2">{{cite news |last=Romano |first=Sal |title='Punishing Action RPG' Thymesia is pushed back again to August 18 |url=https://www.rpgsite.net/news/13070-punishing-action-rpg-thymesia-is-pushed-back-again-to-august-18 |work=RPG Site |date=8 July 2022 |access-date=2026-05-25}}</ref><ref name="QooApp" />

==Reception== Thymesia received mixed reviews from critics, with aggregate scores in the 60s and 70s on [[Metacritic]] across the PC, PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X|S releases.<ref name="MetaXbox">{{cite web |title=Thymesia (Xbox Series X) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/thymesia/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-series-x |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="MetaPS5">{{cite web |title=Thymesia (PS5) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/thymesia/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5 |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref><ref name="MetaPC">{{cite web |title=Thymesia (PC) |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/thymesia/critic-reviews/?platform=pc |website=[[Metacritic]] |access-date=15 August 2023}}</ref> Critics generally praised the plague-weapon system, dual health design and combat pace, while criticising the short main campaign, limited enemy variety and inconsistent parry timing.<ref name="IGN" /><ref name="GameSpot" /><ref name="WCCFTech" /><ref name="GameCritics" />

[[IGN]] wrote, "Thymesia's aggressive combat can be enjoyable, but it's an adventure that's easily forgettable otherwise."<ref name="IGN" /> [[GameSpot]] described it as "a small, smart, and rewarding [[Soulslike|Souls-like]] experience" despite some elements that "don't gel."<ref name="GameSpot" /> Wccftech called the combat "fluid and stable" and singled out the plague weapon variety as a highlight.<ref name="WCCFTech" /> GameCritics gave the game 8 out of 10, praising the progression mechanics while noting the limited campaign length.<ref name="GameCritics" />

==See also== * [[Soulslike]]

== References == {{Reflist}}

[[Category:2022 video games]] [[Category:Action role-playing video games]] [[Category:Cloud-based Nintendo Switch games]] [[Category:Dark fantasy role-playing video games]] [[Category:Nintendo Switch games]] [[Category:PlayStation 5 games]] [[Category:Single-player video games]] [[Category:Soulslike video games]] [[Category:Team17 games]] [[Category:Unreal Engine 4 games]] [[Category:Video games about alchemy]] [[Category:Video games about magic (supernatural)]] [[Category:Video games developed in Taiwan]] [[Category:Windows games]] [[Category:Xbox Series X and Series S games]]