Ravenlok - What We Know So Far

There was a lot to take in during the 2022 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase. With major titles such as "Starfield" and "Diablo 4" on display during such events, it can be easy to overlook some of the humbler offerings. "Ravenlok," for instance, is the latest project from Toronto-based indie developer and publisher Cococucumber. The studio consists of just 10 people, and has launched four games to date: "Bunny Bonker," "Planet of the Eyes," "Riverbond," and "Echo Generation." Don't let the number of releases deter you though. Small development teams have made plenty of awesome games in the past.

"Ravenlok" has a vibrant and otherworldly look to it that sits somewhere between "Alice in Wonderland" and "Coraline" – only the girl who finds the portal to another world gets to have a sword this time around. This aesthetic, coupled with what resembles classic RPG mechanics, may have you wanting to learn more about the upcoming title. Here's what Cococucumber has shared so far.

A specific release date for "Ravenlok" has yet to be disclosed. However, the Cococucumber website says that it will launch at some point in 2023. That's not a bad turnaround considering it was announced in June 2022. The studio unveiled its previous game, "Echo Generation," in July 2020, culminating in an October 2021 release. If "Ravenlok" follows a similar production cycle, it will likely come out in the late third or early fourth quarter of 2023.

The website also states that "Ravenlok" will be available on PC, Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S. It appears players won't be able to pick it up on Steam, but interested parties can already add it to their Wishlist on the Epic Games Store. The best news? Those who subscribe to Xbox Game Pass will be able to play "Ravenlok" on day one.

Those who didn't see the 2022 Xbox and Bethesda Games Showcase will be pleased to learn that there is a reveal trailer that shows off a bunch of the world that "Ravenlok" takes place in. The video opens on a view of a family moving into a house in the country that has a big barn off to the side. It then cuts to the titular character, Ravenlok, as she explores the barn and discovers an ornate mirror beside several needlepoint pictures. Upon examining the mirror, she is drawn into it.

At this point, the viewer is treated to several location shots. There's a castle, a garden, a greenhouse, a hallway, and a mushroom-covered forest. Many of the creatures featured in the sequence have blocky designs reminiscent of "Minecraft." It looks as though these are the subjects of the needlepoint pictures visible in the world outside the mirror which have somehow come to life.

There is also a bit of gameplay on display. You can catch snippets of Ravenlok battling giant and creatively designed monsters, such as a massive caterpillar queen with a mouth that quadrisects to reveal several rows of pointed teeth and a long, ugly tongue.

"Ravenlok" is an action-adventure RPG, and like most entries in the genre, it looks like there will be a lot of emphasis on exploring the  magical world within the mirror and meeting the various characters that live there. There are several scenes in the trailer that show Ravenlok encountering new NPCs to discuss quests, trade for goods, and train new skills. These interactions will likely be pivotal to learning about the setting and gaining the abilities Ravenlok needs to fight her way home. One sequence centers on her training to learn fire magic, which she later uses in a battle against a giant mechanical bird.

Xbox's page for "Ravenlok" says that it features "fast-paced real-time combat," and that players will be able to "slash, blast and cast spells to defeat mad monsters and vanquish beastly bosses." The battle system seems reminiscent of other action RPGs, like "The Legend of Zelda" and "Kingdom Hearts," combining a loose magic system with hack-and-slash melee. Ravenlok uses a sword and shield in all of the battles on display, so these will likely be her main tools for most (if not all) of the game.