MIO: Memories in Orbit Preview – A Feast of a Metroidvania

Hollow Knight is one of the best metroidvania platformers out there and very few games have come close to equalling its greatness. However, MIO: Memories in Orbit could do just that. Developed by French indie studio Douze Dixièmes and set to be published by Focus Entertainment, MIO: Memories in Orbit couldn’t have made a better first impression during my hands-on preview at this year’s Gamescom. With a creative traversal system, challenging combat encounters, and one of the most beautiful art styles I’ve seen in a long time, I can’t say there’s a single aspect of this title that fills me with unease.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is set aboard a forgotten spaceship known as The Vessel, where AI caretakers, known as Pearls, have suddenly stopped working. It’s up to robot MIO to navigate the overgrown ship, now overrun by rogue machinery, in an attempt to revive The Vessel’s memories and prevent a full shutdown.

As I said, MIO: Memories in Orbit is a total feast for the eyes with its hand-drawn animated art style. The world in which MIO inhabits is a sketchbook brought to life in glorious technicolour, and I spent much of the demo simply marvelling at what developers have visually pulled off. In fact, I’d even go as far as saying that MIO: Memories in Orbit is by far the prettiest game I sampled at this year’s Gamescom and trust me, I played a ton of games.

A game has to be so much more than pretty though in today’s market, but I can safely say that MIO: Memories in Orbit appears to boast a very moreish gameplay loop - and this is coming from someone who was totally dropped in at the deep end. You see, MIO: Memories in Orbit has had a public demo available for some time via Steam, so for this Gamescom press opportunity, a segment was chosen from much later in the game. That’s all well and good if you’ve played the Steam demo and have grasped the game’s basic controls. Spoiler alert, I hadn’t - and yet, I took to MIO: Memories in Orbit like a duck to water, even if I did have to die a few times to get the hang of what it is that I was supposed to do.

MIO: Memories In Orbit, Credit / Focus Entertainment

MIO traverses using tendrils which reach out almost like a spider’s legs. As such, the character can jump up, latching on to walls or ceilings but only for the duration of their stamina bar. Of course, the classic platforming elements are present here too, with MIO able to jump and slide their way through levels. The tendril mechanic offered a really great level of challenge as you’ll have to maintain the character’s stamina by activating certain flowers within the environment that can refuel you.

This can mean jumping to slash attack one of these restorative flowers mid climb, rapidly clinging back on to whatever wall or ceiling it is that you’re moving along before you fall to your death. It’s all about precision and timing and, well, in some cases, it isn’t too far removed from Hollow Knight: Silksong’s new 45-degree angle attack that’s set the internet alight.

Whilst on your travels, you’ll encounter some of that rogue machinery I mentioned which MIO can fend off using a series of slashing attacks, avoiding blows by jumping and dodging. In fact, I seem to recall that MIO could also use its tendrils to latch on to airborne enemies, pulling the player in closer to see those pesky flying foes off. While I only sampled a small portion of what MIO: Memories in Orbit has to offer, I was impressed by the variety of enemies I encountered. Alongside those that were airborne, others had homing attacks while some simply lunged at me within a certain proximity.

Before long, I was asked if I wanted to take on a boss fight. I didn’t have much faith in my skills, particularly as I was told this was a difficult secret boss but for you, the good GAMINGbible readers, I said yes. I was directed along a nearby path and shown a secret entrance hidden by a staircase that I’m not sure I’d ever have spotted. MIO: Memories in Orbit seemingly has plenty of discrete opportunities for those wishing to experience all the game has to offer.

MIO: Memories In Orbit, Credit / Focus Entertainment

This secret path led me to a room where I faced off against some kind of experiment that was essentially an anthropomorphised door. The door would ‘chomp’ across the room, disappear and heavily descend from above, as well as release smaller airborne foes for me to deal with. I will say, it didn’t take me long to come to understand the door’s patterns. That doesn’t mean I saw this boss off though. While I mastered what the door was about to do, MIO: Memories in Orbit requires such precision that my perhaps rushed style of playing led me to die several times.

I’m not a huge fan of difficult boss fights. While some players yearn for a high level of difficulty, I prefer something in the moderate zone. I’d say this particular encounter was pretty damn tricky - although it could be due to my newness to the game - and yet, I was wholly engrossed. If I’d had time to sit there for an extra 20 to 30 mins to see this foe off, I would have. MIO: Memories in Orbit seems to pack a punch in the difficulty department but in a way that makes you feel that victory is achievable.

MIO: Memories in Orbit hasn’t so far put a foot wrong. This is shaping up to be a solid metroidvania platformer that packs in everything you could possibly want. Its beautifully crafted world boasts some engaging battles, all of which you’ll unearth via a creative traversal system. This is a title well worth putting on your wishlist.

MIO: Memories in Orbit is due to launch sometime in the remainder of 2025 on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC.