- Crowsworn is an unreleased dark fantasy Metroidvania often compared to Bloodborne for its gothic, plague-ridden atmosphere.
- Combat core: scythe melee, firearms, and Corvian Magic create a faster, more agile fighting style than Souls-style combat.
- Structure: a large interconnected world with 120+ enemies and 30+ bosses, built around exploration and backtracking.
- Release status: still in development; no confirmed release date on Steam as of 2026.
- Kickstarter backing: 19,695 backers raised CA$1,258,068 to fund the project.
Why Crowsworn Is Called the Indie Bloodborne
The "Crowsworn Bloodborne" comparison comes from more than surface-level aesthetics. Both works build their identity around a gothic, plague-infected world where sickness, corruption, and religious decay shape every visual and narrative choice. Crowsworn's world of Fearanndal features ruined cities, monumental cathedrals, underground sewers, and oppressive religious architecture, echoing Yharnam's vertical gothic sprawl.
The key difference is structure. Bloodborne is a 3D Souls-like with stamina-managed combat, while Crowsworn is a 2D action-platformer Metroidvania built around fast movement, ability-gated exploration, and non-linear backtracking. The comparison is atmospheric, not mechanical.
Video Highlights:
- Official trailer showcasing the gothic world of Fearanndal
- Scythe and pistol combat against corrupted enemies
- Church and cathedral environments reminiscent of Bloodborne's Yharnam
- Crow-masked protagonist with supernatural abilities
Treat Crowsworn as "Bloodborne's atmosphere meets Hollow Knight's structure." This framing helps set accurate expectations before playing.
| Comparison Point | Bloodborne | Crowsworn |
|---|---|---|
| Perspective | 3D action RPG | 2D Metroidvania |
| Combat pace | Deliberate, stamina-based | Fast, combo-driven |
| World design | Interconnected 3D zones | Interconnected 2D map |
| Theme | Gothic horror, blood | Gothic horror, plague and crows |
| Signature weapon | Trick weapons | Scythe, pistols, Corvian Magic |
| Release status | Released 2015 | In development, date TBA |
Combat Systems: Scythe vs Trick Weapons
Crowsworn's combat triangle gives players three distinct tools, and each fills a role that Bloodborne players will recognize from their own loadouts. The scythe serves aggressive close-range play with wide sweeping arcs, the firearms provide ranged pressure similar to Bloodborne's pistol interrupts, and Corvian Magic adds supernatural options beyond conventional weapons.
Scythe
- Wide attack arcs for crowd control
- Airborne strikes and aggressive melee
- Primary weapon for most encounters
Firearms
- Long-range attacks from safety
- Integrates into melee combos
- Alternative to direct engagement
Corvian Magic
- Supernatural offense tied to lore
- Extends options beyond weapons
- Fits the plague-and-crow identity
Movement is where Crowsworn departs from Bloodborne most sharply. Dash-based evasion, air mobility, wall movement, and grappling traversal support a momentum-driven playstyle closer to character-action games than to methodical Souls combat.
Do not expect stamina management, rally healing, or Bloodborne's dodge-roll timing. Crowsworn rewards speed, positioning, and combining ranged pressure with scythe combos.
| Combat Element | Role | Best Use Case |
|---|---|---|
| Scythe | Melee pressure | Groups, close-range aggression |
| Firearms | Ranged chip damage | Distant enemies, combo weaving |
| Corvian Magic | Special offense | Situations weapons can't solve |
| Dash | Evasion | Dodging wide boss attacks |
| Wall/grapple movement | Traversal | Reaching ability-gated areas |
World, Enemies, and Bosses in Fearanndal
Fearanndal is a large interconnected world where corruption, disease, and violence have transformed once-inhabited lands. The Steam page confirms 120+ unique enemy types and 30+ boss encounters, along with platforming challenges and rune-based ability customization.
The bestiary spans corrupted humanoids, beast-like plague creatures, armored weapon-wielding elites, arena-scale monsters, and gothic guardian figures with pattern-based attacks. Bloodborne veterans will find the enemy design language familiar: masks, feathers, distorted bodies, and ceremonial armor reinforcing themes of death and transformation.
| Enemy Category | Threat Level | Combat Traits |
|---|---|---|
| Corrupted humanoids | Common | Close-range attacks, ambushes in narrow areas |
| Plague beasts | Common | Fast lunges, relentless close pressure |
| Armored foes | Elite | High defense, punishes poorly timed melee |
| Arena monsters | Boss-scale | Wide-area attacks, multiple ranges |
| Gothic guardians | Major | Pattern-based rhythms, strong arena presence |
Steam's listing highlights customizable rune arrangements for ability tuning, giving builds flexibility similar in spirit to Bloodborne's blood gem system, though through a very different framework.
How to Prepare for Crowsworn: Step-by-Step
Wishlist and Follow Official Channels
Add Crowsworn to your Steam wishlist and follow the official announcements feed for release timing, demos, and platform news.
Study Official Gameplay Footage
Watch the reveal and enemy showcase trailers to learn the combat rhythm: scythe combos, pistol integration, and dash-based evasion.
Practice Metroidvania Fundamentals
Play exploration-focused titles to build habits for mapping, backtracking, and noting ability-gated routes you cannot yet pass.
Track Kickstarter and Community Updates
Follow r/Crowsworn and Steam community posts for development milestones, backer build news, and demo availability.
Plan Your First Build Direction
Decide whether aggressive scythe play, ranged firearm support, or magic-heavy loadouts suit your style once rune options are fully revealed.
Players who map exploration habits and combat fundamentals ahead of release adapt far faster to Fearanndal's difficulty curve.
Platforms, Release Status, and Backing Records
Crowsworn remains in development with no confirmed release date. The Steam page lists the game as coming soon, and console plans include Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, and Xbox, though subscription services like Xbox Game Pass have not been announced.
| Platform | Status | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Windows PC (Steam) | Confirmed | Official store page live, coming soon |
| Nintendo Switch | Planned | Included in announced console plans |
| PlayStation / Xbox | Planned | Part of multi-platform release plans |
| Xbox Game Pass | Not announced | No official subscription listing |
Track These Before Launch:
- Wishlist Crowsworn on Steam
- Follow Steam announcements for release dates
- Watch official gameplay reveals for combat study
- Monitor Kickstarter updates for backer builds
- Check r/Crowsworn for community findings
Any specific release date, price, or Game Pass claim circulating online without an official source should be treated as speculation. Rely on the Steam page and developer announcements.
Crowsworn Bloodborne FAQ
Q: Is Crowsworn a Bloodborne game or spin-off?
No. Crowsworn is an independent dark fantasy Metroidvania by Mongoose Rodeo. It shares Bloodborne's gothic, plague-inspired atmosphere but is a separate 2D action-platformer with its own world, Fearanndal.
Q: Is Crowsworn out yet?
No. As of 2026, Crowsworn is still in development with no confirmed release date. The Steam page lists it as coming soon, and players can wishlist it to receive launch notifications.
Q: How does Crowsworn combat differ from Bloodborne?
Crowsworn uses fast 2D combat built around the scythe, firearms, and Corvian Magic, with dash-based evasion and platforming movement. There is no stamina system or rally mechanic like in Bloodborne.
Q: How many bosses and enemies does Crowsworn have?
The official Steam page lists 120+ unique enemy types and 30+ boss encounters across the interconnected world of Fearanndal.
Q: Was Crowsworn crowdfunded?
Yes. The Kickstarter campaign gathered 19,695 backers and CA$1,258,068 in funding, supporting the game's ongoing development.