Hazelnut Bastille

About

Hazelnut Bastille is a top-down Metroidvania developed by Aloft Studio that draws heavy inspiration from early 90s SNES classics. You play as a young woman on a solo quest to recover an item taken from her life. The gameplay involves exploring interconnected areas, unlocking new movement abilities to access previously unreachable zones, and fighting through enemies while gathering resources. The art style keeps things simple and nostalgic without relying on modern flashy effects. What stands out most is the cozy community vibe players have already shared about this indie title. Despite the dark themes of retrieving lost items and facing terrible odds, the game feels grounded in its world-building rather than overwhelming with complexity. You will meet a group of Castouts and Knaves who live on the fringe of society while you piece together mysteries from an unknowable past. The single-player experience focuses on steady progression through a handcrafted map where every new area reveals more about the lore without forcing you into repetitive loops.

Storyline

Hazelnut Bastille tells the story of one lone young woman who will brave terrible odds in order to retrieve something that was taken from her. She will befriend a band of Castouts and Knaves living on the fringe of the world, as she unravels the mysteries of a vast and unknowable past!