Pixel art action RPG HYKE: Northern Light(s) is scheduled for release in summer 2025 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. With a 2D top-down approach and strong exploration elements, the game invites players to explore a magical world in an atmosphere full of mystery and conflict.
Story
Players will follow the story of Hyke, a white-haired girl who goes on a journey to trace the footsteps of her mother-a witch believed to have brought destruction to the world. Set in a post-war world between humans and witches, Hyke traverses forbidden territories full of magical creatures and dangerous relics from the past.
Her encounters with the rune guardians pave the way for new conflicts and mysteries closely related to her mother's history and the fate of the world she lives in.
Gameplay
The game system offers freedom to explore the danger zone, while forming team compositions with other wizards recruited throughout the story. Each character has a unique play style and can be swapped out as needed for strategic purposes.
Outside of combat, players can relax at camp-arranging equipment, cooking food for added effects, and playing their favorite music. This mix of action elements and leisure activities gives the game a balanced and enjoyable rhythm.
Character
During the journey, players will meet various wizard characters and other factions that have complex backgrounds and motivations.
- Hyke (voiced by Konomi Kohara) - A young witch looking for her mother. She loves the cars, radios and cameras left behind by her father, and is used to the camping life.
- Riko (voiced by Aoi Koga) - A traveling companion who carries a stuffed backpack named Rabby, the source of her mana.
- Fall Out (voiced by Manaka Iwami) - The rune keeper of the Crimson Forest. He is able to communicate with creatures such as animals or plants that have no language.
- Mother Brain (voiced by Yumiri Hanamori) - A rune guardian on a remote tropical island. He combines technology such as drones and firearms with magic, creating an unorthodox fighting style.
- Extra (voiced by Fairouz Ai) - A rune keeper in the barren lands. His way of thinking is very different from humans and other wizards, so he often has trouble communicating with other beings.
- Hall Keeper (voiced by Megumi Han) - The guardian of the runes in the underwater ruins. She controls magic that mimics natural disasters and the power of the wild, and is able to effectively blend innocence and cunning.
- World End (voiced by Akari Kito) - A witch who cooperates with the Resurrection faction. Coming from a family of Nirvana clan witches, she has the ability to turn the blood in her body-which has a high concentration of mana-into magic directly.
- Yugiri (voiced by Miyu Tomita) - A soldier who leads the Resurrection faction's operational unit and controls its exclusive equipment, the D.E.M. type long-range weapon. She calls Leon "senpai" and admires him greatly.
- Leon (voiced by Takuya Eguchi) - A soldier of the Resurrection faction who leads an operational unit and uses a melee-type D.E.M.. He hates witches and regards them as enemies.
- Wiseman (voiced by Masaya Matsukaze) - Representative of the Resurrection faction. He leads a global witch hunt and developed a magic weapon made by D.E.M. that uses witch blood as a power source.
- Aurora (voiced by Tomori Kusunoki) - Hyke's mother and the leader of the Midnight Suns. She has white hair and is known to be a master of various types of magic. After the war between humans and witches, she disappeared and her whereabouts are unknown, whether she is still alive or not.
Production Staff
Development HYKE: Northern Light(s) involves a number of creators and studios with important roles in shaping the artistic, technical and production direction of the game.
- Planning / Produce: Akatsuki Games Inc.
- Development: BLAST EDGE GAMES Inc.
- Publish: Aniplex Inc. / Akatsuki Games Inc.
- Producer: Hiroaki Iwano
- Character Design: orie
- Pixel Art Design: Setamo/Shiros
The game also reinforces the narrative atmosphere through the theme song titled "Silhouette (feat. isekaijoucho)". The song is performed by Project HYKE, with lyrics by Shohei Yamanobe, and composition and arrangement by Yuuki Fukazawa.
Release and Language Support
HYKE: Northern Light(s) will be released in summer 2025 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam. The game supports multiple languages including English, Japanese, Korean, French, German, Spanish, Russian, Dutch, Turkish, Brazilian Portuguese, as well as Traditional and Simplified Mandarin-allowing players from different backgrounds to enjoy the gaming experience comfortably.
It combines a pixel art visual style, a flexible gameplay system, and a unique and mysterious cast of characters, HYKE: Northern Light(s) is one of the most anticipated releases for action RPG fans this year.
Source: Steam
