Sundered: Eldritch Edition is Thunder Lotus’s hand-drawn metroidvania about exploring shifting caverns, fighting enemy hordes and bosses, and choosing whether to resist or embrace corrupting eldritch power. Its defining pitch combines exploration with chaotic combat; the developer’s descriptions establish that design, but not how its controls, difficulty, or encounters feel in practice. The expanded edition adds local co-op for up to four players, new areas, a quest chain, and a boss. Whether that mix sounds appealing depends on how much you want exploration punctuated by large-scale fights—and whether you plan to play solo or locally with others.
What kind of game is Sundered?
Thunder Lotus describes Sundered as a hand-drawn metroidvania and action-adventure. You play as Eshe, a wanderer trapped in a ruined world of changing caverns. The studio frames the core loop around exploring those spaces, confronting hordes and large bosses, and acquiring abilities tied to ancient eldritch powers. The setting draws inspiration from H. P. Lovecraft’s work.
That combination is the key to judging the game’s fit: Sundered is not presented as exploration without frequent combat, nor simply as a sequence of boss fights. It aims to bring the two together. The developer’s descriptions explain the intended structure, but do not establish how satisfying or varied it is moment to moment.
How do the corruption choices shape the premise?
Sundered puts a choice between resisting and embracing eldritch power at the center of its premise. The official description says abilities can be corrupted, with power coming at the cost of humanity. The game also offers multiple endings, according to Thunder Lotus. The available details do not specify the exact consequences of each choice, so it is safest to treat this as a central thematic and progression hook rather than assume particular branching outcomes.
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What does Eldritch Edition add?
Thunder Lotus called Eldritch Edition the definitive edition. It includes earlier updates plus the Magnate of the Gong update, which added local co-op, new areas, a quest chain, and a new boss. The studio said existing PC, Mac, Linux, and PS4 copies were updated when the edition launched.
| Version or content | What the developer says it includes |
|---|---|
| Original Sundered | Hand-drawn metroidvania/action-adventure with exploration, hordes, bosses, and corruptible abilities. |
| Eldritch Edition | The earlier updates and Magnate of the Gong update, including local co-op for up to four players, new areas, a quest chain, and a new boss. |
If you are buying the game now, look for the listing titled Sundered: Eldritch Edition. The edition history does not guarantee that it is currently sold on every platform or in every region, so verify your own storefront before purchasing.
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Does Sundered have local co-op?
Yes. Eldritch Edition supports local co-op for up to four players, according to Thunder Lotus. This is a meaningful addition if you want to play together in the same room; it is not evidence of online multiplayer or of how co-op changes the game’s balance. On Switch, make sure you have compatible controllers for everyone who plans to join. No specific controller model or compatibility list is established here.
Which platforms is it on?
Thunder Lotus’s current game page lists Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC/Mac/Linux. Its dated launch schedule was December 21, 2018 for Switch, PS4, and PC/Mac/Linux, followed by Xbox One on December 22, 2018. Those are launch platforms and dates, not a promise of current regional storefront availability.
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The available platform information does not establish differences in performance, resolution, loading, or controls. Check the current listing for your preferred platform and region rather than choosing on the assumption that one version has a technical advantage.
How long is it, and what are the ratings?
Thunder Lotus advertises more than 15 hours of gameplay and multiple endings on its itch.io listing, checked in 2026. Treat the playtime as the developer’s estimate: no independent completion-time measurement or methodology is established.
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The developer lists ESRB E10+ with “Fantasy Violence” for the USA and Canada, and PEGI 12 with “violence” for Europe. Its press kit lists English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish (Spain); language availability can vary by storefront, so check the listing for your platform.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Is Sundered: Eldritch Edition worth playing?
It is a promising fit if you want a hand-drawn, eldritch-themed metroidvania that pairs cavern exploration with hordes and bosses, and if the resist-or-embrace power premise interests you. Eldritch Edition is the more complete version described by the developer, and its local co-op support makes it relevant to players looking for a shared local game.
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A firm recommendation on how it plays would require evidence about control feel, difficulty, encounter repetition, upgrade pacing, accessibility, co-op balance, and platform performance. Those qualities are not established by the available developer materials, so this review cannot responsibly claim that Sundered is responsive, balanced, varied, accessible, or technically consistent. If those are deciding factors, seek hands-on impressions specific to your platform before buying.
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