Moon CartridgePT

A Moon Cartridge metroidvania / Beta demo available

Seven years without the sun. Three ways to face the night.

Enter Castle Vahl as Ravena, Friar Viktor or Ossian. Read the signs of the dead, uncover forgotten paths and discover why morning ceased to exist.

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RavenaFriar ViktorOssian
A castle room in the current demo
Vahl / Current demo screenshot
28 rooms in the demo3 hunters3 bossesPC & mobile · EN / PT

01 / The night of Vahl

Here lies the morning.

By order of Duke Orvald Vahl, this night shall never end. For seven years, the castle has lived beneath the moon, among crimson glass, cold stone and candlelight. Whoever crosses its gates must bring their own light.

Diaries, letters and gravestones hold fragments of what happened. Collected notes stay in the hunter’s book: the story unfolds as you explore.

“Seven years without the sun. Whoever enters, bring your own light.”Inscription at the gates of Vahl

02 / Choose your hunter

One journey. Three rhythms.

The same castle calls for different decisions depending on the weapon you carry.

Ravena

Speed · close combat

Ravena

Silver Sabre

A slender blade and quick, chained strikes. Ravena must close in, read the opening and leave before the answer comes.

For players who enjoy fighting close and keeping the rhythm.

Friar Viktor

Resilience · wide arc

Friar Viktor

Iron rosary

An iron cross hangs at the end of his rosary. Slower strikes cover a wide arc and push back the dead.

For players who prefer controlling distance with weighty blows.

Ossian

Reach · aerial combat

Ossian

Scythe

His scythe traces long arcs. A top hat, coat and lantern accompany a hunter who can also reach threats in the air.

For players who enjoy reach and facing flying creatures.

03 / Between encounters

The castle tells a story, too.

Libraries, crypts, gardens and towers connect through passages, stairs and shortcuts. Abilities open previously unreachable paths; the map helps you recognise the way back.

A moment of Vigil

Dedicated chambers to rest, restore health and save your progress. Some also let you travel between discovered destinations, chosen on the map.

Vigília

Explore. Recognise. Return.

A map with zoom, panning and discovery markers accompanies your journey. Collected notes can be read again at any time.

Castle

04 / The bestiary of Vahl

Learn to read the dead.

Every threat signals its attack. Watch the stance, wait for the blow and find your opportunity.

Download GIF ↓

In-game movements · watch the warning and the opening

Swarm Bat

Sleeps hanging in flocks of five. When the hunter gets close they wake together and dive.

Download GIF ↓

In-game movements · watch the warning and the opening

The Buried

Sleeps under the soil and rises when the hunter gets close. Walks slowly and smashes with its arm.

Download GIF ↓

In-game movements · watch the warning and the opening

Reassembler

A skeleton on patrol. Throws its own femur and, when felled, the bones put themselves together again.

Download GIF ↓

In-game movements · watch the warning and the opening

Gargoyle

Stays still as a statue. If the hunter lingers in the room, its eye lights up and it dives.

Download GIF ↓

In-game movements · watch the warning and the opening

Incense Servant

Swings a censer. Spins when someone gets close and hurls the thurible, which bursts into a blinding cloud.

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In-game movements · watch the warning and the opening

Hollow Armor

Keeps watch on patrol with its shield raised. Strikes with a mace and is then left open.

05 / The guardians

Some presences will not let you pass.

The demo includes three encounters. Open their entries if you want to see their names and appearances before meeting them.

Meet the guardians · reveals names and images
Scarlet Bride

Scarlet Bride

Veil, roses and thorns. An encounter about reading movement and choosing when to advance.

Bone Colossus

Bone Colossus

A mass of bones rises. Its heavy blows change the rhythm of exploration.

Duke Orvald Vahl

Duke Orvald Vahl

The lord of the castle awaits at the Throne. What the night has made of him is yours to discover.

06 / Those who still live here

Not every presence is a threat.

Tereza

Tereza

The merchant

A lantern and a bag of provisions. Tereza offers conversation and supplies for the next crossing.

Cândido

Cândido

The librarian

Among books and wax, he keeps clues for those who listen. Not every wall tells the truth.

Elias

Elias

The gravedigger

He still tends to the dead, even when they no longer rest. He knows what walks the crypts.

07 / Development journal

Follow the next morning.

Dawnless is in development. News and stories about building the game have their meeting place on itch.io.

Follow on itch.io ↗

Already in the demo

28 connected rooms, three hunters, three bosses, NPCs, notes, a map, secrets, Vigil chambers and keyboard or touch controls.

The path to the full game

The goal is to expand to around 120 rooms, with new regions, bosses and abilities. This content is planned and is not part of today’s demo.

Help shape the next chapter.

How did combat feel? Did the map help? Were the mobile controls comfortable? Share your experience in the itch.io comments.

Play and share feedback ↗