Memories in Orbit get rave reviews

Indie metroid vania MIO: Memories in Orbit has debuted to strong reviews from professional critics and gamers alike. While its Hollow Knight: Silk Song-like aesthetics are among the game's most praised features, early impressions suggest that MILLION is very much its own thing that is distinctly separate from Team Cherry's metroidvanias.

The recently debuted title is only the second game ever from Douze Dixiemes, a small French studio that previously released surreal puzzle-platformer Shadowy part of me in December 2020. It launched on January 20 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, in addition to debuting as a day one Xbox Game Pass title.

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MIO: Memories In Orbit Interactive Map

Our comprehensive map for MIO: Memories In Orbit.

MIO: Memories in Orbit debuts to strong reviews

Four days after MIO: Memories in Orbits release, the Focus Entertainment-published title generated a lot of positive buzz among reviewers. The game currently holds a “strong” rating on OpenCritic, with an average score of 83 and a reviewer recommendation rating of 81%, based on 69 reviews. This puts it in the top 9% of all games scored on the platform. Player reviews are largely in line with MILLIONs early critical reception, with the metroidvania earning nearly 75% positive user ratings on Steam, based on over 500 reviews. On consoles, the game has 4.39 stars on PlayStation Store, but only 3.3 stars on Xbox. The lower Xbox score may be affected by its Game Pass inclusion, as titles that join Microsoft's subscription service tend to take a user rating hit.

MIO: Memories in Orbit Review Roundup

OpenCritic: 83 average score, 81% recommendation rate
Steam: 74.80% positive reviews
PS shop: 4.39 stars
Xbox Store: 3.3 stars

The hand-painted visuals, minimalistic user interface, and classic metroidvania gameplay loop led to several comparisons between MILLION and Hollow Knight: Silk Song among reviewers. Still, the critical consensus is that Douze Dixieme's latest title stands on its own, providing an overall simpler yet memorable experience. Critics particularly praised its exploration, noting that the game effectively rewards curiosity and off-road detours. MILLIONs movement mechanics were also praised, having been described as instantly fluid and confidence-inspiring, thus serving as a breath of fresh air in a genre that often withholds basic mobility capabilities for hours on end.

The other point of praise among reviewers centered on the game's engaging platforming and, to a lesser extent, boss design. Several critics highlighted challenging traversal sequences that feel satisfying to learn and rewarding to master, complemented by a soundtrack that effectively enhances the tone of each area. Combat seems to be more mixed, especially when it comes to bosses. Few parts of MILLION according to information Silk songs average difficulty, but some reviewers criticized certain bosses for relying on gimmicky mechanics complicated by imprecise controls. Without delving into specific spoilers, a multi-stage boss encountered around the five-hour mark has been criticized for requiring awkward updraft-based acrobatics to defeat.

A lot of the difficulty complaints are alleviated MILLIONs optional accessibility options, including a toggle that gradually makes bosses easier with each failed attempt. Similarly, there is an option that gives a single health container after failing a platforming section, which can basically be used to retry platforming challenges indefinitely. Together, these two settings can trivialize gameplay, minimizing the risk of players getting stuck and quitting out of frustration. About like Hollow Knight: Silk Song, MIO: Memories in Orbit has multiple endings that must be unlocked in sequence. Crowdsourced data from HowLongToBeat suggests that its usual end can be reached in around 15 hours, although the true one will require a more significant time commitment.