Moonscars is a 2D side-scrolling action-platformer released in 2022, developed by Black Mermaid and published by Humble Games. It falls into the Metroidvania subgenre, with a dark fantasy aesthetic and challenging, Souls-like combat mechanics. Given your familiarity with the genre, you'll recognize its pixel art style reminiscent of games like Blasphemous, but with a distinct, monochromatic color palette dominated by shades of grey, creating a grim and oppressive atmosphere. The game features a fluid combat system that emphasizes dodging, parrying, and well-timed attacks. You play as Grey Irma, a clay sculptura warrior, who wields a greatsword and can use various special abilities. The difficulty is notably high, with punishing enemies and boss encounters. Moonscars incorporates roguelike elements, including a death mechanic where dying creates a doppelganger that must be defeated to regain full strength. The game world is non-linear, encouraging exploration and backtracking as you unlock new abilities. The narrative is deliberately cryptic, told through environmental storytelling and sparse dialogue, reminiscent of the storytelling approach in games like Hollow Knight or the Dark Souls series. Overall, Moonscars stands out in the Metroidvania genre for its challenging combat, unique visual style, and dark, mysterious world-building.