City of None: The Next Metroidvania From a Celeste Co-Creator Arrives in 2027

A spirit inhabits a wooden body, parrying a sword thrust by landing on the blade. This is the world of City of None—the next Metroidvania from Celeste co-creator Noel Berry, arriving in 2027 on Steam. Berry, who helped craft the emotionally resonant, precision-platforming masterpiece Celeste, is back with his brother Liam to deliver a hauntingly beautiful Metroidvania set in a crumbling metropolis ruled by corrupt Barons. This is the first major project from Extremely OK Games since the cancellation of Earthblade.

From Celeste to City of None — A New Creative Direction

Noel Berry's pedigree as co-creator of Celeste is nothing short of legendary. The game, celebrated for its tight controls, emotional storytelling, and groundbreaking accessibility options, set a new standard for indie platformers. It sold over 1 million copies, won numerous Game of the Year awards, and became a touchstone for how narrative and gameplay can intertwine seamlessly. For many, Berry's name alone is a seal of quality.

City of None marks the first publicly announced project from EXOK Games since the cancellation of Earthblade in 2024. That decision, while disappointing to fans, was framed by the studio as a necessary pivot to focus on a project that better aligned with their creative vision. While the 2027 release window leaves ample time for development, the cancellation of Earthblade reminds us that even talented studios face creative pivots. With City of None, the Berry brothers are taking a hands-on approach: Noel handles programming, Liam handles sound, and the two collaborate on design, narrative, and art. This intimate development process suggests a game shaped by close collaboration rather than committee-driven design, a promising sign for those who value artistic integrity in indie games.

A World of Lost Souls and Corrupt Barons

The premise of City of None is immediately evocative. Players control a spirit inhabiting a wooden body—a striking visual metaphor for a soul trapped in a decaying vessel. This protagonist explores a crumbling metropolis ruled by powerful Barons who exploit lost souls. The narrative goal is to wrest life and the city's future back from these Barons, suggesting a story rich in themes of oppression, rebellion, and redemption.

The setting is divided into five sectors, accessible by train. This non-linear traversal system is a hallmark of the Metroidvania genre, encouraging players to explore at their own pace and discover the connections between areas. The train mechanic itself adds a layer of world-building: it's not just a gameplay convenience but a narrative device that underscores the city's infrastructure and the Barons' control over movement.

Game director Noel Berry described the world in a recent interview: "We wanted a city that feels alive but broken, where every corner tells a story of loss and resistance. The Barons aren't just villains; they're symptoms of a system that's failed everyone." This philosophical approach to world-building suggests a narrative depth that could rival Celeste's own emotional weight.

Gameplay — Snappy Movement, Parries, and Power-Ups

True to Berry's roots, City of None emphasizes snappy movement and combat. The standout mechanic shown so far is the parry: the protagonist can parry a sword thrust by landing on the blade, a move that requires precise timing and positioning. This isn't a simple button press; it's a spatial awareness challenge that rewards players who master the game's physics.

The Metroidvania loop is fully intact: players discover unique items and power-ups that grant new platforming abilities. While specific abilities haven't been detailed, the announcement trailer offers a tantalizing glimpse—the spirit appears to phase through certain walls, suggesting a unique traversal mechanic tied to the protagonist's ethereal nature. Whether this ability or others will be revealed closer to launch remains to be seen, but the promise of unlocking new ways to traverse the city is a core part of the genre's appeal. The city is populated with both friendly and unfriendly inhabitants, adding depth to encounters. Some will offer quests or lore, while others will test your combat skills.

Combat appears to be deliberate and methodical rather than frantic. The parry system, combined with the protagonist's wooden body, suggests a defensive playstyle where reading enemy patterns is as important as attacking. This aligns with Celeste's philosophy of making every move count, but in a combat context rather than pure platforming.

A Visual and Auditory Feast

The art style is one of the game's most striking features. City of None features lush pixel art with a subdued use of color, leaning toward a 1-bit aesthetic. This minimalist palette creates a melancholic, atmospheric tone that perfectly suits the game's themes of decay and resistance. The environments shown in the announcement trailer are moody and detailed, from rain-slicked streets to towering industrial structures.

Liam Berry handles sound design and music, and samples are already available on the official website. The audio complements the visual style—haunting, sparse melodies that evoke a sense of isolation and determination. The Berry brothers' collaboration on sound and art suggests a cohesive audio-visual experience, where every element reinforces the game's mood.

The announcement trailer, released alongside the Steam page, showcases these elements in action. The trailer's pacing is deliberate, letting the environments and animations speak for themselves. It's a confident reveal that trusts the game's aesthetic to hook players rather than relying on flashy effects or hyperbolic narration.

A Promising New Chapter

City of None represents a promising new chapter for Noel Berry and EXOK Games. It blends the tight platforming DNA of Celeste with the sprawling, exploration-driven design of a Metroidvania. With its evocative pixel art, compelling narrative about lost souls and corrupt Barons, and snappy combat mechanics, it's a title to watch closely as it heads toward its 2027 release. Whether City of None can capture the same magic that made Celeste a phenomenon remains to be seen—but the city's secrets are already calling. We'll be watching closely.