Constance

 
Constance is a Metroidvania that trades grimdark caves for a vibrant, decaying mindscape. You play as a paintbrush-wielding artist trapped in a world manifesting her own burnout. It is a game that wears its Hollow Knight and Celeste influences on its sleeve. However, it distinguishes itself with a unique “flow state” combat system. Here, you don’t just slash enemies. Instead, you paint over them, turning the act of violence into a fluid, acrobatic performance.
Brushstrokes of Fury: Core Gameplay

Paint-Based Combat: Your primary weapon is a giant paintbrush. You can morph into paint to dash through enemies, slide under obstacles, and wall-jump with fluid grace. Consequently, combat feels less like a duel and more like a dance.
Mental Biomes: The map is divided into six distinct regions representing different aspects of Constance’s psyche. For example, you explore areas like “Creativity” or “Anxiety.” Each biome features unique enemies and hazards that reflect these mental states.
The Death Choice: When you die, you face a dilemma. You can respawn at the last checkpoint with full health, or restart exactly where you fell with only 60% health. This “push your luck” mechanic adds strategic tension to platforming sections.
Inspirations System: Instead of traditional badges, you equip “Inspirations.” These items provide passive buffs and modify your attacks. Therefore, you can customize your playstyle to focus on speed, defense, or raw damage.
Flow State Platforming: The platforming is designed to be chained. You must combine dashes, wall jumps, and paint-morphs to navigate complex rooms without touching the ground. This rewards rhythm and precision.

How It Stacks Up
Constance competes in a crowded genre but stands out through its theme and fluid movement.



Game
Key Difference




Hollow Knight
Hollow Knight focuses on methodical, pogo-based combat. In contrast, Constance emphasizes fast, horizontal momentum and acrobatic “paint” movement.


Celeste
Both games tackle mental health themes. However, Constance wraps this theme in a combat-heavy Metroidvania structure rather than a pure precision platformer.


Ori and the Will of the Wisps
Constance shares Ori’s focus on fluid traversal. Yet, it adds a more aggressive, melee-focused combat system with its paintbrush mechanics.



Key Details

Developer: bildundtonfabrik (btf).
Publisher: ByteRockers’ Games / PARCO GAMES.
Platforms: PC (Steam); Consoles in 2026.
Release Date: November 24, 2025 (PC).
Genre: Metroidvania / Action-Platformer.
Visual Style: Hand-drawn 2D animation.

Who It’s For

Must-play for fans of Hollow Knight waiting for Silksong. It scratches that specific itch for tight combat and interconnected exploration.
Perfect for art lovers. The hand-drawn animation is stunning. Every frame looks like a painting in motion.
Skip if you dislike “corpse run” mechanics. While the death system is innovative, it can be frustrating if you consistently choose the risky respawn option and fail.

Why It Works
It works because it seamlessly integrates its theme into its mechanics. The paintbrush isn’t just a gimmick; it is the tool you use to rewrite your environment. Dashing through an enemy feels like correcting a mistake on a canvas. This unity of gameplay and narrative makes Constance feel cohesive. It transforms a standard Metroidvania into a personal journey of artistic recovery.