MIO: Memories in Orbit

 
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a breathtakingly fluid Metroidvania that trades the dark fantasy of Hollow Knight for a vibrant, hand-drawn sci-fi mystery. Released on January 20, 2026, by French studio Douze Dixièmes (creators of Shady Part of Me) and published by Focus Entertainment, it tasks you with saving “The Vessel,” a colossal, decaying ark-ship drifting through space. As the nimble robot MIO, you must repair the ship’s memories, fight rogue machines, and prevent the entire ark from shutting down forever.
Flow, Wire, and Scrap: Core Gameplay

Momentum-Based Movement: The game is defined by its “flow.” MIO is incredibly agile, capable of wall-running, gliding, and using a grappling hook-like “wire” ability to swing across gaps. Movement isn’t just for travel; it’s a combat mechanic. You are encouraged to stay airborne, chaining jumps and swings to evade enemies while looking for an opening to strike.
The Vessel’s Layout: The map is a massive, interconnected labyrinth of biome-like sectors, from overgrown botanical gardens to rusted industrial foundries. It follows the classic Metroidvania structure: you find a new gadget (like a magnetic dash), and suddenly, five previous dead ends become new pathways.
Memory & Modifiers: Instead of a traditional RPG skill tree, you collect “Memories” and “Modifiers” (similar to Nier: Automata‘s chips). You have limited bandwidth to equip these passive buffs. Do you want more health, faster attack speed, or a special ability that shocks enemies when you parry? You can swap these builds on the fly to adapt to different bosses.
Precise Combat: Combat is fast and punishing. MIO wields energy blades and can execute directional attacks. The “Stagger” system requires you to aggressively pressure enemies to break their guard before you can deal real damage, preventing you from playing too passively.

How It Stacks Up
MIO is less about getting lost and more about the joy of movement.



Game
Key Difference




Hollow Knight
Both feature hand-drawn art and difficult bosses. However, MIO is more generous with movement early on. You feel fast and capable from hour one, whereas Hollow Knight starts slow and builds up. MIO also leans more into sci-fi “glitch” aesthetics than gothic gloom.


Ori and the Will of the Wisps
MIO shares Ori‘s emphasis on fluid, aerial platforming. The key difference is combat: MIO‘s combat is more technical and melee-focused, requiring parries and spacing, while Ori is often more about utilizing projectiles and environment hazards.


Metroid Dread
Metroid Dread is built around fear and running away from E.M.M.I.s. MIO is built around curiosity and repair. The atmosphere is melancholic rather than terrifying; you are trying to fix this world, not just escape it.



Key Details

Developer: Douze Dixièmes.
Publisher: Focus Entertainment.
Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Switch 2.
Release Date: January 20, 2026.
Genre: Metroidvania / Action Platformer.
Vibe: Wall-E meets Hollow Knight.

Who It’s For

Must-play for platforming fans. If you love the feeling of nailing a perfect sequence of jumps, dashes, and swings without touching the ground, this game is pure kinetic joy.
Perfect for art lovers. The hand-drawn animation is stunning. Every frame looks like a concept art painting come to life, with a unique “sketchy” style that fits the theme of restored memories.
Skip if you get lost easily. Like many in the genre, the map is huge and doesn’t hold your hand. If backtracking through a giant spaceship to find one specific locked door sounds tedious to you, you might find the mid-game frustrating.

Why It Works
It works because it makes you feel graceful. Many Metroidvanias make you feel weak until the end. MIO makes you feel like a high-tech gymnast from the start. The controls are tight and responsive, meaning when you fail a platforming section, it feels like your fault, not the game’s. Coupled with a haunting ambient soundtrack, it creates a “flow state” experience that is hard to put down.