Noreya: The Gold Project
Released Jun 2024
Venture into a frenetic metroidvania and take part in a fight between divinities where you will have to choose between Corrupting Gold and Purifying Light to achieve your ends.
77% positive · 166 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Where to buy
Steam $9.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
We couldn't confirm these stores carry this game.
Green Man Gaming Steam key Search IndieGala Steam key Search Prices in USD, as listed by each store.
Buying through an affiliate store helps support the site
Evaluation
Noreya: The Gold Project launched as a 1.0 release on June 21, 2024, after a period in Early Access. The game received two major post-launch updates: Update 1.1.0 on July 24, 2024 (which reworked the Giant Worm boss, added map markers, controller vibration, and other improvements), and Patch 1.3 on August 21, 2024 (gamepad button binding and general improvements), which the developer explicitly described as "the new (and last?) major update of the game before fully focusing on the console versions."
In the August 21, 2024 Patch 1.3 post, the developer stated: "Today, we're delivering the new (and last?) major update of the game before fully focusing on the console versions. It's quite difficult to stay motivated to improve a game that hasn't found its audience, but I want to finish things properly, so I'll keep updating it as necessary." This signals a shift away from major content work on the PC version toward console porting.
This was reinforced by the December 17, 2024 developer update, where the developer disclosed that the studio had effectively dissolved — they were now working alone, with only two freelance collaborators remaining, public funding requests had failed, and sales were disappointing. The developer confirmed no new games or major content directions were viable in the short term, and framed their ongoing work as bug fixing, optimization, and the console port.
Since August 2024, activity has been limited to bug fix and feature patches (Chinese/Japanese language support, performance optimizations, Steam achievement fixes, balance tweaks). No new major content has been announced or released, and the developer has not indicated any further major updates are planned for the PC version. The game was also noted in the pre-1.0 patch 0.9 as "complete" from a content standpoint, with some originally planned additional areas explicitly cancelled.
Given the developer's own characterization of Patch 1.3 as the last major update, the studio's restructuring, and the absence of any announced future content, the game's content appears complete as of August 21, 2024.
Evidence
Developer reveals the studio has effectively dissolved — they are now working alone with only two freelance collaborators. Public funding requests failed, sales are poor, and the focus going forward is on a smaller scale. No new major content for Noreya is indicated.
Developer describes Patch 1.3 as 'the new (and last?) major update of the game before fully focusing on the console versions,' signaling a wind-down of major PC content work.
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
PixelHeart
Achievements
43
Platform
Windows, Linux
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player
About this game
Noreya: The Gold Project is a 2D pixel-art metroidvania game set in a dark fantasy universe.
The game offers players a choice between allegiance to the God of Light and Shadow or the God of Greed!
But be careful!
Decisions made in the game affect your progression by changing the available paths and abilities.
The game's key art creates a unique experience for gamers with no run being the same as others, this duality encourages players to explore both paths.
Salluste, the God of Greed, took power over the city of Lemia after imprisoning the Goddess of Light. Kali, a fighter who lost everything at the hands of the gods, sets out for the city to verify the rumors surrounding this new god who corrupts and subjugates humans in exchange for wealth.
Explore the City of Gold and its cathedral, confront the creatures of shadow and gold, pledge allegiance to the God of your choice to embody their power, or detach yourself from the Gods and suffer their wrath.
Game features
Backstory: The world of Noreya
In time immemorial, seven deities joined forces to shape the land we know today as Noreya.
Such was the power of the Seven that Men, as a sign of respect but also out of fear, began to worship them. Some sinners, however, strayed from the path, bringing out the most maliciously treacherous parts of themselves. From this malice came new deities, gaining their powers from the servitude of their subjects.
In the lands of Lemia, home of the primordial Goddess of Light, an endless famine persisted. The poor inhabitants' desire for wealth benefited the God of Avarice, who in turn promised an end to their misery. The god everyone now calls the "God of Gold" transformed all his followers into shapeless, tormented creatures: the golden shadows. Lemia, once so luminous, now gives way to unhealthy greed.
Duality: Pledge allegiance and receive the power of the gods!
With a skill tree containing over 50 skills, you can evolve according to your allegiance to the Goddess of Light or the God of Gold.
You can also play double duty, but in this case you won't have access to the most powerful spells. It's up to you to find the best balance for your style of play.
A world for every god.
No more metroidvania with a single map to discover.
In the world of Noreya, the world changes according to your allegiance.
Are you familiar with the Golden World and have now decided to worship the Light? Get ready for a whole new experience, forge ahead as you discover which areas have changed and discover which parts of the game are no longer accessible! However, in turn get ready to explore other new adventures that now await the servant of the Light!
Each version of the world conceals secrets and exclusive bonuses. Can you find the artifacts hidden in the depths of the world? Only time will tell!
The soundtrack
Signed by the incredible duo Sarys / MisterMV, enjoy an original soundtrack that will accompany you throughout your adventure.
Switch allegiance, and the music will change and evolve with you.
A game for arachnophobes:
Initially, we had planned to include spiders in the game, but we realized that many players are arachnophobic.
WIth this in mind, we worked on coming up with an alternative that works and retains the feel of the underground environments.
But who knows, maybe one day the spiders of Noreya will be released. But that's a tale for another time.
Read more on : Recent Events & Announcements
The game offers players a choice between allegiance to the God of Light and Shadow or the God of Greed!
But be careful!
Decisions made in the game affect your progression by changing the available paths and abilities.
The game's key art creates a unique experience for gamers with no run being the same as others, this duality encourages players to explore both paths.
Salluste, the God of Greed, took power over the city of Lemia after imprisoning the Goddess of Light. Kali, a fighter who lost everything at the hands of the gods, sets out for the city to verify the rumors surrounding this new god who corrupts and subjugates humans in exchange for wealth.
Explore the City of Gold and its cathedral, confront the creatures of shadow and gold, pledge allegiance to the God of your choice to embody their power, or detach yourself from the Gods and suffer their wrath.
Game features
- Meticulously crafted pixel art
- 2 Unique persistent worlds that evolve according to your chosen allegiance to the gods (The Path of Gold or The Path of Light)
- A skill tree with over 50 abilities!
- ⚔️12 memorable bosses you can face in any order
- Over 25 totally unique monsters with innovative gameplay surrounding each monster.
- Easy-to-play, hard-to-master controls.
- Smooth, pleasant platforming.
- Fast, dynamic gameplay.
- Pixel-perfect combat, subtle and accessible.
- Several possible endings.
- An original, epic soundtrack by Sarys and Xavier Dang (MisterMV), which evolves according to your allegiance.
- An original storyline scattered around the world: find all the steles in the game to understand the history and mysteries surrounding the gods (optional storyline).
- A non-linear World: discover the world as you please
Backstory: The world of Noreya
In time immemorial, seven deities joined forces to shape the land we know today as Noreya.
Such was the power of the Seven that Men, as a sign of respect but also out of fear, began to worship them. Some sinners, however, strayed from the path, bringing out the most maliciously treacherous parts of themselves. From this malice came new deities, gaining their powers from the servitude of their subjects.
In the lands of Lemia, home of the primordial Goddess of Light, an endless famine persisted. The poor inhabitants' desire for wealth benefited the God of Avarice, who in turn promised an end to their misery. The god everyone now calls the "God of Gold" transformed all his followers into shapeless, tormented creatures: the golden shadows. Lemia, once so luminous, now gives way to unhealthy greed.
Duality: Pledge allegiance and receive the power of the gods!
With a skill tree containing over 50 skills, you can evolve according to your allegiance to the Goddess of Light or the God of Gold.
You can also play double duty, but in this case you won't have access to the most powerful spells. It's up to you to find the best balance for your style of play.
A world for every god.
No more metroidvania with a single map to discover.
In the world of Noreya, the world changes according to your allegiance.
Are you familiar with the Golden World and have now decided to worship the Light? Get ready for a whole new experience, forge ahead as you discover which areas have changed and discover which parts of the game are no longer accessible! However, in turn get ready to explore other new adventures that now await the servant of the Light!
Each version of the world conceals secrets and exclusive bonuses. Can you find the artifacts hidden in the depths of the world? Only time will tell!
The soundtrack
Signed by the incredible duo Sarys / MisterMV, enjoy an original soundtrack that will accompany you throughout your adventure.
Switch allegiance, and the music will change and evolve with you.
A game for arachnophobes:
Initially, we had planned to include spiders in the game, but we realized that many players are arachnophobic.
WIth this in mind, we worked on coming up with an alternative that works and retains the feel of the underground environments.
But who knows, maybe one day the spiders of Noreya will be released. But that's a tale for another time.
Read more on : Recent Events & Announcements
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 22, 2026
Something about this evaluation looks wrong Report illegal or harmful content