Skelethrone: The Prey

Skelethrone: The Prey

Released Mar 2024

This game is a challenging 2D action platformer with RPG elements inspired by games like Castlevania and Dark Souls. Skelethrone: The Prey is a free prequel to the main game, setting the stage for the events that will unfold throughout Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona campaign.

75% positive · 448 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
High confidence

Where to get it

Free on Steam

Evaluation

Skelethrone: The Prey is a free standalone prequel to the main game, Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona. It launched on March 14, 2024 as a deliberately scoped, self-contained experience — described in the store as a "free prequel" setting the stage for the main game's events, and confirmed in the launch post as approximately a one-hour prologue. The store description explicitly labels its features under "PROLOGUE KEY FEATURES," with additional content listed under "AVAILABLE IN FULL GAME" — meaning that fuller content was always intended to live in the separate main game (App ID 2139840), not in this prequel. The launch post on March 14, 2024 makes clear that the next step for the developer was releasing the full game, which subsequently launched on August 7, 2024. There are no DLC listings, no post-launch update announcements, no roadmap items, and no developer communications directed at The Prey after its launch. The subsequent news posts from the publisher page are announcements and updates for entirely separate games (Chronicles of Ericona, Caribbean Legend, Heads Will Roll: Reforged, Brotherhood, DREAMOUT, HMUR). This game shipped as a complete, intentionally limited free prologue and has received no post-launch content of any kind. It is a finished product as of its release date.
Evidence
Launch post describes The Prey as a one-hour free prequel to the main game, with the developer's next step being the release of Skelethrone: The Chronicles of Ericona. No post-launch content for The Prey was announced.
news post · Mar 14, 2024 source development ending
high
Short description explicitly identifies this as a free prequel to the main game, not a standalone product with its own ongoing content roadmap.
store metadata · Mar 14, 2024 source development ending
high

Media

Details

Developer
Publisher
Valkyrie Initiative
Achievements
14
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Unsupported
Players
Single-player

About this game

You're in for a great adventure inspired by games like Castlevania and Dark Souls. Bloodthirsty monsters, divine creatures and epic boss battles. The game’s story is shaped by choices that will define your journey.

PROLOGUE KEY FEATURES:

  • Metroidvania - Unlock unique upgrades for movement and combat to expand the world. Maintaining the game's progression requires you to use different relics, items and abilities.

  • Challenging bosses - Test your skills against multiple bosses and other creatures from the Dark Ages. The game will constantly test your patience as you face challenging battles that require their own unique approach..

  • Exploration - The game features a huge world represented by a variety of hand-crafted levels. From fog-shrouded ruins, where undead corpses cling to any living being passing by, and shambling figures emerge. To the Sun-city that hides in the labyrinthine of an ancient tomb where an unspeakable evil lingers, long forgotten by mankind.

AVAILABLE IN FULL GAME:

  • Weapons and Equipment – Your character can be armed with bows, scythes, longswords, whips, pistols, rifles, and many more traditional weapons. More exotic weapons will also be available to you, so use any means to achieve success.

  • Multiple Endings – Make key decisions along the way to determine Ericona's fate as you progress through the story.

  • Non-linear exploration – Play through levels and bosses, discover side areas with more secrets and enemies to defeat.

  • Combat galore - You must use an ever-expanding arsenal of weapons and equipment to repel a wide variety of enemies. Put your courage, skills, and resolve on display for them.

"Skelethrone: The Prey" is a free prequel to the main game, setting the stage for the events that will unfold throughout Skelethrone's main campaign.

The story takes place a few decades before the events of the game's main campaign. Assume the role of Derek Ericona, a lord who escaped the persecution is now trying to get to the borders of the neighboring kingdom to resist the tyranny of Queen Aurora, but he is being chased and faces an uphill battle. Prepare all your skills to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties prepared for our hero. And now the hunt is on!

Last evaluated Jun 21, 2026
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