After 33 years, an underrated NES Metroidvania gets a direct sequel from the same developer, now with a roguelike spin

Ufouria: The Saga is back and more adorable than ever

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

Over three decades after it was first released, cult classic NES MetroidvaniaUfouria: The Saga finally has a direct sequel, and it’s doing things a littledifferently.

Launched all the way back in 1991, Ufouria: The Saga sees you as penguin-likeprotagonist Hebe (or if you played the European version, a snowman called Bop-Louie) explore an interconnected world in search of your friends. These palsaren’t just good for staving off loneliness; they also grant Hebe access toadditional skills that, in typical Metroidvania fashion, help you retrieve items andpower-ops that were previously out of reach.

It flew largely under the radar at the time, not least due to its North American localization being canned - players in the region would have to wait until the Wii release in 2010 to get in on the action. It has gained a dedicated following in recent years, though, enough to convince original developer Sunsoft to give it its own fully-fledged sequel.

Ufouria: The Saga 2 continues the side-scrolling antics of Hebe and his trusty band of buddies, who look more charming than ever thanks to the gorgeous feltwork visual style. Locations from the first game make a return, only this time, you’ll be adventuring through a world that’s procedurally generated.

“The various stages from the original game now change randomly every time you enter,” Sunsoft says on the game’sSteampage, “making for a fresh new challenge each time! New characters joining your crew let you reach more areas. You might even find areas that weren’t in the original game at all…”

So far, Ufouria: The Saga’s return has been going down well with players. Currently, the sequel has a “Positive” user rating on Steam, with one reviewer describing it as “Really great and a good follow-up to the NES original.” Another says, “I had an amazing time playing Ufouria: The Saga 2… The characters are charming, and their dialogues and interactions are super cute and funny.”

Ufouria: The Saga 2 is available to buy right now onPS5,Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch, as well as PC.

Sign up to the GamesRadar+ Newsletter

Weekly digests, tales from the communities you love, and more

You’ll find more like this in our guide toupcoming indie games.

Originally from Ireland, I moved to the UK in 2014 to pursue a Games Journalism and PR degree at Staffordshire University. Following that, I’ve freelanced for GamesMaster, Games TM, Official PlayStation Magazine and, more recently, Play and GamesRadar+. My love of gaming sprang from successfully defeating that first Goomba in Super Mario Bros on the NES. These days, PlayStation is my jam. When not gaming or writing, I can usually be found scouring the internet for anything Tomb Raider related to add to my out of control memorabilia collection.

Pokemon Red, Blue, and Yellow are full of invisible, ultra-rare shinies, and this RPG mod will make sure you never miss one again

Life is Strange Double Exposure raises questions about powers in the universe that I’ve been thinking about for a long time

“At least one” Game of Thrones movie is reportedly in early development at Warner Bros.