The Siege and the Sandfox is a beautifully crafted “stealthvania” that blends classic Metroidvania explorations with smooth, stealth mechanics reminiscent of old-school platformers. The game was developed by North Yorkshire-based developers Cardboard Sword and publisher PLAION. This title offers a fresh take on a 2D stealth action set in a rich, detailed pixel-art world. From the atmospheric soundtrack to the parkour-inspired movement, this game promises an immersive experience.

You step into the shoes of the Sandfox, a title passed down through generations of elite protectors known as the Kasha’i, who are sworn to defend the crown and are well-known for their agility, stealth, and deadly skills. The Sandfox becomes a fugitive after witnessing the King’s murder at the hands of a traitor in the kingdom. The Sandfox is framed for the murder and cast into the prison known as Traitor’s Fall, and you must escape and plead your innocence.

There are not many titles out there that I turn the music up for enjoyment, but this made it onto the list. The Siege and the Sandfox has a beautiful, haunting, and elegant soundtrack that almost sounded like a professional orchestrator and was super fitting for the game.

I enjoy playing these game styles because you have audio cues, which make the sound more of a mechanic than something just added, which is a key factor in these games, from alerting of nearby enemies to hidden dangers. You get things from the echoing footsteps to the small rustle of your clothing. It builds an immersive experience that you end up getting lost in.

The controls always play a big factor in this game style, being those 2D side-scrollers, and the controls were fluid and responsive, making the game more fun to play. Whether you were walking, running, crouching, or walking up behind a guard to knock them out, it all worked flawlessly. I enjoyed the simple mechanics in the game, like jumping; you could jump from a standstill, or if you were running, you could jump a little higher and longer. I liked how simplistic it was to mantle onto ledges and, if permitted, to climb up or down to get to the next height. I didn’t find anything clunky or annoying.

I was quite mesmerised by the art style in this game, which blended modern visual effects with the classic pixel art we all grew up loving, creating a unique and immersive aesthetic. I was quite interested to see the game had been animated frame by frame and utilising the power of Unreal Engine 4, which the developers smashed out of the game.

The game featured beautifully laid out environments with carefully placed lightning mixed with the beautifully layered background; it all complemented itself well.

Despite its retro-inspired style, the game felt dynamic, alive, and well-polished; it almost felt as if it was a part of the storytelling on how stunning it looked. I loved the effects added when you would go into the shadows on what you would look like compared to being in front of a torch or well-lit room, which almost felt like a new age of pixel-style gaming, which I can get behind. I would have liked to see a little on-screen prompt or something to signal a direction sometimes, as I felt lost and kept retracing my steps sometimes.

I loved my time with The Siege and the Sandfox. Its stunning visuals, pixel art, and sound design were smooth and immersive, and the controls felt well-polished. The developers created a memorable experience. It’s clear some passion and care went into this title, and it shows. The developers need to give themselves a pat on the back.

Written by: Hayden Nelson