Echo Weaver: Everything We Know

“When faced with eternity, knowledge is the only gear you need,” reads one of the taglines in Moonlight Kids' upcoming game, Echo Weaver. The game is the latest project by the studio that sets you on a time-loop adventure. With more time than you could ever ask for by your side, you must uncover the secrets that lie beneath a ruined society. 

Echo Weaver draws parallels to the popular Netflix series ‘Russian Doll,' where the protagonist finds herself trapped in a recurring time loop. Similarly, in this game, you find yourself repeatedly spawning in familiar surroundings, each leap carrying profound consequences and revelations. Ready to unpack more about this game? Echo Weaver hasn’t received a formal release date just yet, but from the scanty details we’ve caught so far, the game could be aiming for a 2025 launch window. However, this is an assumption. If anything changes, we’ll certainly let you know. 

In the meantime, we’ve scoured the internet for an exclusive sneak peek of what’s to come. Here’s Echo Weaver—everything we know.

What is Echo Weaver?

Echo Weaver is an upcoming “fast-paced metroidBRAINia” game set in a society in ruins. The genre is not necessarily new. It has been around since at least 2015, according to this tweet. But allow me to shed some light, especially if you’re hearing this term for the first time. 

I'm pretty proud of calling @witnessgame a Metroidbrainia on the PS Blogcast yesterday. That one's on the house, @Jonathan_Blow.

— Nick Suttner (?) (@nsuttner) September 18, 2015

The genre blends the exploration of the Metroid series with brain-teasing puzzles. Some game designers call such games‘ information games’ since you have to unravel some amount of information and use it in a particular way. Others compare it to being an archaeologist, where you collect information, examine it, and test different theories you come up with.

Ideally, Echo Weaver captures all this in its gameplay, which I will explain in detail below. 

Story

There aren’t enough details on the narrative front. All we have is the game’s description on the Steam page. It essentially paints a picture of a dilapidated town trapped in a fatal time loop. Stepping in to save the day, is you, the protagonist. You must investigate the town’s mystery as you develop your own story while exploring what remains of the ruins. 

“Use each loop to chip away at the mystery, exploring beautifully drawn biomes, helping quirky survivors, and tracking down leads,” reads the description.

Moreover, the developers describe the storyline as a ‘deep, rich narrative filled with quirky characters and wily motivations.’ This is reminiscent of the studio’s previous project, The Wild at Heart. The game is a beloved, wondrous, and charming open-world exploration title with a storyline that tugs at your heartstrings. However, it’s not clear if Echo Weaver’s narrative will be cut from the same cloth, but it’ll certainly be an engaging one. 

Gameplay

With a Metroidvania backdrop, the game will immerse players in an intense platforming experience. You get your basic moves: jump, slide, and air dash. Beyond this, players will also experience the joy or frustration (depending on how you see it) of time travel. 

There is a hint at harvesting ‘echoes’ in the game. But the developer is yet to shed light on what they are and how it infuses with the gameplay. 

What’s clear, however, is the idea of buffing your skills as you uncover and traverse through new routes. Presumably, the skills will improve your traversal. 

Additionally, at the core of all this is gaining “powerful knowledge to reshape the timeline and master the loop, weaving a new fate for all those trapped within.” The upcoming title does its best to show you that the brain is more potent in the game than muscles. “When faced with eternity, knowledge is the only gear you need,” reads a line from the game’s official description. 

Here is an overview of the key features:

• Explore a living, handcrafted world bound to the tick of the loop.
• Experience the joy of traversal with fluid, seamless platforming for all.
• Unfold a deep, rich narrative filled with quirky characters and wily motivations.
• Collect powerful “echoes” to aid your quest and honor those who came before.
• Discover countless game-breaking secrets and shortcuts to master the loop.

Development

Moonlight Kids Studio is the creative powerhouse behind this upcoming title. The studio is a mash-up of different development teams spread across Portland, Atlanta, and Spokane. 

The indie studio aims to “create outstanding games while nurturing positive growth, collaboration, and opportunities in the games' community.” They have certainly solidified their reputation for crafting captivating and heartwarming gaming experiences. 

Moreover, the studio has a deep commitment to storytelling and artistry, which is evident in The Wild at Heart. This game received “generally favorable” reviews and bagged the Best Indie Game Gold Award and Best Visual Artwork Grand Prize during the NYX Game Awards in 2021. With this much experience to draw on, we can safely assume that Echo Weaver will be a gamer’s delight.

Trailer

We can finally share: Echo Weaver will be playable at @dayofthedevs in San Francisco on Sunday March 17!

Get your free ticket here https://t.co/aU2Ktts2uP

We are beyond excited and honored to be included 💚 Come join us! https://t.co/BAdB4ik1Dy pic.twitter.com/BZfe0pwPoN

— ECHO WEAVER | Moonlight Kids (@moonlightkids_) March 7, 2024

Unfortunately, we do not have a trailer to back this upcoming title. The developer has yet to release an announcement or gameplay trailer. The only things we have going for the game are a few stills and a looped video on the game’s Steam page. You can check it out for yourself here. 

Release Date, Platforms, and Editions

So far, we don't have a concrete release date for the game. The studio has, however, shared that the game will exclusively launch on PC via Steam. We could expect a future port of the game to other consoles, given that The Wild at Heart hit Nintendo Consoles half a year after its release on PC and Xbox. 

Additionally, we don’t have information on the editions to expect. So many details remain scarce at the moment. However, the developer will be indeed sharing more details soon. You can always follow the official social handle here to keep track of new updates. Meanwhile, we’ll keep an eye out for new information and let you know as soon as they come up.

So, what’s your take? Will you be picking up a copy of Echo Weaver when it drops? Let us know over on our socials here.