Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark: Everything We Know

Fans have been closely following the Gal Gun rail shooter series, ever since the first launch in 2011 and the remaster Gal Gun Returns in 2021. We’ve received more games in the series, namely Gal Gun: Double Peace (2015), Gal Gun VR (2017), and Gal Gun 2 (2018). Before long, the series spun spin-offs, including 8-bit Gal Gunvolt (2015) and 2D action platformer Gal Guardians: Demon Purge (2023). 

Now, sisters Shinobu and Maya Kamizono return with a sequel, revisiting the demon-filled castle at Sakurazaki Academy. Inspired by Castlevania, players will, once again, explore the castle, discover hidden mysteries, fight enemies and bosses, and collect items across the single and co-op story campaign. 

Keen to play as the Shinobu and Kamizono duo, hunting demons and saving the academy? Well, take note of everything we know about Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark below. 

What is Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark?

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark is an upcoming 2D action Metroidvania adventure. It’s the sequel to 2023’s Gal Guardians: Demon Purge, which garnered mostly positive reviews about its silly nature, tight controls, and fantastic gameplay.

The upcoming sequel will follow the demon sisters Kirika and Masha as they strive to rebuild a demon-filled castle and revive their Demon Lord Maxim. 

Story

Guardians: Servants of the Dark’s setting draws inspiration from Gothic designs. It’s a sequel that expands the castle from the first game, venturing out to the outside world across the Demon Realm. As a Castlevania, the world’s expansiveness and detail matter a lot. As you explore and collect items, new areas unlock that keep the gameplay fresh and exciting. With the Demon Realm, you can look forward to a vast, interconnected world. 

Moreover, you’ll be controlling two characters called Kirika and Masha. You’ll be free to switch between either one or bring in another player in co-op mode. Switching between the characters solo will be vital to the core exploration of the game as it’s the only way you’ll discover all of the unlockable areas and defeat the challenging enemies and bosses you’ll encounter. 

The point of your journey is so that you can rebuild the fallen demon castle and revive your master, the Demon Lord Maxim. By venturing out into the world, you’ll defeat enemies and collect items that help restore Lord Maxim to power. While you’ll be playing the role of a demon hunter, demons won’t always be your enemies. They can fight beside you, too. Als,o watch out for other Demon Hunters from the Human Realm who can pose a threat. Overall, the game promises an “unforgettable adventure.”

Gameplay

Let’s dive deeper into the Metroidvania adventure that is in store for you. Firstly, your playthrough will involve exploring the Demon Realm. By exploring, you can revive your allies and Lord Maxim. You’ll do so by experimenting with countless combos and upgrades. You’ll discover hidden passages, trap doors and solve puzzles. 

By unlocking new weapons and abilities, you’ll open up new routes and strategies. Also, the more of Lord Maxim’s scattered bones you collect, the stronger Lord Maxim’s castle will become and will provide additional support in battle. 

You can swap between the sisters, each with unique gameplay styles. Kirika, the older sister, uses long-range demonic guns to take down enemies, while Masha uses close-range whips. You’ll use demonic energy as a resource for powering your weapons. Meanwhile, you’ll be able to revive a fallen sister using “Sister Rescue,” although it’ll need to return to the fallen sister’s location. 

Moreover, you’ll collect plenty of valuable items that enrich your adventure. You can loot fallen enemies or open treasure chests for weapons, consumables, and passive abilities called “Demon Relics” dropped by enemies. These items will unlock new skills and open unexplored areas on the map. You’ll be free to combine and craft new weapons, customizing their fullest power using the items at your disposal. 

For accessibility, Guardians: Servants of the Dark will provide three difficulty levels, including Casual, Veteran, and Legend. You’ll be free to switch between the difficulty options at any time. Moreover, each difficulty option will grant you all of the game’s content. So, by all means, choose the options that work best for you.

As expected, Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark plans to be a single-player and split-screen local two-player co-op game. For the latter, you’ll choose between controlling Kirika or Masha. 

Development

Developer and publisher Inti Creates reprises its role in creating and bringing Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark to market. Inti has been diligent in providing a Demo that you can download via Steam right now. 

Trailer

Check out Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark’s first reveal and official premiere trailer. They’re pretty detailed sneak peeks of the story and gameplay you can expect. Plus, they give you a pretty good idea of the visuals and environments you’ll be exploring. 

Release Date, Platforms, & Editions

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark is slated to launch on March 27, 2025. The digital version of the game will be available on March 27. However, the physical copy will drag out till April 23, 2025. You can always preorder the game as early as now, with an ongoing 10% off preorder promotion of $26.99 until March 26, 2025. Keep in mind that preordering the digital version of the game will also earn you the “Demon Maid’s Trusty Tools Set” bonus sub-weapon DLC for free. 

Gal Guardians: Servants of the Dark will be launching on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC platforms. Feel free to add the game to your wishlist on the respective stores. Based on the trailer, it seems there’ll be editions you can opt for. The trailer reveals a Limited edition that will include an art book, soundtrack, and acrylic keychain. However, more details remain unconfirmed. 

For now, you can revisit the official website and social media handle to stay on top of new updates as they come.