Blood Dungeon: New Game from Messhof Combines Silly Platforming with Twitchy Mechanics

Blood Dungeon, the new game from Nidhogg and Wheel World studio Messhof, combines silly platforming with twitchy mechanics, featuring MS Paint-style graphics, six arenas, nine playable characters, over 100 weapons, and more than 100 enemy types. Set for release in late summer 2026 on PC and consoles, the game’s reveal trailer showcased its unique blend of kiting enemies in maze-like levels with gravity, likened to a mix of Vampire Survivors and Spelunky.

The game includes a variety of enemies such as a giant Medusa head, spooky ghosts, and a big flying worm, a nod to the studio’s previous work. Players can choose from nine characters, including Gun Man, a hooded skeleton, and a naked buff dude. Messhof co-founder Mark Essen emphasized that Blood Dungeon is not a Metroidvania, focusing instead on “routing” through levels.

Founded in 2013 by Essen and producer Kristy Norindr in Venice, California, Messhof is known for its indie classics Nidhogg and Nidhogg II, which feature elegant yet silly fencing mechanics and a recurring giant mythological worm.