Alchemist’s Castle

Alchemist’s Castle is a 2D side-scrolling platformer inspired by classic Metroidvania games. The story follows the former apprentice of a once-wise alchemist who, after discovering the philosopher’s stone, has become a power-hungry tyrant. Players must explore the non-linear castle, uncover its secrets, and survive its dangers to ultimately destroy the source of the alchemist’s corruption.

Alchemist’s Castle: A Small-Scale Homage to a Grand Genre

In the sprawling, ever-expanding universe of the Metroidvania, where titans like Hollow Knight and Ori cast long shadows, there exists a constellation of smaller, passionate endeavors. Alchemist’s Castle, a 2017 release from the Turkish indie studio Kabuk Games, is one such star. It is a game that wears its inspirations proudly on its sleeve, a compact and earnest love letter to the non-linear exploration of Metroid and the gothic atmosphere of Castlevania. While it may not redefine the genre, its journey from a small project to an award-winning multi-platform release offers a fascinating case study in the modern indie landscape.

Development History & Context

Kabuk Games emerged as a small, passionate collective, a fact evident in the game’s credits which list just 13 individuals, including developers and those thanked for support. The core team included programmers Anton Semchenko, Egemen Can Güler, and Umit Issı, with İbrahim Hakkı Uslu handling visual assets and Ozan Karuk providing music and sounds. The project was a truly international effort, featuring English translation by Ayten Yeşim Semchenko, Russian translation by Elena Ulugüner, and localization editing by Preston Griffith.

Built using the Unity engine, Alchemist’s Castle was a product of its time, developed during the indie boom of the mid-2010s. This was an era where digital distribution platforms like Steam provided a viable storefront for smaller teams, and the Metroidvania genre was experiencing a massive resurgence. Kabuk Games aimed not to compete with the burgeoning AAA-level indies but to create a focused, “old-school” experience that captured the essence of what made the genre beloved.

The game first launched on Windows, Linux, and Macintosh on October 31, 2017, with a Windows Apps version following shortly after. Its modest success and positive reception led to ports on PlayStation 4 in 2018 and Nintendo Switch in 2019, published in collaboration with Side Project Studio and Kodobur Yazilim. The game’s technical requirements were incredibly modest—asking for only 256MB of RAM and 200MB of storage space—highlighting its focus on accessible, straightforward gameplay over graphical fidelity.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

The premise of Alchemist’s Castle is a classic tale of hubris and corruption, deeply rooted in alchemical lore. The game’s official description sets the stage: “Discovering the philosopher’s stone turned the wise and kind alchemist into a power hungry, selfish tyrant. The task of stopping him falls upon you, the former apprentice of the alchemist.”

This simple narrative framework effectively establishes the player’s motivation. You are the hero returning to a corrupted home, a place once familiar now made dangerous. The central theme explores the corrupting nature of absolute power. The Alchemist, once a benevolent figure, is transformed by the ultimate symbol of his craft, the Philosopher’s Stone, into a despotic ruler. This echoes countless myths and stories, from The Lord of the Rings‘ One Ring to Doctor Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, grounding the game in a relatable moral conflict.

As the former apprentice, your journey is one of rebellion and reclamation. You must “discover the secrets of the Alchemist’s Castle, survive and destroy the philosopher’s stone!” This personal stake adds a layer of gravity to the exploration. The castle itself is not just a dungeon; it is the physical manifestation of your mentor’s fall from grace, each corridor and chamber holding echoes of a past now perverted.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Alchemist’s Castle is, at its core, a straightforward 2D side-scrolling platformer that proudly embraces the core tenets of the Metroidvania genre.

• Core Loop: The gameplay revolves around the quintessential loop of exploration, ability-gating, backtracking, and combat. Players navigate the interconnected rooms of the castle, inevitably encountering obstacles they cannot pass. Progress is achieved by defeating enemies and bosses to acquire new power-ups and abilities, which in turn unlock previously inaccessible areas.
• Non-linear Exploration: The game emphasizes “non-linear exploration” as a key feature. While likely not on the vast scale of its inspirations, the castle is designed as a single, interconnected map, encouraging players to mentally chart their course and revisit old areas with new tools.
• Combat and Progression: Combat appears to be a standard action-platformer affair, likely involving a primary attack and the use of acquired abilities to defeat enemies. The specifics of the ability system are not detailed in the source material, but it follows the genre standard of using these tools for both combat utility and environmental traversal (e.g., a double jump to reach high platforms, a special weapon to break certain barriers).
• Technical Execution: Built in Unity, the game offers full controller support and features Steam Achievements, aligning with modern PC gaming expectations. The UI is described as functional, providing the necessary information without cluttering the screen, a crucial aspect for a game focused on exploration and action.

The goal of Kabuk Games was not to innovate but to execute a faithful, condensed version of a classic formula. The mechanics are designed to feel familiar and satisfying to genre veterans, offering a bite-sized experience of a beloved style of play.

World-Building, Art & Sound

The atmosphere of Alchemist’s Castle is built through a cohesive, if minimalist, fusion of its visual and auditory elements.

• Visual Direction: The game employs a 2D scrolling, side-view perspective with pixel art graphics. This choice immediately places it in a nostalgic context, evoking the feel of the 16-bit and 32-bit eras that birthed its inspirations. The visual assets, handled by İbrahim Hakkı Uslu, would have been tasked with creating a sense of place—transforming tiled rooms into a cohesive, foreboding castle filled with alchemical labs, dusty libraries, and treacherous dungeons.
• Sound Design: Ozan Karuk was responsible for the music and sounds. The soundtrack likely aims to build tension and atmosphere, complementing the pixel art visuals with a melodic, perhaps slightly ominous, score. A telling detail from the credits is that the “Main Menu Theme [was] downloaded from http://www.freesfx.co.uk/,” indicating a resourceful, pragmatic approach to development where custom composition may not have been feasible for every element. This practical solution is a hallmark of small-scale indie development.

Together, these elements work to create a specific mood. The world is not just a series of levels but a corrupted place of learning and power. The aesthetic successfully sells the fantasy of being an apprentice returned to confront the monstrous incarnation of their master’s ambition.

Reception & Legacy

Upon its release, Alchemist’s Castle found a receptive, if niche, audience. On Steam, it holds a “Very Positive” rating based on 64 user reviews, with 82% of players rating it favorably. This indicates that for its asking price (often on sale for a mere $0.69), it delivered a satisfying experience that met player expectations.

Critically, the game achieved notable recognition within the indie circuit—a significant accomplishment for a small team. It was awarded The Best Game Award at Big Indie Fest @ReVersed in Vienna (2018) and The Best Level Design Award at Kristal Piksel in Istanbul (2017). These awards are a testament to the quality of its design within its scope, particularly praising the thoughtful construction of its non-linear world.

Its legacy is not one of industry-shifting influence but of aspirational success. Alchemist’s Castle represents the achievable dream for small developers: create a focused, well-executed game within your means, and it can find an audience, earn critical respect at festivals, and even secure a multi-platform release. It stands as a solid, compact entry in the Metroidvania genre, a title that genre enthusiasts can enjoy as a quick palate cleanser between larger, more expansive adventures. It proved that a compelling, award-winning experience could be built on a foundation of just 256MB of RAM.

Conclusion

Alchemist’s Castle is a fascinating artifact of modern indie development. It is not a game of overwhelming ambition or groundbreaking innovation. Instead, it is a game of focus, passion, and execution. Kabuk Games set out to create a concise, old-school Metroidvania experience, and they unequivocally succeeded.

Its strengths lie in its faithful adherence to genre conventions, its effective atmospheric world-building, and its incredibly accessible price and system requirements. Its weaknesses are inherently tied to its scale; it is a small game and does not attempt to compete with the epic narratives or vast worlds of the genre’s heavyweights.

For players seeking a short, satisfying nostalgia trip or for developers looking for inspiration showing what a small team can accomplish, Alchemist’s Castle holds value. It is a testament to the idea that a well-designed castle doesn’t need to be a sprawling kingdom to feel like a worthwhile adventure. In the grand history of video games, Alchemist’s Castle secures its place as a respected, award-winning footnote—a proof of concept that passion and a clear vision can forge a worthy tribute to the giants whose shoulders it stands upon.