A new release date trailer for space-bound metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit, shown during the PC Gaming Show: Most Wanted showcase, has announced that the game will release on January 20, 2026. Meaning you've got less than a month before you can lose yourself in the gorgeous, labyrinthian adventure littered with robots and androids that may or may not be out to get you.
From Douze Dixièmes, the studio behind Shady Part of Me, MIO: Memories in Orbit is set to deliver a truly enchanting adventure built in a completely new proprietary engine specifically for the game. You'll take on the role of MIO, a neat little robot with some pretty extraordinary abilities, who is determined to unravel the mysteries of the Vessel, an abandoned spaceship facing imminent shutdown. However, there's no pressure to complete this mission in a fixed time, and when you do start diving into its lost memories you may unravel the truth about yourself, too.
They're not the only thing you need to worry about, either. Outside of the obvious threat from any sentient machines tracking you down, the environment itself doesn't exactly scream free from danger. As the new release date trailer demonstrates, you'll be tasked with navigating pretty perilous environments filled with tight, tense platforming which could end your run early with one wrong move. But, that's all part of the fun with games in this vein, especially for anyone who loved the challenge of Hollow Knight: Silksong, Dead Cells, or Celeste.
If your platforming skills aren't quite up to scratch, don't worry. You'll unlock new abilities that allow you to more easily navigate the world while you progress, too. These will allow you to use things like a grappling hook to guide you over gaps, climb up walls to reach higher areas, or the ability to glide. All of which will help you in exploring the secrets tucked away in the Vessel, and all encourage you to keep pushing forward even when MIO's been pushed to the absolute limit.
You'll be able to alter MIO to suit your playstyle, and adapt to the world around you too. By adding modifiers and buffing your attack and defence to suit how you feel most confident playing, the experience will become more unique to you. With that said, you won't be able to make MIO an unstoppable machine. Every one of these modifications occupies a certain amount of slots on MIO's exoskeleton, meaning you'll have to think carefully about each change you want to make, and potentially make some sacrifices along the way.
These skills and modifiers will come in incredibly handy when it comes down to the game's varied enemies as well as navigating the world. To keep you on your toes, MIO: Memories in Orbit will feature over 30 diverse enemies, alongside 15 bosses you'll be challenged with taking down. As shown in the trailer, each boss will have a unique attack pattern for you to master, and to put your abilities to the test.
However, when you're not engaging in the game's fast-paced combat, you'll be able, and are encouraged to take a moment to really admire the world around you. Blending handpainted design with 3D elements, the environments throughout Memories in Orbit are there for you to really lose yourself within. Although they seem strange and unusual, they are utterly captivating as you travel through the Vessel, leaving you to wonder what you may encounter next.
If you think you're ready to face the challenges MIO: Memories in Orbit is planning to unleash on January 20, you can head to Steam to wishlist the game before it arrives, and pre-order the game with a 10% discount. Or, you can dive into a 3-hour long demo where you can get a feel for MIO's abilities and the action-platforming through the beginning of the game. You'll also experience fast-paced combat, so it's good to get in some practice while you can. Before you know it, it'll be time to retrieve the memories of the Vessel in full, no matter the cost.
