The Soulslike genre may still be related to the release of titles from its forefathers in FromSoftware. However, many new developers are rushing into the space to give the giants a little competition, creating an interesting spin on concepts such as Pinocchio– inspiration Lies of P. In the spirit of mixing more of the same morbid themes in the genre, A sign of depth is hitting the scene in January as one of the first releases on the gaming calendar 2025. The developer, Mad Mimic, offers a unique blend of pirate-themed storytelling with the dark elements of the game Soulslike – a marriage that may interest fans of the genre and the famous. One piece anime.
Building an interesting narrative can be a problem for even the best pirate games. Traveling across an empty ocean isn't the most exciting activity, and the main goal of collecting loot can get tiresome quickly. A sign of depth attempts to remove these common problems by focusing on Soulslike Metroidvania, which reduces the scope of the project to a more manageable place. Despite its smaller scale, Mad Mimic aims to pack enough fun into a fast-paced action title – almost as much as Supergiant. Hades 2 in terms of aesthetics and behavior.

related
One Piece: The Beauty of Blackbeard and Luffy Dynamic
The dynamic of Luffy and Blackbeard in One Piece provides an interesting twist to other superhero duos.
Mark of the Deep's Narrative and Gameplay Put a Metroid Sheen on Pirate Tropes
One piece is easily one of the most popular pieces of pirate media, and one of the reasons behind its narrative success is Luffy's journey of gathering his crew under the umbrella of the straw hat. Expanded on One Piece Odyssey release, where the game begins with a shipwreck that leaves the Straw Hats isolated on an island inhabited by strange baboons. A sign of depth incorporates these gimmicks into its story, with Angry Mermaids wrecked on a cursed island. Players will step into the shoes of the protagonist, Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey, as he explores every part of the scary place to gather his lost crew.
It's as tough a challenge as it sounds: the island has been cursed for centuries. The leader of the native population (called the Old Folks) imprisons the legendary Leviathan in search of immortality, causing the fury of the Abyss. Thus, many powerful characters stand in the way of Marcus' rescue mission and the discovery of the Old Folks' secret.
Curses are at the center of events in Mark of the Deep
There are over 80 enemies and 16 bosses to defeat, including abyssal enemies, cursed apparitions and undead monsters trapped on the island just like Marcus himself. This mixture of opponents in a painful situation enters the spirit of the best games of the Soulslike genre – a place where fans of grave know the franchise well.
The cursed island setting is a well-known trope in pirate pictures, and A sign of depth does not deviate from this proven formula. For example, One pieceThe Florian Triangle arc where the Straw Hats meet up with Brook after the skeletons have been walking for 44 years with the theme of the reunion presented by the Mad Mimic. Pirate lore and cursed mythology go hand in hand, and that's it A sign of depth Trying to capture with his story Old Folks, and uncovering the secret of the jinx of hundreds of years on the island can be the basis of the story of the game.
To further the spirit of destruction in the title, the NPCs are completely voiced in pirate lingo, and players can see their companions “walking the plank” as usual in in a niche. Speaking of combat mechanics, it seems A sign of depth will use a gradual unlocking process, with skills like dodging, hook throwing, and ground slam shown in the trailer. Each of them should be available at some point due to the variety of enemies seen in the teaser. Ahead of its release in January, A sign of depthThe demo is currently available on Steam for players to try before it goes live.

A sign of depth
Mark of the Deep is an epic pirate adventure with a strong narrative and a mix of exciting elements from popular Metroidvania and Souls-Like games. Go on this journey as a Rookie pirate, explore the mystery of the cursed island and find the missing pirate crew!
JOIN THIS EPIC PIRATE EXPERIENCE! A pirate shipwreck on a mystical island, known only in legend. Play as Marcus “Rookie” Ramsey and explore the scary part of this island surrounded by a mysterious curse to find your missing crew: the Angry Mermaids!
DEFEAT THE CURSED THINGS to survive! In this hostile world, you will have to face various dangers to find your lost colleagues, including abyssal monsters, undead creatures and terrifying cultures. Fight over 80 enemies and 16 bosses in challenging battles inspired by the soul-like game!
UNLEASH THE POWER OF YOUR BRAND! As the new Mark Keeper, Rookie can unlock new abilities that change the way you fight enemies and view the environment! Find new skills, weapons and trinkets to improve your fighting skills and explore new areas of the island.