# MIO: Memories in Orbit
**MIO: Memories in Orbit** is a 2D metroidvania video game developed by the French studio Douze Dixièmes and published by Focus Entertainment, released on January 20, 2026 for [PlayStation 5](https://www.edgepedia.org/playstation-5), Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch 1 & 2, and PC via Steam, Epic Games Store, and [Microsoft Store](https://www.edgepedia.org/microsoft-store), with day-one [Xbox Game Pass](https://www.edgepedia.org/xbox-game-pass) availability[1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc). The player guides MIO, a nimble robot who awakens alone aboard the Vessel, a vast drifting spaceship once maintained by AI caretakers known as the Pearls and now overrun by wild vegetation and malfunctioning machines[2](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026). It is the studio's second game, following the puzzle-platformer Shady Part of Me[2](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Release | January 20, 2026; PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch 1 & 2, PC (Steam, Epic, Microsoft Store); day-one Game Pass; fully playable on Steam Deck[1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc) |
| Price | $19.99 / €19.99 at launch, with a 10% launch discount; Switch 1 owners get the Switch 2 version free[1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc) |
| Developer | Douze Dixièmes, a small French studio founded about eight years before the interview by a group of friends; second game after Shady Part of Me[2](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026) • [3](https://www.gamepressure.com/editorials/most-challenging-was-letting-go-of-ideas-we-liked-interview-with/z2783) |
| Engine | Proprietary in-house engine built specifically for the project; five years of development[1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc) • [2](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026) |
| Critical reception | Metascore 83 from 49 critics (Generally Favorable); user score 7.7 from 208 ratings[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mio-memories-in-orbit/) |
| Player reviews | Steam Very Positive, 86% of 2,045 reviews; PS Store 4.23 stars from 1,123 ratings[5](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/) • [6](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4133-PPSA20662_00-MIOMRYINORBIT000) |
| Content scale | Over 30 enemy units, 15 guardian bosses, roughly 18 checkpoints, a 75-track soundtrack[7](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/mio-memories-in-orbit-switch/) • [8](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview/) • [1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc) |
## Gameplay and mechanics
**Traversal is the core system.** MIO is a Souls-inspired metroidvania focused on movement and platforming rather than gravity-flipping puzzles. Mio starts with a double jump and a three-hit combo, and hitting an enemy restores the second jump, encouraging aggressive chaining of combat and movement[9](https://gameobserver.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-explore-and-endure/). Later abilities include the Hairpin grappling hook, the slow-fall Sail, and wall- and ceiling-crawling Strider legs, used primarily to open up exploration of the ship[9](https://gameobserver.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-explore-and-endure/). Polygon's review characterizes the game as prioritizing fluid exploration continually widened by a movement kit of jumps, glides, and pogo slashes, rather than puzzle-first mechanics[10](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review/). The project itself began from the pitch "A metroidvania game with a hook in a science fiction universe": the team wanted a fast-moving hook that could cross the screen in an instant, and the move set came before the universe[11](https://community.focus-entmt.com/focus-entertainment/mio-memories-in-orbit/blogs/73-summer-devblog) • [12](https://www.gamedevjourney.co.uk/home/developer-diaries/custom-engine-diaries/mio-memories-in-orbit).
Progression runs through two loops. Repairing damaged robots unveils the Ark's past and grants bonuses, and earned abilities such as the grappling hook, air gliding, and spider-like wall clinging open previously unreachable parts of the interconnected space[5](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/). Upgrades installed into Mio's upgradable memory bank alter playstyle; one example trades slower energy recharge for a damage boost whenever the gauge is not topped off[10](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review/). In-game currency called Nacre is harvested from enemies and scrap and spent on upgrades from a cyber-squid merchant named Mel; dying loses all Nacre droplets[13](https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-indie-game-hollow-knight-clair-obscur-3924614).
**Difficulty is adjustable.** Three Assists options are available from the pause menu: Eroded makes boss battles a little easier after every failure, Pacifist keeps enemies peaceful until the player makes the first move, and Ground Healing slowly restores the shield[13](https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-indie-game-hollow-knight-clair-obscur-3924614). Reviewers also noted optional accessibility settings, a toggle making bosses easier after each failed attempt and one granting a health container after failed platforming, which combined can trivialize the game, minimizing the chance of players getting stuck and quitting out of frustration[14](https://gamerant.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-roundup-new-metroidvania/).
## Story and setting
The entire game takes place aboard the Vessel, an enormous spaceship whose artificial intelligence support systems are decaying and which was once the home of a long-gone people known as the Travelers; MIO is tasked with saving what remains of it[15](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/arts/mio-memories-in-orbit-review.html). The ship is described as a gigantic labyrinth and a living organism with its own ecosystems, bestiaries, and architectures[5](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/), structured like a human body with everything converging back to a central room called the Spine[8](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview/).
**The memory theme shapes level design.** Game designer Sévan Kazandjian said the levels were conceived not sequentially like a graphic novel but as a collection of interesting places the player might stumble upon in any order, each defined by purpose and unspoken lore, mirroring the fragmented memory theme[16](https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/mio-memories-in-orbits-stunning-hand-drawn-art-direction-explained-by-its-creators). The story is sparse and moody, delivered through collectible logs about the plight of the machines onboard[10](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review/). Less than a fourth of the worldbuilding made is clearly told in the game, which relies on environmental storytelling, and almost a third of the game surface is optional[17](https://gamingbolt.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-art-direction-inspirations-storytelling-progression-and-more).
## Development and release
Douze Dixièmes was founded about eight years before the interview by a group of friends; Oscar Blumberg, one of the cofounders, served as game director and programmer on MIO[3](https://www.gamepressure.com/editorials/most-challenging-was-letting-go-of-ideas-we-liked-interview-with/z2783). Development began five years before launch, right after the team finished Shady Part of Me. Producer and cofounder Sarah Hourcade said the first weeks established the goal of a metroidvania in a science fiction environment, with half the team playing [Hollow Knight](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollow-knight) at the time[8](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview/). Blumberg said the team set out to make a very non-linear game with a super high skill ceiling and underestimated how much harder that would be, having to learn large-scale level design, bosses, and nonlinear storytelling[18](https://www.thegamer.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-how-to-build-a-metroidvania/).
The game was built entirely on a proprietary in-house engine developed specifically for the project[2](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026), and the team describes having complete creative freedom over mechanics, art direction, and atmosphere through its collaboration with Focus Entertainment[19](https://community.focus-entmt.com/focus-entertainment/mio-memories-in-orbit/blogs/334-mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out). It was first shown publicly at a [Nintendo Direct](https://www.edgepedia.org/nintendo-direct), after three and a half years in development[11](https://community.focus-entmt.com/focus-entertainment/mio-memories-in-orbit/blogs/73-summer-devblog). A 2-to-3-hour demo, including a secret area and a major challenge, remained live before launch[2](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026). The launch date was set to avoid releasing alongside [Hollow Knight: Silksong](https://www.edgepedia.org/hollow-knight-silksong)[8](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview/).
## Visuals and audio
The game is presented and played on a 2D plane but built from 3D models, painted in a blend of watercolor and ink-wash effects[20](https://www.empireonline.com/gaming/reviews/mio-memories-in-orbit/). Art director Marc Lericolais explained that there are actually no textures in the game: the visuals result from 3D assets, the engine's rendering, staging and post-process effects such as fog and particles, outlines mimicking line art to hide the 3D feel, and watercolor patches[18](https://www.thegamer.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-how-to-build-a-metroidvania/). Art rules served gameplay, with few edges per asset and clear separation of playable ground from background during action moments[16](https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/mio-memories-in-orbits-stunning-hand-drawn-art-direction-explained-by-its-creators). Inspirations included European comics artists such as Marc-Antoine Mathieu, Christophe Chabouté, Alberto Varanda, and Milo Manara, plus the animated film Ernest & Célestine[17](https://gamingbolt.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-art-direction-inspirations-storytelling-progression-and-more).
The soundtrack, composed by Nicolas Gueguen, is a 75-track album blending ambient melodies, layered synths, and live-recorded choir voices, released on streaming platforms starting January 20[1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc).
## By the numbers
- **Price at launch:** $19.99 / €19.99, with a 10% launch discount on all platforms[1](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc).
- **Critical score:** Metascore 83 from 49 critic reviews, rated Generally Favorable[4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mio-memories-in-orbit/).
- **Player scores:** Steam 86% positive of 2,045 reviews (Very Positive), with recent reviews at 79% of 329; Metacritic user score 7.7 from 208 ratings; PS Store 4.23 stars from 1,123 ratings[5](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/) • [4](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mio-memories-in-orbit/) • [6](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4133-PPSA20662_00-MIOMRYINORBIT000).
- **Content:** over 30 enemy units and 15 guardian bosses[7](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/mio-memories-in-orbit-switch/); around 18 checkpoints, reduced from 50 earlier in development[8](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview/).
- **Length:** estimates vary. TechRadar's reviewer reached an ending in about 14 hours, with developers stating 100% completion takes 25 to 40 hours[21](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/mio-memories-in-orbit-review). The developers told NME that 25 hours is enough to complete the game, roughly double that for every secret[13](https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-indie-game-hollow-knight-clair-obscur-3924614), and cited playtest estimates of around 20 hours for the main path and around 30 hours to reach the second ending[17](https://gamingbolt.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-art-direction-inspirations-storytelling-progression-and-more). HowLongToBeat crowdsourced data suggests about 15 hours for the regular ending[14](https://gamerant.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-roundup-new-metroidvania/).
## Position among metroidvanias
Critics and the developers themselves place MIO in the lineage of Hollow Knight and the Ori series[18](https://www.thegamer.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-how-to-build-a-metroidvania/). GameObserver groups it with Souls-inspired metroidvanias such as [Ender Magnolia: Bloom in the Mist](https://www.edgepedia.org/ender-magnolia-bloom-in-the-mist), except focused more on movement and platforming[9](https://gameobserver.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-explore-and-endure/). Compared with Hollow Knight: Silksong, reviewers noted that few parts of MIO approach Silksong's average level of difficulty, and both games feature multiple endings unlocked in succession[14](https://gamerant.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-roundup-new-metroidvania/). Polygon called it 2026's best metroidvania so far, distinguishing it from puzzle-first platformers by its movement-led design[10](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review/).
## Reception
The critical consensus was strongly positive. Reviewers praised challenging traversal sequences and an area-appropriate soundtrack, while criticizing some bosses for relying on gimmicky mechanics complicated by imprecise controls[14](https://gamerant.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-roundup-new-metroidvania/). The New York Times review traced the game evolving from infuriating to ingenious, and quoted game director Oscar Blumberg on its cryptic design: "The game is meant to be played with a guide"[15](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/arts/mio-memories-in-orbit-review.html). The map does not auto-update, a deliberate choice; Blumberg acknowledged it would frustrate some players but said the team wants players to pay attention to the universe rather than watch its map[18](https://www.thegamer.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-how-to-build-a-metroidvania/).
## Post-release support
A demo patch 1.1 arrived on December 4, 2025, adding 2K/4K support, performance optimization, and accessibility options[23](https://mio.wiki.gg/wiki/Updates). The first post-launch update, version 1.2 on February 6, 2026, added quality-of-life improvements, gameplay and balance tweaks, difficulty changes, and level design adjustments[22](https://nintendoeverything.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-1-2-update-out-now-patch-notes/). Patch 2 followed on March 12, 2026, fixing bugs including Spanish localization and an invisible killzone in Promenade, adding the holographic planet in the true ending, and including further quality-of-life and balancing changes[23](https://mio.wiki.gg/wiki/Updates). The community wiki records that the game will no longer receive official updates from Douze Dixièmes[23](https://mio.wiki.gg/wiki/Updates).
## References
1. [MIO: Memories in Orbit is out now on Consoles & PC, Focus Entertainment](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out-now-on-consoles-pc)
2. [MIO: Memories In Orbit Sets Course for January 20, 2026, Focus Entertainment](https://www.focus-entmt.com/en/news/mio-memories-in-orbit-sets-course-for-january-20-2026)
3. [Interview with the team behind MIO: Memories in Orbit, Gamepressure](https://www.gamepressure.com/editorials/most-challenging-was-letting-go-of-ideas-we-liked-interview-with/z2783)
4. [MIO: Memories in Orbit Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/game/mio-memories-in-orbit/)
5. [MIO: Memories in Orbit on Steam](https://store.steampowered.com/app/1672810/MIO_Memories_in_Orbit/)
6. [MIO: Memories in Orbit on PlayStation Store](https://store.playstation.com/en-us/product/UP4133-PPSA20662_00-MIOMRYINORBIT000)
7. [MIO: Memories in Orbit for Nintendo Switch, Nintendo Official Site](https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/mio-memories-in-orbit-switch/)
8. [Mio: Memories in Orbit almost launched next to Silksong, but a delay saved the day, Polygon](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview/)
9. [MIO: Memories in Orbit Review – Explore And Endure, GameObserver](https://gameobserver.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-explore-and-endure/)
10. [Mio: Memories in Orbit: 2026's best Metroidvania (already), Polygon](https://www.polygon.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review/)
11. [Summer DevBlog, MIO: Memories in Orbit](https://community.focus-entmt.com/focus-entertainment/mio-memories-in-orbit/blogs/73-summer-devblog)
12. [Game Dev Journey – MIO: Memories in Orbit](https://www.gamedevjourney.co.uk/home/developer-diaries/custom-engine-diaries/mio-memories-in-orbit)
13. [MIO: Memories In Orbit review, NME](https://www.nme.com/reviews/game-reviews/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-indie-game-hollow-knight-clair-obscur-3924614)
14. [Hollow Knight-Like Game MIO: Memories in Orbit Is Getting Rave Reviews, Game Rant](https://gamerant.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-review-roundup-new-metroidvania/)
15. [MIO: Memories in Orbit Evolves From Infuriating to Ingenious, The New York Times](https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/14/arts/mio-memories-in-orbit-review.html)
16. [MIO: Memories in Orbit's stunning hand-drawn art direction explained, Creative Bloq](https://www.creativebloq.com/3d/video-game-design/mio-memories-in-orbits-stunning-hand-drawn-art-direction-explained-by-its-creators)
17. [MIO: Memories in Orbit Interview, GamingBolt](https://gamingbolt.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-art-direction-inspirations-storytelling-progression-and-more)
18. [The MIO: Memories In Orbit Team Explain How To Create A Metroidvania, TheGamer](https://www.thegamer.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-interview-how-to-build-a-metroidvania/)
19. [MIO: Memories in Orbit is OUT!, developer blog](https://community.focus-entmt.com/focus-entertainment/mio-memories-in-orbit/blogs/334-mio-memories-in-orbit-is-out)
20. [MIO: Memories In Orbit review, Empire](https://www.empireonline.com/gaming/reviews/mio-memories-in-orbit/)
21. [MIO: Memories in Orbit review, TechRadar](https://www.techradar.com/gaming/mio-memories-in-orbit-review)
22. [MIO: Memories in Orbit 1.2 update out now, patch notes, Nintendo Everything](https://nintendoeverything.com/mio-memories-in-orbit-1-2-update-out-now-patch-notes/)
23. [Updates – MIO: Memories in Orbit Wiki](https://mio.wiki.gg/wiki/Updates)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Video games and digital play › Games and gameplay › Individual game titles › Individual PC and computer-platform game titles › Platformer and puzzle titles*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license