Time loops have become a popular gaming concept in recent years, but Dragon Loop is taking a slightly different approach. Rather than resetting everything and forcing players back to square one, this new hand-drawn Metroidvania uses a five-day cycle as the foundation for an adventure built around exploration, discovery and changing the course of fate.
Launching today on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC with Xbox Play Anywhere support, Dragon Loop combines fast-paced combat, branching timelines and a sprawling interconnected world into a journey that asks one crucial question: can you break the cycle before time runs out?
At A Glance
- Game: Dragon Loop
- Developer: Happy Player
- Publisher: Happy Player
- Platforms: Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, PC, Xbox Play Anywhere
- Game Pass?: Not at launch
- Price: £12.49
- Genre: Metroidvania / Action Adventure
A Mystery Hidden Within The Loop
Dragon Loop follows Xi, a young heroine who finds herself trapped within a repeating five-day cycle, unable to remember the events that led her there.
Accompanied by her companion Ouro, she must explore a vast hand-drawn world, uncover lost memories and piece together the truth behind the mysterious Dragon Loop.
The twist is that time itself influences the adventure. As the days progress, the world subtly changes, opening new possibilities and revealing different outcomes. Players can explore branching timelines and discover how events unfold under different circumstances, all while working towards an escape from the cycle.
Importantly, Dragon Loop avoids one of the frustrations often associated with time-loop games. This isn’t a roguelike, and progress isn’t constantly wiped away. Discoveries, unlocked paths and knowledge remain valuable as players gradually untangle the mystery.
More Than A Traditional Metroidvania
Exploration plays a major role throughout Dragon Loop, but movement abilities come with an unusual twist.
Instead of traditional upgrades, Xi gains access to magical Pearl powers that summon creatures and tools capable of transforming both combat and traversal. From magnetic boxes and vacuuming whale spirits to explosive companions and other strange abilities, each unlock offers multiple uses throughout the world.
That flexibility should give players plenty of reasons to revisit earlier areas and experiment with different approaches as new routes become accessible.
Spirits, Bosses And Fast-Paced Combat
Defeating bosses rewards players with summonable spirits that can either fight alongside Xi or unleash powerful attacks. These companions can be upgraded and evolved, adding another layer of progression beyond simple character upgrades.
Meanwhile, the combat system itself focuses on speed and momentum. Xi and Ouro work together during battles, while an X-Rating system rewards skilled play by increasing speed and combat effectiveness. Combined with the absence of contact damage, fights appear designed to encourage aggressive movement and constant action.
Ready To Break The Cycle?
Dragon Loop arrives with a promising blend of ideas, and a previous release on Steam points to it all coming together rather nicely. Metroidvania exploration, branching timelines, spirit collection and a time-loop structure all combine into something that feels a little different from the usual genre formula.
Whether its ambitious systems come together successfully remains to be seen, but players looking for a fresh take on exploration-heavy action adventures may find plenty to enjoy here.
Dragon Loop is available now on Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S and PC through Xbox Play Anywhere, priced at £12.49. The Xbox Store awaits your cash.
