Some games take the scenic route to release. RIN: The Last Child is certainly one of them, having originally been announced for a 2023 launch before eventually making its way to Xbox Series X|S and PlayStation 5 today. Now, the dark fantasy Metroidvania is finally ready to put its considerable collection of magical spells into the hands of console players.
Developed by Salient Games and published by Ultimate Games, RIN: The Last Child combines exploration, platforming, combat and a surprisingly deep spellcrafting system as its protagonist attempts to restore balance to a broken world.
At A Glance
- Game: RIN: The Last Child
- Formats: Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5
- Price: £16.74
- Publisher: Ultimate Games
- Developer: Salient Games
- Genre: Metroidvania / Action
Meet The Last Child Of The Creator
RIN isn’t exactly starting her adventure from an enviable position. As the last child of the Creator, she is tasked with putting things right in a world inspired by ancient mythology, while also confronting her own transformed siblings.
That sets up a journey through an interconnected fantasy world filled with secrets, dangerous creatures and areas that gradually become accessible as RIN develops new abilities.
The story is also shaped by the decisions made along the way, with multiple endings offering different conclusions to the conflict between the Creator and his children.
Build Your Own Magic
Spellcrafting is where RIN: The Last Child gets particularly interesting.
Rather than simply handing RIN a fixed collection of attacks, the game allows spells to be constructed from magical Aspects, spell patterns, upgrades and Lesser and Great Runes. These can be mixed and modified to create attack, defensive and utility spells.
In total, the combinations amount to 7,776 possible spell variants, giving players plenty of room to experiment with their preferred approach.
Five Siblings Stand In Your Way
Naturally, a magical journey through a broken world needs something nasty standing between you and your destination.
RIN will encounter everything from slimes and giant insects to corrupted mythical creatures, with five particularly formidable opponents waiting in the form of her siblings. Platforming challenges and Metroidvania-style exploration add further variety as new abilities open previously inaccessible areas.
The end result is a game that wants exploration and experimentation to be just as important as simply surviving the next fight.
A Long-Awaited Xbox Arrival
RIN: The Last Child first appeared on PC (Steam) back in 2024, where it has since accumulated a Mixed reception from a relatively small Steam audience. Its console arrival has been a long time coming, too. We first covered the game back in 2022 when a 2023 release was on the cards. That date clearly didn’t quite work out, but RIN has finally completed the journey to Xbox.
Now, after all that waiting, console players can find out whether RIN’s combination of mythology, exploration and wildly customisable magic has been worth the wait.
You’ll find RIN: The Last Child on the Xbox Store, as well as the PlayStation Store.
