Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores review: Woodland whimsy

Metroidvanias tend to be gloomy and ominous in nature; even the beloved Hollow Knight and Silksong are dark and atmospheric. A title that’s breaking this genre staple is Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores, from developer BASTI GAMES.

Below, you’ll find The Escapist’s full, spoiler-free review of Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores, including everything from the story and the world-building to the platforming style and charming aesthetic. 

The Escapist recaps

• Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores is a Metroidvania – referred to as a Mushroomvania by the developer – which came out on November 7, 2025.
• Developed and published by BASTI GAMES, Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores is a whimsical addition to the Metroidvania genre, going against the typically moody vibe that permeates the niche.
• The gameplay is smooth and enjoyable; it’s approachable to pick up, but there are plenty of challenges dotted throughout to keep experienced Metroidvania lovers interested. It’s less brutal than you might anticipate based on the genre. 
• The world-building in Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores is delightful. I picked this up for review thinking I’d be mainly commenting on the core gameplay loop and platforming difficulty, but found the world and characters to be well-crafted, with a gorgeous opening sequence. 
• Performance-wise, Lone Fungus was a treat. It looked good and ran well, with no notable bugs, quirks, or glitches. 

A joyful, pixelated adventure

As someone who devours games like Silksong and Blasphemous, I always expect a certain dark energy when I dig into Metroidvania games. That’s why I found Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores so refreshing; it’s jubilant and colorful, with some adorable character designs and a fantastical story.

In Lone Fungus, you play as Greencap, a tiny mushroom on a huge quest, aiming to protect all of Mushkind from the fabled Spirit Beast. Plenty of interesting characters pop up as you play through Lone Fungus, each with their own story to tell.

The game world feels vast and expansive, with upgrades that help Greencap get stronger and deadlier as you progress. I found exploration to be a highlight when playing through Lone Fungus, as the world was meticulously crafted and looked wonderful. 

Even the menus and health bars had a certain flair to them, matching the aesthetic of the world and characters. 

As you might expect from a Metroidvania – or Mushroomvania, as the Steam page calls it – the core gameplay loop is a blend of precision platforming, combat, and exploration. The developer lists core inspirations as Super Castlevania IV, Celeste, and Hollow Knight.  

Greencap will need to battle a wide range of enemies as the story unfolds, all while leaping from vines and platforms in an attempt to navigate the vibrant world. He’ll be able to earn currency while defeating enemies, allowing him to buy new gear and tools. 

A must-play for Mushroomvania enthusiasts 

One of my favorite things about Lone Fungus was the art style. The pixelated artwork felt like it’d been crafted with the utmost care, and each section of the world had a unique aesthetic.

I found myself looking forward to progression eagerly, wondering which new creatures or environmental features I’d see next. Visually, it was a treat, and the sound design was neat as well, adding to the immersion overall. 

Difficulty is always a big point of contention with Metroidvanias, and I found the difficulty curve in Lone Fungus to be just right. There were challenging segments, and the whip-based combat took me a minute to get the hang of, but it felt ultimately rewarding.

Performance-wise, I didn’t run into any issues with Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores. It ran well and looked great, with no visual quirks, glitches, or bugs to report. 

If you’re a fan of games like Silksong or Celeste, it’s well worth your time to investigate Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores. It’s a lighter and more joyful addition to the world of Metroidvanias, but don’t let that fool you, as there’s still a brilliant story to uncover. Both the platforming and combat felt rewarding to pick up, and the world itself was gorgeous.

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References

1. Lone Fungus: Melody of Spores (Steam)