Long read: The beauty and drama of video games and their clouds

"It's a little bit hard to work out without knowing the altitude of that dragon..."

If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.

Teslagrad's top-down sequel World to the West gets a release date

Retail versions available this May for PS4, Xbox One and PC.

Acclaimed metroidvania Teslagrad's impending standalone sequel World to the West is slated for release on 5th May for PS4, Xbox One and Wii U.

It will cost $19.99 / €19.99 for PC, and $24.99 / €24.99 for consoles - unless you buy the retail version, via publisher Soedesco, which is $5 / €5 more on console (yet the same price on PC). It's worth noting that the retail version won't be available for Wii U.

While set in the same world as Teslagrad, World to the West isn't a typical sequel, as it eschews its predecessor's side-scrolling 2D perspective for a top-down 3D one with chunky polygonal graphics. As such, it resembles some of the later handheld Zelda titles.

Cover image for YouTube videoWorld to the West Gameplay Trailer

You'll play as four different characters on your journey, each with their own powers. Some are physically strong, others can hypnotize enemies, while some opt for a sneakier approach.

Where Teslagrad refused to use any text in its storytelling, this sequel will be wordier. That said, developer Rain Games' CEO Peter Meldahl was adamant that those at the studio are "not fans of big exposition dumps."

"But now the names and history of characters, monsters and other things can be picked up intuitively through the dialog in the game," Meldahl said of this expansive follow-up.

Eurogamer contributor Simon Parkin recommended Teslagrad upon its 2014 release, where he called it "a bold and captivating proposition."