As a long-time fan of tough action-RPGs, I jumped into ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights with excitement—and a bit of caution. What I found was a beautifully dark and emotional world that rewards patience, careful thinking, and curiosity. It also asks for real skill and smart play in return. Here’s my full review of Live Wire’s haunting dark fantasy Metroidvania, covering gameplay, story, graphics, and replay value.
Overall Impressions
The moment I entered the broken kingdom of Land’s End, the game’s sad and eerie mood grabbed me. ENDER LILIES mixes classic Metroidvania-style exploration with challenging, souls-like combat. It also adds a unique spirit-based fighting system and a quiet but powerful story.
What stood out most was how fun exploration stayed throughout. Every area had new paths, hidden relics, and story clues that pushed me to keep going. Some backtracking did get a little tiring—especially if you missed important shortcuts early. Still, compared to games like Hollow Knight or Blasphemous, this title shines with its deep emotions and original ideas.
Gameplay Mechanics
Combat in ENDER LILIES is both thoughtful and methodical—you can’t just mash buttons and expect to win. Early in the game, I unlocked four spirits, each offering a different attack style and tactical benefit. For example, the floating purple mage mushroom became manageable once I combined an aerial spirit shot with the boss-gate guardian spirit. Poisonous fungi enemies required long-range strategy, which made the leech spirit an ideal choice.
This thoughtful approach reflects what a fellow player commented: “Enemies are not just press-X simulators.” Mastery of dodging, parrying, and chaining spirit abilities creates a satisfying and rewarding combat loop once you learn enemy patterns.
Exploration is another major strength. I never felt like I was wandering aimlessly through copy-paste rooms. Every chamber includes alternate exits, upgrade items, and lilies that extend your healing vials. Although a few secrets seemed randomly placed, I saw these moments as nudges to study the map closely. The payoff made the effort worth it. My 15-hour playthrough included every achievement—and I still wanted to track down hidden upgrades and optional bosses.
Story and Characters
ENDER LILIES tells its story through Lily, a silent young priestess who awakens in a world consumed by the Blight. She’s accompanied by fallen knights who fight alongside her as spectral allies. The narrative unfolds through minimal but poignant dialogue, presented in short, powerful interludes that reveal themes of betrayal, sacrifice, and lost hope.
Each knight’s tragic history adds emotional impact to combat. Every spirit summon becomes a narrative moment that deepens the experience. While there’s no extensive character dialogue, the brief revelations after boss battles made me pause and absorb the game’s sorrowful beauty and world-building.
Visuals and Graphics
The game’s art style is visually stunning. Hand-drawn environments drip with decay and emotion, from overgrown cathedrals to ruined corridors stained with blood. Character and enemy animations are smooth and distinct, giving each spirit a unique silhouette and motion style.
One reviewer noted the “beautiful art style and animations”—a sentiment I fully share. Subtle screen shake during heavy hits and clever lighting effects amplify the game’s haunting, immersive tone. It’s a dark fantasy world that feels alive despite its desolation.
Sound and Music
The soundtrack significantly elevates the emotional tone. Haunting piano themes, distant choir vocals, and moody string arrangements rise and fall as you explore new zones or face off against powerful bosses. Every track complements the visual design and storytelling.
Sound effects—like ghostly whispers, metallic clanks, and rustling robes—pull you deeper into the setting. Even though there’s no voice acting, the dialogue reads like whispered prayers in a cathedral. That quiet restraint adds tension and leaves space for your imagination, enhancing the overall impact.
Difficulty and Replayability
ENDER LILIES offers a satisfying balance of challenge and fairness. Boss encounters require pattern recognition, timing, and smart spirit management—not just twitch reflexes. As one player put it, most battles felt “decently challenging,” though a few difficulty spikes forced me to rethink my approach and spirit loadout.
After finishing the game with 100% completion in about 15 hours, I still found reasons to return. Alternate spirit builds, hidden mini-bosses, and New Game+ options with new enemy placements keep things fresh. The upgrade system and meaningful endgame content give completionists and hardcore players strong reasons to keep exploring.
Final Thoughts
ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights blends classic Metroidvania exploration with deep, souls-like combat—set in one of the most haunting and memorable fantasy worlds I’ve experienced in an indie game. While the frequent backtracking and silent protagonist may not appeal to everyone, players seeking a thoughtful, emotional, and challenging adventure will discover something special here. Live Wire has created a standout experience worth playing.
Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Developer Trivia
ENDER LILIES: Quietus of the Knights first launched in Steam Early Access in 2019 and reached full release on June 21, 2021. It was developed by Japanese indie studio Live Wire in partnership with publisher Binary Haze Interactive. Over time, the game refined its multiple endings and difficulty tuning based on community feedback.
The atmospheric score was composed by Mili, known for creating ethereal and emotional music. Her soundtrack adds depth and melancholy to the journey. With its polished gameplay, rich emotional storytelling, and gothic atmosphere, ENDER LILIES stands out as a must-play for fans of dark fantasy action-RPGs.
