Gamestop’s first published game is a gorgeous underwater adventure

Insomniac Games is best-known for a few big franchises, including Ratchet & Clank and Resistance. But for its latest project the studio is doing something a lot smaller: a gorgeous 2D side-scrolling adventure called Song of the Deep. The studio is partnering with Gamestop on the project, making it the retailer’s publishing debut.

The developer describes Song of the Deep as a “metroidvania-style action-adventure,” with a focus on exploration similar to Metroid and later Castlevania games. It follows the story of a young girl named Merryn, who delves into the deep unknown in search of her missing father. The reveal trailer shows an Irish folklore-inspired underwater world filled with massive creatures and submerged cities, which you explore both in a submarine and by swimming.

Song of the Deep looks to be a big departure from the studio’s previous work, which also includes the energy drink-soaked action game Sunset Overdrive. But it’s part of what looks to be a new trend of big studios exploring smaller, indie-style projects. Ubisoft Montreal did something similar with the role-playing game Child of Light in 2014. Song of the Deep isn’t the only Insomniac game currently in development: the studio is also working on a reboot of the original Ratchet & Clank, and the virtual reality game Edge of Nowhere.

Song of the Deep is slated to launch this summer on PC, PS4, and Xbox One. For more on the game, be sure to check out Polygon’s in-depth report.