All those Bloodborne<\/em> fans still returning to Yharnam 11 years later are clearly hungry for more. With a sequel seeming more and more unlikely each year, and a remake project rejected by FromSoftware, we\u2019ve had to start new playthroughs or turn to fan-made games to get our cosmic horror fix.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Perhaps the best-known fan-made game is Bloodborne PSX<\/em> demake, but another recent standout was 2020\u2019s Yarntown<\/em>, which turns Bloodborne<\/em> into a 2D Zeldalike, as described by solo developer Max Mraz. After making a couple of other 2D Zeldalikes, he\u2019s back with another Bloodborne<\/em>-inspired project: Tombwater<\/em>, a Soulslike that serves as a spiritual successor to Yarntown<\/em>. Tombwater<\/em> excellently brings what makes Bloodborne<\/em> so beloved to a 2D version of the Wild West.<\/p>\n You play as a gunslinger arriving in the titular town. He\u2019s looking for a buddy he used to rob trains with, and who now is the sheriff. Of course, finding him isn\u2019t so easy; I quickly learn Tombwater is an accursed place with all manner of monsters out for my head.<\/p>\n Foes are fellow gun-toting or sword-swinging outlaws at first. But the more I explore Tombwater, the more monsters show their ugly faces. Some are halfway between human and monster, with bloody tentacles protruding from their chests. Others are rotting animal corpses somehow still out for blood. They\u2019re all creepy as can be, and look great in simplified 2D sprites.<\/p>\n My arsenal consists of several melee weapons, firearms, and spells. There\u2019s enough variety across all weapons that I find myself consistently trying out new weapons, like a knife that doesn\u2019t do much damage but quickly refills my bullet count, or a pistol that gradually inflicts freeze damage on an enemy once enough bullets have found their target.<\/p>\n Combat is speedy, and a charm allows you to regain some health by hitting your opponent after taking damage, clearly aping Bloodborne<\/em>\u2019s rally mechanic. I\u2019ve kept that charm equipped during the bulk of my playtime because, I mean, I\u2019m itching for Bloodborne<\/em>, you know? Where Tombwater<\/em> does well in forming its own combat identity is with its firearms. Whereas in Bloodborne<\/em>, guns are just used for parrying, Tombwater<\/em>\u2019s firearms do a ton of damage; I\u2019ve often found myself relying on them (and grenades) more than my melee weapons. Scooting away in a pinch to down an enemy from afar with a well-placed shot never fails to get the blood pumping.<\/p>\n The only knock on Tombwater<\/em>\u2019s combat is its available defenses. I\u2019m sorry to report, but there\u2019s no good parry here. There is a charm that allows you to deflect incoming bullets, but its use is limited; parrying isn\u2019t a core part of the combat experience. Instead, I can only dodge to avoid damage, but it\u2019s not always smooth. Some boss arenas can be tiny, and the inability to dodge around enemies and through their attacks means I can easily be trapped in a corner with no way to protect myself.<\/p>\n Tombwater<\/em> wouldn\u2019t be a Soulslike without bloody boss fights, and it has them in spades. Though, I haven\u2019t found them to be as difficult as I might expect from a Bloodborne<\/em>-inspired Soulslike. I\u2019ve defeated a few in one or two attempts. An early boss fight against a mostly stationary oversized man throwing bombs and shooting at me seemed way too easy \u2014 until his health bar filled up again and he transformed into a monster, quickly knocking me out. Knowing what was to come, I dispatched him on my next attempt.<\/p>\n Admittedly, I was later humbled by a Cleric Beast-looking monstrosity. By the campfire resting spot outside the boss\u2019s arena, an NPC offered help. \u201cPfft, sure, whatever. But I\u2019ve had no problem so far taking care of bosses,\u201d I thought.<\/p>\n The boss killed me with two hits.<\/p>\n That humbling experience was also a lesson on the importance of patience in Tombwater,<\/em> how to wait for an opening, and how to use an NPC as bait. Conquering it brought the same thrill that killing a boss in Bloodborne<\/em> would. And that\u2019s where Tombwater<\/em> succeeds; it successfully harkens to its clear inspirations while also crafting a unique identity for itself. We may not be getting anymore Bloodborne<\/em> in the foreseeable future, but at least we can enjoy a wave of games clearly inspired by FromSoftware\u2019s best.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Tombwater](\"https:\/\/static0.polygonimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tombwater-image-1.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\")
\n <\/picture>Image: Moth Atlas\/Midwest Games<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Tombwater](\"https:\/\/static0.polygonimages.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/tombwater-image-2.jpg?q=49&fit=crop&w=825&dpr=2\")
\n <\/picture>Image: Moth Atlas\/Midwest Games<\/small><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n