Honestly, let’s just address the giant stone elephant in the room right away. When No Matter Studios first dropped the trailer for Praey for the Gods, everyone—and I mean everyone—immediately pointed at Shadow of the Colossus. It’s an easy comparison. You’re a lone warrior. There are massive, fur-covered monsters. You have to climb them. You have to stab them in glowing weak points. But if you actually sit down and play it, you realize this isn’t just a tribute act. It’s a brutal, shivering fight for survival that feels way more grounded in the dirt and the snow than Fumito Ueda’s dreamlike masterpiece ever did.
The game puts you in the boots of a nameless hero sent to a frozen, dying world to end a winter that never stops. It's cold. You're hungry. You're exhausted. And those giants? They aren't just puzzles to solve. They’re obstacles in a world that’s actively trying to kill you with frostbite before you even reach the boss.
The Brutal Reality of Survival in Praey for the Gods
Most people go into this expecting a boss rush. They think they’ll just hop from one giant to the next. They're wrong. Praey for the Gods is, at its heart, a survival game. You have meters for everything. Hunger. Exhaustion. Temperature. If you don’t manage these, you won’t even make it to the first boss, much less the sixth.
I remember my first hour. I was wandering through a blizzard, visibility was basically zero, and my stamina bar was shrinking because I hadn't eaten. I found a campfire, but I didn't have wood. I had to scavenge. It’s a loop that forces you to respect the environment. You aren't a god-slayer yet. You're a scavenger. You’re picking up fallen branches and hunting small animals just to stay warm enough to hold a sword.
This creates a tension that Shadow of the Colossus didn't have. In that game, the world was empty and melancholic. Here, the world is hostile. The environment is your first enemy.
Why the Grappling Hook Changes Everything
In the early days of development, the movement was a bit stiffer. But then they added the grappling hook. This changed the entire flow of exploration. Instead of just trudging through knee-deep snow, you’re zipping up cliff faces and swinging across chasms. It gives the game a sense of verticality that feels modern.
It’s also a lifesaver during boss fights. Imagine being on the back of a flying colossus, miles in the air, and losing your grip. In other games, that’s a "game over" or at least a very long walk back. In Praey for the Gods, you can sometimes fire that hook mid-air and save yourself. It’s exhilarating. It’s messy. It’s exactly what an indie game should be—willing to break the rules to make the player feel like a badass.
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Understanding the Small Team Behind the Giant Monsters
One thing people often overlook is that this game was made by a tiny team. We’re talking three guys—Brian Parnell, Tim Wiese, and Hung-Chien Liao. No Matter Studios started this as a passion project, and you can feel that in every corner of the map. They didn't have a Sony-sized budget.
Because of that, there’s a certain "jank" to the game. I’m being honest here. The physics can go a bit wild. Sometimes you’ll clip through a bit of fur, or the camera will decide it wants to look at a rock instead of the 50-foot monster trying to stomp you. But weirdly, that adds to the charm. It feels hand-crafted. It feels like a group of people poured their souls into a love letter to a genre that big AAA studios mostly ignore.
- The game was originally titled "Prey for the Gods."
- Bethesda filed a trademark dispute because of their game Prey.
- The team had to change the "e" to an "a" to keep their dream alive.
It was a whole thing back in 2017. Most small studios would have folded under that legal pressure. They didn't. They just changed a letter and kept grinding. That kind of resilience is baked into the game's DNA.
The Bosses: Scale, Strategy, and Shivering
Let's talk about the stars of the show. The bosses in Praey for the Gods are diverse. You’ve got the "Satyr," which is your classic introduction to climbing. Then you have things like the "Boar" or the "Bird." Each one requires a different mindset.
One of the coolest features is the non-linear approach. You can actually tackle some of these in a different order than what's strictly "intended." If you’re brave enough to explore the far reaches of the island early on, you can find gear that makes the "early" bosses feel like a breeze. Or you can do what I did: bumble into a high-level area, get smacked by a giant yeti-thing, and spend twenty minutes trying to recover your items while screaming at the screen.
The mechanics of the fights are tactile. You have to physically pull levers on their bodies or strike bells. It’s not just "hit X to win." You have to time your movements with the boss's breathing. If they shake, you better be holding on for dear life. If you run out of stamina while they're thrashing, you're going for a very long, very painful ride down to the icy ground.
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Crafting and Gear Progression
Unlike its inspirations, this game has a deep crafting system. You aren't just stuck with one sword. You find bows, different types of arrows (fire arrows are a godsend in the cold), and various outfits.
- Clothing upgrades are essential. They increase your resistance to the cold.
- Weapon durability is a factor. Your favorite bow will break. You need to be prepared.
- Cooking is how you survive. Find a fire, cook some meat, and boost your max health.
This adds a layer of RPG progression that keeps the "down time" between bosses interesting. You’re always looking for that next upgrade. You’re always looking for a better way to stay alive.
The Atmosphere: A Silent Story
There isn't a lot of dialogue here. The story is told through the environment. You find notes, altars, and the ruins of a civilization that clearly tried—and failed—to do what you're doing.
The music is haunting. It swells when you’re on the back of a giant and fades into a lonely, wind-swept whistle when you’re wandering the plains. It captures that feeling of being the last person on earth. It’s beautiful, in a bleak sort of way. You start to wonder if what you're doing is actually "right." Are you saving the world, or are you just killing the last remaining wonders of it? The game doesn't give you easy answers.
Common Misconceptions and Frustrations
I’m not going to sit here and tell you it’s a perfect game. It isn’t. Some people hate the survival mechanics. They find the constant need to eat and stay warm annoying. If you just want a pure boss-rush experience, you might find yourself getting frustrated with the inventory management.
Also, the combat against "small" enemies isn't great. There are ghosts and minions that pop up occasionally. Fighting them feels a bit floaty compared to the weight of the boss encounters. Most players I know just run past them. Honestly? You should probably do the same. Focus on the big guys. That’s where the game shines.
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How to Get the Most Out of Your Playthrough
If you’re just starting out, don't rush. The game reward patience.
- Scout everything. Look for caves. They usually have treasure and, more importantly, warmth.
- Prioritize the Grappling Hook. Learn its range. It’s your best friend.
- Don't ignore the Map. It’s easy to get turned around in a blizzard.
- Upgrade your boots first. Moving faster through snow is a literal life-saver.
The game is available on PC, PS4, PS5, and Xbox. If you have the choice, play it on a newer console or a decent PC. The frame rate stability makes the climbing sections much less nauseating, and the draw distance on the snowy peaks is actually pretty stunning when the weather clears up.
Actionable Next Steps for New Players
If you're ready to jump into the frost, start by focusing on your cold resistance. Before you even look for the first boss, scavenge enough materials to upgrade your basic tunic. It’ll give you a much larger margin for error when you inevitably get lost in a storm.
Next, practice the stamina management loop. Get used to letting go of the boss for a split second when they aren't shaking to regain a sliver of breath. It's the difference between reaching the weak point and falling to your death. Finally, explore the coastline. There are hidden caches of supplies there that many players miss because they're too focused on the mountains.
Praey for the Gods is a testament to what a few dedicated people can do with a clear vision. It’s a tough, cold, and often lonely journey, but standing on top of a fallen giant while the sun finally breaks through the clouds? There’s nothing else quite like it in modern gaming. Just make sure you bring a coat. You’re going to need it.