A Plague Tale: Requiem gameplay trailer sees the De Runes on a grander stage

Rat’s in the Cradle

As a part of last night’s Game Awards, publisher Focus Entertainment and Team Asobo released the first gameplay footage of their grim-looking sequel A Plague Tale: Requiem — the dark, sullen follow-up to 2019’s evocative stealth escapade A Plague Tale: Innocence.

Still on the run from The Inquisition and a terrifying plague of black rats, the De Rune continue their nigh-on aimless journey into oblivion, painted against a backdrop of 14th century France. Having escaped the district of Aquitaine, Amicia, Hugo, and their new compadres venture south in search of home and respite, but will only find themselves face-to-whisker with more turmoil, more despair, and thousands more piercing eyes. A torrid cacophony of squeaking returns.

The journey thus far has hardened our young heores, which sees Amicia de Rune a little older, a little wiser, and a little better equipped for the violence that lies ahead. But she and her brother remain children, and as such will have to use subterfuge, stealth, and smart adaptation of the environment to avoid the officers of The Inquisition and others that would do them harm. What the De Rune’s and their friends lack in size and strength, they make up for in wit, guile, and spirit, and they’ll no doubt need every last bit of it to survive this new nightmare.

It’s common knowledge to the good folks of Destructoid that I loved the original game, and I’m hoping that — lessons learned and modern technology in tow — Team Asobo will deliver another creepy and emotive adventure, packed full of hope and heart, stunning locales, and perpetually unnerving adventure. While A Plague Tale: Innocence was by no means a masterpiece, it was something special, and I couldn’t be more excited to see where this particular chapter will lead us.

A Plague Tale: Requiem will launch in 2022 on PS5, PC, Xbox Series X, and Nintendo Switch (via cloud). The sequel will launch day and date on Xbox Game Pass.