Retrace the Light, the 2.5D action-adventure RPG from indie developer Xiaming Game, is coming to Xbox Series X|S on July 30, 2026, with pre-orders open now at a launch discount. Producer Guo Lei outlined the game's core mechanics and design philosophy in a feature published on Xbox Wire on July 16.
What Is Retrace the Light?
Retrace the Light is a 2.5D action-adventure game built around the "Spatial Retracing" feature, casting players as an Enforcer working for a super AI in a futuristic world - exploring the depths of human consciousness. The game is set in the year 3323, where a collaborative project between humanity and the supreme AI Primus attempts to stabilize society by healing the minds of emotionally troubled individuals.
Players take on the role of Enforcer Decem, diving into surreal mental realms called Mirrormazes - environments born from a person's fractured memories and obsessions. After a mission leaves Decem injured and without memory, the story becomes a gradual unravelling of the secrets behind the Meta Mirror Project.
Retrace the Light was developed by Xiaming Game and published by Xiaming Game and Glintforge, with E-Home Entertainment handling the Xbox release. Xiaming Game announced the game's debut project ahead of its PC launch on November 21, 2025.
The Retrace Mechanic - Movement as a Weapon
The defining system is the Light Trail: as Decem moves through a level, he leaves a glowing path behind him. At any moment, he can instantly warp back to any point along that trail - turning movement itself into both a puzzle tool and a combat technique.
In exploration, this means leaving a trail at a key location, running to trigger a mechanism, then snapping back before a timed gate closes. In combat, the same ability lets players dodge incoming attacks, reposition behind shielded enemies, escape area-of-effect zones, or land precision counterattacks.
| Retrace Use Case | How It Works |
|---|---|
| Timed gates | Leave trail, trigger switch, retrace before gate closes |
| Boss repositioning | Warp behind shielded or flanking enemies |
| AOE escape | Retrace out of dangerous zones instantly |
| Counterattack | Time a retrace to punish an enemy's recovery |
Soulslike Roots, Approachable Design
Retrace the Light draws from Soulslike tension but is designed to remain accessible to newcomers to the genre. Key design choices include forgiving checkpoints that put players straight back into action on death, multi-phase boss encounters with distinct behavioural patterns, and a modular progression system offering 7 Primary Modules and over 20 Secondary Modules that players can mix and match to build aggressive, counter-focused, or tactical playstyles. Primary Modules are earned by defeating bosses; Secondary Modules are hidden throughout the Mirrormazes.
On Steam, the game holds a Very Positive rating with 86% of 167 user reviews positive.
Visuals and Narrative
Guo Lei, who is part of a development team rooted in the China Academy of Art, built the game in Unreal Engine. Each Mirrormaze carries its own visual identity - from cold, abandoned high-tech facilities to dreamlike floating landscapes - rendered through dynamic lighting and particle effects. Gameplay shifts between a top-down tactical view and side-scrolling platforming sequences for variety and cinematic pacing.
The story explores memory, identity, and AI governance, with five different endings influenced by decisions made throughout the game.
Pre-Order Pricing and Release
Retrace the Light is developed and published by Xiaming Game, available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X. The Xbox Series X|S version launches July 30, 2026. Pre-orders are live now at $14.39 - a 20% discount off the standard price of $17.99.
