Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy, released in August 2026, is a prequel set 16 years before the previous game. It follows a new protagonist, Sophia, focusing on treasure hunting and melee combat instead of the series’ traditional stealth and rat-based gameplay [1, 2, 3, 4].

The game features simple combat mechanics including light and heavy attacks, kicking, and using environmental weapons. Critics found these elements shallow or underdeveloped. Travis Northup from IGN described the combat as “not exactly bad, but consistently shallow and sometimes sloppy,” with limited enemy variety and basic attack options [2, 3, 4].

Sophia is portrayed as a strong and smart character whose relationships and motivations drive the story. Kyle Hilliard of Game Informer said, “She is strong, smart, and like many of the pirates in her community, I questioned why she wasn’t already in charge.” He praised the performances for being effective in dramatic and quiet moments [2, 4].

The narrative involves Sophia’s father, a smuggler leader seeking a cure for her visions linked to a mysterious island. Their journey includes treasure hunts and encounters with the Inquisition and Venetian army [4]. However, critics generally agreed the story was less developed and emotionally engaging than in previous installments. Some noted a flatter cast and uneven pacing [1, 2, 3].

The campaign lasts about 12 hours and offers puzzles, small combat arenas, and some stealth sections late in the game [3, 4]. Some reviewers considered it a competent action spinoff but said it sacrificed what made the original series unique [4].

On review aggregators, Resonance scored 79 on Metacritic and 85 on OpenCritic, compared with 82 and 81 for A Plague Tale: Requiem and Innocence respectively [2]. Critical responses varied: some outlets praised the shift to action and character focus, while others found the combat shallow and the story less compelling [2, 3].

Resonance aims to explore Sophia’s childhood and early ties to the island and smugglers, taking place 16 years before Requiem’s timeline [4]. The current critical discussion centers on how this change in gameplay and narrative direction affects the series’ identity.

Reviews for Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy were published in August 2026, prompting debate over the series’ new direction and execution [1, 2, 3, 4].