Fruit Immortal

Fruit Immortal is a single-player action role-playing game developed by the independent studio Red Lotus Games and released in 2023 for Windows, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game is set in a mythological world where sentient fruits, imbued with spiritual energy, seek to attain immortality through combat and cultivation. The narrative follows a chosen fruit avatar, referred to as the Core, as it traverses the Six Orchards, each representing a different elemental domain such as the Infernal Pomegranate Grove or the Celestial Lychee Canopy. The core mechanic involves absorbing the essence of defeated enemies to evolve the player character’s form, unlocking new abilities and altering physical attributes. The game features a branching skill tree based on the five classical Chinese elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—allowing for diverse character builds. Visuals employ a cel-shaded art style with vibrant color palettes, and the soundtrack incorporates traditional string instruments with electronic beats. The game includes a New Game Plus mode and a boss rush arena. Critical reception noted the innovative fusion of cultivation tropes with fruit-based mythology, though some reviews cited repetitive enemy designs in later stages.

Gameplay is presented from a third-person perspective with a fixed camera angle. The player controls the Core using the left analog stick for movement and the right analog stick for camera rotation. The face buttons execute actions: the X button performs a light attack, the Y button performs a heavy attack, and the B button executes a dodge roll. The A button is used for interaction with objects and non-player characters. The left trigger activates a block, while the right trigger initiates a special ability mapped to the active elemental slot. The D-pad cycles through four equipped abilities. The player accumulates Essence Orbs from defeated enemies, displayed in a gauge at the top-left corner of the screen. Filling this gauge allows the player to trigger a Transcendence state by pressing both shoulder buttons simultaneously, temporarily increasing damage output and health regeneration. The inventory screen is accessed via the Start button, where items such as healing nectar and temporary stat boosts can be used. The map is displayed by pressing the View button. Combat requires managing a stamina bar, which depletes with dodges and heavy attacks and regenerates when idle. Environmental hazards, such as acidic fruit pulp or thorn traps, are indicated by glowing red patches on the ground. The game provides a tutorial sequence in the first orchard that introduces all core controls.