Beginner's Guide

⚠️ Important: This Game is Intentionally Challenging

MIO: Memories in Orbit is designed to be a difficult Metroidvania that will challenge you. Players are expected to die frequently—this is part of the learning process and the intended experience.

The game tests your reflexes and patience, but rewards mastery of MIO's abilities. If you enjoy challenging games like Hollow Knight, Celeste, or Dead Cells, you'll feel right at home.

Don't worry: Assist modes and accessibility options are available if you need them. The game is designed to be challenging, but it's also designed to be fair and rewarding.

Allocation Matrix System

The Allocation Matrix is a core mechanic that fundamentally distinguishes MIO from other Metroidvania games. It's a memory slot management system where you must allocate limited memory space to equip abilities, modifications, UI elements, and other features.

How It Works

You must make strategic trade-offs when deciding what to equip. For example, you might need to sacrifice your minimap display to free up memory slots for combat abilities, or choose which modifications to activate based on available space.

This creates constant meaningful decision-making throughout the game, as every upgrade forces you to evaluate your playstyle and priorities.

  • Modifications are swappable upgrades that consume memory slots
  • Modifications can be equipped or unequipped at Network Gates found throughout The Vessel
  • Your ability to carry multiple modifications depends on available space in your Allocation Matrix
  • Modifier Extensions can expand your Allocation Matrix capacity

The system isn't merely cosmetic—it fundamentally changes how you approach exploration and combat encounters across your entire playthrough.

Basic Controls & Movement

Hairpin Grapple

The Hairpin Grapple becomes available early (around 3 hours in) and is essential for navigation. Skilled players can chain grapple points together while maintaining momentum to access hidden areas and cross large gaps.

Master the timing and momentum to maximize your traversal efficiency. Note that grappling sometimes falls short when it feels like it shouldn't, which can be frustrating during complex platforming sections.

Double Jump

Double jumping is unlocked from the get-go, giving you immediate vertical mobility.

Aerial Combat & Jump Reset

One of the most unique mechanics in MIO is the aerial combat system. When you hit a target (enemy or environmental object) while in the air, your double jump resets, allowing you to stay airborne for extended periods.

Advanced Technique: You can chain hits together to traverse entire rooms without touching the ground, making platforming challenges very interesting but also requiring precise reactions and timing.

Arachnid Locomotion (Spider Movement)

This unique ability allows MIO to not only hang off walls but also navigate ceilings. It's a spider-like movement system that expands your traversal options significantly.

Dash/Deflect

The dash in MIO is not a traditional dash. It's more like a perfect dodge or deflect mechanic, similar to a parry/block system. It doesn't provide many of the benefits you might expect from a dash (like time slowing down or counterattacking), and its cooldown can feel long if you mess up.

It's not exactly reliable when trying to chain dodges together, resulting in a slightly awkward feel. However, once you unlock this skill, combat becomes much more engaging.

Gliding

Gliding becomes available later in the game (around 8 hours in). It's essential for crossing large gaps and accessing new areas.

Orbs (Projectile Attacks)

MIO can unleash orbs as powerful projectiles to attack enemies from a distance. These provide ranged combat options and allow you to engage enemies safely, especially useful against flying enemies.

Decoy Clones

MIO can create decoy clones to strike from unexpected angles. This ability adds strategic depth to combat, allowing you to distract enemies and attack from multiple directions simultaneously.

Energy System

MIO features an energy system that acts as a stamina mechanic. Gliding, grappling, and arachnid locomotion all require energy. When your energy is empty, you cannot perform any of these actions.

Energy Management

  • • Energy Recovery: Bouncing off certain enemies can return a bit of energy
  • • Ground Recovery: Landing on the ground speeds up energy regeneration
  • • Full Restore: Striking environmental objects fully restores energy, allowing you to chain movement abilities together
  • • Platforming Challenges: The game introduces twisted platforming sections where you need to bounce off objects to grapple to another point, using remaining jumps to hit another object, and so on

⚠️ Warning:

A single mistake during energy-dependent platforming can result in resetting yourself to a checkpoint several meters away. This requires memorizing the placements of everything you need to keep the energy flowing, which can be frustrating when grappling falls short or downward strikes provide lackluster bounces.

Resource Management

Nacre (Liquid Nacre)

Liquid Nacre is the primary resource in MIO: Memories in Orbit. You collect it by defeating enemies throughout The Vessel. It's used to purchase upgrades, modifications, and increase maximum health at Network Gates.

⚠️ Critical Warning:

Liquid Nacre is lost upon death and cannot be recovered (unlike Hollow Knight's corpse run system). Always spend it at Network Gates or convert it to Solid Nacre before venturing into dangerous areas or attempting boss fights.

Solid Nacre

Throughout The Vessel, you'll find robots that can convert your liquid Nacre into Solid Nacre. Solid Nacre is permanent and will not be lost upon death.

💡 Tip:

Always look for these conversion robots and convert your Liquid Nacre to Solid Nacre whenever possible to avoid losing resources. You'll also pick up Solid Nacre directly throughout The Vessel—more than you can spend, in fact. Keep an eye out for these robots scattered throughout the map.

Max Health Reduction

During your playthrough, you may notice that your max health gets permanently reduced (one point at a time). By the end, you may have basically the same amount of health that you started with regardless of upgrades.

📖 Narrative Link:

This is a narrative-linked mechanic representing the passage of time and the gradual deterioration of The Vessel. It happens at precise moments, mostly with each step closer to the true ending, ensuring balanced difficulty regardless of exploration level. The game is balanced around this mechanic—you won't be massively disadvantaged.

No Contact Damage

MIO features no contact damage, meaning you won't take damage just from touching enemies. Every hit feels fair—damage comes entirely from your inability to react in time rather than from bumping the joystick just a touch too far.

✅ Fair Combat:

This makes combat encounters feel more fair and skill-based. There are also very few enemy gauntlets, and no bosses that summon loads of extra mobs.

Map System

The map system in MIO works differently from many Metroidvania games:

⚠️ Important:

  • • No Map Initially: The game doesn't give you a map at the start. You must rely on memory and exploration.
  • • Map Unlocking: You'll unlock the map function later in the game.
  • • Hollow Knight Style: Once you have the map, new routes you explore won't appear until you return to a save point (Network Gate).
  • • Challenging Navigation: This can be frustrating for players who rely heavily on maps, but it encourages careful observation of your environment.

Fast Travel & Healing

Fast Travel (Overseers)

Fast travel requires finding specific entities named Overseers scattered throughout The Vessel. Without finding these Overseers, you'll need to do lengthy backtracking when trying to get from one area to another.

No Healing Options

MIO has no healing options available during the main story path (at least none that were discovered). This makes combat encounters more challenging and requires careful resource management.

Warning: MIO is quite fragile and can die in just a few hits. Some boss runbacks can be brutal, requiring you to repeat long paths and fight the same enemies if you die.

Assist Modes

The developers have included helpful assist modes for players who find the game too challenging:

Corrupted Boss Mode

Each time you die to a boss, the boss becomes slightly weaker. This helps players who struggle with difficult boss encounters.

Pacifist Mode

Regular enemies won't attack you, allowing you to focus on exploration, platforming, and enjoying the beautiful world without combat pressure.

Early Game Tips

  • •
    Be Patient: The game starts slow. You'll spend the first few hours with basic abilities. The Hairpin Grapple unlocks around 3 hours, and gliding around 8 hours. Don't expect to see the full game immediately.
  • •
    Explore Thoroughly: The Vessel is interconnected, and many secrets are hidden off the main path. Pay attention to your surroundings since you won't have a map initially.
  • •
    Interact with Robots: Repair damaged robots to gain valuable bonuses and uncover the ship's past. Also look for robots that convert Nacre to Solid Nacre.
  • •
    Master Aerial Combat: Practice chaining hits in the air to reset your jumps. This is crucial for both combat and platforming.
  • •
    Convert Nacre to Solid Nacre: Always convert your liquid Nacre to Solid Nacre when possible to avoid losing resources upon death.
  • •
    Plan Your Allocation Matrix: Think carefully about which abilities and UI elements you need for each area. You may need to sacrifice the minimap for combat abilities.
  • •
    Expect to Die Frequently: This is normal and expected. The game is designed to be challenging. Each death teaches you something—use it as a learning opportunity.
  • •
    Use Network Gates Strategically: Always spend your Nacre and update your build before attempting difficult encounters. Network Gates are your checkpoints—use them wisely.
  • •
    Use Assist Modes if Needed: Don't hesitate to enable Corrupted Boss Mode or Pacifist Mode if you're struggling. Check Settings > Accessibility for difficulty tweaking options. The game's world and music are worth experiencing even without the full challenge.
  • •
    Be Patient and Persistent: MIO rewards patience and persistence. The game tests reflexes and patience but rewards mastery. If you enjoy challenging games like Hollow Knight or Celeste, you'll appreciate the difficulty curve.

Network Gates (Checkpoints)

Network Gates are found throughout The Vessel and serve multiple important functions:

  • Checkpoints/Save Points: Network Gates act as checkpoints. When you die, you'll respawn at the last Network Gate you visited.
  • Equip and unequip modifications
  • Manage your Allocation Matrix
  • Purchase upgrades using Nacre
  • Update your map with newly explored routes
  • Plan your build for upcoming areas

⚠️ Checkpoint Spacing: Some players have noted that checkpoint spacing can be challenging. Boss runbacks can be long, requiring you to repeat paths and fight enemies if you die. Always spend your Nacre at Network Gates before attempting difficult encounters.

Always check Network Gates when you encounter them—they're essential for optimizing your playthrough and serve as your primary save points.

Death & Learning

MIO: Memories in Orbit is intentionally challenging, and death is an expected part of the experience. Here's what you need to know:

What Happens When You Die?

  • • You respawn at the last Network Gate you visited
  • • Liquid Nacre is lost and cannot be recovered
  • • Solid Nacre (converted Nacre) is safe and won't be lost
  • • You'll need to retrace your path if you died far from a checkpoint

💡 Learning from Death: Each death teaches you something—enemy attack patterns, platforming routes, safe paths, and combat strategies. Don't be discouraged by frequent deaths—they're part of the learning process. The game rewards persistence and skill mastery.

Ready for More?

Now that you understand the basics, check out these guides:

Maps & ExplorationCollectibles GuideBoss Guides