New Release: Cannon Dancer - Osman

An enhanced edition of a bombastic arcade actioner, from Mitchell Corporation and ININ Games

New Release: Hazard Saviour

An open world platformer inspired by Crazy Taxi, from Sinclair Strange

New Release: Ginsha

An open world action-adventure that takes place across multiple planets, from PolarityFlow

New Release: Haunted Lands: Burial Grounds

A tough and bloody DOS-style shooter, from Alexey Goryachev

New Release: Curse of the Sea Rats

An open world action-adventure featuring 2D animation and 3D environments, from Petoons Studio

December 26, 2017

Target Acquired: Super Skelemania

If you haven't played Skelemania from Benal, then you're missing out on a great - and somewhat unconventional - metroidvania. Fortunately, there's still time to check it out, as the game is pay-what-you-want on Itch.io right now. In Super Skelemania, you take on the role of a skeleton man who uses his skull to bash enemies, and he steadily gains new abilities that allow him to expand his exploration and grant new combat tactics. These include a long diving jump, a running charge, and the ability to roll through narrow openings, Samus Aran-style.

The game is now available PC and Mac via Steam, Itch.io, and Gamejolt. Check our coverage here.




December 20, 2017

Target Acquired: A Small Robot Story

A Small Robot Story, from BC, is a story about a small robot (in case you hadn't guessed) named Rae. The little fellow finds himself without a user and enters "sentient mode", and then sets out on a quest to learn more about his origins. Along the way, he travels through a number of themed environments, including caves, a forest, and a science lab, fighting off other robots, wild animals, and various creatures. Rae initiates dialogue with a the game's bosses to gain more information about himself and the world around him.

The game is now available for PC via Steam.




December 17, 2017

Target Acquired: Tower 57

Tower 57 is a colorful isometric top-down shooter from Pixwerk. The game is set in an 1920's art deco style "dieselpunk" world where people live in huge towers above a radioactive wasteland and are constantly at war with another. You discover that Tower 57 is planning an invasion, and you set out to put a stop to it, along with a friend if you like, in 2P offline co-op. Players have access to a wide range of weaponry, including Tommy guns, shotguns, lasers, electricity beams, rocket launchers, and flamethrowers as they take on robots, turrets, and even the occasional tank (and maybe even drive one!). The wasteland is dangerous, and it's even possible to lose a limb during a fight, although there are terminals selling replacement prosthetics... but losing both arms leaves you unable to hold a weapon.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and Humble Store, and is coming to PS4 via PSN in Winter of 2018, with releases also planned for Xbox One and even Amiga OS. Check our coverage here.




December 10, 2017

Target Acquired: Project Mercury

Project Mercury, from Rexasoft Games, is a linear actioner starring a laser-wielding commando in search of her missing squadmates in a world filled with hostile creatures known as Mercury. The game is divided between several gameplay styles, mostly consisting of on-foot or forced-scrolling hoverbike sequences, with some ascent- and descent-based areas mixed in across eight levels and nine boss encounters. The player begins the game with a weak laser and acquires two new weapons along the way as she faces off against ground-based and flying enemies. The game is modeled after DOS-era computer games with its 256x224 resolution, 5-channel chiptune soundtrack, miniscule color palette, and 4-color sprites.

The game is now available on PC via Steam. Check our coverage here.




December 7, 2017

Target Acquired: Dimension Drive

Dimension Drive, from 2Awesome Studio, is a teleportation-based shmup where you must pilot your ship across two battlefields. As you fly, you will encounter impassible lasers, sprays of bullets, other objects that require you to move to the opposite screen, teleporting to the same relative position on the other side. Your ship is capable of emitting a spray of projectiles that may be upgraded to several power levels, and the bullets may be aimed behind the ship to strike enemies you have already passed when you teleport across screens. If you're having a hard time keeping track of the action - or if you don't have two brains - you can bring along a friend for 2P co-op.

Dimension Drive just left Early Access and is now available on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, and is also available on Switch via eShop.




December 6, 2017

Proximity Alert: The Iconoclasts

The Iconoclasts is a colorful action adventure title from Konjak, starring a girl named Robin who is a mechanic in a world where her particular craft is considered to be illegal. As is typical of this developer, the game is set in a beautifully crafted world filled with gorgeous sprites, detailed animations, and loads of character and humor. More than just an aesthetically appealing title, the mechanics are solid as well, with precision platforming, varied gameplay, and a compelling Metroidvania structure.

Beneath the beautiful and colorful world, dark forces are at work, and it is up to Robin to set things right by upsetting the status quo and upending the power structure of the oppressors who have made such activities as excavation, mapping, and mechanics illegal. Unsponsored archaeology, cartography, or mechanical work are considered to be sins against the gods, and are punishable by death. According to the imposed law and religion of the land, holy agents of the gods are meant to control the world and ensure that it remains unaltered by earthly hands, which includes strict provisions surrounding the use of a rare fuel source known as ivory. And if that’s not enough, the moon is slowly breaking apart and pieces are falling to earth.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and Vita on January 23, 2018. Check our preview here.



December 5, 2017

Proximity Alert: Crossing Souls

Developer Fourattic presents Crossing Souls, an action adventure game set in California in 1986 when a group of kids discover a mystical pyramid-shaped stone that lets them see people and creatures long since dead. Using the stone leads to unexpected consequences, and the unassuming children find themselves in a fight to save the world. Each of the five kids has a different ability, with one having greater strength that lets him lift objects that the others cannot; another has greater agility which allows him to move more quickly; and another is able to use stealth to hide. Players must combat enemies in action-based sequences, as well as solve puzzles by interacting with people from different time periods.

The game is coming PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam on February 13, 2018.




December 3, 2017

Target Acquired: 99Vidas

99Vidas, from QUByte Interactive, is a beat 'em up featuring a group of warriors with elemental powers facing off against a crime boss who has obtained the 99Vidas, an artifact granting 99 lives to whomever wields its power. The game allows up to 4P online and offline co-op, with each of the initially available characters offering a different balance of strength and power, and different elemental enhancements to their attacks. As the player racks up combos and grabs video game consoles out of broken crates (because video games), he builds up a score which can be spent between levels to unlock new combos and upgrade these attacks... or just spent on extra lives. The game offers six long levels, a pair of bonus areas, and 7 additional unlockable characters, as well as a Versus mode, Survival mode, and New Game+ mode.

The game is available for PC, Mac, Linux via Steam, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, PS3, PS4, and Vita via PSN, with physical PS4 and Vita versions planned for a later date, and it's also planned for release on Switch. Check our coverage here.




November 26, 2017

Target Acquired: The Mummy Demastered

The Mummy Demastered, is a metroidvania that is a licensed tie-in to the new Universal film The Mummy. Rather than a 3D game tie-in, the studio opted for a Super Metroid inspired action adventure developed by WayForward, the studio best known for the Shantae series. The game stars an unnamed Prodigium agent who must track down Ahmanet (the mummy) and put a stop to her wicked ways before she lays waste to the earth with her horde monsters. You begin the game equipped with an infinite ammo rifle, but eventually gain access to numerous weapons including a shotgun, flamethrower, and rocket launcher, as well as explosives like grenades and C-4. As you explore each of the themed areas, you earn upgrades, such as faster movement, a higher jump, and the ability to move underwater, which allows you to access new areas in the open world. There are even some hidden weapons and abilities to be found by exploring off the beaten path, as well as health and ammo capacity upgrades. Along the way, you'll fight giant bugs, hordes of undead, and several giant bosses before facing off against Ahmanet herself.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, PS4 via PSN, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and Switch via eShop. Check our coverage here.




November 19, 2017

Target Acquired: Necrosphere

Necrosphere, from Cat Nigiri is a 2-button platformer/metroidvania featuring Agent Terry Cooper who is killed during an ambush and finds himself in a place known as the Necrosphere. With an eternity on his hands, Agent Cooper decides to use his time in search of an exit so that he can return to the Normalsphere. Unfortunately, the poor guy is unable to jump, which makes the platforming environments particularly challenging, but fortunately for him, a number of strategically placed bubbles help him to clear gaps and avoid spikes and other dangers. Early in his adventure, Agent Cooper discovers a pink leotard that allows him to dash across gaps, and he earns a couple of other powerups along the way that let him reach new areas. Several warps return him to the entry point of the Necrosphere, and he uses his abilities to reach new areas, with the platforming sequences becoming increasingly challenging as he goes.

The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam, Itch.io, and Game Jolt, and is also planned for release on PS4, Vita, and Xbox One later this year, and iOS and Android platforms at a later date. Check our coverage here.




November 13, 2017

Target Acquired: Thy Sword

Thy Sword, from Game Phase, is a chunky lo-fi action adventure platformer set in a fantasy world. The player selects a sword-wielding warrior to take on the quest and can eventually unlock additional playable characters as well. Player combat foes with sword strikes, bows and arrows, and magic, and can meet up with NPC's to purchase new items, weapon upgrades, and health restoratives. Players can go it alone or team up with a friend for local 2P co-op or enter into player vs. player combat. Levels are procedurally generated and take place over a number of traditional fantasy locales including forests, mountains, and caves, which are selectable from a world map.

The game is now available on PC via Steam.




November 12, 2017

Target Acquired: Fight‘N Rage

Fight‘N Rage, from Seba Games Dev, is a sidescrolling beat 'em up inspired by the classic brawlers of the arcade and 16-bit era, including Final Fight and Streets of Rage. On a future Earth where mutant animals have enslaved mankind, you play as a group of rebels attempting to save humanity. Players can go it alone or team up for local 2P or 3P combat, and racking up big combos and high scores allows for the purchase of numerous upgrades and add-ons. The game has a very simple control scheme but an incredible amount of versatility, with special attacks that can be used in a variety of ways, combos that can be interrupted or transitioned into throws or special attacks, and a huge array of moves for each fighter. The game also offers branching paths leading to different story elements and multiple endings. Where most indie games fall short when it comes to the beat 'em up experience, Fight 'N Rage offers an authentic classic brawler experience that is engaging from beginning to end.

The game is available for PC via Steam. Check our coverage here.




November 7, 2017

News: Pig Eat Ball Coming to PS4

Not since Pigs in Space have there been so many orbiting bovine, and now their trajectory brings them toward the PS4, as announced today. Pig Eat Ball will be arriving in Spring of 2018 on PS4 via PSN, as well as PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam.

Mommy’s Best Games delivers yet another oddity in the form of Pig Eat Ball. This game features a young pig princess named Bow living on a space station filled with clam people. Her father, King Cake, has decided to host a competition to win his daughter’s hand in marriage. But Bow has a different idea… she dons a disguise and enters the contest herself. The game features a number of different level types, most of which center around eating tennis balls. However, if you eat too many tennis balls, you get too fat to fit through narrow corridors, so you have to barf them up, slip through, and then re-eat the barfed up balls… called “barfies” for short. The game also features a number of competitive multiplayer modes for up to four players where players race each other, fight over tennis balls, and even build sandwiches. The game also includes a level editor.



November 5, 2017

Target Acquired: SteamWorld Dig 2

SteamWorld Dig 2, from Image & Form, picks up where SteamWorld Dig left off... Rusty has saved the steambots but has not yet returned to the surface, so his friend Dorothy goes looking for him. The new game improves on the original in almost every possible way, with an overhauled economy, faster navigation, and a larger and more complex world to explore. As in the first game, the player can upgrade his health and his ability to carry minerals, water, and fuel, but the new game offers dozens of additional enhancements that can be installed on equipment to allow players to draw minerals toward them from a distance, highlight valuables on the map, and even deflect projectiles. New equipment includes a hookshot that lets players zip quickly around the environment, and a jetpack that allows for free flight in any direction.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, Linux via Steam, Switch via eShop, and PS4 and Vita via PSN. Check our coverage here .




November 1, 2017

News: Owlboy Coming to Consoles in February

Owlboy, from D-Pad Studio, is coming to consoles soon... Well, soon-ish. The game was in development for nearly a decade, so it's a comparatively short wait. The game will be hitting PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on February 13, 2018, and if you haven't already purchased it for your computer, you should definitely give one of the console versions a go, especially since it's inspired by the classic console games of yore. Plus, Owlboy was our 2016 Game of the Year. Check our coverage here.

Owlboy is a game about a student owl named Otus who wears a cloak that allows him to fly. The world in which he lives is made up of a series of floating islands, which has recently come under attack by sky pirates. Otus has set out on a quest to stop the sky pirates and save his home village of Vellie. But in order to do this, he will need some help. Otus is a more-than-capable platforming hero – especially given the fact that he can fly freely – but he is lacking in offensive abilities.

He has a spin attack that knocks enemies back, and he can pick up items such as rocks and toss them at the baddies, but he has no projectiles of his own. To assist him in this department are a number of gunners that can be carried through the environment, and the player is able to use them to aim and fire in any direction. At first, the player will have access to only a single gunner, a somewhat meek friend named Geddy, who has the advantage of firing at a high rate of speed. Throughout your journey, you are able to recruit new gunners, and switch between them at will, giving you a number of different offensive options. Each gunner has different projectile types and firing rates.



October 30, 2017

News: Spelunky 2 Announced

It seems that everyone has played Spelunky, given its ever-increasing stream of popularity since its original release in 2008, and its enhanced re-release in 2012. But even in an infinitely-generating world, there is still room for something new, so Mossmouth has announced that a sequel is in development, and it's heading to PS4 and Steam (and possibly other platforms at a later date). This time, the task of spelunking has been handed off to a new generation, as evidenced in the teaser trailer below:


News: Guacamelee 2 Announced

Did you happen to play a little Dia de los Muertos -slash- dimension-swapping puzzle-platformer -slash- comedy adventure -slash- luchador metroidvania called Guacamelee? If not, there's nothing stopping you, since it's available on practically every platform available, and it's an excellent game. At any rate, Drinkbox Studios has released a teaser to officially announce Guacamelee 2, which is coming to PS4 (and likely other unannounced platforms) in 2018. For now, check out the humorous trailer below, which has a dash of gameplay. The game promises an even more colorful world, the dimension-swapping of the original, some new movement and attack abilities, and even 4P local co-op.


October 23, 2017

News: Radio the Universe Gets Sexier

Radio the Universe, from developer 6e6e6e, is an isometric action adventure offering a large open environment with interconnected areas, secrets, and shortcuts. In this melancholy industrial world, the player must contend with deadly traps and combat mechanized monstrosities, but he can get a leg up on enemies by upgrading his weapons and abilities. Mobile players can dash, dodge, and jump to avoid enemy projectiles and traps, and use these skills to advance on enemies during lulls in their attacks, and they can absorb some damage by using a shield with the proper timing. The tone of the game is further set by hand-drawn interstitial cutscenes, and as the developer warns: "Players who die in-game die in real life."

The developers have released an uncut 15-minute video of the game, showing off visuals that have increased notably in sexiness since the Kickstarter campaign launched some five years gone:




October 22, 2017

Target Acquired: Greedy Guns

Greedy Guns, from developer Tio Atum, is an action platformer inspired by fast-paced high action games such as Gunstar Heroes and Contra, combined with Metroidvania exploration elements. Players may go alone or team up with another player in 2P co-op to blast away baddies on alien planets. Players are able to move and aim independently with full 360 degree control of their shooting, allowing for shooting while dodging, fast strafing, and the tried-and-true method of running away and screaming while shooting at the bad guys running up behind you. Explosions? Check. Double jump? Check. Enemies bursting into piles of spinning gold coins when they are destroyed? Checkaroonie.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam. Check our coverage here.




October 20, 2017

Target Acquired: In the Shadows

In the Shadows, from ColorSpace Studio, is an action-puzzler where the player uses light to combat shadow creatures... and to use them in puzzle solutions. It turns out that a number of objects transform into creatures in the evening, but the player is able to transform them back by exposing them to light. This generally involves pushing lighted boxes toward shadow creatures, at which point they may become doors, ladders, or other objects that the player may use in order to press forward.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG. The game is also planned for PS4 and Xbox One.




October 17, 2017

Target Acquired: Songbringer

Songbringer is a sci-fi action-RPG from Wizard Fu Games, which offers a procedurally-generated overworld and ten dungeons packed with chunky pixel art and heavily inspired by The Legend of Zelda. The game may be played alone or with a friend in 2P co-op, as players explore the landscape in search of more powerful items and weaponry, as well as abilities that allow them to reach new areas. Players gain access to melee and projectile-based weapons as they take on varied foes, enemy swarms, and huge bosses. Dungeons require the player to solve puzzles to see his way through, with some even removing the player's sword until the dungeon is completed.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, Humble Bundle, and GOG, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and PS4 via PSN. Check our coverage here.




October 11, 2017

News: All 4 Episodes of Tiny Barbarian DX Now Available

The first episode of Tiny Barbarian DX, from StarQuail Games, was first released in 2013, followed by the second episode in 2014, but fans of the miniscule Conan-inspired warrior have had to wait a long time for the final two episodes, which have just been released. If you already bought the game on Steam, these episodes are available as a free update. Coinciding with this update is the just-released Switch version of the game, which may be downloaded via the eShop, or purchased in physical form. The physical version also includes an instruction manual, keychain, and pouch (pictured below).

For a full rundown of the first two episodes, check our coverage here, which we will update with the third and fourth episodes once we finish them.




October 8, 2017

Target Acquired: Nidhogg II

Nidhogg II, from developer Messhof, is a sequel to the indie hit Nidhogg. Gameplay will be very familiar to those who enjoyed the original, but the art style has changed drastically, with stick figures and simple backgrounds replaced by the grotesque (and occasionally bright and cheerful) art of Toby Dixon. In addition, characters are now customizable, and there are more levels and several new weapons. Instead of just fencing foils, players will find themselves wielding broadswords, daggers, and even bows and arrows, each of which requires different tactics. The game is just as fast as ever, with quick deaths, the ability to toss weapons, disarm foes, and engage in hand-to-hand combat, and huge sprays of blood when an enemy is defeated... only to respawn moments later. Fight your way to victory and demonstrate your worthiness of being devoured by the legendary Nidhogg. Or, set up an 8P tournament to do the same in an environment that allows the proper amount of yawping and cursing.

The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam, and PS4 via PSN. Check our coverage here.




October 5, 2017

New Blip: Blazing Chrome

Joymasher, the studio behind Oniken (our 2012 Game of the Year) and Odallus: The Dark Call, returns with Blazing Chrome, a run-and-gun inspired by the likes of Contra and Metal Slug. The game can be played alone or with a friend in 2P co-op, with players selecting between a human member of the resistance named Mavra, or a rebel robot named Doyle in the apocalyptic world of 21XX. Players use machine guns, rocket launchers, and lasers to blast grotesque alien and robot creatures with a style very reminiscent of Contra III: The Alien Wars, with its dark cityscapes and barren deserts, angled platforms, the ability to hang and shoot simultaneously, and of course, its stylish detailed bosses.

The game is headed to PC but does not yet have an announced release date.




To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.

October 2, 2017

Target Acquired: Heat Signature

Tom Francis, the developer behind the excellently crazy spy/electrician game Gunpoint, is back with a brand new adventure, this time focusing on infiltrating ships in space with a focus on sneaking up on them by keeping your heat level low… thus the Heat Signature title. As you hurtle through space, you encounter ships, each of which has a radius of sensors looking for heat signatures. By lining up a solid thrust outside of this radius, and minor tweaks within it, you can slide past their sensors unseen and dock with the ship. From there, the game goes on-foot in a top-down perspective, as you infiltrate the ship and attempt to make your way unseen by patrolling guards… or at least unheard as you come up from behind and knock them unconscious. Different objectives include disabling ships and their weapons, killing a specific target, stealing technology, or even taking control of an entire ship.

The game is now on PC via Steam and Humble Store.




October 1, 2017

Target Acquired: Silver Grapple

Jamie Rollo, the developer behind the jetpack speedrunner Wave Run has returned with Silver Grapple, a grapple-based actioner that takes place in an underground complex. Some sort of accident has occurred, and the grapple-wielding protagonist finds himself (or herself) trapped in a building complex with several other survivors. The player must repair equipment, activate teleporters, and use some pretty extreme grappling to eventually make his way to the surface. Grappling requires split-second timing to hit jump pads, rocket around corners, and fling yourself through the air with incredible precision... and little room for error. Exploring each area uncovers items that allow for higher jumping, quick respawns, and even the ability to skate across the surface of water.

The game is now available on PC via Steam and Itch.io. Check our coverage here.




September 29, 2017

Target Acquired: Cuphead

StudioMDHR delivers Cuphead, a fighting game -slash- shooter with a very unique art style. Modeled after 1930’s-era cartoons like Popeye and some of the Disney classics, the game features colorful characters, washed out backgrounds, simple piano tunes, and some rather odd humor. Our hero is a guy with a teacup for a head and a straw sticking out the top. Dear old Cuphead gambles with the devil and loses, and finds himself defeating enemies to pay the fiend back. The poor fellow can’t seem to keep himself out of trouble and is constantly struggling as a victim of his own failures. The game features projectile-based combat in enclosed arenas against a variety of cartoonily menacing foes, as well as traditional platforming and shooting action.

Cuphead is now available for PC via Steam and GOG, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store.



September 27, 2017

Target Acquired: Orange Moon

Moon Resources Corp. wants to offer you a job on the moon... but mining for resources can be dangerous with its harsh landscape, hostile wildlife, raiders, and the occasional ancient alien technology. Fortunately, you're well armed for the task with access to a machine gun, shotgun, flamethrower, rocket launcher, and minigun, each of which can be upgraded and loaded with specialized ammo types that allow them to pierce armor, burn enemies, or explode on contact. In Orange Moon, from Betelgeuse Zero, players move through a dangerous underground world, exploring the environment, defeating enemies and bosses, and gathering resources to upgrade their firepower and other abilities, including their grenades and jetpack-assisted jump.

The game is now available for PC via Steam.




September 25, 2017

Target Acquired: The Royal Cosmonautical Society

The Royal Cosmonautical Society, from Chromosphere Games (game site) is a new entry in the sparsely-populated gravity-based spaceship genre, accompanied by titles like Gravitar, Lunar Lander, and Thrust. Unlike most other genre entries, there is no fuel management, so players are free to thrust all they like... but that doesn't make the game easy by any stretch. Players must navigate through a variety of environments across 10 planets, and new gameplay is introduced in each. In some areas, players simply need to make it to the landing pad alive, while other areas see players dodging mines and heat seeking missiles, powering down engines while passing through explosive gasses, sliding along on ice sheets, or diving underwater. Some planets even allow the use of special equipment, including a tow rope that lets you carry objects (while fighting the extra pull of gravity), a shield that lets you bounce off walls and pass safely through laser beams, and a grappling hook that lets you fling yourself around corners at high speeds.

The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam, Humble Store, and Itch.io. Check our coverage here.




September 23, 2017

Target Acquired: Steamworld Dig 2

Steamworld Dig 2, from Image & Form is the follow-up to Steamworld Dig, a surprising entry in the otherwise overcrowded mining genre, focusing less on crafting and inventory management, and more on metroidvania-style adventuring. The sequel features a new steambot named Dorothy who teams up with a cloaked companion to seek out her lost friend in the deep dark depths. The new release offers similar gameplay to the original with the player pickaxing through dirt and rocks in search of treasure while avoiding pitfalls and traps. Along the way, Dorothy fights enemies and earns new abilities that allow her to move more quickly and access new areas. The new game has been given a substantial visual overhaul as well, featuring more detailed environments and better lighting effects.

The game is now available on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, Switch via eShop, and it's coming to PS4 and Vita on 9/26.




September 21, 2017

Target Acquired: Super Hydorah

Super Hydorah is an updated and expanded version of the original Hydorah, a freeware game from Locomalito. The new game is a partnership between Locomalito and Abylight Studios, following their release of Maldita Castilla EX: Cursed Castilla, an expanded commercial release of Maldita Castilla, a Ghosts ‘n Goblins-inspired actioner. Super Hydorah is a horizontal shmup inspired by genre entries of the early 80's, but offering nonlinear gameplay that allows players to take different routes to complete the game and reach one of several endings. The original game was a single player experience, but the new one can be enjoyed locally in 2P co-op. In addition, the number of levels, bosses, enemies, and weapons has been increased over the original game, offering even veteran players something new to experience. The new game also offers bonuses based on level rankings, as well as CRT-style filters and various graphical improvements.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and Xbox One via Microsoft Store.




August 30, 2017

Early Arrival: Sunless Skies

Failbetter Games, the studio behind Sunless Sea, set in their Lovecraftian Fallen London universe, returns with Sunless Skies, a game set 10 years after the original. The game plays similarly to its predecessor as you dock your skyship in various ports and unravel the stories of the game's universe - and even take a side in the conflict - all told in the series' trademark early 20th century Victorian dialect. Outside of ports, players engage in ship-to-ship battles, and explore mysterious locales, and you can upgrade your ship and recruit crew members to better your chances in the wilds. As before, your very sanity is at stake, and you have to avoid running out of food and falling to mutiny... but if you're feeling peckish, you may consider eating your crew.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam Early Access and GOG's Games in Development.




August 29, 2017

News: Shantae: Pirate Queen’s Quest DLC Released

Last year, WayForward released Shantae: Half-Genie Hero, a hybrid sequel -slash- soft reboot for the indomitable Shantae series. The release promised not only a return of Shantae and her friends, but also new playable characters, and that promise has been realized with Shantae: Pirate Queen’s Quest DLC, which places Risky Boots in the hands of the player as she experiences her own journey to find items that will allow her to conquer Sequin Land and its half-genie protector. The new adventure allows players to tackle levels in any order, fighting enemies with Risky's sword and pistol while unlocking pirate gear in the form of a bomb shot, grappling hook, and hat glide... which may be familiar to players who experienced Shantae and the Pirate's Curse, where Shantae and Risky teamed up, and Shantae used Risky's pirate gear in lieu of her genie transformation powers.

The DLC pack is available for $9.99 on Switch, Wii U, PS4, Vita, Xbox One, and PC.




August 27, 2017

Target Acquired: Phantom Trigger

Phantom Trigger, from Bread Team, is a neon-lit hack and slash starring The Outsider, an individual who may or may not be the alter ego of a man named Stan who has found himself in the hospital. In the neon world, The Outsider uses a whip, a sword, and giant pink fists to pound his way through enemies and bosses, while the visuals occasionally glitch out, revealing a bedridden Stan who seems to recall some of these events. Using each of his three weapons causes them to level up individually, slowly unlocking various spells that are initiated with button combinations, such as the ability to dash through enemies to slow them down, a freeze attack, and a ring of fire that causes continuous damage... but some elemental-based foes are immune to these attacks.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and Switch via eShop. Check our coverage here.




August 24, 2017

New Blip: Super Hydorah

Locomalito is the developer behind Hydorah, Maldita Castilla, The Curse of Issyos, and numerous other titles mirroring the styles of classic arcade games. For many years, the developer released all of his games on PC for free, but recently he has been working with Abylight Studios to release enhanced versions of his games, with the first being Maldita Castilla EX (a.k.a. Cursed Castilla). Now his first breakout hit, Hydorah, is being released as Super Hydorah, with enhanced visuals and several entirely new levels, enemies, and bosses. This is a horizontal shmup modeled after 80's arcade games like Gradius, R-Type, and Darius, featuring a variety of weapon types, waves of enemies, huge bosses, and 2P co-op. The game also features numerous branching paths as well as multiple endings, encouraging players to replay the game to see everything that it has to offer.

The game is headed to PC via Steam and Xbox One via Microsoft Store but does not yet have an announced release date. Players looking to check out the original game may download it for free from the developer's website.




To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.

August 20, 2017

Target Acquired: Graceful Explosion Machine

Graceful Explosion Machine, from Vertex Pop is a colorful arena-based shmup with horizontal wrapping levels, similar to those of Defender or Fantasy Zone... although there are no humanoids to be rescued, and no bulbous floating shops. Instead, the game features loads of enemies spawning in from all sides, while you control a ship with four different kinds of weapons, each available at the touch of a button. You need to decide when it's best to use your infinite-ammo blaster that tends to overheat, or a concentrated laser blast, spinning sword attack, or a swarm of homing missiles. Different enemies are more easily dispatched with certain weapons, and this game is all about crowd control and threat assessment, as you may find yourself surrounded by dozens of enemies at any given time. This is an arcade-style game where the primary focus is on racking up a big score, which is done by stringing together long combos.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, PS4 via PSN, and Switch via eShop. The game originally released in April as a Switch exclusive. Check our coverage here.




August 17, 2017

Target Acquired: Chicken Wiggle

For many years, developer Renegade Kid struggled to stay afloat, and after seeing diminishing returns from their new releases, the studio finally folded in 2016, despite a robust catalogue of titles including the Moon and Dementium series, as well as 2D standouts like Mutant Mudds and Xeodrifter. Following the dissolution, founders Jools Watsham and Gregg Hargrove split their IP and founded two separate studios, with Gregg's founding Infitizmo and retaining ownership of the 3D games, and Jools founding Atooi and retaining ownership of the 2D titles.

The first new game announced by Atooi is Chicken Wiggle, starring an odd partnership between a bird and his wiggly worm friend, which he keeps in his backpack (but not as a snack). The worm is able to stretch out and reach grapple points and zip to them, as well as smack enemies to stun them, while the bird hops about to navigate the environment and complete platforming challenges. In addition, players are invited to create their own levels and share them online, with new elements unlocking once the player completes the single player campaign.

The game is now available for 3DS via Nintendo eShop and is also planned for iOS.






August 16, 2017

Target Acquired: 20XX

20XX has just left Early Access and is now available for full-on purchase on Steam. The PC version is live now, and the game is also planned for Mac and Linux in the future.

Batterystaple Games invites you to dust off your blaster and dive into 20XX (previously Echoes of Eridu). The game features colorful fast-paced robot action inspired by the gameplay in Mega Man X, while mixing in multiplayer and roguelike elements. In the year 2045, an online retail computer system becomes sentient and starts a robot revolution that wipes out most of humanity… but it feels really guilty about it, so the AI imbues some of the surviving humans with cybernetic enhancements so that they can fight back. You play the part of one of these cyborgs (or two in 2P co-op), with a heavily modifiable weapon loadout that you can expand by finding blueprints, allowing for a huge array of possible weapons, abilities, and support items. Taking a page out of the Blue Bomber’s handbook, you get new weapons by defeating bosses. The game mixes precision platforming with air dashery and fast-paced combat sequences.



August 15, 2017

New Blip: Bomb Chicken

Bomb Chicken, from Nitrome is a puzzle platformer about... well, a chicken with a bunch of bombs. Basically, the chicken has to resolve every situation she encounters with one or more bombs. She can drop stacks of bombs to prop himself up and reach high platforms (at least until the stack explodes), she can kick bombs into enemies to kill them, bounce bombs off walls, and kick bombs into switches to open doors and discover hidden areas, and generally just blow everything right the hell up with a barrage of nonstop explosions. Gameplay is changed up as enemies charge toward the chicken, conveyor belts pull bombs along the floor, bomb stacks propel the chicken into the air, and certain enemies can only be destroyed from a certain direction.

The game is coming to PC and Mac via Steam, but does not yet have an announced release date.




To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.

August 13, 2017

Target Acquired: A Robot Named Fight

Developer Matt Bitner presents A Robot Named Fight, a game about a robot (named Fight) who lives on a planet inhabited entirely by machines. One day, a gigantic mass of flesh covered in eyes, teeth, and dirty dirty sex organs descends from the skies, dropping its progeny on the mechanical city below. You must defend your world from this invasion of meat in an adventure that mixes metroidvania and roguelike genres. Levels are procedurally generated, but still balanced to ensure that you can access all of the powerups and new abilities you need to move forward, including a double jump, sliding kick, and air dash. You also gain access to weapon powerups that include flame and electrical enhancements, allowing you to burn and electrocute enemies and open electronic and flesh-covered doors. Enemies come in a variety of disgusting forms, from hovering blobs of flesh, toothy intestinal creatures, and fleshy beasts with way too many mouths.

The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam. Check our coverage here.




August 11, 2017

Arrival Delayed: Sonic Mania

The PC version of Sonic Mania has been delayed slightly. While the PS4, Xbox One, and Switch versions are still slated for their original August 15 launch date, the PC version has been pushed back to August 29... so PC gamers will have to wait a couple of extra weeks to determine whether the game truly recaptures the spirit of the original (good) Genesis games. But those folks who preordered the PC version will be gifted a copy of the original Sonic the Hedgehog by way of apology.

It's no secret that Sega's most fondly remembered Sonic the Hedgehog titles were the 2D iterations from the Genesis era, and now - 25 years later - the company has decided to revisit these classics with Sonic Mania, an all-new game showcasing some of the finest moments from the series' 2D history, along with some entirely new areas for Sonic, Tales, and Knuckles to explore. The game is being developed in collaboration with Christian Whitehead and Headcanon, who worked on several modern re-releases of 2D Sonic titles, as well as Pagoda West Games. In addition, a new move has been added to the mix, called the "drop dash" which allows Sonic and pals to drop out of the sky and hit the ground with a burst of speed.




August 10, 2017

Target Acquired: Draw Your Game

Originally released for mobile devices, Draw Your Game from developer Zero One is now available for PC. The game allows you to draw levels on a piece of paper and take a picture to have the levels rendered into playable form. Different colors create different types of objects, with black acting as solid walls and floors, blue for objects that you can push, green for bouncy things, and red for deadly objects, and these levels may be shared online. Players can play a game where they destroy red objects by pushing blue ones into them, or a game where they try to find a way off the page to escape the level.

The game is now available for Android via Google Play and PC via Steam.




August 8, 2017

Early Arrival: MiniLAW: Ministry of Law

In MiniLAW: Ministry of Law, from Lasso Games, you take on the role of a law enforcement officer in the dystopian future city of New Babel (and let's face it, every city named New Babel is set in a dystopian future). As a Constable, you can opt to apprehend enemies using diplomatic tools or non-lethal force, or go in guns a-blazin' to blast baddies. Eliminating enemies grants you upgrade points that you can use to purchase new weapons and increase the movement and combat abilities of your exoskeleton, making you more effective and able to perform far beyond human capabilities, allowing you to sustain more damage, increase your strength, heal more quickly, etc... but your enemies have upgrades of their own, giving them access to powerful weapons and armored suits of their own.

The game is now available for PC via Steam Early Access.




To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.

August 6, 2017

Target Acquired: Running VoltGun

Running VoltGun is a short game that was developed in under 72 hours for Ludum Dare 39, with a theme of running out of power. The game was created by Sinclair Strange, who also developed Jet Gunner, an NES-style run and gun actioner inspired by and Shatterhand and other classic shooters. The game features only seven levels and three boss encounters, but it is packed with the fast action, bright colors, silly enemy designs, and exuberant shooting found in classic 16-bit games. Gameplay is driven by an ever-dwindling battery that can be powered up by collecting gems from fallen enemies, and collected weapons can be fired in low or high power modes to alter their energy consumption.

The game is available for free on PC via Itch.io, or in your browser at Newgrounds. Check our coverage here. There's no trailer, but the developer has posted a full playthrough (below) if you want to spoil everything for yourself.




August 3, 2017

Target Acquired: Road Warriors

Intergalactic Race Warriors, from Turtle Blaze and Lucky Kat Studios is now Road Warriors, bringing its Mad Max inspirations all the more apparent. This stylish vehicular combat game looks like a 16-bit demake of Redline with cars burning up the road - or at least the offroad - with speed lines, shaking chassis, and debris flying everywhere. Players blast away at other cars with machine guns and rockets, while boosting, jumping, and flying off of steep slopes... and hopefully landing wheels-down. Races take place across multiple planets, and players can customize and upgrade their vehicles to make them best suited to their environment.

The game is now available for mobile devices via the App Store and Google Play.




August 1, 2017

Target Acquired: Patapon Remastered

Non-PSP owners (I gather there are quite a few of us) finally get a shot at Patapon with Patapon Remastered from the folks at Sony. The original game came out in 2008 to much acclaim with its mixture of rhythm action, strategy, and light RPG elements. You control a bunch of one-eyed critters who march against monsters and enemy constructions by using drumbeats to compel them to do your bidding. Getting your timing right means faster and more powerful attacks. The original game had a pretty unique art style with a simple color scheme, featuring stylized backgrounds that faded into lighter colors, and stark black characters and enemies in the foreground. The remastered version brings these elements to life with crisp 4K visuals, giving the game a serious boost over its small-screen origins. If you'd like to see what all the fuss is about, check out some gameplay in the video below.

The game is now available on PS4 via PSN.




July 30, 2017

Target Acquired: A Bloody Night

A Bloody Night, from Emanuele Leoncilli (game site) is a fast-paced action game about a man rampaging through the countryside, slicing soldiers into bloody heaps to avenge the death of his sister. The mechanics are simple, with a basic 3-hit combo and strong attack, but there are a number of design elements that add complexity to the experience. So, rather than simply mashing the ATTACK button from one end of the level to the other, you must lure soldiers into chasing you, make strategic use of your limited-use strong attack, know when it is best to block, bash in soldiers' brains while avoiding incoming attacks, and occasionally enter into a furious rage and slice through swaths of foes with reckless abandon. Some soldiers fall quickly to your 3-hit combo, while others have shields that must be knocked away, and others must be knocked to the ground and bashed repeatedly until they die. The game has a lot of energy, with a pumping soundtrack, spewing blood, heavy clangs of metal-on-metal combat, and a driven anti-hero that brutally slays every living thing he comes in contact with.

The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam and Itch.io, and is apparently planned for Xbox One if the trailer below is any indication. Check our coverage here.




Targets Acquired: Sundered and Pyre

Some hardware difficulties (a fried laptop) rendered us silent this week and ate most of our notes... but shiny new technology has been delivered, and we're scavenging through our backups. In the meantime, a couple of exciting new 2D games have arrived:

Thunder Lotus Games, the studio behind the solid and visually splendiferous Jotun, has returned with Sundered, a Lovecraftian metroidvania. The new game once again features hand-drawn visuals and battles against creatures many times the size of the protagonist. You take on the role of Eshe, exploring an eldritch underworld filled with horrific creatures, mysterious and powerful relics that grant new abilities, and titanic bosses, while attempting to retain your sanity in a darkly beautiful world.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, GOG, and Humble Store, and PS4 via PSN. Check our coverage here.





Pyre is the latest game from Supergiant Games, the studio behind Bastion and Transistor (our 2014 Game of the Year). Their third game is a party-based RPG focusing on a group of individuals who have been exiled from the Commonwealth, but they learn of a secret competition that may allow them to return home with their transgressions forgiven. Each of the exiled characters has different abilities which aid them in the competition, and players must learn to use the strengths of each character cooperatively, as only one can be controlled at a time. Each team has a pyre on their end of the arena that they must defend, while also attempting to carry a glowing orb into the pyre of their opponents, which temporarily removes that player from the playfield. Players must take advantage of speed to get the orb to the other side of the arena, strategy to avoid attacks from competitors, and weapons to disable their foes and remove the orb from their possession.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and PS4 via PSN. Check our coverage here.




July 23, 2017

Target Acquired: Serious Sam's Bogus Detour

Serious Sam's Bogus Detour is a 2D Serious Sam game from developer Crackshell, the team behind the top-down dungeon crawler Hammerwatch. While Serious Sam is known primarily for his enemy-spewing 3D outings, this is not his first foray into the land of indie-developed 2D, as he has previously blown up baddies in Serious Sam: Double D XXL, Serious Sam: The Random Encounter, and Serious Sam: Kamikaze Attack!. In fitting with the developer's previous work, Sam's latest adventure sees him blasting his way through a top-down environment with his traditional array of armaments, from standard small arms to lasers, rocket launchers, and miniguns. Familiar foes return in the form of Gnaar, Kleer Skeletons, and the infamous Beheaded Kamikazes, spewing forth in large numbers, per series conventions. Players can move and aim independently, and destroyed enemies leave behind sprays of blood and chunky bits when killed. The game also offers online cooperative and competitive modes.

Serious Sam's Bogus Detour is now available for PC and Linux via Steam. Check our coverage here.




July 18, 2017

New Blip: The King's Bird

Serenity Forge, the developer behind Four Sided Fantasy, returns with The King's Bird, a momentum-based platformer with fluid movement inspired by Dustforce. You take on the role of a cape-wearing bird girl who navigates a dark world, sliding down slopes, jumping off walls and running across them, and hitting surfaces from every possible angle while traversing obstacle-laden environments. Something that separates this game from similar acrobatic platformers is the ability to use the girl's cape to glide quickly through open areas, building up speed when moving downward and then swooping back up to land on a platform or cling to a wall for a moment before dashing away again.

The game is coming to PC and Mac, and possibly consoles, but does not yet have an announced release date.




To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.

July 16, 2017

Target Acquired: Cryptark

Cryptark is the latest game from AlienTrap Games, the developers behind Apotheon and Capsized. The player commands a small armed vessel which he uses to infiltrate a number of heavily defended procedurally-generated alien spacecraft. The ships' defenses come in the form of sentries, drone spawners, and robotic ships, all of which the player must destroy or bypass in order to reach the core and destroy it. The rewards the player receives can be used to upgrade his ship's arsenal to take on new targets of ever-increasing power on his way to the titular Cryptark itself.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and PS4 via PSN. Check our coverage here.