New Blip: Phantom Trigger

Phantom Trigger, from BreadTeam, is a neon-lit hack-and-slash RPG with roguelike elements. The game is heavily combo focused, with the player unlocking new weapons and combos as he moves through dungeons in a branching story with multiple endings. Players take on the role of Stan, a fellow who seems to be suffering from some kind of mental breakdown in the (possibly) real world. In the neon demon world, however, he can spread heavy damage to a roomful of enemies in short order, dashing through them to damage several in a row, freezing them in place to deliver unanswered followup blows, unleashing fiery area effect attacks, and taking on huge boss creatures.

The game is coming to PC via Steam later this year.




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

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New Blip: Kaze and The Wild Masks

Kaze and The Wild Masks, from Vox Game Studio stars a bunny (and you know how much we love bunnies) who must defend Carrotland from attack by a variety of vicious yet colorful beasts in a cutesy action platformer. Kaze uses his big ole bunny ears to whack enemies, walk ear-over-ear along vines, toss objects and baddies, and even spin around to slow his descent. Classic platformer tropes are strongly represented, with pastoral plains, bouncy mushrooms, brightly-colored collectibles, and secret areas. Finding the game's titular masks grants him new abilities that let him run faster, swim underwater, and take to the skies. Oh, and we're not sure if this means anything, but Kaze translates to "wind" from Japanese... like Kaze no Klonoa. So there's that.

The game is coming to PC via Steam in November.

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

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Target Acquired: Splinter Zone

Eric Merz, under his Mokkograd label, presents Splinter Zone, an endless Mega Man-inspired action platformer. The game features 36 procedurally arranged levels and six boss encounters, with level themes including futuristic cities, conveyor belt-filled factories, underwater areas, and frozen ice-scapes. The player earns experience points by shooting enemies, and each new level increases his firepower with hovering orbs that follow closely behind... but the game is tough, and taking a hit causes the player to lose a level, and getting killed sends him back to the start of the game. For players wishing to even the odds a bit, a cheat menu loads up at the start of each game, allowing players to increase their damage output, decrease damage taken, and even remove the need to reload.

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

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New Blip: Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs

Saber Rider and the Star Sheriffs, from Team Saber Rider, is based on a short-lived anime television series from the late 80's, and the visuals hold to that 80's anime style. If you want to get caught up on what all of that means, get ye to YouTube and check out an episode or two. The game features the series' four main heroes as playable characters, along with their vehicles, and a transforming spaceship that turns into the Cowboy Mech Ramrod. Players fight across 12 levels that mix on-foot run and gun action with vehicle-based horizontal shmup sequences.

The game is headed to PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam this summer, and is also planned for release on 3DS and Dreamcast... because apparently we're just going to be making games for the Dreamcast for all time and it will outlive us all. There's even a Dreamcast 2-disc limited edition. A single-level demo is available on the developer's website, and the demo even runs on Dreamcast!






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

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New Blip: Rifter

IMakeGames, the developer behind Nubs' Adventure, returns with something that has a significantly faster pace. Rifter combines the blazing speed of infinite runners with the angled surfaces of Dustforce and the grappling of Bionic Commando to create breakneck momentum-based gameplay. Players run across flat surfaces, dash down slopes, grapple around corners, smash through obstacles, and bash enemies while staying on the move and attempting to reach the goal as quickly as possible... but it's not all just environmental challenges; the player also faces huge boss creatures that require him to target weak points and reel in to crush them.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam later this year.




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

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Target Acquired: Strikey Sisters

DYA Games, the developers behind the Wild Guns-inspired Bot Vice, have returned with Strikey Sisters, a fantasy-themed brick breaking game along inspired by Firestriker on the SNES. Players will immediately recognize a similar presentation between the developer's two most recent games, with both offering a wide playfield, colorful enemies, art done in a 16-bit style heavily influenced by classic Capcom games. In Strikey Sisters, you take on the role of a witch - or two in 2P co-op - as you hunt for your kidnapped pet across dozens of levels. Along the way, you fight your way through brick-laden environments, smashing enemies and defeating each of the villain's minions in boss battles. In addition to bouncing a magical orb around the arena, you can also unlock a number of spells and powerups, allowing you to smash through blocks with an iron ball, unleash lightning strikes, toss bombs, or even blast entire rows of bricks and enemies with dark magic.

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

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New Blip: Blasphemous

Blasphemous is a game from The Game Kitchen, developers of The Last Door. While The Last Door was a low-rez point and click adventure series, Blasphemous is a gritty and bloody 2D action-adventure with fast-paced action and detailed visuals. The game offers nonlinear exploration through a dark world as you take on the role of The Penitent One, an armor-clad warrior with a pointed thorned helmet who roams the land destroying evil... of which there is plenty, as most of the world's citizens have been transformed into hideous creatures due to their blasphemies. Players will equip items to enhance their abilities as they fight their way through grotesque undead creatures, self-abusing whip wielders, corrupt clergy, and numerous indescribable monstrosities, along with several large bosses.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, in winter of 2019.




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

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Early Arrival: Pixel Shinobi: Nine Demons of Mamoru

As it says on the tin, Pixel Shinobi: Nine Demons of Mamoru, from Ametist Studio, is a game about a pixellated ninja. However, unlike most other 2D video game ninjas - like Shinobi, for instance - this game has a focus on stealth, allowing the ninja to hide in tall grass and get the drop on his enemies, hide in the shadows, and creep up from behind to slit the throats of guards... or just go old school slashy-slashy on everyone's face with his katana and shuriken. The ninja can climb walls, make use of a variety of ninja weapons, and craft helpful items like explosives or a vial of poison, and he can train to learn new arts along a sizable skill tree.

Pixel Shinobi: Nine Demons of Mamoru 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.

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Target Acquired: Dragon Bros

In Dragon Bros, from Space Lizard Studio, you take on the role of a teenage dragon - or two teenage dragons in local 2P co-op - as he goes on a enemy-blasting journey to rescue his mom and save the world from robot invaders. Players have access to rifles, shotguns, machine guns, rockets, and giant lasers to take down a variety of enemies. Collecting scraps from destroyed bots lets you power up and enter Ultra mode, increasing your firepower and temporarily giving you infinite ammo to unleash ultimate destruction on everything in your path.

Dragon Bros is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. Check our coverage here.

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Proximity Alert: Mighty Gunvolt Burst

Inti Creates, the developer behind Azure Striker Gunvolt, Blaster Master Zero, and most of the recent Mega Man games, returns with a sequel to Mighty Gunvolt entitled Mighty Gunvolt Burst. As before, the game stars Gunvolt from Azure Striker Gunvolt and Beck from Mighty No. 9, with Ekoro from Gal*Gun appearing later as a downloadable character, along with several as-yet-unannounced characters. The new game introduces the titular Burst system where taking down enemies at close range initiates a combo, and keeping the combo going lets you maximize your destructive potential. An upgrade system lets you upgrade your characters and add modify their weapons, as well as add wave patterns, curving patterns, and homing abilities to bullets.

The game will be out on the Switch eShop on June 15, and on the 3DS eShop on June 29.

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

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Target Acquired: WitchWay

WitchWay is a puzzle platformer created by multiple developers: Andrew Gleeson (Titan Souls), Henri Rochefort, Niilo Takalainen (Environmental Station Alpha, Bleed 2), and Nathan Antony. The game stars a witch who has fallen down a well and must use her magical powers to solve environmental puzzles and work her way back up to the top. Puzzles involve sliding blocks along the floor, making them hover in the air, and using them to redirect laser beams. Along the way, the witch can take on numerous optional challenges that involve saving stranded bunnies, uncovering lost artifacts, and activating mysterious eyes attached to the walls.

The game is now available for PC via Itch.io. Check our coverage here.

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Target Acquired: Armed with Wings: Rearmed

Armed with Wings: Rearmed is a follow-up to Sun-Studios' original 2008 freeware release, Armed with Wings, and its follow-ups. This time around, Daniel Sun's one-man studio is working on a full-fledged commercial release, offering many improvements over the previous releases. The player takes on the role of a resurrected warrior wielding a sword imbued with the power of electricity who must defend the world of Black Mist and ultimately defeat the tyrannical King Vandheer. The player engages foes in sword-based combat and can control an eagle that scouts ahead and solves environmental puzzles. The player works his way through more than two dozen levels filled with enemies, bosses traps, spikes, and platforming challenges.

Armed with Wings: Rearmed is now available for PC via Steam.

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