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 30, 2018

Signal Lost: Skytorn

Skytorn has officially been cancelled, as announced by Noel Berry on the official devlog. Here's a snippet from the announcement:
Having worked on the game for several years we constantly struggled with what the game was. To its core it was a procedurally generated adventure game without permadeath, but the procedural elements always clashed with the Metroidvania themes, and I didn’t know how to design around that. The story & progression slowly became much more linear as a result of being unsure how to tackle an open & randomized world. Taking out the procedural parts felt like it defeated the purpose of what the game was, so as it shifted towards a more linear adventure, the procedural map stayed but simply got more and more constricted, until the proceduralness of it didn’t really mean anything — it was just… there. And this is a LOT of overhead for basically no payoff. Why make a procedural game at all if you don’t really get the benefits of it being procedural?
Here's what we originally had to say about the game:
Skytorn is under development by a team of talented individuals (Skytorn) whose previous works include Celeste, TowerFall, Out There Somewhere, and Aquaria. The game takes place in a world that has been torn asunder by some great calamity, and mankind now lives aboard airships as they scour the lands for artifacts and other survivors. The player takes on the role of an explorer named Névoa as she sets out across a procedurally generated world made of floating islands, armed with only her shovel (might be a trend here), which serves dual roles as a digging implement and a weapon. Névoa is quite nimble, digging her way down into the world, air dashing, ledge grabbing, wall sliding, and clobbering enemies with her spade. The digging implement is also upgradeable, making it easier to take down groups of enemies, or adding secondary effects such as spitting a fireball or draining a foe's life force on contact.

The game had been planned for release on PC, Mac, Linux, and PS4.




December 23, 2018

Target Acquired: Desert Child

Desert Child, from Oscar Brittain begins on a ruined earth and stars a hoverbike racer who is trying to put together enough money to get off this stinkin' planet and get his ass to Mars. His life consists of entering races, customizing his bike, going to work, and occasionally chillin' out with a bowl of ramen noodles to earn him some buffs for the next race. He still has to make rent each month, so he can take on missions to track down bounties or run some drugs to get some extra coin in his pocket. The hoverbike can be customized with different weapons and modifiers, allowing the racer to blast his way through the competition as he works his way up through the circuit... or purposely throw the race for a payoff. The game features chunky pixel art with lots of explosions and special effects as the player rips through the scenery, with sci-fi artwork inspired by Cowboy Bebop, Akira, and Redline.

The game is now available on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, GameJolt, GOG, and Utomik, Switch via eShop, PS4 via PSN, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. Check our coverage here.




December 18, 2018

Proximity Alert: Double Cross

13AM Games, the developers behind Runbow, have returned with Double Cross, a colorful puzzle-platformer starring Zahra, an agent of R.I.F.T. (Regulators of Interdimensional Frontiers and Technology). She uses her powers to move between dimensions and fight enemies in order to restore peace, while investigating the culprit behind an attack on RIFT headquarters. She has a Proton Slinger that lets her fling herself between grapple points to zip around the environment, but she can also grab objects out of the air and toss them, allowing her to take down obstacles and enemies. Over the course of her adventure, Zahra is able to upgrade her abilities using a substance called Upgradium (hmm...), allowing her to grapple her foes, climb walls, and take down boss creatures.

The game is coming to PC and Switch on January 10.




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

December 16, 2018

Target Acquired: Battle Princess Madelyn

Battle Princess Madelyn is from Causal Bit Games, the developers behind the dark and gritty Insanity's Blade, a game inspired by late 80's arcade games like Black Tiger and Ghouls 'n Ghosts. The game got its start as the developer's daughter enjoyed watching her dad play the first level of Ghouls ‘n Ghosts over and over so she could watch him fight what she called "Green Head", the first level boss. And, while her dad couldn't exactly put her into GnG, he could make her the star of her own GnG-style game, and so Battle Princess Madelyn was born. The game begins as Maddi's village comes under attack, and an evil wizard kidnaps her family and kills her dog, so she heads out to to kill the wizard, tossing projectiles like King Arthur before her (with a very similar running animation). Accompanied by the ghost of her dead pooch, she cuts a swath through the undead and other monstrous creatures, traverses detailed environments, and faces off against huge bosses. The game offers an open world story mode and a more straightforward arcade mode.

The game is available now for PC via Steam and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. The game arrives on PS4 and Switch on December 20, and is also planned for Wii U and Vita later in 2019. Check our coverage here.




December 14, 2018

Target Acquired: Below

Developer Capybara, known for their stylistic adventure title Sword & Sworcery and over-the-top actioner Super Time Force, returns with Below, an atmospheric roguelike with a deep focus on exploration. You play a lone character who heads out into a dangerous world with a sword and shield to battle his way deeper and deeper into the unknown. While you will be able to acquire new weapons, you will be very limited in what you can carry, which forces players to learn the combat system in order to survive. The game features realtime combat and random environments, and it is meant to be very challenging. Death will come frequently, and is permanent per roguelike standards, but you will learn more about how to survive on your future runs and go even deeper. The game is built primarily around single-screen dungeons where your player character is very small and surrounded by darkness. The talented Jim Guthrie (Sword & Sworcery, Indie Game: The Movie) returns to compose the music for the game.

After five years in development, Below is available today on PC via Steam and Xbox One via Microsoft Store.




December 13, 2018

Target Acquired: GRIS

GRIS, from Nomada Studio and Devolver Digital is a visually splendiferous platformer starring a girl who is dealing with her own pain and sorrow, which alters the way she sees the world. As her emotional state changes and she begins to grow and heal, she gains new abilities that allow her to tackle the world in different ways and open up new paths forward. There are no enemies to fight or fear of being killed, so the game is more an exploration of emotions and beautiful artwork, with detailed animations and lovely musical accompaniment. The game features minor puzzle solving with optional challenges for more skilled players.

The game is now available on PC and Mac via Steam and Switch via eShop.




December 5, 2018

Proximity Alert: Dragon Marked for Death

Dragon Marked for Death is the latest from Inti Creates, the developers behind numerous retro-style games, including Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Blaster Master Zero, and Azure Striker Gunvolt. Dragon Marked for Death features the studio's pedigree of detailed colorful spritework and dense gameplay variety. The game stars four characters who have returned to find their homeland destroyed, and they cut a deal with the Astral Dragon (as you do) to get revenge. The Empress is able to use a sword and has a dragon's head as her left arm, which she can use to strike enemies directly or hit them with fireball attacks. The Warrior has a heavy axe and uses dragon scales to defend himself. The Shinobi (no, not that Shinobi) has twin daggers, and can make use of the dragon's legs and wings to jump up and glide around the environment. And the Witch uses the dragon's brains to tap into her powers and cast spells. The game is designed for multiple players to team up and take on baddies together, with each selecting a different character for melee-based brawler combat against an array of enemies and bosses.

The game is coming to Switch on December 13.




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

December 4, 2018

Target Acquired: Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom

It has been more than 20 years since the last Wonder Boy game was released, but the spirit of the game lives on in Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. The game is being created by mobile developers FDG Entertainment and Game Atelier in partnership with Wonder Boy series creator Ryuichi Nishizawa. Monster Boy is able to transform into five different animals, each with their own abilities, allowing him to traverse the world, access new paths, and fight his way through baddies and bosses. The new game is getting the HD treatment with colorful high quality sprites as seen in Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap.

The game is now available on PS4 via PSN, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and Switch via eShop, with physical releases also available for PS4 and Switch. The game will be arriving early next year on PC.




December 2, 2018

Target Acquired: Speed Brawl

Speed Brawl, from Double Stallion Games, is a speed-based brawler (as you may have guessed from the title) set in an alternate 1888 where the British Empire just defeated an army of insect creatures from the moon... and then enslaved them and made them take part in gladiatorial combat. You take on the roles of these warriors as they smash their way through big bad bugs as quickly as possible in order to earn new equipment and upgrade points. You start with two playable characters - which you can tag into battle at any time - and you meet new characters along the way, eventually giving you six characters to choose from, ranging from a sassy speedster, to heavy brawlers, to a laser-blasting automaton. Each player character has unique abilities, and all of them are agile, allowing them to juggle enemies, do crowd control, and line them up to be destroyed by powerful special attacks. Players can also smash barrels into bad guys, dash-kick them by swinging around poles, and watch for telegraphs that allow them to dodge and unleash powerful counterattacks.

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




November 29, 2018

Proximity Alert: Grapple Force Rena

Grapple Force Rena, from Tim Ashley Jenkins and GalaxyTrail (the developers behind Freedom Planet), was originally an experimental exercise in developing a serialized browser-based grapple-platformer, but has since switched over to the more traditional full game release as a downloadable title. In this game, you take on the role of Rena, a girl with magical grapple bracelets that let her, well, grapple onto stuff. She uses this ability to swing around the environment, snag enemies to toss them into one another, and even use enemy projectiles against them. Gameplay mixes combat with puzzle platforming and even some vehicle sequences to keep players on their toes, and punctuates the experience with some larger-than-life bosses. The game offers simple yet colorful visuals to create a cartoony world reminiscent of 16-bit classics.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam on December 4. A browser-based demo is available on the developer's website.




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

November 20, 2018

New Blip: Eastward

Eastward, from Pixpil Games and Chucklefish Games, is an action-adventure set in a post apocalyptic world. You take on the role of John, a digger who discovers a mysterious girl in an underground facility. John must guide the girl through the wasteland, interacting with colorful and unusual NPC's, solving puzzles, and doing battle with dangerous creatures and rampaging machinations along the way. The game is styled after 90's anime and features gorgeously detailed environments as imagined by pixel artist Hong Moran.

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




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

November 18, 2018

Target Acquired: Save me Mr Tako: Tasukete Tako-San

Tasukete Tako-San: Save me Mr Tako, from Christophe Galati and publisher Nicalis (1001 Spikes, Cave Story+) is inspired by the Game Boy titles of old, with its simple sprites and 4-color palette... but without motion blur, and with a widescreen presentation and color themes extending beyond varying shades of pea green. The game tells the story of a war between octopuses and humans, but one octopus refuses to fight, casting off his octopussy armor and diving into the sea to save a drowning princess who was made to walk the plank. The octopus' quest sees him adventuring through platforming environments as he moves through underwater caverns, speaks with NPC's, and moves onto the surface to travel through the human world. Along the way, he is able to collect up to 50 hats, each of which offers a new ability, such as several new projectile types, increased damage resistance, and faster movement speed.

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




November 13, 2018

Proximity Alert: Battle Princess Madelyn

Battle Princess Madelyn is from Causal Bit Games, the developers behind the dark and gritty Insanity's Blade, a game inspired by late 80's arcade games like Black Tiger and Ghouls 'n Ghosts. The game got its start as the developer's daughter enjoyed watching her dad play the first level of Ghouls ‘n Ghosts over and over so she could watch him fight what she called "Green Head", the first level boss. And, while her dad couldn't exactly put her into GnG, he could make her the star of her own GnG-style game, and so Battle Princess Madelyn was born. The game begins as Maddi's village comes under attack, and an evil wizard kidnaps her family and kills her dog. Despite being a kid, she puts on some armor and heads out to to kill the wizard, tossing projectiles like King Arthur before her (with a very similar animation). Accompanied by the ghost of her dead pooch, she cuts a swath through the undead and other monstrous creatures, with the ghost dog firing projectiles behind her, which change depending on what armor she's wearing. The player plays through a variety of dark and atmospheric environments, facing off against huge bosses along the way, until he eventually reaches the end... and is sent back to the start of the game in GnG tradition.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on December 6, 2018, and is planned for release on Vita and Wii U in 2019. A PC demo is available on the game's Steam page.




November 12, 2018

Proximity Alert: Desert Child

Desert Child, from Oscar Brittain is set on a ruined earth and stars a hoverbike racer who is trying to put together enough money to get off this stinkin' planet and get his ass to Mars. His life consists of entering races, customizing his bike, going to work, and occasionally chillin' out with a bowl of ramen noodles to earn him some buffs for the next race. He still has to make rent each month, so he can take on missions to track down bounties or run some drugs to get some extra coin in his pocket. The hoverbike can be customized with different weapons and modifiers, allowing the racer to blast his way through the competition as he works his way up through the circuit... or purposely throw the race for a payoff. The game features chunky pixel art with lots of explosions and special effects as the player rips through the scenery, with sci-fi artwork inspired by Cowboy Bebop, Akira, and Redline.

The game is right around the corner. It's coming to PC, Mac, and Linux, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One on December 11. Check out the release date trailer and a gameplay montage below.






November 11, 2018

Target Acquired: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon was developed by Inti Creates (Azure Striker Gunvolt, Blaster Master Zero) and ArtPlay and was released as a bonus for backers of the Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night Kickstarter campaign. The game is a retro throwback inspired by the Castlevania series, with lots of parallels to Castlevania III: Dracula's Curse in particular, and it was developed in partnership with Castlevania series legend Koji “Iga” Igarashi. You take on the role of a demon hunter who is on a mission to defeat evil. On his journey, he meets up with three other individuals, each of whom offers to accompany him on his mission. Players can swap freely between these characters to make use of their abilities, allowing them to use their unique subweapons to combat enemies and differing movement abilities to access alternate paths. The game is stylistically similar to the Castlevania games of the 8-bit era, but offers crisp visuals, a widescreen presentation, and some impressive screen-filling boss encounters.

The game is available for PC via Steam, PS4 and Vita via PSN, Switch and 3DS via eShop, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. Check our coverage here.




November 8, 2018

New Blip: Vision Soft Reset

Vision Soft Reset, from Mark Radocy, is a time-travelling metroidvania featuring a prescient cyborg who must use its knowledge of the future to prevent a calamity that will destroy the world. Not only can the player use time reversal to get out of tight situations and solve environmental puzzles, he can also see a little into the future, with grey shadows showing where the enemy will be in the near future, allowing the player to prepare for incoming attacks before they happen. There's also a unique "time tree" system that allows the player to perform actions and then go back in time and cross over his own path, taking a new direction with skills acquired from later in the timeline... or even use his abilities to sequence break and move to later parts of the game.

The game is planned for release on PC, but does not yet have an announced release date. A playable demo is available on Itch.io and GameJolt.




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

November 6, 2018

New Blip: ITTA

ITTA, from Glass Revolver, is a bullet hell action-RPG starring a girl and her mysterious floating cat. The little girl is Itta, and she wakes up one day to find her entire family murdered, and so she grabs her father's old revolver and sets out on a quest for answers and revenge. The game takes its inspirations from The Legend of Zelda, Nuclear Throne, and Titan Souls, offering top-down gameplay across an open world with gorgeous visuals, detailed and often disturbing animations, and dozens of boss creatures. Along the way, Itta has the opportunity to assist people in need of aid, and gain new melee- and projectile-based weapons to help her destroy the terrible creatures that await her.

The game is coming to PC in 2019.




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

November 4, 2018

Target Acquired: Furwind

Furwind, from Boomfire Games, is a colorful platformer starring a fox named Furwind who must save his village from an ancient evil that was recently resurrected. Furwind runs and jumps through levels, using his tail to whack enemies and defeat minibosses as he collects coins, frees imprisoned villagers, and completes optional puzzle-centric challenge missions. Most levels are nonlinear, allowing Furwind to head off in any direction he likes, but he must defeat the minibosses in order to open the exit. Gameplay is mixed between open forest areas that allow for free exploration, darkened caves where the player must collect fireflies to avoid being killed by enemies that hide in the dark, and towers where the player must ascend ever upward while avoiding pits of lava below.

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




October 25, 2018

New Blip: Platinum Kill

Fun Infused Games, creators of lo-fi indie actioners Nasty, Hypership Out of Control, and Bad Caterpillar, have returned with Platinum Kill, a Contra-inspired run and gun for up to 5 players on PC or 4 players on console. Gamers who enjoy running through the jungle with no shirt and bright red pants will find themselves at home here, with loads of 1-hit enemies, multi-hit brutes, and destructible objects that dispense powerups like popcorn... if popcorn shot bullets. Use machine guns, spread guns, and big bullets to take down baddies and end-level bosses.

The game is headed to PC, PS4, and Xbox One, 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 24, 2018

New Blip: Apocalypse Cow

As children, we dreamed of the possibilities that could arise from being sucked into Videoland and going on game-hopping adventures like Captain N... but hopefully with a lot less "mega mega" from the Blue Bomber. Apocalypse Cow, from Monsters, helps to answer that question when CandyWorld suddenly gets overrun by baddies. Penny is a GameWalker (Texas Ranger?) who has the power move between game worlds and rupture time itself. While in search of a missing robot, Penny contends with various video game elements such as green warp pipes and thwomp-like obstacles, while also fighting off hordes of enemies. Fortunately, she can slow down time to make platforming leaps, dodge bullets, or get in close to slice up thugs with her katanas. In the end, she must save the game worlds form an evil robotic cow.

The game is coming to PC and Xbox One later this year.




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

October 21, 2018

Target Acquired: Jolt: Fully Charged

Jolt: Fully Charged, from Darkera Studios, is a colorful platformer inspired by 16-bit classics, particularly the Sonic the Hedgehog series. The game stars Jolt, a robot capable of dashing along the ground and through the air, along with his companion, Cycle, a robot that can perform multiple midair jumps and dashes. The duo are off to face the evil Professor Ohm, who is constructing a weapon capable of wiping out all organic life. Along the way, Jolt finds shields that grant him special powers, like the ability to draw in gems from a distance (which also restore health and grant 1UPs), and the ability to fire off sparks when dashing, causing damage to enemies below him. When Jolt is killed, Cycle takes over, using her aerial acrobatics to dodge obstacles and attack enemies, on her way to the next checkpoint that allows her to rebuild Jolt and bring him back into play. The game offers a lot of content, with 20 levels in the main campaign - each with its own boss encounter - and several unlockables for players who can make it to the end.

The game is now available for PC via Itch.io as a pay-what-you-want title, along with an illustrated PDF manual, as well as a playable demo. Check our coverage here.




October 18, 2018

New Blip: Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch

Jay and Silent Bob: Chronic Blunt Punch is the latest effort from Interabang Entertainment, the developers behind Super Comboman, a beat 'em up that was, uh... not very good. If you aren't already familiar with the works of Kevin Smith and the View Askewniverse, then you're likely not going to understand the appeal of a Jay and Silent Bob video game. The game stars Bob, a generally silent overweight fellow in a black overcoat, along with his foul-mouthed stoner friend Jay in a beat 'em up with loads of references to their film and television outings, along with numerous comic book references. The drug dealing duo suddenly find that they have no customers and head over to the new gigantic mega mall (hints of Leonardo Leonardo?) to put a stop to it. Players can tag team between characters (natch) or double team in co-op and use insults to take on bosses.

The game is planned for PC, PS4, and Xbox One and will release sometime around the debut of Kevin's next film, Jay and Silent Bob: Reboot in 2019, in which Kevin will likely have to wear a fat suit to play his own character on account of losing a bunch of weight after very nearly succumbing to the grip of death, and subsequently turning to a life of healthy living with a cleaner diet and better weed. Here's Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes to tell you more about the game:




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

October 16, 2018

New Blip: Shattered Realms

Free Lives, the developer behind Broforce and Genital Jousting, has teamed up with Kopskop Games to bring you Shattered Realms, a beat 'em up that uses 1:1 fighting game mechanics (unrelated to the fantasy novel series of the same name). Instead of just mashing the PUNCH button until the bad guys fall down, players use advanced combo systems, cancelling techniques, and recovery moves for a more technical experience. Of course, enemy characters and bosses are more intelligent as well and won't fall for your old button mashing brawler tactics. Players have separate buttons for punching, kicking, dashing, and special attacks, and they can build up an EX gauge to unleash powerful moves. Players have access to a dozen ground-based moves and another dozen midair moves, some of which can be combined with EX or super attacks for devastating results. The game supports up to 4P co-op and includes a versus mode.

The game is planned for PC and possibly other platforms, but does not have an announced release date. A demo is available on Itch.io.




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

October 14, 2018

Target Acquired: To Leave

To Leave, from Freaky Creations, is a game that takes place in a psychedelic fantasy world with a guy clinging to a flying door as it makes its way through strange environments. It is also a game about mental illness. The lead character is named Harm, a manic-depressive young man whose girlfriend recently committed suicide. Harm spends much of his time writing in his journal, in which he details "The Plan" that will eventually result in his death, along with that of many others. But he can only write for so long before the nausea overtakes him, and he has been saving up his drugs - prescribed and otherwise - to enter another world through a glowing blue door in his room. In this world, he flies around dodging obstacles and collecting souls, while dealing with metaphorical representations of elements from his life. At the end of each level, he allows a Harvesting Temple to draw the collected souls from his body, leaving him a spent husk as he passes through the magical door and returns to his dilapidated room where collapses onto a mattress on the floor.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, and PS4 via PSN, and it is also planned for release on Vita. Check our coverage here.




October 7, 2018

Proximity Alert: Log Jammers

Log Jammers, from Mega Cat Studios, is a modern retro take on the alternative sports game Windjammers, which came to arcades and the Neo Geo in the mid-90's... and as such, was filled with musclebound beach people bursting with 90's 'tude. Log Jammers (no relation to the Lebowski-verse's Logjammin') eschews the 'tude in favor of wacky over-the-top character designs, featuring an equal mix of human and nonhuman characters in a world filled with logging and political corruption. Instead of running around an arena, opponents are logrollers, running and spinning their logs along the water (or lava, or mayonnaise) as they toss hatchets back and forth at one another. Players can toss the hatchet in a straight line or bounce it off the edges of the arena, and the goal has a 2-point center and 5-point edges, offering additional strategy and keeping the pace up, as either player can make a comeback in 11-point matches.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and Xbox One in February of 2019. Check our coverage here.




October 6, 2018

Arrival Delayed: Monster Boy And The Cursed Kingdom

Monster Boy And The Cursed Kingdom has been delayed due to production issues with the physical release. The game has been in the works for five years, so rather than push out a sub-par product to meet the original release date of November 6 (formerly announced for summer), the studio announced that they have elected to push the release - both digital and physical - back to December 4 of this year. The game is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch, with physical releases for PS4 and Switch.

It has been more than 20 years since the last Wonder Boy game was released, but the spirit of the game lives on in Monster Boy and the Cursed Kingdom. The game is being created by mobile developers FDG Entertainment and Game Atelier in partnership with Wonder Boy series creator Ryuichi Nishizawa. Monster Boy is able to transform into five different animals, each with their own abilities, allowing him to traverse the world, access new paths, and fight his way through baddies and bosses. The new game is getting the HD treatment with colorful high quality sprites as seen in Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap.




October 2, 2018

Target Acquired: Mega Man 11

You may have thought it was never happening, but Mega Man is officially elevening! Capcom, has decided to bring the Blue Bomber back for another run in the main Mega Man series with Mega Man 11, despite letting Mega Man Legends 3 disappear into oblivion (leading to the creation of an alternate universe in which Keiji Inafune left the studio to create Mighty No. 9). All of the series' latter-day trademarks are in place, with Mega Man's buster and charge shot, ground sliding, and even some assistance from his buddy Rush. And of course, no Mega Man game would be complete without a new set of Robot Masters and their accompanying abilities that Mega Man earns by defeating them. Instead of the retro 8-bit style seen in Mega Man 9-10, the new game features HD visuals, making it look more like a modern continuation of Mega Man 8 than the first six games.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, Switch via eShop or physical release, PS4 via PSN, or physical release, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store or physical release. Demos are available for each of the console iterations.




September 27, 2018

Target Acquired: Pig Eat Ball

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.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, Humble Store, and Itch.io, and has a playable demo here. The game is also coming to PS4 and Xbox One. Check our coverage here.




September 25, 2018

Target Acquired: Timespinner

Timespinner, from Lunar Ray Games, stars Lunais, a young woman seeking vengeance against the ones who killed her family. Using a device known as the Timespinner, the woman travels through time to defeat her enemies throughout history. In this metroidvania title, Lunais navigates a number of platforming environments, using her time-stopping ability to solve puzzles, move across falling platforms, evade enemies, and even freeze baddies in the air to use them as stepping stones to reach new areas. In addition, Lunais may access a number of magical orbs that allow her to unleash projectile and melee attacks that grow stronger as she uses them.

The game is now available on PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, and PS4 and Vita via PSN.




September 20, 2018

Target Acquired: CrossCode

CrossCode, from developer Radical Fish Games, in an action-RPG inspired by 16-bit classics like The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, except that is a science fiction game set in the future. The game's protagonist, Lea, finds herself trapped in an MMO called CrossWorlds where she must fight enemies, level up to increase her stats and gain new abilities, and solve environmental puzzles. While the game is inspired by 16-bit titles, the pace of the action is decidedly more fast-paced than anything that was being presented on the consoles of the day, with Lea furiously tossing projectiles, spinning and dashing through enemies, and taking on large fast-moving boss creatures.

CrossCode originally entered Early Access in 2015, and the full version was released today for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam.




September 18, 2018

New Blip: HALT

HALT, from Vaaasm is a wacky run-and-gun actioner starring a group of law enforcement officers managed by a private company. You take on the roles of officers Chris Tracy and Turner Chase who are investigating the members of a criminal organization known as "The Human". The duo blast their way through an eclectic array of baddies in the form of skeleton robots, turtles, mutant bees, and even a flying squid submarine. Players have access to a variety of weapons and ammo, and dozens of upgrades, allowing them to modify their weapons for heavy fire, bouncing bullets, freeze bullets, explosives, and biological weapons... or just drop a couple of turrets into the level and spray everything with a barrage of hot lead.

The game is coming to PC and Mac 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.

September 16, 2018

Target Acquired: Akane

Akane, from Ludic Studios, (not to be confused with Akane the Kunoichi) is an arena combat game with a focus on melee attacks. The game stars Akane, a skilled warrior who faces off against hundreds of yakuza in the rainy streets of Mega Tokyo in the year 2121. Most of Akane's enemies die in a single hit, but so does she, and getting killed returns the player to the start of the game to try again... although it's possible to unlock new items and equipment to gain an edge in battle. Most of the yakuza just run straight at you and are easily dismembered, but some tougher foes take multiple hits to kill, and others can fire projectiles. After every 100 kills, Akane faces off against her nemesis in a tough battle before returning to the fray once again.

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




September 11, 2018

New Blip: Raygun Gadabout

In Raygun Gadabout, from Quantum Duck Studio, you take on the role of the titular character on her mission to defeat the evildoers of the Space Gopher Empire. The game is a swashbuckling metroidvania adventure visualized in a 1950's sci-fi style reminiscent of Buck Rogers. Players hop aboard their spacecraft and set out across the galaxy in search of adventure, discovering spatial anomalies, derelict spacecraft, and friendly NPC's along the way. On foot, our pink-haired heroine uses her ray gun, plasma blade, and reflector shield to fight evil robots, take down hostile alien creatures, and do battle with menacing bosses.

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




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

September 6, 2018

Proximity Alert: Pig Eat Ball

Mommy’s Best Games has announced the official release date for Pig Eat Ball on PC, Mac, and Linux. The game will be coming to Steam and Itch.io on September 27, just a few short weeks away. You can play the demo now and wishlist the game on Steam. The game is also set for release on PS4 and Xbox One at a later date.

The 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.

Check out the release new date trailer below:




September 5, 2018

Arrival Delayed: Mable & The Wood

Mable & The Wood, from Triple Vision Games, was originally set for release in February of 2017, but is now planned for release early next year on PC, Mac, and Linux. But there's a brand new trailer released today to re-whet your appetite for this shapeshifting metroidvania (below).

This is an explorative action game starring a girl named Mable who lives in a world that is being drained of its color due to the overuse of magic. Mable is able to change forms, shapeshifting into the shapes of the bosses she kills, as she fights to save the world... but her very powers are also aiding in its destruction. Transformations include a flying fairy, a creepy grapple-spinning spider, and a stone form that allows you to petrify your foes. The player is able to select from multiple areas, but the journey grows more perilous as the destruction of the world continues. Music for the game was composed by Music for the game was composed by Fat Bard, who was also the composer behind CrashLands and Blitz Breaker.




August 30, 2018

Target Acquired: The Messenger

The world has a love-hate relationship with the original Ninja Gaiden series on NES. On the one hand, it's a cult classic series, but on the other, the games were frustrating as hell, particularly the original... but that hasn't stopped developers from mimicking this style with creations of their own. Enter The Messenger from developer Sabotage Studio and publisher Devolver Digital. The game offers similar visuals to Ninja Gaiden but gives the player a more capable hero. In addition to basic platforming, sword slashing, and shuriken tossing, the ninja can unlock new gear that allows him to swim underwater, use a grappling line to draw himself toward walls or enemies, and even use a cape to ride air currents to reach higher platforms or attack enemies from above. A robust skill tree allows players to select upgrades to increase their effectiveness in combat, or add to their navigational abilities to explore the open environments and discover secrets. Players can even shift forward in time, and the graphics shift along with them, offering enhanced visuals and audio more in line with the 16-bit era, and shifting between timelines allows players to take advantages to changes in the environment between eras.

The game is now available on PC via Steam and Switch via eShop, and is coming to PS4 and Xbox One at a later date.




August 27, 2018

New Blip: Streets of Rage 4

You read that right... Streets of Rage 4 is real, officially endorsed by Sega, published by DotEmu, and developed by Lizardcube, the studio behind the graphically-enhanced Wonder Boy: The Dragon's Trap, and Guard Crush Games, the studio behind Streets of Fury EX. Unless you've been living under a rock, and that rock didn't have a Sega Genesis attached to it, then you know of the Streets of Rage trilogy, and you may also be aware that fans have clamored for a sequel for many years, some even going so far as to create their own versions and unofficial sequels over the years. The game features the series' beat 'em up roots with a fresh coat of blazing neon paint, and allows for 1P or 2P combat with a pumping soundtrack to get your juices flowing... and the juices of your enemies.

The game has no announced release date. It also has no announced platforms, but we're going to guess that it's going to be all of them.




August 23, 2018

Target Acquired: The King's Bird

Serenity Forge, the publisher of 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 now available on PC via Steam. Check our coverage here.




August 21, 2018

Target Acquired: Guacamelee 2

A sequel to Guacamelee! is coming... and given that the first game was a pretty dang outstanding luchador-meets-dia-de-los-muertos metroidvania set in a beautiful world, this one needs your immediate attention. Guacamelee! 2, from DrinkBox Studios, picks up seven years after the previous game. After luchador Juan Aguacate defeats the evil Carlos Calaca, a new threat rises and threatens spacetime itself! Once again, you must use your super stylish wrestling moves to bash your way through monsters while unlocking new abilities that aid you in combat and allow you to more fully explore the environment. You'll be travelling between dimensions, body slamming baddies, performing precision platforming feats, and fighting fearsome bosses in your quest to save the Mexiverse!

The game is now available for PC via Steam and PS4 via PSN.




August 19, 2018

Target Acquired: Defenders of Ekron: Definitive Edition

Defenders of Ekron was originally released a year ago, but developer In Vitro Games just followed it up with the release of Defenders of Ekron: Definitive Edition. The game is primarily a shooter, but gameplay style shift frequently during the experience, sometimes multiple times within a level, alternating between shooting, exploration, arena combat, and even some light puzzle solving. The game also offers a robust simulation mode where the player can hone his skills, learn advanced techniques, and earn bonus points to upgrade his mech. The Definitive Edition adds new difficulty levels, a boss rush mode against the game’s 13 bosses, and some tweaks to the gameplay and balance. In addition, this edition of the game includes Invaders of Ekron, a standalone vertical shmup done up in an 8-bit style, offering a more straightforward vertical shooting experience without the action-adventure elements or advanced techniques of the main game.

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




August 16, 2018

New Blip: Carrion

Did you like Butcher? It was a super gory sidescrolling shooter from Transhuman Design, and now the studio has returned with an even bloodier and gorier game entitled Carrion. In this game, you control a sinewy amorphous alien creature that uses its grotesque appendages to grab a hold of people and furiously murder them, leaving behind sprays of blood in the process. Humans will do their best to stop you by using guns and other weapons... but you have the ability to pull out their spinal cords, so that's pretty fair. Rampage your way through a station killing everyone you find in a horror game where you are the monster.

The game is coming 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.

August 14, 2018

Target Acquired: Death's Gambit

Death's Gambit, from White Rabbit Interactive (game site), is an action-RPG where you explore a Medieval-era planet, taking on the role of an armored knight as he battles across a harsh landscape. The knight uses a number of melee weapons, as well as a bow and arrows and a large shield to face off against similarly-armed foes and larger-than-life monsters, but he must occasionally tackle gigantic towering creatures Shadow of the Colossus-style. In these encounters, the knight must ascend the bodies of the great beasts by using a grappling hook to attach to specific points, and keep the creature's movements in mind in order to avoid falling. The game world is nonlinear, with new paths generally becoming available as major enemies are felled, which allows the player to tackle the world as he wishes, or try a new path if he finds himself unable to move forward.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and GOG, and PS4 via PSN.




August 12, 2018

Target Acquired: La-Mulana 2

Developer Nigoro returns with a sequel to La-Mulana. This game picks up many years after the events of the first, and focuses on the original protagonist’s daughter, Lemeza Kosugi. Fortunately, she seems to be has handy with a whip as her father before her. Rather than adventuring through Egyptian tombs and catacombs, Kosugi takes to Norse-themed locales, although the look and feel is very much in line with the (enhanced) original. Once again, players will need to pay close attention to small details in the environment and hints that direct them toward puzzle solutions if they hope to make any kind of progress.

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




August 7, 2018

Target Acquired: Dead Cells

Dead Cells, from Motion Twin, is a roguelike action-adventure inspired by the Castlevania series. Per genre conventions, the game features procedural generation and no checkpoints, so death returns you to the start of the game. However, it also features the open design of modern-day metroidvania titles, allowing multiple routes through the environment, along with a Souls-esque dodge roll. Gameplay takes place in and around a huge castle, with players facing off against various creatures and humanoid enemies - and their elite variants - plus some tougher boss encounters. Players make use of a variety of melee weapons, including spears, swords, and whips, as well as magic and projectile-based attacks.

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




August 5, 2018

Target Acquired: Flat Heroes

Flat Heroes, from Parallel Circles, is a technical platformer set in a minimalist world. Players are tasked with completing more than 100 levels of increasing difficulty in the main campaign, which may be enjoyed by up to four players in drop-in drop-out local co-op, along with a number of survival and versus modes. Players have a limited moveset that he must use in increasingly complex ways as he dodges walls of projectiles, smashes though enemies, outmaneuvers heat-seeking missiles, and takes on challenging bosses.

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




July 31, 2018

Target Acquired: Chasm

Bit Kid, formerly Discord Games, the developers behind Xbox Live Indie Games titles Take Arms and 48 Chambers, returns with an action-RPG that mixes roguelike and Metroidvania elements. Chasm focuses on exploration through a procedurally generated cave system as you fight your way through enemies and bosses, grab loot, hunt for secrets, and hopefully return home alive. Players are able to equip weapons and spells, along with armor and passive buffs, as they fight enemies to gain experience points and level up, similar to the neo-Castlevania titles. As is typical of rogelikes, the dangers increase as you descend further into the depths of the mine, but you may return to the surface to do things like purchase weapon upgrades from the local blacksmith before heading back into the fray.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and Humble Store, and PS4 and Vita via PSN.



July 29, 2018

Target Acquired: The Vagrant

The Vagrant, from O.T.K Games, is an action-RPG set a in a beautiful fantasy world and inspired by the works of Vanillaware. The game stars a travelling "sellsword" named Vivian (The Vagrant) who hopes to find her family and learn the truth her dark origins. In doing so, she must hack and slash her way through dozens of unique enemies across the land of Mythrilia, passing through the houses of a seaside town, and into mountainous landscapes, dense jungles, ravaged fortresses, and barren landscapes. Players will find numerous weapons and pieces of armor that can be upgraded independently, learn recipes to cook healing and buff items, and upgrade Vivian's skills along a robust skill tree.

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




July 26, 2018

New Blip: Paprium

WaterMelon Games, the studio behind Pier Solar, returns with Paprium, a colorful 16-bit brawler. The game takes place in Asia following a devastating nuclear war known as Paprium. You fight your way through a 24-level cityscape with one of three warriors: Tug, Alex and Dice, or a couple of unannounced characters, going it alone or teaming up with a friend in 2P co-op. In typical beat 'em up fashion, players will smash enemies with their fists and feet, perform powerful throws, double-tap dash, and beat up the occasional environmental object for some tasty items. Players can also pick up weapons like pipes and chains to lay down heavy damage or fire extinguishers that freeze enemies in place. The Arcade Mode allows for straightforward brawling, while the Original Mode has branching paths, save points, and multiple endings.

The game is coming to the Sega Genesis console (it will run on actual Genesis consoles, not aftermarket systems) in a standard cartridge with plastic clam shell case and full color manual, or in a limited edition deluxe version. In conjunction with the game's release, the studio is releasing a limited number of 8-button fighting sticks that will be compatible with the Genesis and USB devices. All items area available for preorder on the game's website.

Trailer content warning: man-nips.


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

July 24, 2018

New Blip: 198X

198X, from Hi-Bit Studios (game site), is a coming-of-age tale set in the 1980's and tied to the arcade games of that era. You take on the role of a teenager who finds herself drawn to the pixellated glory of arcade games but discovers the line blurring between gaming and reality. 198X actually includes five separate arcade-style games, each in a different genre, including a beat 'em up, a shmup, a racing game, a ninja actioner, and an RPG, and each of these games is realized with stunning pixel art.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Switch in March of 2019. A physical package is available for preorder on the game's Kickstarter page.




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