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 22, 2019

Target Acquired: Backspace Bouken

Backspace Bouken, from RNG Party Games, is a DOS-style dungeon crawler that features typing as its core mechanic. The game centers around Kana, a girl armed with a keyboard, who attempts to reach the top of the Tower of F8 on a quest to save her sisters. Each monster she encounters speaks to her - often using humorous dialogue or speaking in strange ways - and by typing out their sentences, she unleashes attacks. Creatures can attack as well, but Kana is able to dodge attacks, or attacks can be negated if she types quickly enough. She even regains health by stringing together multiple hits in succession. In this world, spaces are the key to defeating monsters, and there are a limited number of them, but Kana can conserve spaces by combining certain word pairs into contractions. Kana is able to refill her spaces by reading hint signs and backspacing over them, deleting the words and collecting the spaces for use in combat.

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




December 19, 2019

Early Arrival: Kelipot

Kelipot (a.k.a. 形骸骑士), from Unlimited Fly Games (game tweets) is an action platformer with roguelike elements, in an adventure that spans multiple timelines. A strange illness has fallen over the town of Celephais, causing its populace to go mad, and they find themselves trapped in an endlessly-repeating night. Prince Abel ventures out to investigate its source by travelling to parallel worlds filled with enemies and bullet hell boss encounters, leading to many possible outcomes. Abel carries a sword, which he uses to slash and slice, and he is also able to make use of a number of magical abilities to dispatch his foes. The game features a dark yet colorful aesthetic with smooth hand-drawn character animations.

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




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

December 17, 2019

New Blip: Resolutiion

In Resolutiion, from Monolith of Minds, you take on the role of an aged killer who protects an artificial intelligence in a surreal world packed with baddies and dangerous creatures. You slash and dash through enemies and bosses with flourish and style while exploring a harsh landscape to find new weapons and piece together the history of your character and the world.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux in March of 2020.




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

December 12, 2019

Target Acquired: SuperEpic: The Entertainment War

SuperEpic: The Entertainment War, from Undercoders, is a lighthearted metroidvania starring a pair of friends - a raccoon and a llama - who are on a mission to save the world from an evil video game company. In the year 2084 (a reference to Orwell's 1984), game studio buyouts and consolidations have left the world with only a single video game company: RegnantCorp. Run by literal pigs (a reference to Orwell's Animal Farm), the company creates purposely addictive games to distract and control the populace. But you have not fallen under the company's sway, so you hop on your llama and take the fight to the streets, slashing enemies, exploring nonlinear environments, and learning new skills that let you reach previously inaccessible areas. Your mission is to beat up anthropomorphic animals, take down huge bosses, and replace RegnantCorp's brainwashing games with classic retro games, which have been ruled illegal.

The game is available on PC via Steam, PS4 via PSN, Switch via eShop, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store.




December 10, 2019

New Blip: Cover Your Eyes

Cover Your Eyes, from StarSkipp, is an isometric survival horror game inspired by modern horror titles and 16-bit classics. You take on the role of Chloe, a married woman with two children whose husband has been cheating on her, but soon after she learns of his affair, he disappears. This is no ordinary disappearance, however, as some kind of supernatural phenomenon seems to have overtaken the town, turning it into something dark and twisted. Chloe faces off against vile creatures in her formerly friendly town as she struggles to bring her family back together. She will do anything to protect them, and she finds herself looting buildings, gathering supplies, and packing away shotgun shells just in case. As a mother, the command of "cover your eyes" seems meant to protect her children from seeing the horrors around them... and the horrors that she must commit to protect them.

The game is coming to PC in Fall of 2020.




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

December 3, 2019

Target Acquired: EarthNight

EarthNight, from Cleaversoft, is an auto-running action game with a simple control scheme set in a dragon apocalypse. You select a character and run across the back of a serpentine dragon as its body ripples up and down. Along the way, you take out a variety of enemies and surf along its back until you eventually reach the dragon’s head, at which point you rapidly punch it in the eye until you are flung off into the sky. From there, you freefall back toward the earth while flying dragons swarm below you. Line yourself up with one of these creatures and you will fall onto its back and begin the next stage.

The game is now available for PC and Mac via Steam, Switch via eShop, and iOS via App Store, and it's coming soon to PS4.



December 1, 2019

Target Acquired: Armortale

Armortale, from RPG2 Heaven, is a lighthearted but tough platformer set in a world of fantasy where the kingdom is being assailed by baby demon foxes. A tower full of monsters has risen, and a plucky hero sets out to meet them in battle as he journeys through 10 themed locales. The hero has the ability to swap between four different sets of legendary armor on the fly, granting him new attacks and abilities, among which is the ability hang from the ceiling, deflect enemy projectiles, toss bombs, and even hover in the air with a winged helmet. These abilities roughly correspond to those found among the four playable characters in Little Samson, from which this game takes its inspiration. The world is bright and colorful, with enemies that tend toward the bulbous end of the spectrum, adding a bit of cuteness to their deadliness.

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




November 26, 2019

New Blip: Jetboard Joust

BitBull Ltd presents Jetboard Joust, or as it's also known: Jetboard Joust: Next-Generation Retro, a neo-retro arcade-style shmup in the bullet hell vein. You take on the role of a jetboarding badass who must save his/her babies from being abducted by aliens Defender-style and transformed into mutants. Fortunately, you can make use of several upgradeable weapons, including a flamethrower, grenade launcher, a gravity hammer, and an antimatter rifle, in order to take down your enemies. You can also jump off your jetboard for temporary invincibility, gaining a reprieve as you smash your jetboard into baddies and bosses to make them explode mightily. Gameplay takes place across multiple playfields on five planets, with bonuses awarded for clearing multiple levels in succession.

The game is coming to PC and Mac in Spring of 2020, followed by Switch shortly thereafter, and possibly other consoles.




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

Target Acquired: Sparklite

Sparklite, from Red Blue Games, is a lighthearted roguelike action-adventure set in a vibrant world filled with colorful creatures and chunky animations. You take on the role of an adventurer named Ada who goes up against The Baron, who is mining a material called Sparklite to power his war machines, polluting the land in the process. Ada travels the world to take out his defenses, fighting enemies and bosses before facing off against The Baron himself. Along the way, she finds new items and gadgets that aid her in her exploration and make her a more formidable opponent.

The game is now available on PC and Mac via Steam, Switch via eShop, PS4 via PSN, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. The game also received a limited physical release. Check our coverage here.




November 21, 2019

Target Acquired: Black Future '88

Welcome to 1988... the future! Black Future '88, from Don Bellenger, finds you in an alternate cyberpunk 1988 that is filled with all the lasers and fog machines you remember, but also hovering machine gun sentry bots bent on your destruction. In this dystopian roguelike, you must climb a tower that is constantly reconfiguring itself to become more difficult, and your mission is to make it to the top and kill the owner. Action is fast paced with running, double jumping, air dashes, and near-nonstop laser and machine gun blasting across six zones, and you can even team up with a partner for 2P co-op action.

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




November 14, 2019

Early Arrival: SteamDolls - Order of Chaos

SteamDolls - Order of Chaos, from The Shady Gentlemen, is a steampunk metroidvania featuring fast combat and brutal stealth kills. In a world overrun by industry and an authoritarian government, you take on the role of The Whisper - David Hayter - who dons a helmet and wrist blades to deliver his personal brand of anarchy to the streets... and to expose the dark secrets of those in power. The game is being developed in conjunction with a graphic novel (and a VR game) set in the same universe, and this artwork carries over into the game, which also features hand-drawn cutscenes. Also, beware the friendly naked witch.

The game is currently available for PC via Steam Early Access, with a playable demo.




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

November 12, 2019

New Blip: Steel Assault

Steel Assault, from Sri Kankanahalli (game tweets), is a sidescrolling actioner set in a dystopian America (is there any other kind?) 20 years after the nation's fall. You take on the role of a resistance soldier named Taro Takahashi who infiltrates Washington D.C. to take down an evil army in a vibrant retro-style world filled with lovely pixel art. Takahashi is a versatile melee-based fighter who is able to slide along the ground to close ground on enemies or dodge through them, perform a jetpack-assisted double jump, and extend a cable that allows him to grapple onto platforms to jump up onto them, or walk hand-over-hand across the cable to cross gaps or ascend through narrow passageways. Enemies are colorful and varied, with bosses and minibosses that are over-the-top in all the ways you'd expect from the console classics that inspired their designs.

The game is coming to PC in winter of 2020, with console versions coming at a later date. Check out the level playthrough below for a look at the intense gameplay and zipline mechanics.




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

November 10, 2019

Early Arrival: Noita

Nolla Games is a studio made up of Petri Purho (Crayon Physics Deluxe), Olli Harjola (The Swapper), and Arvi "Hempuli" Teikari (Environmental Station Alpha), and they have returned with Noita. The game is a physics-based action platformer, but what sets it apart from the other games in the genre is the fact that physics are applied to every pixel in the game world, bringing about shenanigans you haven't seen since the PixelJunk Shooter series, only this time in a chunky pixellated world. You can freeze water and then blast through chunks of ice, smash objects to make them break and collapse, cause lava to flow into an open space, electrify pools of water, or burn through flammable gasses to ignite the air in a room and burn through your enemies... or yourself if you're not careful. This is a roguelike game featuring spellcrafting, permadeath, and procedurally generated environments filled with dangerous enemies and elements.

The game is now in Early Access for PC via Steam and GOG. Check our preview here.




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

October 31, 2019

Target Acquired: Cathedral

Cathedral, from Decemberborn Interactive, is an NES-style action-platformer starring a red-armored knight fighting his way through dungeons and cathedrals filled with dark creatures. Players must complete platforming challenges, avoid pits of spikes, hop on moving platforms, and activate switches to make their way forward, all the while slashing enemies, blocking projectiles, and performing downward strikes to take down enemies and bosses. Outside of dungeon diving, players interact with NPC's in villages to learn more about the world around them. Players can also acquire new items and equipment to enhance their combat skills and movement abilities to attack enemies from a distance and reach new areas.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG.




New Blip: Neon Abyss

Neon Abyss is the latest from Veewo Games, the studio behind Super Phantom Cat. This is a roguelike run-and-gun shooter that sees you playing as a member of the Grim Squad, a group of mercenaries hired by Hades to bust into the Abyss and unleash hell upon the New Gods. Per genre conventions, you'll encounter random weapons and perks. And to keep the action high, everything is stackable and there's no limit to what you can carry... which leads to some unusual and deadly combinations. Further adding to the mayhem are eggs that you can find, which hatch to become pets that support you in battle, and the longer you can stay alive, the more they evolve.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, and Switch in 2020. A demo is available on the game's Steam page.




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

October 28, 2019

Target Acquired: Xeno Crisis

Xeno Crisis, from Bitmap Bureau, is an arena shooter where you play a space marine - or a pair of them in 2P co-op - blasting through waves of alien baddies and rescuing survivors along the way, taking design inspirations from Smash TV, Alien Syndrome, and other arcade actioners. The game is comprised of seven themed areas, dozens of enemy types, grotesque end-level bosses, and plenty of weapons to destroy them all, including rifles, spread guns, flamethrowers, and rocket launchers, among others, along with upgrades to increase their damage output and ammo capacity. Procedural layouts mean the player will encounter different rooms on each run, and two difficulty modes let players choose their level of challenge (but you need to play on "hardcorps" to get the good ending). The game was originally developed for the Sega Genesis / Mega Drive, and ported to Dreamcast and Neo Geo.

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




October 24, 2019

New Blip: Roland's Quest

Roland's Quest (formerly Rolan's Quest), from Colony Games, is a fast-paced top-down action-adventure reminiscent of Beyond Oasis. You take on the role of the titular hero who is a blacksmith that lives in a small forest town, and he leads an insignificant life. He's resourceful and he's a skilled hunter, but he's otherwise pretty laid back and has yet to discover his true purpose. But one day, a foreign band of soldiers appears in his land and burns his town to the ground. He finds himself drawn to action, leading him on an adventure that spans the world on a path to face an evil lord and confront the world's dark history. Roland slashes his way through enemies, uses items to solve environmental puzzles, and explores multiple themed environments, joined by his mysterious friend Lulu.

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.

October 22, 2019

New Blip: Arietta of Spirits

Arietta of Spirits, from Third Spirit (game site), stars the titular hero, a plucky redhead who finds herself on an adventure leads her to explore the mysteries of the Spirit Realm. Arietta revisits her grandmother's cabin a year after her passing when she begins seeing ghostly beings, one of whom becomes her companion. Arietta explores the forests and caverns of the island, slowly uncovering its secrets as she interacts with NPC's, earns new abilities, and fights monsters and boss creatures.

The game is coming to PC in 2020. 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 20, 2019

Target Acquired: Outbuddies

Outbuddies, from Julian Laufer, is a retro-style metroidvania. The game stars Nikolay Bernstein, an explorer and archaeologist who becomes shipwrecked and finds himself in a set of caverns 36,000 feet below the surface. He is awakened by a robotic companion - or buddy - who aids him on his journey by scouting out the area around him and manipulating certain objects and enemies. On his journey, Bernstein gains new weapons and abilities that allow him to explore the expansive subterranean world, which is filled with hostile creatures, hulking bosses, and a friendly race known as the Wozan, who seek his help.

The game is available for PC via Steam, GOG, and Humble Store, and it is coming to Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in 2020. Check our coverage here.




October 19, 2019

Target Acquired: Sea Salt

Sea Salt is the latest from YCJY Games, the studio behind The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human, which was a dour metroidvania set in a dark and desaturated world... and their latest venture doubles down on that dark desaturation. Sea Salt is set in a Lovecraftian world where you take on the role of Dagon, one of the Old Gods, who calls forth loping horrors from ancient depths to terrorize mankind. The game mixes action and strategy as you cycle through a deck of creatures and bring them in the world to chase down humans and activate sigils. The humans will try to fight you, and religious figures will stand against you, so you must grow your army of creatures to overtake them, and unlock new creatures to add to your numbers.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, GOG, and Game Jolt, Switch via eShop, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store.




October 18, 2019

News: Pig Eat Ball on Consoles

Pig Eat Ball released last year for computers, and now the zany oddities have arrived on consoles, from Mommy’s Best Games. 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 available on Switch via eShop, PS4 via PSN, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. Or you can pick it up on PC, Mac, or Linux via Steam, Humble Store, and Itch.io. Check our coverage here.




October 17, 2019

Early Arrival: Kynseed

Kynseed, from PixelCount Studios (made up of ex-Lionhead devs, best known for the Fable series), is set in the colorful and richly detailed world of Quill. The people of Quill live in relative harmony, despite being surrounded by dangerous forests filled with monstrous creatures. You have recently taken possession of the titular Kynseed, a magical acorn that grows into your family tree. You live and grow, have children, raise them, and eventually die... at which point you take on the role of your children and continue the story. This sandbox RPG has you exploring the open world, battling monsters, developing lasting relationships with NPC's, shopping, farming, crafting, and operating various sorts of businesses, including bartending, mixing potions, selling items, or acting as a smithy.

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




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

October 15, 2019

Target Acquired: The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors

The Ninja Saviors - Return of the Warriors, from Natsume Atari and ININ Games, follows up on Taito's ultra-wide 3-monitor single-plane beat 'em up The NinjaWarriors, and Natsume's SNES follow-up Ninja Warriors, which offered a more technical experience akin to Final Fight, but still on a single plane. Now, the ninja warriors have returned, and they've brought along a couple of new friends. The game now features five playable android ninjas (three from the SNES game) fighting their way through a dystopian world filled with evil grunts in need of a good smackdown. Go it alone or grab a friend in 2P co-op as you smash your way through eight areas, waves of enemies, and hulking bosses, all presented in hi-rez pixel art.

The game suffered a short delay, but is now available for Switch via eShop, and PS4 via PSN, and also available in physical versions. Check our coverage here.




October 11, 2019

Target Acquired: Valfaris

In 2016, a beautiful and atmospheric game called Slain was released, and it basically looked like a heavy metal album cover come to life in glorious 2D. Unfortunately, the game had loads of problems at release, not the least of which were a poorly-implemented combo system, cumbersome controls, bad writing, and simply awful sound design... some of which was addressed in the retitled re-release called Slain: Back from Hell. So, if you've heard bad things about the developer, this is why. Developer Steel Mantis (game tweets) has a new and similarly-gorgeous actioner entitled Valfaris, which promises to be "a heavy metal space saga". The game features melee- and projectile-based combat as the player ventures through dark gothic environments fighting detailed - and often grotesque - biological and mechanical enemies and bosses, leaving behind sprays of blood, gobs of goo, and piles of bodies in his wake. Environments are dark and gritty and filled with moving elements and enemy creatures, and the game is accompanied by a heavy metal soundtrack.

The game is now available on PC via Steam, GOG, and Humble Store, and Switch via eShop, and is coming to PS4 on November 5 and Xbox One on November 8.




October 10, 2019

Early Arrival: Spirits Abyss

Caiysware, the studio behind gritty pixel-art actioners Straimium Immortaly and Skelly Selest (take that, spellcheck!), has returned with Spirits Abyss, another gritty pixel-art actioner, but this time it's a roguelike platformer that gives the player the ability to destroy chunks of the environment, Spelunky-style. It is said that tossing a child into the abyss under the light of a blood moon may allow that child to return one day with great riches and power over The Undying. You take on the role of one such child who has been tossed into a pit where you must navigate procedurally generated subterranean landscapes filled with menacing creatures and the odd friendly character, racking up loot and taking part in the occasional collectible card game along the way. There are a few modes of play and additional playable characters, encouraging replay using different weapons and playstyles.

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




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

October 8, 2019

Target Acquired: Indivisible

Indivisible is an action-RPG from Lab Zero Games, the developers of Skullgirls. The game stars Ajna who sets out across the world to discover the origin of her powers, which allow her to absorb and summon various beings, and she is joined along the way by a number of characters who fight alongside her. In addition to Lab Zero's trademark 2D designs, the game is accompanied by a soundtrack from Hiroki Kikuta, best known for his work on Secret of Mana. The game mixes action platforming (in 3D environments) with turn-based battles and the ability to inflict damage to enemies prior to battle, Paper Mario-style. The game also features loads of crossover characters from other 2D indie games, including the lead characters from Shovel Knight, Hyper Light Drifter, Curses 'n Chaos, and Guacamelee, as well as the skateboarding 80's dinosaur from Super Time Force, and Shantae from WayForward's Shantae series.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG, PS4 via PSN, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store. A Switch version is coming soon.




October 1, 2019

New Blip: Boyfriend Dungeon

Kitfox Games, the developer behind Moon Hunters, returns with Boyfriend Dungeon, an isometric hack-and-slash where you can become romantically involved with your weapons. Despite the name, the game offers romance with men, women, and nonbinary weapons, each of whom is more sexy than the last and lovingly dolled up in anime-style art filled with all the billowing shirts and flowing locks your heart desires... and even a cat. You can date up to nine weapons, each with a distinct personality and form, and each granting different abilities in combat, from wide swipes to quick stabs to lightsaber-esque flourishes to up-close brass knuckle action. Slash your way through monster-packed dungeons and then go out for a night on the town or a walk on the beach with your bae-blade.

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.

September 27, 2019

Target Acquired: Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX

Inti Creates - the developer behind Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, Azure Striker Gunvolt, Blaster Master Zero, and lots of Mega Man games - returns with the latest chapter in the ongoing Gunvolt saga: Gunvolt Chronicles: Luminous Avenger iX. The game focuses on the exploits of Copen, who is the arch rival of Gunvolt, the hero of the main game series. Similar to the Blue Bomber, Copen is able to copy abilities from his defeated foes and use them in combat. Copen is able to move quickly around the environment and tag enemies, after which he can unleash a barrage of missiles, and he also makes use of a gun and electrical attacks.

The game is now available on PC via Steam, PS4 via PSN, and Switch via eShop.



September 26, 2019

New Blip: Fallen Angel

In Fallen Angel, from Matrioshka Games, you take on the role of the fallen angel Lucifer, who has returned to Heaven to have his revenge. This is a hack-and-slash actioner where the enemies are the agents of God's holy army. While the odds may seem to be stacked against this anti-hero - inspired by John Milton's portrayal of the character in Paradise Lost - as it turns out, Heaven is in a bit of disarray. God has left the place unattended and the Angels are fighting amongst themselves for the honor of becoming the ultimate power, unless that lovable scamp Lucifer seizes the power for himself... or just destroys everything for the fun of it. Lucifer can make use of beastly transformations during combat to slash through enemies, target them from a distance, or slam down on them from above.

The game is coming to PC in June 2020.




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

September 24, 2019

Early Arrival: Noita

Nolla Games is a studio made up of Petri Purho (Crayon Physics Deluxe), Olli Harjola (The Swapper), and Arvi "Hempuli" Teikari (Environmental Station Alpha), and they have returned with Noita. The game is a physics-based action platformer, but what sets it apart from the other games in the genre is the fact that physics are applied to every pixel in the game world, bringing about shenanigans you haven't seen since the PixelJunk Shooter series, only this time in a chunky pixellated world. You can freeze water and then blast through chunks of ice, smash objects to make them break and collapse, cause lava to flow into an open space, electrify pools of water, or burn through flammable gasses to ignite the air in a room and burn through your enemies... or yourself if you're not careful. This is a roguelike game featuring spellcrafting, permadeath, and procedurally generated environments filled with dangerous enemies and elements.

Noita is now in Early Access and may be purchased via Steam, GOG, Humble Store, and Itch.




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

September 22, 2019

Target Acquired: Arcade Moonlander Plus

In 2017, Daniel Griffin released Arcade Moonlander, a game heavily inspired by Atari's Lunar Lander, offering gravity-based spaceship landing on the surface of the moon. This year, he revisited the game, adding 10 new arcade levels and updating the title to Arcade Moonlander Plus. The game is still fairly short - and it's easier than most other entries in the genre - but players are encouraged to replay levels to go for the best times. In addition to the 20 arcade levels, the game features a longer adventure mode, with a single contiguous level and a few possible routes through the level.

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




September 19, 2019

Target Acquired: Demoniaca: Everlasting Night

Demoniaca: Everlasting Night, from AKI, is a Castlevania-inspired action-RPG starring a redheaded woman who is gutted... but somehow revives and sows her torn bits back together to return to the fight, but her blood has become contaminated with the blood of demons, giving her unholy new abilities. Over the course of her adventure, she meets new friends and enemies - many of whom seem fond of baring their chests - as she slashes and kicks her way through the many dark floors of the Tower of Babel. She can also make use of equipment that grants her passive buffs, stock up on restorative potions, and gain new combat abilities that help her take down baddies and bosses.

The game is now available on PC via Steam.




September 17, 2019

New Blip: Shantae and the Seven Sirens

Developer WayForward presents the fifth entry in the Shantae series, entitled Shantae and the Seven Sirens. Everyone's favorite half-genie hero returns with Rottytops, Risky Boots, and her other and pals for a new adventure far away from their hometown on Scuttle Island. Apparently, there are other half-genies around the world, as Shantae discovers when she meets the eponymous Seven Sirens in a nonlinear action-adventure that takes her across a large interconnected world populated by villages, enemies, and bosses. As before, Shantae can dance to transform into animals, with a focus on aquatic forms this time around, and the game includes animated cutscenes.

The game is coming to PC, Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and Apple Arcade later this year. There's no gameplay trailer yet, but there is this sweet opening cinematic, which is also meant to show off the animated cutscene stylings.




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

September 12, 2019

New Blip: Shovel Knight Dig

Yacht Club Games returns with another tale in the Shovel Knight saga, this time teaming up with Nitrome, the studio behind Bomb Chicken and numerous mobile titles. Shovel Knight Dig sees everyone's favorite knight of shovelry - with increased graphical fidelity - in a descent-based adventure that mixes elements of the Dig Dug / Mr. Driller series and 1-on-1 Mega Man-style boss battles. Shovel Knight still fights enemies and grabs treasure, but this time around, he gains new abilities that let him hurl bouncing projectiles, blast nearby enemies with a great horn, and shrink down to a minuscule size to fit through small openings.

The game is coming to unannounced platforms (probably all the major ones) on an unannounced date.




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

September 10, 2019

Target Acquired: 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 now available for PC via Steam, PS4 via PSN, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and Switch via eShop.




September 8, 2019

Target Acquired: Children of Morta

Children of Morta, from developer Dead Mage, is a roguelike dungeon crawler where you hack and slash your way through legions of dark creatures. The game focuses on the Bergson family, each of whom has a different set of weapons, ranging from a sword and shield combo, to a bow and arrows, to up-close daggers and hand-to-hand combat that require quick movement to use effectively. Players may also visit the blacksmith to increase the power of their stats, make use of various in-dungeon buffs to alter their abilities, and each playable character has their own upgrade tree. The game features incredibly detailed spritework and animations.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, and is also coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch. Check our coverage here.




September 5, 2019

New Blip: Sea Salt

Sea Salt is the latest from YCJY Games, the studio behind The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human, which was a dour metroidvania set in a dark and desaturated world... and their latest venture doubles down on that dark desaturation. Sea Salt is set in a Lovecraftian world where you take on the role of Dagon, one of the Old Gods, who calls forth loping horrors from ancient depths to terrorize mankind. The game mixes action and strategy as you cycle through a deck of creatures and bring them in the world to chase down humans and activate sigils. The humans will try to fight you, and religious figures will stand against you, so you must grow your army of creatures to overtake them, and unlock new creatures to add to your numbers.

The game is coming to PC later this year.




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

September 4, 2019

New Blip: Savior

Savior, from Starsoft, is a colorful metroidvania starring Sam, a woman who finds herself in the midst of a cold war between The Chosen and The Fallen, in a world divided between the medieval and the technological. She explores the island of Arcadia, fighting her way through the harsh landscape of The Fallen, slowly gaining access to new weapons and items, meeting new friends along the way, and possibly becoming the savior who can unite this long-divided world. By becoming stronger and gaining new skills, she increases her ability to explore the landscape around her. Sam is incredibly acrobatic, and she is able to move fluidly through the environment, jump off walls (and enemies!), perform deft attacks and dodges, dive into the water and swim, and even leap onto the back of a great dragon.

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 1, 2019

Target Acquired: Biolab Wars

Biolab Wars, from Kolibri Game Studio, is a run-and-gun shooter inspired by Contra and similar NES-era actioners. It's 1985, and aliens have invaded the Earth. You take on the role of a musclebound dude, a deadly lady, or a dog in a mech suit to blast your way through soldiers, robots, and alien monstrosities. You start with a machine gun, but you can grab several other limited-ammo weapons along the way to dish out extra pain, and you can even find a laser-firing chicken and helicopter-propelled kitty to assist you in your assault. The game takes place across seven areas, with a boss at the end of each.

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




August 31, 2019

Target Acquired: Whipseey and the Lost Atlas

Whipseey and the Lost Atlas, from Daniel A. Ramirez (game tweets), is a bite-sized platformer starring a boy named Alex who finds himself in a strange world and transformed into a cute pink thing called Whipseey. Whipseey can hop-and-bop like many other platforming heroes, or he can use his whip to smash enemies or swing back and forth on grapple points, or he can spin it above his head like a helicopter to slowly glide to the ground. He travels through a number of colorful environments, including forests, deserts, frozen wastelands filled with toys, and even underwater caverns as he tries to make his way home.

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




August 28, 2019

Target Acquired: Minoria

Bombservice is the studio behind the Momodora series. Momodora 1-3 were all pretty sweet, but the developer really hit his stride with the series prequel, a dark and engaging metroidvania entitled Momodora: Reverie Under the Moonlight. And now, the studio has returned with Minoria, a spiritual sequel to the Momodora series that casts off its chunky visuals in favor of a smoother HD presentation, while offering a similarly dark world with action focusing around melee combat and magic spells. Set in an entirely new universe, the game stars Fran and Semilla, sisters who work as missionaries on behalf of the church as they work to protect the commoners from heretical witches... although the sisters make use of spellcraft themselves.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, Itch, GOG, and Humble Store.


August 27, 2019

New Blip: Armortale

Armortale, from RPG2 Heaven, is a lighthearted platformer set in a world of fantasy where the kingdom is being assailed by baby demon foxes. A tower full of monsters has risen, and a plucky hero sets out to meet them in battle as he journeys through 10 themed locales. The hero has the ability to swap between four different sets of legendary armor on the fly, granting him new attacks and abilities, among them is the ability to swing a sword, fire off projectiles, drop bombs, and even fly through the air with a winged helmet. The game world is bright and colorful, with enemies that tend toward the bulbous end of the spectrum, adding a bit of cuteness to their deadliness.

The game is coming to PC "soon".




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

August 25, 2019

Target Acquired: Space Cortex

Space Cortex is the latest from BRAINOS, the developer behind Saving Princess and its upcoming sequel. You take on the role of an operative - or a pair of them in 2P co-op - who must infiltrate a space station to defeat a superintelligent AI, allowing your team to destroy the entire station with an antimatter beam. You enter the station and move region by region, taking down enemies and bosses in order to open the way to the AI core. By exploring thoroughly, you encounter upgrades that allow you to increase your firing rate, ammo capacity, and maximum HP, allowing you to become more effective in combat. The experience is presented in a chunky retro style with a low resolution, limited color palette, and lo-fi soundtrack.

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




August 23, 2019

Target Acquired: Mable & The Wood

Mable & The Wood, from Triple Vision Games, is an explorative action game stars 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.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, GOG, Humble Store, and Itch.




August 22, 2019

New Blip: Bite the Bullet

Bite the Bullet is the latest from Mega Cat Studios, the studio behind Coffee Crisis and Log Jammers. The game is a run-and-gun shooter that borrows elements from the Metal Slug and Contra series, but tosses in a bit of cannibalism for good measure. It's not enough to simply kill your enemies... by eating their corpses - and eating bullets and buildings - you can create new weapons gand ain new abilities along a skill tree. You are what you eat, as consuming different kinds of enemies determine what kinds of weapons and modifiers you gain, or what skills you can acquire, such as the ability to spew napalm vomit or transform into a giant mutant creature.

The game is coming to PC, Switch, and Xbox One in 2020.




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

August 20, 2019

New Blip: Skul

Skul, from SouthPAWGames, stars a young skeleton warrior and member of the castle guard, as he fights against brave heroes, plucky adventurers, and warriors of light, across a colorful pixellated world. Skul's king has been taken by an army of the living, and he must kill them all by smashing them with his bone club and tossing his skull Decap Attack-style, or he can take on new abilities by swapping skulls... By taking off his skull and replacing it with others, he is able to gain new abilities and weapons, such as equipping a warrior's helmet in order to attack as an armored knight with a sword, or using a samurai's skull to perform quick slashes with a katana.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and Switch, but does not yet have an announced release date. A demo is available on the game's Itch page.




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

August 18, 2019

Target Acquired: Electronic Super Joy 2

Electronic Super Joy 2, from Michael Todd Games is a follow-up to Electronic Super Joy and its mini-sequel Electronic Super Joy: Groove City. It features precision platforming set in a stylish world of neon, missiles, cursing, and golden buttocks, as you complete platforming challenges, first person shooter sequences, and a handful of extended boss encounters. The game sees you running left to right, ascending vertical shafts, completing auto-scrolling sequences, and even tossing your mother through laser beams, with even the slightest mistake leading to death. You're aided by powerups that include multiple midair jumps, a sword that lets you dash through the sky, a butt stomp, and an explosive jump... but each powerup only lasts until the end of the level.

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




August 17, 2019

Vigil: The Longest Night

Vigil: The Longest Night, from Glass Heart Games, is a stylish medieval actioner set in a dark world filled with grotesque monstrosities and inspired by Castlevania, Salt and Sanctuary, and Bloodborne. You take on the role of Leila, a member of the Vigil, who returns home to search for her sister. As she explores the nearby villages, forests, and caves, she discovers that things have taken a twisted turn, and the sun no longer rises here. Leila is able to use several weapon types, including a sword, daggers, and a bow and arrows, and the game employs a skill tree, allowing Leila to level up and learn new abilities to aid her in combat. The game's creature designs are particularly notable, featuring the loping undead, strange and menacing beasts, impossible skeletal constructions, and masses of pulsating flesh.

The game is coming to PC, Xbox One, PS4, and Switch in 2020.




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

August 13, 2019

New Blip: MindSeize

MindSeize, from Kamina Dimension, is a sci-fi action-adventure that pits you against a mysterious organization called The Ascended, which is capable of stealing people's minds. You take on the role of a private investigator whose daughter was a victim of this organization, so you put together a crew, connect your mind to a highly-maneuverable robot body, and travel from planet to planet on a quest to take them down. The game allows you to equip a pair of weapons, mix and match melee and projectile weapons to suit your playstyle, and earn new movement abilities that allow you to explore large environments and take down enemies and hulking robotic bosses.

The game is coming to PC later this year. An alpha demo is available on Steam, Itch, or Game Jolt.




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

August 10, 2019

Target Acquired: Grelox

Grelox, from Sunteam, is a game that takes its inspirations from Zillion on the Master System, and the developer has even gone so far as to limit the color palette to that of Sega's famed 8-bit console... although the graphical fidelity is more in line with a 16-bit game. You take on the role of a woman named Grelox who is out hunting a crime boss on a distant planet. In order to explore the environment, Grelox must access various computer terminals and disable them, which in turn opens locked doors. The game takes place in across seven themed areas in a nonlinear world made up of interconnected single screen environments.

The game is now available on PC for free via the developer's website. Check our coverage here.