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 29, 2020

New Blip: Fallen Leaf

Fallen Leaf, from Delta Shore Games (game tweets), is a Mega Man-style action platformer set in a colorful world. You take on the role of Leaf, a treasure hunter who recently discovered a pair of magical gauntlets, which he must use to defeat the vile oppressor that he accidentally awakened. The game also features two other playable characters in the form of the pink-haired Petal and the helmet-wearing Thorn. Grabbing more powerful gauntlets allows you to unleash stronger projectile attacks, and there are loads of different subweapons with different firing types... plus loads of areas to blast your way through, with more than 70 levels on offer. The whole experience is done up in a classic 8-bit style with bright colors, charming enemy designs, and an upbeat chiptune soundtrack.

The game is coming to PC and Mac in 2021.

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

December 26, 2020

New Blip: Olija

Olija, from Skeleton Crew Studio, is a swashbuckling adventure set in an Asian fantasy world and featuring a group of castaways who have found themselves stuck in the country of Terraphage. A man named Faraday leads the group on a mission to escape the clutches of a mysterious woman named Olija, aided by his trusty harpoon. This harpoon serves many purposes, allowing Faraday to slice through ropes, slash through enemies, and zip to the harpoon's location to quickly traverse dangerous trap-filled environments. He can even impale an baddie and pull himself to the enemy's position to deliver a killing blow. This versatile weapon allows players to strategically target enemies from a distance, attack in multiple directions, and get up close for fast-and-furious melee action with a number of secondary weapons.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on January 28.


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

December 23, 2020

Target Acquired: Super Meat Boy Forever

Super Meat Boy Forever, from Team Meat, is a sequel to Super Meat Boy, and once again features Meat Boy and Bandage Girl... only this time, they have a child named Nugget, and Nugget has been kidnapped by Dr. Fetus. So, the duo splat into action and try to rescue their sweet baby. This time around, instead of venturing through pre-made levels, the game world regenerates itself dynamically into harder and harder versions of itself, but built out of pre-made chunks to avoid sending the player into a hell of random objects. Also, instead of just being able to jump, Meat Boy and Bandage Girl can now punch their enemies in the face, and perform a jump attack, dive, and slide to deal with enemies and navigate quickly around saw blades and other obstacles.

The game is now available for PC via Epic Games Store and Switch via eShop, and it's also planned for release on PS4, Xbox One, iOS, and Android.




December 15, 2020

New Blip: Sir Lovelot

Sir Lovelot is the latest from pixel.lu, the studio behind Sigi - A Fart for Melusina. This precision platformer stars the titular knight on a quest to find love by impressing maidens with acts of platforming - and some lovely gifts - across the kingdoms of Lululand. Sir Lovelot dashes across 40+ dangerous levels displaying derring do by defeating dastardly enemies, hopping across pits of spikes, outrunning rolling stone skulls, and blasting baddies with bullets. Fortunately, the knight is a capable hero, able to double jump, dive under the water, climb vines, grab ledges, and discover secrets like golden-egg-laying geese to impress greedy princesses.

The game is coming to PC on February 12, 2021, and if you follow the European style of date numbering, that's a palindrome (12022021). It's also coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Switch on the less sexy date of March 3, 2021.

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

December 9, 2020

Target Acquired: Unto the End

In Unto the End, from 2 Ton Studios, you take on the role of a father who is attempting to reunite with his family, but his journey is long and fraught with danger, and the environment is harsh and unforgiving. Combat requires you to gauge your foes' movements so you can attack, parry, and counterattack, allowing you to strike down and even behead the enemies and monstrous creatures that you encounter along the way. Combat is tactical, deliberate, and bloody, requiring you to make the most of your sword and occasionally use ranged weapons as you take on groups of enemies and fight in one-on-one combat.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and GOG, PS4 via PSN, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and Stadia via Stadia Store, and it's coming to Switch via eShop on December 17.




December 6, 2020

Target Acquired: Morbid: The Seven Acolytes

Morbid: The Seven Acolytes, from Still Running, is an isometric action-RPG featuring grotesque monsters and brutal bloody kills. You are on a mission to defeat the Seven Acolytes, creatures that have gained incredible power by allowing themselves to be possessed by malevolent deities... but these deities cannot act without bodies, so destroying the hosts will rid the world of them. You slash your way through enemies and bosses, spilling buckets of blood, looting corpses for weapons and items, and spending skill points on stat-boosting blessings. The game features multiple weapon types that can be enchanced with elemental effects, including some limited-ammo projectile weapons that allow you to strike from a distance.

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


December 2, 2020

New Blip: Akurra

Akurra, from Jason Newman and Craig Collver, is an isometric block-pushing puzzler that mixes in open world exploration, inspired by the likes of Chip's Challenge, StarTropics, Adventures of Lolo, Sokoban, and The Legend of Zelda. You explore a series of five islands that see you trekking through caverns and jungles, climbing mountains, and navigating pools of lava alongside an active volcano. Each island is packed with puzzles and secrets, many of which are solved by pushing gigantic blocks that can smash through pieces of the landscape or be dropped in holes and used as stepping stones, clearing the way to keys and other items that unlock the path forward. Puzzles become more complex as the game goes on, but the open world nature of the environments lets you take off and explore elsewhere if you get stuck.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Switch in June of 2021. A demo is available on Steam and Itch.

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

November 30, 2020

New Blip: Super Magbot

Super Magbot, from Astral Pixel, is a platformer where you don't have the ability to jump. Instead, you use the power of magnetism to repel yourself from certain surfaces and attract yourself to others. You take on the role of Super Magbot who aims a magnetic ray gun to fling himself about using positive and negative polarities with the corresponding platforms. You must navigate through magnet-lined environments that mix precision movement with a bit of puzzle solving as you must learn the proper route forward and then execute a series of successful moves to reach the goal at the end, all while dodging level hazards like spinning saw blades. New magnet types are introduced as the game goes on, with the player facing standard magnets, disappearing magnets, springboards, and magnetic bubbles.

The game is coming to PC in 2021.

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

November 24, 2020

New Blip: Depths of Sanity

The submarine-based metroidvania subgenre is a sparsely-populated one, with the only other notable entries being The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human and Song of the Deep... but Bomb Shelter Games is here to change that with Depths of Sanity. You take on the role of the commander of a submarine called The Baroness (not just a sultry G.I. Joe villain any more) who is investigating a deep sea vibration that may be some kind of signal of unknown origin. The game takes place across a large interconnected world divided into themed areas, and you face incredible dangers as you descend into the depths. In order to fight off dangerous sea life and menacing bosses, you'll need to make use of an arsenal of weapons that you unlock over the course of your adventure. The game also features exploration and sees you navigating heavy currents using tow cables and moving through the darkness with only sonar pings to guide you forward... just try not to go insane.

The game is coming to PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One in 2021 and it's currently available for PC via Steam Early Access.

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

November 20, 2020

Target Acquired: Super Cable Boy

In Super Cable Boy, from Sørb Games, you take on the role of a sentient handheld gaming device who is on a mission to defeat an entity known as The Glitch before it can destroy the world. You are able to jump, dash, and wall jump, and you can also use your power cord to get through the levels. Spin your cord around to fling yourself into the air, grab onto the ceiling to grapple and swing, and latch onto conveyor belts or moving platforms to be pulled along. You can even use it in boss encounters to grab pieces of the boss and unplug them, or impact other elements of the arena. Over the course of your adventure, you find game cartridges that grant you new abilities, and you'll eventually be swapping between dimensions and flying through electrical currents.

The game is now available for PC via Steam.



November 17, 2020

New Blip: Neon Fusion

Neon Fusion, from Rodrigo Oak (game tweets), is an action-platformer set in a neon world. You take on the role of a robot named Ambar who is responding to a distress signal on what was assumed to be an abandoned space station. Upon arrival, however, Ambar finds the station filled with shambling crew members, aggressive enemies, environmental hazards, and active security systems, along with some menacing bosses. You travel through a large interconnected environment while rescuing survivors and gaining new abilities and weapons along the way, such as an air dash that lets you cross large gaps, a 3-way shot, and an ice projectile that allows you to freeze enemies... but projectiles and dash maneuvers draw from a recharging energy meter.

The game is coming to PC and is currently available via Steam Early Access.

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

November 10, 2020

New Blip: Rubi: The Wayward Mira

Rubi: The Wayward Mira, from Wayward Games, is a metroidvania set in a colorful world where science and magic intermingle. The planet of Casimir was once filled with abundant mana, but the Mira people have drained this mana to power their civilization, slowly killing the planet in the process. You take on the role of Rubi, a member of the Mira people who finds herself stranded on Earth. Only by opening a portal back to her home world can she save herself and her people. Her mission involves restarting the CERN Large Hadron Collider, and her actions can lead to multiple possible endings. Rubi combats enemies with a melee weapon and a beam weapon that can be upgraded to higher power levels. She can also make use of a phase ability that allows her to extend the distance of her jumps and pass through some solid objects. A gravity weapon allows her to target an area and fling herself in that direction, expanding her ability to explore the environment. She fights her way through fantasy and technological environments as she faces off against strange creatures, security systems, transformed humans, and bosses.

The game is coming to PC and Switch in 2021. A demo is available on Itch.

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

November 8, 2020

Target Acquired: Crypt Stalker

Crypt Stalker is the latest retro-style actioner from Sinclair Strange, the developer behind Jet Gunner and Running VoltGun. The game is modeled after the NES-era Castlevania games, offering sidescrolling stages where you whip demonic enemies, or take them down from a distance with limited-ammo secondary weapons. The game also features some tough platforming challenges as you run across conveyor belts, use your whip to swing between grapple points, and fight enemies while hopping between moving platforms. You take on the role of a Crypt Stalker named Gladys as she hunts down demons that have opened a portal into the human world, emerging from the pyramids of Egypt. The main game takes place across nine sizeable stages, although the game also includes a 6-level easy mode, and a completely separate 4-level Gameboy-themed game, along with challenge levels and a boss rush, all in one package.

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

November 7, 2020

Target Acquired: Mechblaze

Mechblaze (a.k.a. MECHBLAZE) is the latest mech combat game from Astro Port and a continuation of the shared "Astro Saga" universe, which includes Gigantic Army, Steel Strider, and several other games. Argo Express, an undercover military organization that uses a delivery service as its front, is once again called upon to make a special delivery... of steel! (Cue wailing electric guitars!) It's the year 1989, and humankind is taking a well deserved break after the defeat of the extraterrestrial Gogoh Army, but peace doesn't last long. A secret society executes a worldwide attack, and you take on the role of a Manned Combat Robot pilot as you blast the hell out of other mechs, war machines, and massive bosses. The game features six action-packed stages, 13 different weapons, and a range of difficulty levels to suit newcomers and mech combat veterans alike.

The game is now available for PC via Steam.

October 27, 2020

New Blip: DeathStick

DeathStick, from TeamNora Games (game tweets), is a melee-based metroidvania starring a girl named Mako who is on a mission to prevent a bunch of ne'er-do-wells from resurrecting an ancient god and destroying the world (a well-known pastime among the ne'er-do-well community). When you're not slashing the stuffing out of baddies with your quarterstaff, you're swapping between light and dark versions of the world by flipping it around you. Throughout the game, you gain new attacks and abilities, allowing you to take down enemies more quickly, strike them from a distance, and unleash special attacks, and some attacks translate into environmental navigation tools, such as tossing a fan through a narrow opening and teleporting to its location.

The game is coming to PC and Switch in 2022.

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

October 23, 2020

Target Acquired: 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 now available for PC and Mac via Steam, and it's planned for release on Switch next year.



October 22, 2020

Early Arrival: Gravity Ace

Hey, if there's one thing everyone likes, it's gravity... and nobody knows that better than John Watson, the developer behind Gravity Ace. There aren't a whole lot of gravity-based spaceship games on the market, but there have been a few standout examples over the years, including the seminal classic Gravitar, along with classics like Thrust and Oids, and a few modern takes on the genre, including the Gravitron and PixelJunk Shooter series. Of all these games, Gravity Ace seems to most closely mix elements from Thrust and the PixelJunk Shooter series. Like Thrust, you must descend into caverns, taking out dangers along the way, and retrieving a reactor core from deep within... and then fight to escape the planetoid's gravity in time. Whereas Thrust was a fairly slow and methodical experience (but still harrowing, mind), the PixelJunk Shooter series is more fast-paced, features much more shooting, and the need to rescue stranded astronauts. In the end, the game borrows from its predecessors but definitely stands on its own, offering a chunky explosion-heavy world with the ever-present danger of smashing into a wall of rock and meeting your untimely demise. The game offers multiple interconnected levels across three worlds and even some boss encounters to spice things up.

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


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

Target Acquired: Gonner 2

Gonner 2 (a.k.a. GONNER2), from developer Art in Heart, is a follow-up to the original Gonner, a procedurally-generated platformer -slash- roguelike. The first game was good - and hard - so if you enjoyed that one, and you want something else that's good and hard, then you'll probably want to check this out. You once again take on the role of Ikk in a procedural/roguelike world, and this time around, Death's lair has been overrun by... well, by something worse than Death. Levels are filled with fast action, pretty explosions, psychedelic colors, chaotic bombardment by enemies and projectiles, and wackadoodle bosses. Just be careful not to lose your head, because that's a thing that can totally happen, and you'll probably die quickly if it gets knocked off.

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



October 21, 2020

Target Acquired: ScourgeBringer

ScourgeBringer is the latest from NeuroVoider developer Flying Oak Games. You take on the role of a plucky badass named Kyhra as she hops and slashes her way through a sidescrolling roguelike world. Combat is fast and fluid, allowing Kyhra to move quickly from enemy to enemy to dispatch them with speedy swordery, intermixed with serious platforming skills that allow her wall jump, run up walls, and perform dashing downward strikes. Between bouts of bashing baddies and bosses, you delve into the depths to discover mysterious machinery... and maybe save the world. The game also features a cool sounds by Joonas Turner (Downwell, Nuclear Throne).

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and Epic, Switch via eShop, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store.



October 15, 2020

Target Acquired: 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 just left early access and is now available for PC via Steam and GOG. Check our coverage here.


October 14, 2020

New Blip: Aethyr

Aethyr, from Labyrinth, is set in a ruined world where the last of humanity ekes out what existence they can, all the while surrounded by the mysteries of their past. You take on the role of an adventurer who hopes to uncover those mysteries and discover what caused the end of the world, with the help of the old gods. You delve into ancient ruins and across the large open land of Aethyr, fighting enemies, learning new skills, and crafting weapons, armor, and items along the way. You can make use of blades, axes, bludgeoning weapons, throwables, bows and arrows, and a variety of spells - as well as some kind of crazy grapple claw - in fast-paced battles against hordes of enemies and gigantic bosses.

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 2D Watchlist.

October 12, 2020

Target Acquired: Alwa’s Legacy

In 2017, Elden Pixels released Alwa’s Awakening, an open-world metroidania starring Zoe, who used her magical staff to fight against a great evil that had overtaken the land of Alwa... and apparently, she was not successful in her mission. At the end of the first game, Zoe walks to an altar and is struck down by a beam of light, rendering her unconscious as her body aged several years. Alwa’s Legacy picks up where that story left off. Zoe once again awakens and is told that she must face this great evil, and hopefully she'll get it right this time. Zoe makes use of several new abilities, as welll as the three spells she had in the original game, but now all of these can be upgraded to unlock various secondary effects, some of which are quite useful for fighting enemies or exploring the environment. The game has been given a substantial visual upgrade over the original, featuring more detailed obstacles, enemies, and backgrounds, and the player is given the same level of freedom to explore the world as he chooses.

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

September 29, 2020

New Blip: Mechblaze

Mechblaze (a.k.a. MECHBLAZE) is the latest mech combat game from Astro Port and a continuation of the shared "Astro Saga" universe, which includes Gigantic Army, Steel Strider, and several other games. Argo Express, an undercover military organization that uses a delivery service as its front, is once again called upon to make a special delivery... of steel! (Cue wailing electric guitars!) It's the year 1989, and humankind is taking a well deserved break after the defeat of the extraterrestrial Gogoh Army, but peace doesn't last long. A secret society executes a worldwide attack, and you take on the role of a Manned Combat Robot pilot as you blast the hell out of other mechs, war machines, and massive bosses. The game features six action-packed stages, 13 different weapons, and a range of difficulty levels to suit newcomers and mech combat veterans alike.

The game is coming soon to PC.

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

September 23, 2020

New Blip: Mighty Goose

Blastmode promises some honking good times with Mighty Goose, a run-and-gun shooter inspired by arcade hits like Contra and Metal Slug, but starring a planet-hopping bounty-hunting goose. Like the games that inspired it, Mighty Goose delivers fast action, screens full of bullets, plenty of enemies to destroy, and lots of fat explosions. You face off against odd creatures, armored foes, bulky war machines, and screen-filling bosses that come at you from all directions while you blast them with your rapid-fire armcannon, use secondary weapons like shotguns and arcing electricity orbs, gear up in a heavy mech suit of your own, or turn the enemy's combat vehicles against them.

The game is coming to PC, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One next year.

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

September 16, 2020

Early Arrival: Haak

Haak, from Blingame, is a dark post-apocalyptic metroidvania. The game features a focus on fast combat and acrobatic movement as the cape-wearing protagonist performs jumps, air dashes, and ground slides to navigate the environment and fight enemies. His unique weapon is an electric hook that he can use to attack enemies, deflect projectiles, activate switches, and grab onto floating grapple points to fling himself into the air. Enemies come in mostly robotic forms, and there are dangers in the environment as well, including crumbling platforms, electrical beams, and crushers. Along the way, he interacts with NPC's to learn more about the world and take on various side quests.

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


New Blip: Itorah

Itorah, from Grimbart Tales, is an action-adventure with a terrifying premise: You are the last remaining human in a world populated by masked creatures. You take on the role of the eponymous Itorah who explores the cursed world of Nahucan, which has been overcome by evil and is threatened by a great plague. Itorah traverses some traditional genre locales as she ventures through lush forests, darkened spider lairs, and ancient temples, battling beasts and bosses with what appears to be a large handmade axe, which she can use to string together combos or toss Thor-style to hit enemies at a distance. Itorah gains new abilities that aid in environmental traversal and help her to uncover the mysteries around what has happened to the human species.

The game is headed to PC next year. A demo is available on Steam.

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

September 15, 2020

Target Acquired: Spelunky 2

Mossmouth returns with a follow-up to one of the most beloved indie games of all time. Spelunky 2 follows up on the finely-distilled roguelike platforming of Spelunky, but adds a slew of new elements to entice players to delve into the depths once again. The new game adds some sweet fluid dynamics that are as pretty as they are dangerous, especially when a waterfall pushes you down a passage at high speeds, or when a pool of lava gives way and sends molten death flooding down at you. The game also features online 4P co-op... which could end some friendships depending on your companions' skill levels, because things can get hairy in a hurry when the griefing kicks in. You can play as Ana Spelunky (daughter of the original game's protagonist), who has a gun that lets her clone kitties (!?); Roffy D Sloth, who can fire arrows and use them as platforms; Margaret Tunnel, who is a demolitions expert; or Colin Northward, who can teleport. The world has grown more complex as well, with layered levels that let you flip between two sides by passing through doorways... and now you can ride animals, which can be sacrificed Yoshi-style to give you a bit of last-minute lift when jumping over deadly obstacles.

The game is now available for PS4 via PSN, and it's coming to PC on September 29


September 9, 2020

New Blip: The Last Faith

The Last Faith, from Kumi Souls Games, is a metroidvania set in a dark world filled with gnarled trees, gothic architecture, and no shortage of foul beasts. You take on the role of Eric as he travels through the once great capital, which is now ravaged by disease and corruption. Fortunately, the cure for most of this is a swift sword to the face. Eric wields swords, pikes, hatchets, handguns, and whatever else he can get his hands on to bash the creatures of the night into oblivion. In addition, he is able to cast devastating spells and use elemental buffs for his weapons, allowing him to freeze, electrify, or stun enemies during combat. Per metroidvania standards, Eric gains new abilities that expand his ability to explore, and he can make use of demonic wings for added jump height, and a retractable grapple for pulling himself up onto ledges or swinging across gaps.

The game is planned for release on PC, Mac, Linux, Switch, PS4, and Xbox One next year.


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

September 3, 2020

Target Acquired: Spinch

Some games are colorful, and then some games are colorolorolorful... like dropping acid and watching Scooby Doo while mixing Fruity Pebbles with Smurfberry Crunch and listening to no-holds-barred clown wrestling. And that is Spinch, a psychedelic precision platformer from Queen Bee Games, the studio behind Onion Force. You take on the role of the eponymous Spinch who is on a mission to rescue his missing offspring, often while being chased by Spinch-eating monsters. Fortunately, Spinch is quite agile and can jump, wall jump, and dash his way through the environment, and he'll want to search out as many of his children as he can, because Spinch fights bosses using his children as ammunition, which are the kinds of antics not seen since Offspring Fling. The game features art and animations by cartoonist Jesse Jacobs, and a retro electronic soundtrack by James Kirkpatrick.

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



September 1, 2020

Target Acquired: Evergate

Evergate, from Stone Lantern Games, is a puzzle-platformer that takes place in the afterlife, where souls travel from one realm to the next. You take on the role of Ki, a childlike soul who explores the dreamlike memories of her past, which are revealed by overcoming environmental challenges. Ki navigates these environments by using the Soulflame, which allows her to line up targets and perform several context-sensitive maneuvers that vary based on the type of crystal that is activated. These moves include bouncing herself in the opposite direction of the crystal, creating platforms that hover in the air, or boosting along like a guided missile. Some crystals even fire off projectiles when activated, allowing Ki to deal damage to bosses. Many puzzles offer multiple solutions, encouraging players to employ different tactics, and enticing speedrunners to seek out advanced time-shaving strategies.

THe game is now available for PC via Steam and Switch via eShop.



August 30, 2020

Target Acquired: Witcheye

Witcheye, from Moon Kid, is a mobile-turned-console/PC game that offers retro-style visuals and charming enemy designs. You control a witch's floating eyeball as it pursues a knight that has stolen a bunch of her gems and potion ingredients. Rather than having direct control over the eyeball, you flick in a given direction, which causes the eye to fly along in a straight line, and you use this technique to defeat enemies, break blocks, and take down some pretty clever bosses and minibosses. There are 100 different enemy types to be found across 50+ short levels, and lots of gems to be found by smashing everything in sight and occasionally hunting around for their hiding places. The initial run through the game doesn't last long, but there are two harder difficulty settings, plus a miniboss and boss rush and speedrun modes.

The game came out on iOS and Android last year, but now you can get it on Switch via eShop or PC via Steam. Check our coverage here.


August 27, 2020

Target Acquired: 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 now available for PC via Steam. Check our coverage here.



August 25, 2020

New Blip: Demons Ate My Neighbors

Were you one of those kids who turned out the lights and went in for 2P zombie-slaying action in the charming cartoony world of Zombies Ate My Neighbors? Well if so, we've got some good news for you. Developer Tuned-Out Games is resurrecting the spirit of LucasArts' classic with Demons Ate My Neighbors (DAMN), a game that captures the original's visual style, music, and humor. The game takes place in 1991 in the suburbs of Fairweather Valley, which finds itself thrown into turmoil by a cursed VHS tape that unleashes zombies demons into the neighborhood. You take on the role of Amy and Joey - or both in local 2P co-op - as they exorcise demons using holy water pistols, hunt for secrets, and hop over walls using trampolines. Players are able to upgrade their projectiles, swap nozzles for different spray effects, and overpump for heavy damage. Environments are procedurally generated, but there are lots of destructible objects as well as permanent upgrades gained from defeating bosses.

The game is coming to PC and Switch on September 1, 2021.

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

August 22, 2020

Target Acquired: Inmost

Inmost, from Hidden Layer Games, stars three playable characters, each with different abilities, and it is set in two different worlds, both of which are dark and foreboding, and both are narratively connected. While one character may be able to rely on his combat abilities, others must use their wits and agility to survive puzzle platforming challenges and escape the dark forces that rise up around them. A portion of the game takes place in an abandoned castle and sees you sneaking about, exploring rooms, discovering secret passages, and springing the occasional trap. In other areas, you must escape rampaging monsters... or fight them head-on, ultimately attempting to defeat a terrible creature that feeds upon human suffering.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and GOG, Switch via eShop, and Apple Arcade via App Store.




August 16, 2020

Target Acquired: Kunai

Kunai, from TurtleBlaze, is a ninja-based metroidvania starring a tablet named Tabby on a quest to destroy an artificial intelligence that has brought humanity to the brink of destruction. Action remains fast and furious as you slice up bad robots - and meet some good ones - across cities, deserts, and airships. As you play, you unlock new weapons and abilities, including a katana that lets you kill enemies, slice bullets out of the air, and deflect missiles, along with a kunai-driven grappling hook that lets you swing around and cling to the ceiling, and twin Uzis that let you mow down rampaging androids and other no-good machines.

The game now available for PC via Steam and Switch via eShop.




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

August 13, 2020

Target Acquired: 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 and gain 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 now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, GOG, and Humble Store, Switch via eShop, and Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and it's coming to PS4 as well.


New Blip: Azure Striker Gunvolt 3

Azure Strikers gotta Gunvolt, as they say, and now Gunvolt is back for a new adventure from Inti Creates, the studio behind Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon and its sequel, Blaster Master Zero and its sequel, lots of Mega Man games, and of course, the Azure Striker Gunvolt series and its spinoffs. Azure Striker Gunvolt 3 once again stars in this new sidescrolling actioner, and this time he has a new friend named Kirin. Gunvolt has his trademark electrical attacks while Kirin brings melee-based combat with a sword that she uses to strike enemies and deflect projectiles. She can also make use of throwable items to hit enemies at a distance and stun them, and she has some electrical special attacks of her own.

The game does not yet have an announced release date, but it's being developed from the ground up for Switch, rather than starting out on the 3DS like the first two games in the series.

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

August 11, 2020

New Blip: Clan O'Conall and the Crown of the Stag

Clan O'Conall and the Crown of the Stag, from HitGrab, is an action platformer set in ancient Ireland and inspiredy by Celtic folklore. You take on the role of three siblings, each with different abilities, as they fight their way through evil spirits and bosses on a mission to save their father. You can swap between the three characters on the fly to make use of the warrior's sword, the archer's rapid-fire bow and arrows, and the brute's raw strength. Between these three, players must overcome environmental challenges and deal with enemies using brawler-style combat. The game leans heavily on its art style, offering stark visuals with pre-Renaissance northern European-style artwork and trees that look like they just stepped out of an Eyvind Earle painting.

The game is coming to PC and Mac this fall.

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

August 5, 2020

New Blip: Xenosis: Alien Infection

Xenosis: Alien Infection, from NerdRage Studios, is a creepy top-down survival shooter set aboard the derelict Starship Carpathian, which was thought to have been destroyed five decades prior. You take on the role of a salvage operator who plans to become rich by selling the ship's AI core. He expects the ship to be abandoned, but nothing could be further from the truth... the crew may be dead but they are not gone. As you explore, you discover hideous creatures (possibly space vampires based on the name of the ship) lurking in the darkness. Some drag themselves along the floor, pulling their entrails behind them, while others are aggressive brutes. You'll have to overcome the ship's systems, refill your oxygen tanks, repair tears in your suit, and craft supplies, ammo, and upgrades for your weapons and suit. The game features 2D artwork with dynamic 3D lighting effects and positional sound to add to the horror atmosphere.

The game is to PC, Mac, Linux, Xbox One, PS4, and Switch in 2021.

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

July 30, 2020

New Blip: Dark Light

Dark Light, from Mirari+Co., is a gritty sci-fi actioner set in a cyberpunk world populated by supernatural creatures that are invisible to the naked eye. You take on the role of a Dark Hunter, and you use light from a hovering drone to detect these invisible enemies. Once they have been revealed, you can smash them with your trusty sledgehammer, or use one of many guns, melee weapons, or throwables that you encounter during your mission. Enemies range from loping ghouls to flying dragons to hulking abominations, along with more advanced foes capable of wielding weapons and shields. The game offers nonlinear progression and the ability to upgrade weapons and skills by collecting shards from defeated enemies.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Switch, and is currently available via Steam Early Access.

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

July 29, 2020

New Blip: Vibrant Venture

Vibrant Venture, from Semag Games, is a lighthearted platformer set in a bright and colorful (and vibrant!) world. The game stars four playable characters, each of whom has two character-specific abilities, and the player is able to swap between them on the fly to navigate the world and solve environmental puzzles. For instance, one character can perform a double jump, one can wall jump and ground slam, one can strike enemies with a water-based attack and perform an air dash, and one can hover on air currents. Knowing when to swap characters is key to passing through levels, defeating enemies, and overcoming bosses.

The game is coming to PC and Mac and is currently available via Steam Early Access.


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

July 28, 2020

New Blip: Eastern Exorcist

Eastern Exorcist, from Wildfire Game, is a 2D action-RPG set in a 3D world and focusing on Eastern fantasy influences. You play as a warrior/exorcist as he travels through the land fighting monsters, evil spirits, and boss creatures. Your primary weapon is a sword, which you use to engage in furious combo-based attacks that become more powerful with magical enhancements. The game features lovely animations and a painterly style inspired by Chinese fine art, with cutscenes playing out in the style of a Chinese opera.

The game is coming to PC and PS4. The PC version was originally announced with an August 14 Steam Early Access release, with a PS4 version following at a later date. A playable demo is available on Steam.

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

July 23, 2020

Target Acquired: Carrion

Did you like Butcher? It was a super gory sidescrolling shooter, and now the developer behind it has returned with an even bloodier and gorier game entitled Carrion, under the label Phobia Game Studio. 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 now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG, Xbox One via Microsoft Store, and Switch via eShop. Check our coverage here.




July 22, 2020

New Blip: Gel-Tank

Gel-Tank (a.k.a. 軟体轟輪ゲルタンク), from Technodot, is... well, it's not entirely clear what it is, because very little about the game is in English, but it looks completely crazy so here we are. You drive around in a little tank that is capable of shooting, jumping, and even flipping upside down so it can shoot enemies below. Your tank can use a variey of shot types, including a single shot, double shot, rockets, flaming explosives, and some non-standard projectiles to blast baddies and build up combos. Defeated enemies drop gems, which may be collected and used to purchase new skills. Oh and your little tank can climb inside a bigger tank and drive it around for increased firepower. In fact, there are multiple controllable vehicles, including a motorcycle, submarine, and helicopter. The game is done up in a 16-bit arcade style and focuses on fast action with a healthy dose of silliness, giving it something of a Metal Slug feel.

The game is currently available for PC via Steam Early Access, with a final release expected in 2021.




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

July 21, 2020

Target Acquired: Panzer Paladin

Tribute Games is the studio behind Wizorb, Mercenary Kings, Curses ‘n Chaos, Flinthook, and technically Ninja Senki - all of which are chunky retro-style action games - and they're back with Panzer Paladin... a chunky retro-style action game. You take the role of the titular paladin who clunks around the world in power armor, slashing baddies with melee weapons that wear down as she deals damage. But she can collect weapons from fallen enemies and swap between them, or sacrifice them to cast spells. The pilot of the power armor is comparatively small and is able to eject and run around on her own, reaching areas that the armor cannot fit, and even doing a bit of grappling along the way. She's not all that handy in a fight, but fortunately, she can use teleportation pads to summon her armor back to her. The game offers more than a dozen levels, most of which may be played in any order, with numerous weapons to be found along the way, and special weapons earned by defeating bosses.

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




July 16, 2020

Arrival Delayed: Rogue Legacy 2

Rogue Legacy 2 was meant to arrive on Steam and Epic Store early access for PC on July 23, but this date has moved back to August 18. On the upside, the delay will result in the implementation of unspecified features and content that would not have been finished before release. Joy!

Rogue Legacy was a pretty big hit, so what do you do when that happens? You make another one! Cellar Door Games, the studio with the euphonic name, returns with Rogue Legacy 2, a game where you play as a line of descendants - each with different abilities - as they fight through a procedurally generated world. You never know what you're going to get, but you do control how you tackle the world, so you can take things slow and easy to build up your character for the current run, or go bananas and try to get as deep as you can. While each player character is lost forever when they die, you can upgrade certain stats to give your child a better chance at survival. The new game offers an enhanced visual style, a new selection of weapons, and more environmental variety... as well as metroidvania elements that let you unlock new abilities to expand your exploration.




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

Test Flight: 1 Screen Platformer Prologue

1 Screen Platformer 2, from Return to Adventure Mountain, is the follow-up to the original 1 Screen Platformer, which was a platformer that took place on one screen (as you may have guessed). While the sequel still only occupies a single screen, there's more content this time around. First of all, the screen itself is larger, with a higher resolution environment, and eight playable characters as compared to five in the original. In the first game, there were minor changes to the environment based on which character you selected, but here those changes are much more pronounced. There are also online leaderboards for those of the speedrunning persuasion. The game kicks off with Nadia Stormhammer returning to her ship after the events of the first game, only to discover that something has gone wrong. You travel between different sections of the ship using such skills as performing high jumps, sticking to the ceiling, or blasting your gun downward to keep yourself aloft while you avoid popup spike traps, lasers, turrets, and other nasty traps.

The game is coming to PC later this year, but a playable demo entitled 1 Screen Platformer: Prologue is now available on Steam, offering one level and one character.


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

July 14, 2020

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