Target Acquired: Them's Fightin' Herds

Once upon a time, developer Mane6 was working on a fighting game called Fighting is Magic, featuring characters from My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic television series, but development on that game has since ceased (and desisted). Interestingly, one of the television show's creators, Lauren Faust, was following the game's development and offered to join the team and create new original characters for the game. As a result, the newly-titled Them's Fightin' Herds has an entirely new roster of seven four-legged fighters engaged in cutesy 1-on-1 battle against one another, and it has been successfully funded via an Indiegogo campaign that raised more than $500,000. This is a 4-button fighter with light, medium, heavy, and magic attacks, as well as combos, juggling, and super attacks, as well as a story mode for each fighter.

The game just came out of early access and is now available on PC via Steam

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Target Acquired: Streets of Rage 4

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

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

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Target Acquired: Terra Lander II - Rockslide Rescue

Terra Lander II - Rockslide Rescue, from DM Media, is a gravity-based spaceship game inspired by genre classics like Lunar Lander, Gravitar, Thrust, and Oids. You must pilot a ship down into the depths of several planetoids and rescue the humanoids trapped below. Along the way, you encounter enemy turrets, proximity mines, and rockslides. Tumbling rocks can hit your ship - which is protected by a shield - or they can block your path and prevent you from reaching the people in need of rescue. Fortunately, your ship is equipped with a tractor beam, allowing you to haul big rocks out of the way to continue your mission. You'll also need to keep an eye on your fuel, which may be replenished by destroying fuel pods spread around the environment, because if you run out... you crash and burn.

The game is now available on PC via Steam. Check our coverage of this game and Terra Lander Remastered here.

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Target Acquired: ITTA

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

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

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New Blip: Waju

Waju, from Gabriel Priske, is a colorful platformer where you take on the role of a plucky robot as it explores the overgrown landscape of some unknown future. The robot's special ability allows it to jump up and stick to most surfaces, and then kick away from them. This ability is used to climb to higher points in the environment, knock objects out of the way to clear a path, send enemy projectiles flying back at them, and knock into enemies to damage them. The player can even bounce off of enemies and projectiles to use them as platforms and reach higher areas. Players must be mindful, however, as some objects - like drill bits - will hurt if they to grab them. Throughout the adventure, the robot earns new abilities, such as an air dash, to aid in combat and environmental navigation. The game features some lovely artwork, charming enemy designs, and cartoony animations, with a mixture of 2D environment art and 3D characters.

The game is being developed for PC but it does not yet have an announced release date. A demo is available on Itch.




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

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Target Acquired: Shadow Gangs

Shadow Gangs, from JKM Corp (game tweets) is an arcade-style ninja action game heavily inspired by the Shinobi series, while stepping things up visually by offering detailed and vivid character art. You take on the role of a martial artist named Dan whose family has been kidnapped by the nefarious Shadow Gangs, so you take to the streets to beat their asses one at a time. By default, you toss shuriken - which are in infinite supply - and you can kick enemies when they get in close. However, by grabbing an "N" powerup icon, you transform into the Crimson Ninja, slashing enemies with a sword and blasting them with an Uzi. You begin on the mean streets of New York, but your travels take you to multiple locales, including wooded areas, caves, deserts, bamboo forests in Japan, and a robot factory. But the journey is not easy... modeled after arcade quarter-munchers, the difficulty level is high and death awaits you at every turn, so you'll need to hone your ninja skills in order to experience the later levels.

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

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New Blip: Greak: Memories of Azur

Greak: Memories of Azur, from Navegante, is a sidescrolling action platformer where a single player alternates between three characters. You take on the roles of Greak, Adara, and Raydel, a trio of siblings who attempt to escape the Urlag Invasion by assembling a zeppelin. Each character has their own abilities, with Greak taking on the lead role - even though he is the youngest - and he starts out on his own before meeting up with his brother and sister. Greak can slash through enemies with his sword, and his small size allows him to reach areas that his siblings cannot. Adara uses projectile magic to hit enemies from a distance, and her ability to levitate makes her ideal for environmental exploration. Finally, there is Raydel, the oldest of the three, who is the brute of the bunch with a longsword and shield, as well as a hookshot that allows him to overcome the weight of his equipment to get around the environment. The game offers some nice lighting and particle effects, as well as lovely animations for the characters and enemies... which may be sliced in half or smashed into goo.

The game is coming to Switch later this year, and possibly to other platforms.




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

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New Blip: Hunt the Night

Hunt the Night, from Moonlight Games, is an action-adventure set in a dark and ravaged world. You are a member of an order called The Stalkers, and you traverse the world, battle monsters, and clear trap- and puzzle-filled dungeons. Boss encounters require a strategic approach, with multi-phase battles that require the player to learn attack patterns and weak points in order to overcome them. You are able to attack with a sword, cast spells, fire numerous projectile types, and dodge incoming attacks, and you have tools at your disposal for environmental traversal, such as a hookshot-like device that lets you cross gaps, and the ability to pass through certain objects using dark energy. You can alter your weapons and armor as the situation demands and upgrade them to take advantage of their enhancements, including explosive impact and life draining effects. The game is styled after 16-bit console games and features music from Hiroki Kikuta, composer for numerous classic games, including Secret of Mana.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, Linux, PS4, and Switch but it 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.

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New Blip: Aeon Drive

Aeon Drive is the latest from 2Awesome Studio, who most recently developed Dimension Drive. Aeon Drive is a follow-up to Dimension Drive and takes place immediately following the events of that game. The space pilot Jackelyne - or Jack for short - is shot down and crash lands in the dangerous crime-ridden city of New Barna (Barna being what the locals call Barcelona). This is a cyberpunk parallel universe version of Barcelona and there are lots of folks who don't take kindly to Jack's presence, but she must fight her way through them lest her disintegrating dimension drive destruct and wipe out this entire alternate reality. This time around, Jack sets out on foot, leaving her trusty ship behind, but she becomes more adept at environmental navigation and combat as she gains the ability to teleport and manipulate the flow of time. Her primary tool is a dagger that lets her fight enemies, but she can also toss the dagger and immediately teleport herself to its position, allowing for unique combat and traversal.

The game is coming to PC later this year, and is planned for consoles as well.




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

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New Blip: 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 coming to PC soon. 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.

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New Blip: Necrofugitive

In Necrofugitive, from Black Garden Studios, you take on the role of a shapeshifting villain who has just escaped from prison. Now, you're on the run as guards and bounty hunters relentlessly chase you from the dungeons, through the castle, across the rooftops of the neighboring village, and out into the countryside. In your default form, you use a set of large claws to slash away at your pursuers who wield swords, halberds, crossbows, and bows and arrows, and you can also draw enemies toward you with a whip. But your most powerful weapon is your ability to change forms, and when you transform into the gigantic Slaughter Demon (um, hell yes), you can slash your way through dozens of enemies with ease, and even summon a small army of demons to assist you in your fight... oh, and the Slaughter Demon can breathe fire in case you were wondering.

The game is coming to PC in October of 2021.




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

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New Blip: Pushy and Pully in Blockland

Pushy and Pully in Blockland, from Resistance Studio, is a 1P or 2P cooperative arcade-style game, taking place in 50 levels across five themed environments. The game's protagonists, Pushy and Pully, are zipping through space when they have a problem with their spaceship that causes them to land on a planet called Blockland, which is populated by many monsters and even more blocks. The game centers around pushing blocks in an arena, similar to the gameplay of Sega's classic Pengo. Players can push individual blocks into enemies, squashing them against the walls, or press against groups of blocks to break them one at a time. Lining up three blocks of the same color causes them to disappear and also leaves behind special items, such as bombs that can be pushed across the screen to cause explosions. The arenas are colorful, as are their various enemies, all of which must be defeated in order to move from one arena to the next. At the end of each themed area is a boss encounter, and defeating bosses allows Pushy and Pully to collect parts for their broken spaceship.

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




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

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New Blip: Something Ate My Alien

Something Ate My Alien, from Rokabium Games, is a digging-based puzzle platformer that appears to take inspirations from the Steamworld Dig series (which is totally fine given that those are the best digging-based puzzle platformers you can buy). You take on the role of an AI-infused robot named Antalasia who travels from planet to planet digging up treasures for a pirate who has hijacked it. Along the way, you blast your way through the local fauna, solve block-pushing puzzles (yeah, that's a bullet point), and avoid environmental hazards like corrosive substances, falling rocks, and flame traps, all while dealing with an ever-depleting oxygen supply (because robots needs oxygen?). You have six weapons at your disposal and you can collect items and energy to build and upgrade guns, mining equipment, oxygen tanks, and jetpacks.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux in June. Check the new trailer that just released today:




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

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New Blip: Kingdom Shell

Kingdom Shell, from Cup of Pixels, is a metroidvania done up in a stark 16-bit style. The Kingdom was once protected by a shell, but it has been broken, allowing corrupting forces and dark creatures to spill forth and attack the citizenry, even overrunning The Brotherhood that was sworn to protect it. Desperate, they reach out to Elias, a half man / half demon criminal who might just have the power to save them all. Elias travels through the Kingdom, assists its inhabitants, and fights back grotesque monsters and demon bosses with melee and projectile weapons.

The game is coming to PC soon.




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

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