New Blip: Ancient Abyss

Ancient Abyss, from Screambox Studio, is a Zelda-like roguelike hack-and-slash(-like) where you descend into... well an ancient abyss presumably. As you explore a procedurally-generated labyrinth, you gain strength and gather items to help you descend further, per genre conventions. You take on the role of a ponytailed lass who explores a dangerous world by running, rolling, and swimming her way through overgrown environments and ancient contraptions, while learning new skills that allow her to reach hidden areas and previously inaccessible treasures. Along the way, she engages in combat with enemies and bosses using a variety of weapons, including swords, hammers, firearms, throwable bombs, and even her fists.

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

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

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Target Acquired: Summer Catchers

Summer Catchers, from FaceIT and Noodlecake Studios, is a road trip game about a northlander who has never experienced summer, and so she sets out on an adventure to find it. She starts by driving a rickety hand-made car through the procedurally generated wintry woods, bashing through obstructions, jumping over pits of ice, and boosting over hills... and this is done in a deck-builder style with abilities dealt to the player, which may be used or discarded in favor of another random draw. Along the way, she makes many friends, each of whom has tasks that she must help them complete before she can move on, but she can write them letters from the road. As she moves across the plains, the desert, and even lava-filled caves, she encounters new obstacles and objectives that she must navigate by using her bag of tools. The endless runner-style gameplay offers a fair amount of randomness and relies a bit on luck, but it's a generally casual experience - outside of some boss encounters - where players are always making progress toward their end goal.

The game has been out for a while on PC and Mac via Steam, iOS via App Store, and Android via Google Play, but it's newly available on Switch via eShop and supports a controller or touchscreen interface. Check our coverage here.

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Target Acquired: Adventure Bit

Adventure Bit, from Seep, is an MSX-style action platformer starring Harry and Lana, a pair of adventurers hunting for treasure in an ancient Aztec temple. Armed with only a whip, you take on 96 single-screen environments across six difficulty settings that slowly unlock as you play, starting out very easy and then escalating to a expert levels. Standing in your way are snakes, bats, mummies, and armed guards, and numerous traps, along with some pesky ghosts that can only be destroyed with fire. Interspersed throughout the temple are treasure rooms that award 1UPs if you are quick enough, and every level contains a valuable crystal skull. Play alone or with a friend in local 2P co-op.

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

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New Blip: Kitsune Tails

Kitsune Tails is the result of a collaboration between Kitsune Games (Super Bernie World) and MidBoss LLC (2064: Read Only Memories). This is a game about Japanese mythology, a love of Super Mario Bros. 3, and diverse gender relationships. You take on the role of a fox-eared, purple-haired, puffy-tailed kitsune girl who sets out on an adventure through a colorful world. Along your journey, you'll hop across platforms, bop enemies on the head, and make use of costumes that change your abilities... including a shark, a dragon, a ninja, and even an outfit that looks very much like Kuribo's shoe. You'll explore five themed worlds and numerous haunted houses, facing off against enemies and bosses, and picking up objects and enemies to overcome environmental challenges.

The game is coming to PC, Linux, PS4, and PS5 in Winter of 2022.

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

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New Blip: 玄女诛魔录

玄女诛魔录, or Xuán Nǚ Zhū Mó Lù, is a metroidvania from developer 青岛三脚猫工作室 (Qīngdǎo sānjiǎo māo gōngzuò shì). You take on the role of a demon-slaying warrior goddess known as Jiutian Xuannü as she travels through six themed worlds searching for the answer to an ancient mystery. The game features hand-painted art and animations, paired with flashy effects that add life to the action. Jiutian Xuannü is a capable heroine who can dash, double jump, and climb through the environment, and she uses her sword and magic spells to fight dozens of demonic enemy types and boss creatures. She can perform combos to slash her way through enemies and obstacles, or use balls of flame to hit targets at a distance, and she meets NPC's that aid her in her journey.

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

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

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New Blip: Revita

Revita, from Ben Star, is a roguelike actioner with chunky visuals, fast gameplay, and twin-stick controls. You take on the role of an amnesiac in search of their lost memories as you climb a procedurally-generated clock tower while fighting your way through enemies and bosses... and you're sent back to the bottom if you fail. In addition to twin-stick shootery, you can also perform air dashes and wall slides, and you can find run-specific powerups to unleash more firepower... eventually reaching ridiculous levels of bullet fury. Along the way, you'll encounter a cast of characters who may be able to aid you on your travels.

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

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

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