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

April 29, 2021

Target Acquired: Battle Axe

Henk Nieborg and Mike Tucker most recently teamed up on the arena-based sci-fi shooter Xeno Crisis. Now they're back with Battle Axe, an arcade-style actioner inspired by 80's and 90's fantasy adventures games, and it's all backed by music from famed composer Manami Matsumae. The game is set in the land of Mercia which has been held under the tyrannical rule of Etheldred for many years, until finally three champions from across the land rise up to face her: an elf, a wizard, and a marauder. The trio - each of whom have his or her own specialties - hack, slash, spellcast, and fire cannonballs (!) as they work their way through hordes of grotesque creatures and undead warriors, and players can go it alone or team up for 2P co-op.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, PS4 via PSN, Switch, and Xbox One.


April 28, 2021

Target Acquired: 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 now available for PC and Mac via Steam.

Target Acquired: 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 now available for PC via Steam

April 22, 2021

Target Acquired: Smelter

In Smelter, from X Plus (game tweets), you take on the role of Eve - as in the biblical Eve - on a mission to find Adam following the destruction of the Garden of Eden. Eve discovers a strange creature named Smelter who is able to transform and fuse with her body to give her new abilities. The game mixes action-platforming gameplay with city building strategy segments, not unlike another biblically-themed game: Actraiser. By building up your empire and taking over enemy territory, you unlock sidescrolling action levels where you fight enemies and bosses, and complete platforming challenges. Throughout her adventure, Eve acquires upgrades and new abilities, allowing her to unleash more powerful attacks, climb walls, and whip herself from platform to platform.

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

April 21, 2021

New Blip: Devastator

Devastator is the latest game from Radiangames, the studio that got its start with a series of stylish Xbox Live Indie Games, including JoyJoy, Crossfire 1 & 2, Inferno, Fluid, Fireball, and Ballistic. Since then, the developer has gone on to create a number of titles for modern platforms, as well as updates to some previous hits. Devastator captures a similar spirit with its stylish neon visuals, pulsing techno soundtrack, and frantic twin-stick shooting. You take on the role of the virus-eliminating Devastator program as it moves from wave to wave and level to level, blasting all manner of nasty buggers as they close in from every direction. Gameplay is fast and fluid with Robotron-style enemy destruction, wide-range explosions, and particles flying everywhere.

The game is coming to PC and unspecified consoles sometime later this year.

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

April 5, 2021

New Blip: Loot River

Loot River, from straka.studio, is a dungeon-shifting hack-and-slash roguelike actioner with intense bloody combat set in a dark world filled with sexy grotesque pixels. You have the power of an ancient relic that allows you to shift platforms beneath your feet and slide them around to solve spatial puzzles, traverse the environment, and aid you in combat. Rearrange platforms to lure enemies to your position, dodge attacks, and perform hit-and-run strikes. Along the way, you pick up new items and equipment, gain new abilities, and spend points to level up your stats. Turn baddies and bosses into blood sausage with an array of weapons, spells, and huge smashy blocks.

The game is coming to PC, Xbox One, and Xbox X/S, 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 2D Watchlist.

April 1, 2021

New Blip: Hippoxxus

Hippoxxus, from Rohan Patel, is a metroidvania starring an amnesiac teen who awakens aboard a gigantic spaceship. You explore a large interconnected world separated into themed biomes, avoiding traps, killing creatures, and blasting bosses along the way. There are nine weapons to be found on your journey, including a plasma blaster, a less accurate rapid fire repeater, and gun that shoots bouncing projectiles, and you're able to shoot in eight directions and lock your aim. The game features blobby, slithery, and spikey enemies - including the metroidvania staple wall-crawling Zoomer-like foes - all of which feature smooth hand-drawn animations. Oh, and there's a grappling hook for a dose of high-flying shenanigans.

The game is coming to PC but does not yet have an announced release date. A playable build is available on Itch.

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