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

January 25, 2023

New Blip: KOTOMASHO: I Can't Believe This NEET Guy Turned Into a Magical Girl!

WalGallen presents KOTOMASHO: I Can't Believe This NEET Guy Turned Into a Magical Girl!... or just KOTOMASHO if you don't have enhanced lung capacity. The game stars a slacker guy named Genji who - as you might expect from the title - gets transformed into a magical girl. Gone are the days of lounging around in his apartment playing VR games, as he takes on the persona of Miyu and embarks on a quest to rescue her sisters and save the world from nightmares. Miyu is joined by her new feline companion named Yumeko as she explores the overworld, overcomes handcrafted and procedurally-generated dungeons, solves puzzles, fights enemies, and gains new magical abilities. This is a GBC-style anime-influenced action adventure along the lines of The Legend Of Zelda Link's Awakening, but with a full-on RPG levelling system in lieu of hunting for heart pieces.

The game is coming to PC but does not yet have an announced release date. A demo is available via Steam and Itch.

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

January 22, 2023

Target Acquired: UnderDungeon

UnderDungeon is the latest from Josyan, which features some of the developers behind Alex Kidd in Miracle World DX. You take on the role of a plucky slacker named Kimuto, who just started working as a delivery driver for the town of town of Kutopia. Unfortunately, the area has been overrun by monsters, so making deliveries can be a bit challenging, but Kimuto has a magic sword to defend himself... and he gains plenty of new weapons and items on his adventure. The game takes inspirations from The Legend of Zelda with its linked room dungeons, and Minit with its 1-bit visuals. You fight your way through enemies and bosses, engage in some silly NPC interactions (including with the Grim Reaper!), discover hidden rooms, and even play a few minigames along the way.

The game is now available for PC via Steam and Itch, Switch via eShop, and Xbox One and X/S via Microsoft Store. Check our coverage here.

January 18, 2023

New Blip: Risk of Rain Returns

Risk of Rain returns in... Risk of Rain Returns, a remaster of the original roguelike actioner from Hopoo Games. You take on the role of a survivor from a crashed cargo ship who must fight their way through an increasingly hostile environment. The original game featured a single character at the start, with additional playable survivors available to unlock, and the remastered version features brand new survivors for the updated adventure, along with 4P online and offline co-op... in case want to bring some pals along for the massacre. Collect items, weapons, and buffs to steadily increase your power as you face enemies from every direction that become more powerful as time clicks by, and then you still have to take down some menacing boss monsters. Fans of the 3D sequel will notice some content from Risk of Rain 2, and fans of the original 2D outing will notice upgraded art, new sound effects, and new music tracks.

The game is coming to PC and Switch later this year.

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

January 12, 2023

Target Acquired: Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider

Vengeful Guardian: Moonrider is the latest retro-style actioner from the crew at Joymasher, the studio with a decade-long pedigree of retro-inspired hits including Oniken, Odallus: The Dark Call, and Bazing Chrome. In the future, people have fallen victim to a dictatorial rule, oppressed by an army of unstoppable super soldiers... but one such soldier defies its creators and becomes humanity's last hope. You take on the role of this Moonrider as it makes use of enhanced ninja movement, weapons, and combat abilities to break the bonds of totalitarian rule. Inspired by the classics of the 16-bit era, the game features fast combat, chunky visuals, over-the-top boss encounters, and a guitar-heavy soundtrack.

The game is now available for PC via Steam, Switch via eShop, and PS4 and PS5 via PSN. Check our coverage here.

January 4, 2023

New Blip: Earthblade

Earthblade is the latest from Extremely OK Games, the studio behind TowerFall and a little precision platformer you may have heard of called Celeste. So what do you do after creating one of the decade's most lauded indie gems? You go on to create an open world actioner set on Earth. But Earth has changed a bit from what you may remember from... well, earlier today. The planet has fallen to ruin and is now filled with poisoned water and rampaging beasts. You take on the role of Névoa, a child of Fate who explores the planet - and combats its monsters - in hopes of learning what happened to the world she once called home. Perform platforming feats, explore vast environments, slash enemies with your trusty blade, and speak with Earth's remaining inhabitants to reveal the planet's hidden past.

The game is headed to PC, but you've got a while to wait, since it isn't slated for release until 2024.

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