Metanet Software has released a new update to their minimalist platformer N, which was originally released as a freeware game in 2004, followed by an improved paid release called N+ in 2008. N++ is the definitive – and final – game in the series, offering a continued refinement on the original formula. The new game will ++ you with more than two thousand hand-crafted levels (2,360 to be exact), including hundreds of entirely new levels, as well as cooperative, competitive, and race modes.
Songbringer, from Wizard Fu Games, is an action adventure inspired by The Legend of Zelda but set in a sci-fi universe. Players take control of a slender sword-wielding spacefarer named Roq Epimetheos as he slices his way through loads of devilish creatures, ancient technology gone awry, and nightmarish bosses. The game offers procedurally generated nonlinear worlds with loads of hidden areas to ensure that things are kept fresh for players on each run. Each new world is created with a unique overworld containing nine dungeons, each with their own bosses, as well as a set of items that can be used for crafting.
The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam, as well as and iOS at the end of this year.
To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.
Adventure in the Tower of Flight from Pixel Barrage is a retro-styled flight-based platformer. A young hero named Wing has decided to climb a gigantic tower containing five legendary artifacts of great power. Each of these relics grants him a new ability, allowing him to defeat enemies, solve environmental puzzles, and take on several large boss creatures. Boots allow him to dash to hit enemies in the air and break certain blocks; a new sword gives him stronger attacks and the ability to defeat armored enemies; and a bow and arrows let him hit distant targets and flip switches. Players are able to fly freely in any direction... thus the taller-than-usual screen aspect ratio.
The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam. Check our full coverage here.
Olympia Rising, by developer Paleozoic, features an undead girl named Iola who must fight her way through the Underworld to eventually escape and reach Mount Olympus. The heroine is quit agile and is able to perform great aerial feats, jumping from walls, double jumping, spin attacking enemies, and dashing from one foe to the next without setting foot on solid ground. She can also use magic to cast fire, water, and air-based attacks to take down various baddies and creatures of Greek myth.
Olympia Rising was just released for PC and Mac via Steam.
Haven't heard of Rad Raygun? That's probably because you missed out on the wild playground of indie development that was known as Xbox Live Indie Games. Fear not, true believers, because the best games of XBLIG have been slowly and surely making their way to Steam, often with enhancements... such as Super Rad Raygun from TRU FUN Entertainment. The game is a love letter to handheld gaming and the glorious and terrible Reagan era that taught kids to hate Russkies and love hair metal. In this game, you play the part of an anthropomorphized Game Boy with a Mega Man-style arm cannon (among many other Mega Man influences). The game's progression and ability upgrades are tied to a battery system, allowing the player to earn new environmental navigation abilities and increase his firepower... but the player must balance this, as beefing up one power takes away from the others, and it's possible to drain your batteries too quickly and leave yourself defenseless. Fortunately, players can adjust these settings at will. Expect loads of video game and general 80's references
Starship Rubicon was originally released in 2014, but it has just arrived on Steam with a sizeable update and Linux support. A fighter pilot and her mildly deranged AI companion fight to avenge the recently destroyed earth in a roguelike actioner that mixes FTL tactics and upgrades with player-controlled space battles. The update includes a new gravity gun, an improved ship editor, a level editor, and some new mod tools. The developer has promised Steam keys to anyone who previously purchased the game via their Humble Widget, Itch.io, or Desura. Check our full coverage here.
Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition (a.k.a. Mighty Switch Force HD) is a high definition re-release of the original Mighty Switch Force! on 3DS (2011) with redrawn HD graphics. The game has all of the content of the original release and also offers a new set of remixed "Hyper" levels with tougher layouts and more difficult environmental puzzles. The Hyper Drive Edition was originally released on Wii U in 2012 and is now available on PC. The game stars Patricia Wagon as she switches between dimensions to arrest escaped convicts, causing blocks to alternate between solid and transparent in order to complete puzzle-platforming challenges.
The PC version of Mighty Switch Force! Hyper Drive Edition is now available on PC via Steam. Check our full coverage here.
Tembo the Badass Elephant is a joint project between the houses of Pokemon and Sonic the Hedgehog... namely Game Freak and Sega. Sega's platforming pedigree is well established, but Game Freak has some experience here as well, with titles like Pulseman (published by Sega) and Drill Dozer. The game stars, you guessed it, a badass elephant named Tembo who can dash through enemies with his horns, butt stomp his way through skyscrapers, and generally cause massive destruction, for which he earns glowy golden peanuts. Tembo is on a rampage to destroy the evil Phantom Army that threatens Shell City. He does this by bashing his way through tanks, helicopters, and infantry, and destroying practically everything in his path.
The game is coming to PC via Steam on July 21, followed by PS4 and Xbox One.
To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.
SturmFront - The Mutant War, from Andrade Games, is a top-down run-and-gun shooter where you play as a SturmFront cyborg battle unit in a war against mutants. The game is inspired by classic top-down arcade shooters like Commando, Mercs, Outzone, and Shock Troopers, borrowing from the conventions established in those titles and adding in a dash of bullet hell. Players vigorously blast ugly mutants and gnarly bosses across five levels with 8-way fire, weapon powerups, and a flamethrower, setting off explosions and sending sprays of mutant blood across the landscape.
The game is now available for PC via Itch.io as a pay-what-you-want title. Check our coverage here.
The Aquatic Adventure of the Last Human, from YCJY Games, features a submariner travelling through the gloomy and desaturated world beneath the ocean's surface as he explores the ruins of civilization following humanity's extinction. In this metroidvania adventure, the player pilots a hybrid spaceship/submarine and attempts to determine what happened to mankind, all the while fighting off creatures of the deep, including large bosses. The underwater theme comes as a result of ocean levels rising due to climate change, as well as a number of other issues facing the human race in the 30th century. The submarine comes equipped with a harpoon as its primary weapon, and players earn upgrades as they explore the environment - including torpedoes, thrusters, shields, and even a chainsaw - allowing them to deal with stronger enemies and push their way farther into the depths.
The game is expected to release for PC on Steam later this month (July), and a demo is currently available via the developer's website.
To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.
After two years in development Odallus: The Dark Call has an official release date. Developed by Joymahser, creators of the fantastic retro actioner Oniken, Odallus is coming to PC via Steam, Humble Store, and GOGJuly 15.
Odallus: The Dark Call fits comfortably into the Metroidvania genre, featuring action with a deliberate pace, a focus on exploration, and ability-enhancing powerups as the primary means of progression. You begin your adventure equipped with a sword that allows you to slash while standing, running, jumping, or ducking. In addition to the usual slaughtering of thine enemies, it can be used to destroy blocks and incoming projectiles. You also have a variable height 2x jump, a ledge grab, and the ability to push medium-sized blocks.
A number of secondary projectile weapons are available as well, which can be gained by opening treasure chests. These include a torch, an axe, and a spear. Secondary weapons have limited uses, and a maximum number that can be carried at any given time, although your maximum allotment can be upgraded by finding larger weapon bags. As in the traditional 8-bit Castlevania titles, secondary weapons are used by pressing UP and ATTACK rather than being assigned to their own button.
Check out our full preview here.
The Swindle started development and then got cancelled, but then it got un-cancelled and totally revamped by developer Size Five Games, best known for Ben There, Dan That and Time Gentlemen, Please (back when they were called Zombie Cow Studios... even their name got cancelled). The Swindle mixes steampunk and cyberpunk together with 1849 London acting as the game's setting, but still with hacking and body modification stuff that typically resides in the realm of science fiction. This is a heist game where the goal is to break into various procedurally-generated facilities, hack them, and make off with all of their money. Money lets you upgrade your dirigible and outfit your thief with new skills and better equipment, allowing you to take on bigger jobs.
The game is headed for PC via Steam, as well as PS3, PS4, Vita, Wii U and Xbox One at the end of this month (July).
To find more promising 2D games currently under development, be sure to check out our Master List.
Tic Toc Games introduces Pip, a single pixel with the ability to absorb the pixels of his enemies to evolve into a little boy of ever-increasing pixel resolution. But these transformations are more than cosmetic changes; they grant the player new abilities. The single pixel form has limited movement abilities but can fit into small areas. The 8-bit boy can run, wall jump, and jab, and the 16-bit version can break blocks, push heavy objects, and use weapons. Players can purposely revert to a lower resolution as well, giving off a shockwave in the process that damages enemies and breaks certain blocks. Adventures of Pip is a platformer with some light puzzle solving elements.
Adventures of Pip was just released for PC and Mac via Steam and Wii U via the eShop, with future releases planned for PS4, Xbox One, and Xbox 360. Check our full coverage here.
The folks over at Spooky Squid Games are giving players a reason to return to their Lovecraftian action horror experience with the Crimson Update. First off, the new version of the game is more hardware friendly... The game was originally a PC exclusive, but it chugged a bit on low-spec machines despite its simple visuals. The Crimson Update adds Mac and Linux support and a 60 fps framerate on netbooks and older hardware.
The update also includes a number of new graphics options and increases the blood and particle effects. In addition, the update introduces several new themed bonus levels, as well as some easier levels for the game's new Novice Mode. The game now has enhanced leaderboard support with the ability to record and share your best runs.
If you already own the game, all of these updates come at no cost, or you can always go snag a copy from Steam. For more gameplay details, check our original coverage here. The video below outlines the changes introduced in the Crimson Update, along with some accompanying gameplay footage... and an unfortunate sacrifice:
