New Blip: Rogue Legacy 2

Rogue Legacy was a pretty big hit, so what do you do when that happens? You make another one! Cellar Door Games, the studio with the euphonic name, returns with Rogue Legacy 2, a game where you play as a line of descendants - each with different abilities - as they fight through a procedurally generated world. You never know what you're going to get, but you do control how you tackle the world, so you can take things slow and easy to build up your character for the current run, or go bananas and try to get as deep as you can. While each player character is lost forever when they die, you can upgrade certain stats to give your child a better chance at survival. The new game offers an enhanced visual style, a new selection of weapons, and more environmental variety... as well as metroidvania elements that let you unlock new abilities to expand your exploration.

The game is coming to Steam and Epic Store early access for PC on July 23.




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

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Target Acquired: Ultracore

Ultracore is a eurostyle shooter created by Digital Illusions (now known as DICE) that was originally intended for release on the Amiga, Sega Genesis, and Sega CD back in 1994 under the name of Hardcore, but it got cancelled in a nearly-finished state and sat on a disused hard drive until it gained new life in 2019 thanks to ININ Games and Strictly Limited Games. Using a Genesis dev kit and collaborating with some of the original developers, the game was finally released as a pack-in ROM for the Analogue Mega SG before finally receiving a physical Sega Genesis release from Strictly Limited Games. And now the game is also available for other modern platforms with some control tweaks to allow for dual analogue shooting action. You must blast your way through five huge levels filled with robotic baddies and bosses, turning them into exploding sprays of particles as you try to find Captain Vance's secret hideout and stop him from destroying your homeworld. Along the way, you'll encounter numerous upgradeable weapons to help you deliver maximum firepower while you hunt through branching levels for secrets.

The game was originally released for Sega Genesis and is now available for PS4 via PSN and Switch via eShop, and a Vita version is in development as well. Check our coverage here.

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New Blip: Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2

Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon 2 is the follow-up to the original Bloodstained: Curse of the Moon, which was an homage to Castlevania III that was created as part of the campaign for Koji “Iga” Igarashi's Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Well, Iga is back and has once again teamed up with Inti Creates (Azure Striker Gunvolt, Blaster Master Zero) to create a new game starring the demon-slaying exorcist, Zangetsu, this time with an all new set of allies. Joining him in his quest are Dominique, a spear-wielding healer; Robert, an assassin with access to guns and grenades; and Hachi, who brings the fight to baddies with a magic-powered mech suit. As before, you can choose to go it alone or add any of these folks to the roster of playable characters to fight your way through gothic creatures and gigantic bosses, now with 100% more Konami solar flares.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One "soon".




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

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New Blip: Gonner 2

Gonner 2 (a.k.a. GONNER2), from developer Art in Heart, is a follow-up to the original Gonner, a procedurally-generated platformer -slash- roguelike. The first game was good - and hard - so if you enjoyed that one, and you want something else that's good and hard, then you'll probably want to check this out. You once again take on the role of Ikk in a procedural/roguelike world, and this time around, Death's lair has been overrun by... well, by something worse than Death. Levels are filled with fast action, pretty explosions, psychedelic colors, chaotic bombardment by enemies and projectiles, and wackadoodle bosses. Just be careful not to lose your head, because that's a thing that can totally happen, and you'll probably die quickly if it gets knocked off.

The game is coming to PC later this year.




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

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Target Acquired: Plokoth

Plokoth is a precision platformer created by a team of four student developers: Jan Gihr, Sam Rassy, Juli Kralik, and Jonas Ellermann. The game stars Plo on a mission to save his girlfriend, Oth, from a terrible disease that has overcome her... and many other members of their tribe. The game centers around performing jumps, wall jumps, and air dashes to maneuver through three dangerous environments. As the game goes on, the air dashing mechanic is permuted upon in a variety of ways, granting additional dashes in midair as the player touches floating fruits, along with fruits embedded in gelatinous blocks, and eventually hitting moving targets. The game is designed to be completed in a single play session in under an hour.

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

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

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Target Acquired: Alwa's Legacy

In 2017, Elden Pixels released Alwa's Awakening, a metroidvania done up in the graphical style of the 8-bit era. The game stars Zoe, a heroine who is summoned from another world to save the land of Alwa from the evil Vicar by using her magical powers. Alwa's Legacy marks the return of Zoe - who doesn't remember visiting Alwa before - and she must once again save the land with her magic, but this time her spells can be upgraded for new effects. As before, the world is open and players can use magic to combat enemies and to navigate the environment, such as creating blocks that can be knocked into enemies, or creating bubbles that can be ridden upward to reach high platforms. Of course, Zoe can smack enemies with her magical staff to cause melee damage, which can also be enhanced with magic. The visuals have been given an overhaul as well, with the new game appearing more in line with the 16-bit era.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG, and it will be coming to Switch soon.

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New Blip: Gestalt: Steam & Cinder

Gestalt: Steam & Cinder, from Metamorphosis Games, is a steampunk action-adventure starring Aletheia. She is one of many adventurers who are exploring the dark secrets of Canaan, a steam-powered city that is home to the last remnants of humanity. You battle your way through robotic contraptions, strange creatures, and huge bosses as you attempt to subvert the schemes of the city's overlords, with humanity's fate hanging in the balance. Aletheia navigates the environment and tackles enemies using double jumps, dodge rolls, and dive kicks, as she slashes through foes with melee strikes and sometimes makes use of a revolver to strike from a distance. The game offers story-driven gameplay, an upgrade system to improve your stats, and a colorful world filled with detailed sprite art and animations.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One later this year.




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

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Target Acquired: Resolutiion

In Resolutiion, from Monolith of Minds, you take on the role of an amnesiac assassin accompanied by an artificial intelligence in a surreal world packed with baddies and dangerous creatures. You slash through enemies, take on bosses, and occasionally run away from gigantic subterranean kittens. Along the way, you discover new weapons and items that allow you to attack enemies from a distance and open up new routes for exploration.

The game is now available for PC, Mac, and Linux via Steam and GOG, and Switch via eShop. Check our coverage here.

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New Blip: Cogen: Sword of Rewind

Cogen: Sword of Rewind (a.k.a. COGEN:大鳥こはくと刻の剣), from Gemdrops Game Studios, is a melee action game starring Kohaku Ootori as she fights robotic enemies in Cogen City, and uncovers its mysteries. As the title suggests, Kohaku wields a sword (a talking sword to be more precise) that has the power to rewind time, allowing her to reverse time to correct mistakes or save her own life. The sword is also her primary means of dealing with enemies and obstacles, as she can smash through certain blocks, slash baddies and bosses, and deflect enemy projectiles back at them. Music for the game was composed by Motoi Sakuraba, who previously composed for several games in the Tales of series and Dark Souls series, and numerous other games, with credits going back to the late 80's.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, and Switch later this year.




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

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New Blip: Linked Mask

Linked Mask, from Spoonman Games, is a Game Boy-style platformer set in a wasteland where six grand towers have been erected, each of which is home to a deity that is worshiped by the people below. Each tower also contains a mask that grants control over one of the elements, and it is up to you to acquire each of these masks, defeat the deities who guard them, and free the masses from their rule. Each time you acquire a mask, you gain a new weapon and environmental traversal skill, which allows you to revisit previous towers and discover new areas. Players can jet through the air between electrical nodes, jump up along vertical surfaces, and smash through blocks.

The game is coming to PC this Fall. 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 2D Watchlist.

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New Blip: Foregone

Foregone, from Big Blue Bubble, is an action-platformer set in the city of Calagan, which finds itself under siege by legion of reanimated dead known as the Harrow. You take on the role of a super soldier who must protect the city while investigating the Harrow's origins. The game mixes melee and gun-based combat - and even a bow and arrows - for fast action through a world filled with deadly enemies and huge bosses, which feature smooth 3D-to-2D animations. The player acquires new weapons along his journey and is able to unleash powerful overdrive attacks, as well as upgrade his abilities through a skill tree.

The game is coming to PC, PS4, Switch, and Xbox One on October 5. The game is currently available for PC via Epic Store 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: Haak

Haak, from Blingame, is a dark post-apocalyptic metroidvania. The game features a focus on fast combat and acrobatic movement as the cape-wearing protagonist performs jumps, air dashes, and ground slides to navigate the environment and fight enemies. His unique weapon is an electric hook that he can use to attack enemies, deflect projectiles, activate switches, and grab onto floating grapple points to fling himself into the air. Enemies come in mostly robotic forms, and there are dangers in the environment as well, including crumbling platforms, electrical beams, and crushers. Along the way, he interacts with NPC's to learn more about the world and take on various side quests.

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

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New Blip: Lords of Exile

Lords of Exile, from Squidbit Works, is an action platformer set in the Far East during an ancient period when dark creatures still walked the land, ruled by the evil Galagar. You take on the role of a cursed knight named Sir Gabriel, who must fight back the oncoming hordes and avenge the death of his wife, who was killed at Galagar's hand. Gameplay takes place across eight linear levels, each ending in a boss encounter. You are able to strike with your sword and use a number of throwing weapons, in addition to dashing, jumping, and performing downward stabs. Furthermore, your curse allows you to summon the shadows that possess you, offering protection, healing, or a screen-clearing attack. The game offers a reduced color palette and chiptune soundtrack, offering an aesthetic that falls somewhere between the 8- and 16-bit console generations.

The game is coming to PC, Mac, and Switch later this year, and may be ported to PS4 and Xbox One at a later date.




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

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