Platformer
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Blood Dungeon Is A Survivors-Like For People Who Don’t Like Vampire Survivors
Blood Dungeon is a new "survivors-like" game from developer Messhof that aims to improve upon the formula popularized by Vampire Survivors. While Vampire Survivors is criticized for its passive gameplay and uninspired aesthetics, Blood Dungeon incorporates traditional platforming mechanics, a distinct hand-drawn art style, and a strong sense of personality to create a more engaging and interactive experience.
Marsupilami 2: Salsa Palombia launch trailer – platforming sequel appears on Nintendo Switch
Marsupilami 2: Salsa Palombia, a 2D platformer sequel developed by Ocellus Services and published by Microids, has launched on Nintendo Switch with a new trailer. The game features vibrant worlds, local co-op, and challenges players to save Palombia from the Mummy Queen. A demo is also available on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series.
Weekend Discussion - September 5, 2026
This weekend discussion covers various topics including Dunkey trying Star Wars Zero Company, a promo for Abbott Elementary, Pablo Torre's commentary on the Dodgers, and a Pitch Meeting episode. It also features musical selections from Seth MacFarlane and encourages reader engagement via Shacknews Chatty and Discord.
Peak studio Aggro Crab is publishing a sick-looking platformer about a blue collar guy doing dirty work on an alien…
Aggro Crab is publishing Rebounder, a new sci-fi platformer with a distinctive comic book art style and challenging kaizo-inspired gameplay. The game focuses on blue-collar contract workers extracting resources on a remote lunar site and is targeting a 2027 release on PC.
Half of France's premier FPS sibling duo just put out the most exhilarating parkour game I've ever played, and…
Vholume is an exhilarating parkour game developed by Léonard Lemaitre, one half of the duo behind the FPS Straftat. It offers a thrilling blend of speed, precision, and exploration with mechanics like wallrunning and crouch sliding, making it a standout title for both casual players and speedrunners. The game is available for PC at $8.
September is always the best month for new video games - Reader’s Feature
This reader's feature reflects on September as a consistently strong month for video game releases, highlighting past favorites like Driver: San Francisco, Rayman Legends, Grand Theft Auto 5, Marvel's Spider-Man, Mafia: Definitive Edition, and Astro Bot. It also looks forward to upcoming titles such as Onimusha: Warlords, The Blood Of Dawnwalker, Marvel's Wolverine, Silent Hill: Townfall, Fire Emblem: Fortune’s Weave, and Control Resonant.
Let’s Stop Saying “Metroidvania”
This article argues against the continued use of the term "Metroidvania" to describe video game genres. The author contends that the term is too niche and inaccurate, requiring deep knowledge of two specific, decades-old game series. Instead, the piece suggests using more understandable descriptors for games that share characteristics with Metroid and Castlevania.
Mardrömsmaskinen har slutat mala – nu är det spelhelg!
Several individuals share their gaming plans for the weekend, spanning a variety of genres and platforms. Titles mentioned include Metal Gear Solid 4, Secret of Mana, Star Wars Jedi: Survivor, Fallout 3, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and StarCraft 2, among others, reflecting diverse tastes in retro and modern gaming.
Ravenous Greed announced for Nintendo Switch
Ravenous Greed, a new title from Lillymo Games, has been announced for Nintendo Switch with an early 2027 release window. The game blends platforming, shoot 'em up, and rhythm gameplay with a Game Boy-inspired aesthetic and soundtrack. It is designed to be more approachable than the studio's previous titles, featuring no game overs and a focus on continuous progression.
Ravenous Greed is all around us as Lillymo Games unveils Game Boy-inspired Green Series
Lillymo Games has announced the Green Series, a new collection of Game Boy-inspired releases that will reimagine existing and new intellectual properties. The series will debut with Ravenous Greed, a genre-hopping action game featuring platforming, shoot 'em up, and rhythm mechanics, scheduled for PC and consoles in early 2027. This initiative aims to capture the restrictive visual style of Nintendo's original handheld.
After 38 years, Konami's never-localized Castlevania-meets-Goonies NES crossover has returned as a Roblox clone
Konami has announced Wai Wai World Craft, a modern reimagining of its never-localized 1988 Famicom platformer Wai Wai World. This new version transforms the classic Castlevania-meets-Goonies concept into a user-generated content platform similar to Roblox, allowing players to create and share levels. The article expresses skepticism about the concept's market viability and limited tools compared to Roblox.
Side-scrolling adventure game Fall Up on the way to Nintendo Switch 2, Switch
The side-scrolling adventure game Fall Up is set to release on December 3, 2026, for Nintendo Switch and Nintendo Switch 2. Developed by Astrolabe Games and Unicellular Games, the game features a robot protagonist named Labi who can launch itself like a cannonball and use a Warp Ball for teleportation. Players will collect Batteries to unlock new areas and face unique puzzle-solving mechanics involving manipulating enemies.
Foxy's Run - A family friendly platformer in dev for the Amiga by Vairn
Foxy's Run is a family-friendly platformer in development for the Amiga by Vairn, featuring a fox navigating vibrant forest environments. An early playable version is available, requiring 1MB of chip RAM, and showcases traditional platforming mechanics across five maps with unique enemies and hidden gems.
Radiation Caterpillar Crawls Onto Xbox With A Very Strange Growth Problem
Radiation Caterpillar, a physics-based puzzle platformer, has launched on Xbox One and Xbox Series X|S for £5.79. Players control an alien caterpillar that grows by consuming radiation, but this growth can hinder navigation through increasingly challenging levels filled with physics-based puzzles and hazards. The game, developed by Sharkgame and published by Brainium Games, was previously available on PlayStation, Nintendo Switch, and PC.
Drive a train around an ash-covered world collecting ingredients for the last ever s'more as an anthropomorphic bird in the surreal and comically ominous Cinderline
Cinderline is a surreal walking simulator with platformer elements where players control a silent, anthropomorphic bird tasked with gathering ingredients for the last s'more. The game features a unique train mechanic for travel between towns and a comically ominous atmosphere, with a demo available on Steam.
Metroidvania Still Feels Like A Niche Genre That Deserves Better
Despite the enduring legacy of Metroid and Castlevania, the Metroidvania genre remains niche, lacking significant AAA support and blockbuster sales. While indie developers have kept the genre alive with titles like Hollow Knight: Silksong, the author argues it deserves more mainstream attention without becoming oversaturated.
Best New Xbox And Game Pass Games For September 2026
September 2026 is set to be a busy month for Xbox and Game Pass players, with a diverse lineup of new releases. Highlights include the dark fantasy RPG The Blood of Dawnwalker, Capcom's return to the samurai genre with Onimusha: Way of the Sword, and the survival-crafting spin-off RuneScape: Dragonwilds launching day one on Game Pass. Other notable titles include the horror game Halloween, the racing title Hot Wheels Infinite Rush, and Remedy's Control Resonant.
A 38-year-old NES platformer is getting a Steam remake by its original husband-and-wife team, as the pair's…
The original husband-and-wife development team behind the 1988 NES platformer The Battle of Olympus, Yukio Horimoto and Reiko Oshida, are creating a Steam remake under their studio Infinity Co. This "handcrafted Steam remake" will be released in early access in January 2027 and is described as the duo's final major game product.
Blood Dungeon review: DPS doodles
Blood Dungeon is a roguelike platformer from Messhof that features a fun, scribbled aesthetic and fast-paced platforming mechanics. However, the review criticizes its lack of meaningful build-crafting and emphasis on DPS checks, which ultimately makes long-term play feel like a chore despite its initial charm.
Shack Chat: What was your favorite reveal from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026?
Shacknews staff members shared their favorite reveals from Gamescom Opening Night Live 2026. Highlights included Stage Tour, LEGO Skylines, Mega Man Dual Override, The Witcher 3 Remastered, and Rainbow Six Tactics. Several staff members expressed particular excitement for LEGO Skylines, a new city-building game from Paradox Interactive.
