The Rocky Horror Show is a 1970s comedy horror musical by Richard O'Brien that was adapted into a movie titled The Rocky Horror Picture Show in 19?75. Over the years, this film ??gained a huge following and became a cult classic, mostly thanks to Tim Curry's breakout performance.

Because of its theme and genre, this is not the type of project that we would expect to see adapted into a video game in 2024, let alone into a retro-style action platformer. But this is precisely what UK-based studio FreakZone Games just announced, and it looks surprisingly good.

Simply titled The Rocky Horror Video Game, this a 2D side-scroller in which players will control protagonists Janet and Brad in an exciting adventure that will feature catchy 8-bit renditions of classic songs from the original musical. It seems other characters, like Dr. Everett V. Scott in his wheelchair, will also be playable. It's evident that the developers made this game as an homage to classic NES side scrollers, like Castlevania or Mega Man.

According to the trailer, this eccentric project was possible thanks to Bit Bot Media and Metal X Entertainment Production, and it will be launching very soon, on October 2024. The studio hasn't revealed a specific release date yet, but it wouldn't be surprisi??ng if it's out before Halloween.

The Rocky Horror Video Game is not FreakZone Games' first foray into an obscure IP

In a statement to The Wrap, the game's producer, Joshua Viola, said, "For those familiar with Rocky Horror, they’ll?? get to relive it in a fresh, exciting way. For newcomers, it’s an unforgettable introduction to a cult classic, delivered with a twist only a video game can provide". This reassures us that the studio developed this project from a place of love for the original musical and that both established fans and people who have never watched the movie are certainly going to enjoy it.

It should be of no surprise that FreakZone Games decided to tackle such a niche and specific project, especially when taking a look at some of its previous titles. The studio rose to fame in 2012 when it released Manos: The Hands of Fate, a 2D platformer based on the infamous cult film of the same name. FreakZone Games also developed Angry Video Game Adventures and its sequel, another 2D side scroller, only that this one is partially based on the iconic gaming YouTuber James Rolfe, better known as the Angry Video Game Nerd. So thes??e types of weird games are basically this studio's bread and butter.

The post The Rocky Horror Show is getting a video game adaptation this Octo??ber appeared first on Destructoid.

KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT is a side-scroller that lives up to its beefy subtitle, starring a character who looks like someone slapped a cat's head on a Cho Aniki screenshot. Following up on its March 2024 launch on Steam, developer Kamotachi's absu?rd action game is now on the way to consoles.

There's no date in place at the moment, but KinnikuNeko is currently eyeing a release on PlayStation 4??, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch. Kamotachi promises "many improvements and features," and the console release will coincide with a "great update" for the Steam version. 

We'll have to wait and see what all those improvements and features stack up to be. In the meantime, you can try it out for yourself on Steam, which has a demo available to download fo??r free. The full game is priced at $11.99 and has garnered "Very Positive" reviews since its March debut.

The premise of KinnikuNeko is about what you might expect after looking at a screenshot or two. The titular KinnikuNeko is very acc??urately described as "a cat with the body of a bodybuilder," and it's up to him and his friends Lemon and Keita to stop a massive alien invasion of Earth. Naturally, KinnikuNeko will be using his absolutely explosive muscles to put the diabolical plans of General Pitaya and her henchmen to rest.

Honestly, all you really need to know is "cartoon cat have beefy body" and you're most of the way there??. The wait for the console versions should give us plenty of time to get our own bodies in shape ahead of the alien onslaught. 

The post ??KinnikuNeko: SUPER MUSCLE CAT flexes its way to consoles appeared first on Destructoid.

Like Kurosawa I make mad films, 'kay I don't make films

Yomi is a concept tha?t is so depressing, that it’s largely not followed in contemporary Japanese society, even among those that still observe the rituals of Shinto. It doesn’t matter what you do in ??your life, the mythology says you were sent to the land of darkness to rot for eternity. It’s no wonder the Japanese were quick to merge their indigenous religion with Buddhism.

Nonetheless, it’s central to the romanticized image of the Samurai, which I never really got. Sure, you sent your foes to Yomi, but you’re going to wind up there yourself. It doesn’t matter what a great swordsman you are, everyone is? equal in the way they’re going to rot.

But, like Hades, it works from a mythological standpoint. Are you a bad enough dude to head to Yomi and back? Doomguy has a vacation home in Hell, which shows the theme still works, and that’s exactly what Trek to Yomi is about. Visitin?g the afterlife, I mean. Not Doomguy's vacation home.

Trek to Yomi (PC [Reviewed], PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S)
Developer: Leonard Menchiari, Flying Wild Hog
Publisher: Devolver Digital
Released: May 5, 2022
MSRP: $19.99

It’s probably fairer to say that Trek to Yomi is about old post-war Samurai flicks. The whole game is presented in black and white with heavy film grain effects. Rather than just being a filter, however, Trek to Yomi takes great care in its use of shadow, contrast, and framing. You could play Ghost of Tsushima with a black-and-white filter slapped over ?top, but that just doesn’t have the same effect as a game that wa??s built with it being central to its aesthetic.

It tells the story of Hiroki, a samurai whose sensei is, rather predictably, killed. Years later, history re?peats itself and Hiroki’s village is again attacked by bandits, but this time he’s going to have to go further than just learning to murder to reach his destiny.

Hones??tly, it’s not the best story. It works well as a framework for the aesthetic, but it’s awkwardly paced and thematically muddled. It has its interesting points, but you can tangibly feel it pushing you through visually interesting setpieces.

[embed]//youtu.be/xIkDGlPa-3c[/embed]

Trek to Yomi s?huffles between fixed camera “exploration�sections and side-scrolling combat. It utilizes its dominance of ??the camera to give you the best views of its beautiful and haunting backgrounds.

The exploration feels a little forced. Trek to Yomi is a restrictively linear game, but there are opportunities to ??probe the margins for collectibles, upgrades, and traps that can be triggered against groups of enemies. It has a habit of saying, “hurry, everyone is in danger,�while also pushing you to check every doorway for knickknacks. It can also be difficult to discern what direction is a secret and which way you’re supposed to go. Often, I wouldn’t find traps until I had already killed the enemies standing beneath them. It’s hard to pick the correct doorway when you aren’t clairvoyant.

It’s something to spice up the gameplay, I suppose, which it badly needs. Combat isn’t very interesting. It follows the Assassin’s Creed/Batman/Ghost of Tsushima style in putting focus on parrying??, dodging, and staggering. Where it fails in its tactility. Enemies don’t react very satisfyingly to being hit. Even when you manage to s??tun them, they just stop what they’re doing and slacken their shoulders, waiting for you to either deliver the death blow or screw up and press the wrong button.

It’s not helped that all combat is on a 2D plane. While I think it could work,?? it largely means that enemies either attack you one at a time, from a range, or from both sides. I get that the Samurai code of honor put emphasis on one-on-one combat, but it doesn’t lead to much excitement.

There’s also a combo system that takes some getting used to, but when I did, I found a combo that worked and largely used it for?? most of the game. Pressing back doesn’t make your character turn, which is awkward; you need to press a face button or perform a turning combo. It’s not horrible, but it’s just unintuitive enough to result in a few stabs in the back.

So, it’s fine, but it’s really all there is to gameplay. A few (very simple) puzzles crop up, but the design is more focused on framing the awesome stuff going on in the background. The combat is the only challenge to it, and it’s not that inte??resting. I even won most boss battles by just bei?ng aggressive and hammering on that one combo that seemed to work for me. Hold up, press X, X, Y. The end.

This was on the default difficulty; the game’s medium mode. I suppose things would be different on its ultra-hard equivalent where you die in a single hit, but I generally reserve my over-achieving for games that really impact me and suck me in. Trek to Yomi didn’t do that.

The gameplay is just overwhelmingly underwhelming. Poor exploration, unimpressive combat, and a merely passable narrative can’t be made up for by aesthetics. Which is too bad, because the aesthetics are terrific. The backgrounds have a stunning amount of variety to them and are of almost poetic quality. I suppose if you saw Trek to Yomi and this is what grabbed you, then you’re all set. However, if you want strong gameplay to back that up, then ?it just isn’t worth the trek.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

The post Review: Trek to Yomi appeared first on Destructoid.

In like Flynn

[UPDATE: The game's?? a??ll sold out! You can only get it by winning it, now!]

Life is all about change. I recently moved to Denver to get a nice change of pace in life, but now have found myself back in Phoenix among the cacti and sand. I was in a snowy hot tub three weeks ago, and now I'm looking at 96 degrees this Saturday. 96 degrees in March! Why?! I miss the ice forming?? in my hair as I enjoy the single-digit temperature around me while Tears for Fears lulls me into ultimate Good Vibes mode. Pic included for posterity's sake.

Well I'm back in the desert now, which just goes to show that life is full of changes. Thankfully, one thing that hasn't changed is Super Rare Games puts awesome digital games onto physical Switch carts to make sure that when the great digital wipeout inevitably occurs, there will at least be some record of these games existing. Today they dropped Flynn: Son of Crimson, and if you're a fan o????f classic handcrafted 2D action, you're gonna wanna jump in on this!

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3mjuB44pIE

I'll let the pros do the talking on this one.

A journey about discovery and conflict, Flynn: Son of Crimson follows our titular character, Flynn, as he learns to master the art of Cr??imson Energy while standing up against The Scourge invasion. Pairing up with your mythical companion Dex, the Guardian Spirit of the Land, it is up to you to protect the bea??utiful island of Rosantica from evil in this gorgeous 2D action-platformer.

Embrace the Power of Crimson Energy �Discover incredible powers drawn from Flynn’s myst?erious lineage, and he??lp him master the art of Crimson Energy.

An Epic Arsenal  - Dash and pierce wielding your trusty Crimson Blade, land powerful precision blows wit?h the Crimson Axe, and unleash aerial superiority wearing the Crimson Claws.

A World in Peril - Uncover the ancien??t mysteries of Rosantica, and collect powerful relics to help face the sinister evils waiting for you in The Scourge.

An Unbreakable Bond ?- Summon your mythical companion, protector, and very good doggo Dex in times of need, and cha?rge alongside her into battle.

Master the Elements - Command elemental magic in the form of fire, ice, and lightning, and u?se it to overcome the o??bstacles and enemies in your path.

Handcrafted Adventure - Lose your??self in a beautifully handcrafted 2D world filled with gorgeous forests, fantastic realms, and wondrous? creatures.

I'll never understand why more ?games don't have doggy co?mpanions.

To enter to win your copy of Flynn: Son of Crimson, drop your info in the widget below. It's that easy! Click around for bonus entries and make sure to entertain me and my curiosity. I do actually read things when I ask questions in there, so your thoughts don't go unn??oticed!

We have one physical Switch copy of the game to give away. Super Rare Games is super cool and super ship worldwide, so barring a few exceptions, anyone is eligible! If you're not and happen to win, we'll make arrangements to get you something digital, instead. Otherwise no exceptions -- buzz off ?if you don't want this game. I'm taking my ball and going home, hmph! We'll draw winners around this time next week.

Flynn: Son of Crimson is available in physical form exclusively from Super Rare Games. If you're interested, though, act quick! Once they sell out, this sucker is gone for good! Nevermind they gone!

Dtoid Contest: Win Flynn: Son of Crimson on Switch from S?uper ??Rare Games

The post Contest: Win Flynn: Son of Crimson on Sw??itch from Super Rare Games appeared first on Destructoid.

Stick your face into adventure

I’m kind of a fan of the Virtual Boy, but in the way you might be a fan of a timeshare sales pitch. You’re not actually enjoying yourself, but you can’t escape and you’re in awe of how it’s progressively getting more intolerable. You wonder how much patience you have left, and whether or not the free tickets to Disneyland are actually worth it. You wonder if it’s ever going to end and if you actually survived that car crash or if you’re ??actually in hell and this is your punishment for a life of cutting in line.

I own the full North American line of Virtual Boy games. In my defense, it was cheaper when I started collecting. For the most part, it’s a set of games that feel more like tech demos. Few of them feel like complete experiences. Teleroboxer comes to mind when thinking of games that actually tried, but the one that stands out the most is Virtual Boy Wario Land. It stands out because it feels like a game that everyone should play, ??but few people are ab??le to.

Released in 1995, the awkwardly named Virtual Boy Wario Land is technically the second in the Wario Land series, following the even more awkwardly named Wario Land: Super Mario Land 3 on Game Boy. While the franchise has changed flavors with almost every game, VBWL sticks somewhat close to its predecessor, which itself is a mutation on the Super Mario Land series. It’s? hop-and-bop, but you play as a brute.

One major difference is that Virtual Boy Wario Land eschews the world map of previous games. Don’t let that lead you to believe that the game is linear. It is on a level-to-level ba??sis, but each stage requires a bit?? of exploration.

The goal is to gather as much treasure as you can on the way to the game’s end. Each level hides one key required to exit and one treasure that helps you on y??our way to the best ending. Otherwise, the coins and treasure serve as a scoring system, which helps give an incentive to replay the game, which it badly needs.

That’s because it’s about two hours long, even if you go out of your way to scour for coins and treasure. It’s helped by the fact that the best ending rewards you with a tougher second quest, but it still feels insubstantial. Also, to be fair, that’s about how long you’d spend with a Sonic the Hedgehog game. It’s not an outlandish runtime for a side-scroller, but you’ll have to f??orgive me for craving more.

On the other hand, I’m not sure what your experience is with the Virtual Boy. A lot of people complain about eye strain when using it, but I think they just need tougher eyes. The real problem is ergonomics. The thing seems designed so you’ll set it at a table and sit in front of it, leaning in. That’s a nightmarish propos?al. I prefer to sit reclined and have it lean against my face, but it’s definitely not the most comfortable experience. Two hours might be the maximum amount of time you can stand to stay with your face stuck in a torture machine.

I wouldn’t say it’s not worth it, though. Virtual Boy Wario Land is one of the tightest platformers I’ve ever played. Although it’s a side-scroller, the developers did a great job making use of the system’s ability for 3D. Things swing back and forth, giving you a ni?ce sensation of depth. When you jump into background layers, the sound effects get a distant echo. Whether or not the console deserved it, the people wh??o worked on it gave it some love.

The sprites are big and detailed, the animations are well done, and don’t skip the opening sequence. There’s a level of personality here that is almost completely absent from any other game on the system. Except maybe Teleroboxer.

It may not be the most inventive hop-and-bop, but there’s a lot to be said for the Wario Land series. The fact that you’re playing as a protagonist driven entirely by greed and nothing else is pret??ty refreshing. It’s easily understood. When you’re just chasing a princess, you ask yourself, “Is she a good conversationalist? Does she volunteer? Is she a freak in bed?�But when it’s just riches that they’re after, you can kind of get behind that. Constantly plundering for shiny gewgaws is essentially the entire history of humanity. If anything, Wario i??s the real everyman hero we can relate to.

I got off track, but what I want to get across is that, if you discard the console it’s played on, Virtual Boy Wario Land is top shelf. It’s maybe not the series at its most creative, but I’d argue that it’s up there as the most satisfying. No one told the developers t?hat they were on a sinking ship, so they arranged those deck chairs in the most awe-inspiring fashion. It’s just too bad that they wound up as detritus on th??e ocean floor.

And really, why haven’t we seen any sort of re-release of this game? The 3DS was the prime spot for it, and it got snubbed. The 3D isn’t even critical to the gameplay. Mutant Mudds pulled the same foreground-background malarky, and it has been released on systems incapable of depth ever since.

I’m not even asking them to splash some color onto it. Red-and-black is fine. I just think more people need to play Virtual Boy Wario Land, and they shouldn?’t have to hurt their face to do it??.

For other retro t??itles you may have missed, click right here!

The post Virtual Boy Wario Land is worth the facial pain appeared first on Destructoid.

Missouri Ashtray, this is not

In today's contest you can win action platformer MO:Astray for Switch or Steam!

Not gonna lie, when they sent me this trailer I was like, man there's a lot going on, here. But my ma??n Ray told me it's really dope, so let's roll with it!

We've got some Switch and Steam copies of MO:Astray to give away?? in today's contest, so check out the deets below and comment to win yourself a ne?w game!

Read all about it!

Explore a bizarre subterranean world as MO, an amorphous being guided by strange voices ringing in?? its head. Traverse a mysterious lab and haunting alien locales inhabited by parasitic creatures, overcoming obstacles by utilizing MO’s ever-shifting form. Scale cliff sides, launch across chasms, and evade hazards on a journey to uncover the secret of MO&rsqu?o;s existence.

Harness a r??ange of powers to carve a path through MO’s perilous surroundings. Double jump, dash, float, and more to access new passageways, solve environmental puzzles, and uncover secrets. Unleash MO’s psychic skills by latching onto enemies to siphon their memories and unlock flashbacks that thread together and unravel an extraordinary otherworldly tale.

Sounds simple enough! The gameplay l?ooks pretty brutal, though. I don'??t have the reflexes I did as a kid, y'all.

To enter to win your copy, comment below telling us your platform of choice, and what MO is. Is it an alie?n? An ancient being? That wad of gum I always manage to touch when gripping the underside of a public table to scootch my chair in?

We have five Switch NA and Steam keys to give away; winners will be drawn Tuesday, September 22. Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. If you're new, sign up here to talk about gross wads of gum with us!

MO:Astray is available now for Switch and Steam.

The post Contest: Win MO:Astray for Switch or Steam appeared first on Destructoid.

Crazy Legs Conti ate some hot dogs in that thing

In today's contest, you can win this one-of-a-kind prize pack, including Bite the Bullet and a prize pack featuring a real game-worn jersey!

Guys, this one of massive. The last time we gave away some Mega Cat swag, it was a literal piece of wood. Today, we're riding the theme of their newest joint, Bite the Bullet, and giving away this exclusive prize pack, featuring trinkets from the game and our coup de grace: A game-worn jerse??y from world champion professional eater Crazy Legs Conti.

Yes, this ma??n ate a bunch of hot dogs in this shirt, and now it can be yours. I fucking love my job sometimes.

Bite the Bullet is the w??orld's first and only run 'n gun 'n eat sidescroller. Fight waves of enemies using your guns -- consume them using your mouth. In this game, you are what you eat! Every dietary choice affects your stats, loadout, and abilities, so choose your food wisely to cust??omize your experience.

I've customized my loadout over quarantine to add +?25 to my weight, and -17 to my stamina! Uh, maybe I shou?ld have made better choices.

This is one of my favorite prize packs, ever. In ??addition ??to a key of the game on the platform of your choice, you'll win:

• Autographed World Champion Competitive Eater, Crazy L?egs Conti Game-Wo??rn Jersey from Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest 2016
• Custom engraved meat smacker
• Foiled Sticky Finger Napkins for controller hygiene
• Custom Chewie & Chewella Coasters
• Eat/Play/Love refrigerator magnet
• Two Bite the Bullet bib pins
• One Mega Cat enamel pin

A dirty jersey and a meat smacker! Incredible! Note that should you win, you have the option of the shirt being delivered as-is, or being washed fi?rst. Be adventurous. Win a di?rty jersey.

Use the widget below to leave your name and email address, and be ??sure to specify your platform. You can enter daily to earn bonus entries, and be sure to do the other crap in there. Because I want you to.

We have one prize pack to give away, as well as two keys each for Steam, Xbox One, and Switch NA. The winner of the physical prize must have a United St??ates shipping address, so better luck next time, Canada.

Bite the Bullet is available now on Switch, Xbox One, and Steam.

Contest: Win a Bite the Bullet prize pack, including th?is game-worn jersey from competitive eater Crazy Legs Conti

The post Contest: Win a Bite the Bullet prize pack, including this game-worn jersey from competitive eater Crazy Legs Cont?i appeared first on Destructoid.

Y'all know I love synth

I've worked with Mega Cat Studios a bunch in the past, because they do really awesome stuff. I also try to go out of my way to write about anything featuring neon-soaked visuals and synthwave sounds. So, I'm kind of obligated to mention that Mega Cat's upcoming Bite the Bullet is getting a synthwa??ve mode, and I'm ??all giddy about it.

Bite the Bullet is Mega Cat's take on old-school action platformers. The big twist here is enemies, bullets, and even the environment are totally edible, altering your abilities, loadouts, and even?? skill trees. Running, gunning, and eating is the name of the game -- and now with the new synthwave update, you can do it t?o my favorite aesthetic.

The upcoming update adds in neon pinks, purples, and blues to the pixelated world to create an '80s-inspired nightmare. In addition to the visuals, they're adding in music from synthwave artists Wavershaper, Night Runner, Retroxx, and Magic Sword. It reminds me a ton of Drive, and you know how much I love that ish.

In addition, Bite the Bullet is also getting a full-scale arcade cabinet. Limited to 50 units worldwide, this bad boy features all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a full arcade cabinet, including a Parsol Bronze tinted glass (4mm) for better contrast and a 2.1 sound system (2x50W + 1x170W). Each cabinet is handcrafted by the folks at Art'Cade. They're not cheap, (it'll run you about $3100), but man they'??re nice.

You can check out Bite the Bullet when it hits PC, Switch, and Xbox One Au??gust 13, and later this year on PS4.

The post Bite the Bullet ??gets post-launch synthwave mode and full scale arcade ?cabinet appeared first on Destructoid.

Old-school action

In today's contest you can win stylish cyberpunk adventure game Dex for Switch!

I hate it when the city gets overrun by an evil corporation and I have to infuse AI into a cybernetic being. It just?? takes so much out of me! Can't corporations just, like, chill for a few?? hours?

No, they cannot. You'll get more of corporations doing their thing in Dex, a stylish cyberpunk adventure game with RPG eleme?nts, now available for Switch!

Read here then sign below.

Dex is a c??yberpunk infused, 2D side scrolling action-RPG wi??th a metroidvania twist. Play as Dex, a mysterious blue-haired girl on a mission to take down the powerful and enigmatic organization that rules the city of Harbour Prime.

The game comes with fully voiced characters, branching storylines and quests, multiple endings and a wide spectrum of upgrades and skills to ?custom fit four distinct playstyles - silent assassin, gunfighter, diplomat or hacker. Blur the line between being human and "cyborg" by installing augmentations that grant you superhuman abilities and open up new paths in Harbour Prime like classic Metroidvania titles.

• Deep RPG mechanics mixed with side-scrolling 2D action
• Non-linear gameplay set in a cyberpunk open-world
• Intriguing and mature plot in a neo-noir atmosphere
• Multiple dialogue choices with branching outcomes
• Full English voice over
• Multiple playstyles - stealth, open combat, diplomat, hacker or a mix of the above
• Various customization options - choose your equipment, skills and even cybernetic implant skills to open up new paths in the city
• Unique hacking mechanic that lets you dive into Cyberspace

I also saw that toilet paper is an in-game item, so there's?? that!

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. Click around for ways to earn bonus entries to increase your odds of winning! Do it all over again over at Nintendo Enthusiast because you really want this game.

We have three Switch NA keys to give out -?- we'll randomly select winners Thursday, July 30.

Dex is available now for Nintendo Switch.

Dtoid Contest: Win Dex, a cyberpunk adventu??re game??, for Switch

The post Contest: Win Dex, a cyberpunk adventure game, ??for Switc??h appeared first on Destructoid.

Live twice for tomorrow. Or thrice. Or so on.

In today's contest you can win a Switch, Xbox One, or Steam copy of REZ PLZ!

This one's all about that awesome gameplay mechanic, y'all! Dying is usually a punishment for doing poorly in a game; in REZ PLZ, it's the only way to progress!

This super unique platformer is up for grabs today across Switch, ??Xbox One, and Steam. Win one now, and die your way to th?e top!

Two apprentice wizards are tasked with saving the wizarding world after a dire evil overtakes the land. Use the power of resurrection magic to revive your partner after having to sacrifice them to traverse through the various levels and chal??lenges! Multiple one-hit traps ?and enemies block each and every path -- so kill your partner to get past, bring him back to life, and get to conquering evil!

• Co-op Play – Band together with your “brother” to take on REZ PLZ’s challenges, and remember that teamwork is key.
• Dastardly Puzzle-Solving – Use magical abilities to solve difficult puzzles, but sometimes death is the only solution.
• Death Around Every Corner – Death is everywhere in REZ PLZ, and can come from being eaten by monsters, sliced in half by guards, smashed by boulders and more.
• Five Unique Biomes in a Pixel Art World – Conquer beautifully rendered pixel art biomes, each with its own unique challenges and monsters.
• Unlockables – Explore and find a bevy of unlockable cosmetic items and unlockable gauntlet levels to customize your gameplay.
• Bonus Modes – Challenge yourself further with bonus modes such as PVP foot race

This one is a keeper, folks. Unless it dies, in which c?ase just res??urrect it.

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter?? daily. Click around in there for ways to earn bonus entries to increas??e your chances to win.

We have five Steam keys, three Switch NA keys, and three Xbox One keys to give away.? Winners will be drawn Tuesday, July 21.

REZ PLZ is available now for Switch, Xbox One, and Steam.

Dtoid Contest: Win REZ PLZ? for Switch, Xbox One, or Steam

The post Cont??es??t: Win REZ PLZ for Switch, Xbox One, or Steam appeared first on Destructoid.

Mega woMan

In today's contest you can win a Switch or Xbox One copy of Mega Man-esque shooter Gun Crazy!

I don't know about you, but I sure am sick of every game being this giant, open-world ordeal that takes hours and hours to play through. I simply don't have time to traverse across a huge map to get Mr. Pallardy's hat he left in an oddly specific cave at the ot??her end of the planet. It's too much.

Let's get back to a simpler time in gaming with Gun Crazy??, a retro shooter that'll bring back memories of the gaming days of old. Win it today for Switch or Xbox One!

Gun Crazy is a hectic run and gun shooter hark??ening back to sidescrolling games of the past. The world is overrun by evil robots, and it's up to you to prove you're the baddest woman on the force by single-handedly taking them down. Run 'em, gun 'em, and eradicate 'em!

• Survive 4 uniquely designed levels
• Fight bosses, each with their own challenges
• Pick up special guns that will lead you to victory
• Tight controls allow for easy use to take down your enemies

Wow, a game I'll actu??ally be able to beat in under a month! Score!

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. Click around in ther?e for ways to earn bonus entries to ??increase your odds of winning.

We have five Xbox One and Switch NA/EU/AUS keys, each, to give away between Dtoid and Nintendo Enthusiast. Winners will be drawn Friday, May 22.

Gun Crazy is available now for Switch and Xbox One.

Contest: Pull the trigger for?? retro-style run and gun shooter Gun Craz?y

The post Contest: Pull the trigger for retro-style run and gun ????shooter Gun Crazy appeared first on Destructoid.

So many crossovers, it hurts

In today's contest you can win a copy of Kingdom Two Crowns: Dead Lands for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, or PC!

Crossovers are all the rage these days! Marvel has been doing its thing to great success at the box office, RoboCop just hit Mortal Kombat for no apparent reason, and now Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is getting in on the fun by invading the world of Kingdom Two Crowns.

So, get involved with crossover mania and win a copy of Kingdom Two Crowns: Dead Lands for Switch, PS4, Xbox One, or PC!

Kingdom Two Crowns is a unique tactical game where you, a monarch of a budding empire, must build your kingdom up from nothing. Gather resources and gold, build up buildings and strongholds, and research new technologies and war tactics to invade and prevent invasion. For the first time in the series, players can play a full campaign both s??olo or in co-op, invigorating the franchise and adding new strategy to ruling over an ??empire.

New to the game is the Dead Lands content, a crossover event featuring characters and lore from IGA's love letter to the metroidvania genre, Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Read more about it below!

Dead Lands: Enter the dark lands of Kingdom. Play as unique monarchs, including the Shardbinder Miriam, with powerful traits from the gothic horror action-RPG Bloodstained. Ride the gigantic beetle steed to lay out traps, the eerie undead mount that summons barriers impeding the progress of the Greed, and from Bloodstained the ?mythic demon horse Gamigin with its powerful charge attack. Building your Kingdom has never been more frighte?ning!

To enter to win your copy, comment below telling us your platform of choice, and what crossover you'd like to see in gaming. Since Ash isn't yet in MK and I'm fuming, I'd love to see Katamari invade the world of Madden. I just imagine garishly dressed foo??tball players all prancing around one another with that wonderful soundtrack. I don't think anyone would ever get anything done in the game, but it'd be a hell of a scene!

We have five keys each for PS4 NA, Steam, and Xbox One, with another three Switch NA keys to give away. Winners will be drawn Tuesday, May 12. Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. If you're new to the site, sign up here to tell us about your crossover fantasy.

Kingdom Two Crowns is available to purchase now.

The post Contest: Win a copy of Kingdom Two C?rowns: Dead Lands to celebrate its new Bloodstained: Ritual of the Nigh?t crossover appeared first on Destructoid.

Vanquish your free time!

In today's contest you can win a Switch copy of hack 'n slash platformer Grimvalor!

This whole quarantine thing is getting pretty boring. Wouldn't it be great i?f your favorite gaming site was dedicated to giving games away on a near-daily basis so you don't get super bored, sitting around with nothing to do?

Well, it is great because it's true! We're on a mission to promote cool games and give our readers a chance to win awesome stuff to help beat the quarantine blues. Today's game is Grimvalor, a Switch hack 'n slash platformer!? Now's your chance to? win a copy.

Extra, extra! Read all about it!

Grimvalor is an action pla?tformer with fast-paced combat in a dark fantasy world. The game draws inspiration from many hack-n-slash franchises and character action games, and provides both a challenging and rewarding play experience.

• Hyper-Responsive Gameplay: Fluid mix of fast-paced combat and platforming.
• Exploration & Treasure: Discover and upgrade powerful equipment and mysterious relics to unleash your full potential.
• Challenging Boss Fights: Master skill-based combat, level up your character and bring down your enemies with all of your fury.
• New Game+ Mode: Play through a reimagined world filled with ever more dangerous enemies and powerful equipment. Experience your journey anew!

Plus,? it's for Switch, so you can take it anywhere you go! Like to the kitchen, or living room, or bathroom. You know, all the current hot spots.

To enter to win, comment below telling us your region (NA/EU/AUS) and what real-life skill you have that you'd like to carry over into New Game+. As you all know, I'm able to tie a knot in a ??cherry stem using only my butt cheeks, so I think that'd be useful on the se??cond run-through of life. Can't hurt, right?

We have eight total copies of the game to give away; winners will be drawn Wednesday, April 15. Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. New to these parts? Create an account here to boast about your legendary skills.

Grimvalor is available now on the Switch eShop. Our friends over at Nintendo Enthusiast have keys, as well, so check them out!

The post Contest: Hack and ??slash yo??ur boredom away with a Switch copy of Grimvalor appeared first on Destructoid.

#WesLikesBunnygirls

In today's giveaway you can snag a closed beta key for retro-inspired platformer Kaze and the Wild Masks!

It's that time again -- w??e've got some closed beta keys so you can try out a brand new game before anyone else can. That's pretty cool, right? Yeah, it is??. Don't argue with me, Susan.

Toda?y's offering is Kaze and the Wild Masks, a retro-inspired platformer where you play as a bunnygirl (!) out to save her friend?? and island from the forces of evil. Take a free closed beta key and give it a whirl!

Read all about it!

In Kaze and the Wild Masks, you journey through the Crystal Islands in '90s classics platformer style. Play as Kaze and save your friend Hogo from a curse that spread chaos around the islands. Face enraged living vegetables by invoking the powers of the Wild Masks. Pounce ferociously like a tiger, soar through the sky like an eagle, sprint fiercely like a lizard, and rule the sea like a shark.
 
Features

• Unleash the skills of the wild masks to get powers from the tiger, eagle, lizard, and shark
• Uncover the secrets of the Crystal Islands in 30+ levels with over 50 bonus levels
• Relive your childhood memories of classic platformers with high quality frame by frame pixel art
• Pave your way through a satisfyingly smooth, but challenging platformer

You start out as a bunnygirl, but can be a sharkgirl, lizardgirl, tigergirl, AND eaglegirl? That should ??cover the bases here, folks.

Take a key from the widget below! It's pretty easy. Give the game a whirl, and then let the team over at VOX and SOEDESCO know what you think by joining their Discord server, and giving feedback on their Steam Community Hub. Your op??inion can help to make the game the best it can be, so be sure to drop by and let them?? know how to improve the experience!

We have 500 keys to give away across our net?work, so take one while you can! The closed beta period runs fro?m March 27 - April 6.

Kaze and the Wild Masks is in development now. Check out their Steam page to keep up to date with its progress!

The post Giveaway: Take a closed beta key for retro platformer Kaze and the Wild Ma??sks appeared first on Destructoid.

Damn you, robo-empire!

In today's contest, we're giving away Switch copies of Super Rare Games' release of Mechstermination Force!

I say it every time, and I'll say it again: I love Super Rare Games. They ma??ke a great product, and are always willing and ready to throw copies of their releases our way to give you guys a chance to win out on what usually sells out pr??etty quickly.

Their 29th release, Mechstermination Force, is fresh out of the oven. At time of writing, they've only got 4% left in stock -- this one is selling out, folks! Only 4,000?? were made, so this is your chance to win something you'll never be able to buy again!

This one's a keeper, folks -- you're an elite robo-slayer tasked to live out your namesake a?nd take down these massive robots! This sidescrolling ??shooter sees you shooting, slamming, climbing, jumping, and slashing your way through a game-long boss rush in order to stop a robotic uprising. Use your magnet gloves to climb up the fudgers, boost boots to dodge their attacks, and your trusty baseball bat to whack 'em right in their weak spots to wreak major damage.

??This one looks like a blast, folks, and ??it's going to site very nicely on your shelf.

Your b??????????????????????????rand new Super Rare Games release comes with all the regular fixin's, including:

• Fully assembled Nintendo Switch game with cartridge
• Interior art
• Full-colour manual
• Exclusive sticker
• 3 card trading card pack

To enter to win this bad boy, leave your name and email address in the widget below. You can enter daily. Click around ??for bonus entries while you're in ther??e, and actually listen to my music! Unless you can't due to regional stuff, in which case consider it a free entry.

We have one copy of the game to give away; winner will be drawn Thursday, April 2. This is shipping direct from SRG, so this is open to readers worldwide! So long as they ship to your country, you're eligible to win. If you're feeling saucy, hit up Nintendo Enthusiast for more chances to win.

Mechstermination Force is available now from Super Rare Games. Check 'em out, y'all -- they're legit.

Dtoid Contest: Take down the robo-empire w?ith Super Rare Games' release of Mechstermination Force

The post Contest: Take down the robo-empire with Super Rare Games’ release of Mechstermination Force appeared first on Destructoid.

Just keep your cool the whole time

Today's contest features Steam copies of action-packed roguelike Skul: The Hero Slayer!

Ever notice how your head?? is like, just there? Like, it's stuck there. It never moves. Sometimes you hit it on the shelf or something, and it's really more of?? a pain in the ass than anything. It sure would be neat if we could discard it for a new one that gives us special abilities.

Since most of us are humans, we can't do that. But Skul can! Live vicariously through him in a Steam Early Access key of Skul: The Hero Slayer. Just don't whack his head on a shelf.

Humans are buttholes -- they keep attacking the demon stronghold. While? this has been going on for centuries, they've finally succeed?ed in wiping out the forces of evil. Only one anti-hero remains: Skul. Use Skul's ability to swap out his head to attain new powers to take the fight back to the humans, and restore disorder to the demon hoards.

Read some game feature?s while I try to rip my ?own head off.

• Exciting and Fast-Paced Battles - Enjoy the wide range of characters and moves at your disposal.
• The Unmatched Thrills of a Rogue-lite Game - Experience the rush of battling in an ever-changing landscape and the finality of death. But don't be too afraid! The undead Skul always lives on.
• Fantastical Pixel Art Graphics - Feast your eyes on cutting-edge graphics and really immerse yourself in the game.

It's gorgeous, it's cool, and it looks like fun!

To enter to wi??n your copy, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. Click around in that bad boy to find more ways to gain entries!

We have five Steam Early Access keys to give out -- winners will be drawn Tuesday, March 3. Hit up PC Invasion for more chances to snag a copy.

Skul: The Hero Slayer is in Early Access now, with a full release planned for sometime la?ter in 2020.

Contest: Lose your head, and grab a ?new ?one, over Skul: The Hero Slayer

The post Contest: Lose your head, and grab a ne??w one, over Skul: The Hero Slaye??r appeared first on Destructoid.

There are ghosts and goblins in this game

We've got copies of retro action-platformer Goblin Sword up for grabs in today's contest!

Huge AAA games are cool and everything, but my favorite part of this gig is getting some spotlight on indie titles that otherwise wouldn't get much coverage on the site. It makes me feel like I'm helping passionate people out, and gives the devs some extra exposure to boost their game. Also, you lot get free gam?es -- everyone wins!

Today we've got Switch keys to give away for indie platformer Goblin Sword. It's got great retro-inspired visuals and gameplay, and I really think you're ??gonna dig it. So, what are you waiting for?!

This one is retro to the core: An evil wizard has invaded your village, and you must go on a quest to defeat him! Sl??ay monsters, collect loot, and take down huge bosses in this action-platformer. Read some key features!

• 89 levels
• 13 bosses
• 30 weapons with unique special attacks
• 30 relics that grant you abilities
• 14 costumes
• 8 guardians that follow you around and assist you
• 5 secret very hard levels
• Decorate your home with souvenirs

It's not fair -- I don't have any souvenirs in my home. I want souvenirs from m?y old-school ?quests!

To enter to win, donate some of your questing trophies to me so I can decorate my home. Tell me what you've collected, how you've collected it, and why you're giving it to me. Spread the w??ealth to this old man, far too old to quest anymore. [I'm 33, which is essentially dead.]

We have five Switch NA keys to give away; winners will be drawn Thursday, February 20. Please make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. New to the site? Sign up here to donate relics to this aging hero.

Goblin Sword is available now on the Switch eShop. Check out Nintendo Enthusiast for more chances to win!

The post Contest: Win old-school-inspired plat??former Goblin Quest for Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

Switch, PS4, and Steam keys available

Today's contest features spacey metroidvania Willy Jetman: Astromonkey's Revenge for PS4, Switch, and Steam!

Who doesn't like a good metroidvania game? They're everywhere these day??s -- and for good reason! There's something about going back to previous areas with new equipment to reach far-off points on a map that's reall??y satisfying, yeah? It's weird.

Today, we're introducing you to Willy Jetman: Astromonkey's Revenge, a light-h?earted met??roidvania set in space! With a janitor! Come win a copy!

Willy has always dreamed of becoming an astronaut and blasting his way into space. The problem is, he's kind of ??a dolt. And not in the good way. He thought he'd never fulfill his dreams, until one day he saw an ad in the paper calli??ng for a janitor. But not just any janitor -- a space janitor! Join Willy as he cleans up the wreckage and fends off weird space creatures in space, where he's always wanted to be.

• A whole world to explore. Below the surface of Gravos there is a complex system of caves and grottos, full of traps and lava rivers. It is even rumored that the planet hide the vestiges of an ancient civilization.
• Space recycling. Collect the remains of the AC-137 cargo ship and transport them to the recycling points scattered around the planet. Sustainability is money!
• Exotic and aggressive fauna. Flying fish, stone giants, giant wasps, dragons, and the most spectacular and gritty bosses are waiting to finish you off.
• Armed and ready for action. Collect Crush'N Go! coupons to add new weapons to your arsenal and power them up with the Gravitonium you can collect inside the caves. Flamethrower, machine gun, ray gun, grenades...each weapon is perfect for neutralizing each kind of enemy.
• Talk to the locals. Gain their trust and you can visit the Gravonite Village. The customers of the O Lá! Lá! Tavern will give you valuable clues and don't forget to visit the public toilets, because it is rumoured that they hide more than they appear at first sight.
• On the hunt for the golden trophy. There are 20 statuettes hidden all over Gravos. Find them and visit the Gravonite Village's PeachStore to unlock exclusive upgrades.
• Shooter action, exploration, RPG elements and lots of humour. An Old School adventure that will test your reflexes as you travel through an alien world full of life and secrets.

Weee, space is fun! Even for janitors!

You know the drill -- click around in the widget below to enter. You can enter daily, there are bonus entries, and also this makes my life easier so stop complaining! While you're waiting, comment below telling us how one qualifies to be a space janitor. I'm tru?ly interested.

We have five Switch NA, P??S4 NA, and Steam keys each to give away; winners will be drawn Monday, February 10.

Willy Jetman: Astromonkey's Revenge is available now for Switch, PS4, and PC.

Contest: Live out your dream? o??f being a space janitor in Willy Jetman

The post Contest: Live out your dream of being a space jan?itor in W??illy Jetman appeared first on Destructoid.

No, you don't have to read a book...but you should

We're giving away a Switch and copies of Bookbound Brigade in today's contest!

Hear ye, hear ye -- we've got a brand new Sw??itch co??nsole to giveth awayeth!

Ok, yep, that's it. That's the news. Bookbound Brigade launched today, and the devs want you to play it. So badly, in fact, that they're giving away a Switch s?o you can check it out! So put on?? your reading glasses, and snuggle up next to a good book. Or your new Switch. Whichever.

So, this one is gleefully silly. Histor??y, literature, and all the other subjects we slept through in high school (while dreaming about video games) are at threat! It's up to iconic historical and literary figures to save the written word! Join King Arthur, Dracula, Robin Hood, Dorothy Gale, Sun Wukong, Queen Victoria, Cassandra, and Nikola Tesla in this loony metroidvania. Our heroes move together -- since there's safety in numbers -- and use their unique specials abilities to help the group travel through literary time to save it, and themselves, from erasure.

I call dibs on Dracula, by the wa??y. All-time dibs.

Remember how I said they were giving away a Switch? Well, they are, complete with a custom Bookbound Brigade skin! Use the?? widget below to enter. We've also got digital keys for the game on Switch and Steam for runners-up, so be sure to specify which platform you'd like should you win that.

We have one Switch console to give away, as well as five Switch NA and five Steam keys of the game. You must have ?a United States shipping address in order to rece?ive the grand prize. Winners will be drawn Thursday, February 6.

Bookbound Brigade is available now for Switch, PC, and PS4.

Contest: Win a brand new S?witch console, courtesy of Bookbound Brigade

The post Contest: Win a brand new Switch console, courtesy of Bookb?ound Brigade appeared first on Destructoid.

PS4 and Xbox One on offer

We've got some copies of Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night up for grabs in today's contest!

Have all of you good little gamer boys and gamer girls been keeping up with the hottest games this year? It's time to slap together those GOTY lists, after all! I'm way, way behind on all of the?? games this year. If you're anything lik?e me, you're going to love the next couple of days, as we've got keys for some of the hottest GOTY contenders to get you all caught up.

Today, we're featuring Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night. Years in the making, IGA's callback to the classic Castlevania 8-and-16-bit (and 32-bit, I guess) titles finally hit shelves this ye??ar, and to much aplomb. If you missed it the first time around (like me lol) then now's your chance to check it out for yourself!

What a wild ride. IGA spent years getting this thing funded, and produced. Through Kickstarter, then publishing, then swapping out dev teams, it's pretty amazing that this one released at all, let alone it being actually super awesome. In classic Castlevania fashion, you'll play as a be-whipped hero who sidescrolls their way through a labyrinthine castle, filling out parts of the map, taking out monsters, and doing it all over again once you get new abilities. This thing isn't just a love letter to the genre -- it is the genre.

Check out these game features:

• Biggest Igavania EVER
• Tons of weapons, spells, & equipment
• Craft, Cook, & Upgrade
• Full cosmetic customization
• Celebrity voice actors (David Hayter!)
• Orchestra soundtrack by Michiru Yamane
• Rich story with alternate endings
• New Game Plus
• Nightmare Difficulty
• 8-bit Level

Like what y??a see? Of course ya do. It's a GOTY contender for a reason, you kno??w.

To enter to win your copy, comment below telling which platform you'd like to win, and your GOTY and why. Is it Bloodstained? Is it Untitled Goose Game? Is it Lord of the Rings: Return of the Sneak King? If that one ever come??s out, I'll cry tears of joy.

We've got three PS4 NA and three Xbox One keys to give away. Winners will be drawn Monday, December 23. Don't have a Dtoid account? Sign up today and get your h?ands on a Game of the Year contender!

Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is available now for PS4 and Xbox One. Hit up our sister sites, PlayStation Enthusiast and Xbox Enthusiast, for more chances to snag a copy.

The post Contest: Round out your GOTY list with a copy of Blo??odstained: Ritual of the ??Night appeared first on Destructoid.

It's so spooky!

Get into the holiday with our contest, and win a copy of Dark Devotion for PS4 or Switch!

As we inch ev?er closer to Halloween, I'm trying to pack in as much spoo??ky stuff as possible. I'm really loading up the horror movies, dark ales, and haunted houses over the next four days. It's frantic, but fun!

We've got a pretty creepy one lined up today in Dark Devotion, an a?tmospheric, ?sidescrolling souls-like (sorry) that's full of blood, guts, and weird occult shit. Hop on in, gang, and win yourself a copy!

I'm too?? s?cared to provide my own synopsis, so read this press material while I cower in the corner.

Dark Devotion's weighty combat makes hack-n-slashing a doomed strategy; faultless timing with parries, rolls, and strikes coupled with a keen eye for telegraphed attacks and hidden pitfalls are key to surviving against this world's devious inhabitants. Keeping faith in the fac??????????????????????????e of relentless adversity is worth the struggle though, as it may unlock secret paths and chests never discovered during the previous journey?s of zealots.

Dark Devotion features:

• An armory's worth of 250 weapons, magic types, pieces of armor, and items
• Monumental, teeth-clenching showdowns against 17 unforgettable warriors
• A spellbinding wealth of 180 runes, curses, and blessings
• A twisting, merciless temple which hides danger and rewards around every turn
• Rich lore shaping a grim, cruel realm obsessed with pleasing its insatiable God
• Immense replayability thanks to branching world paths and vast loadout possibilities

I promised myself I wasn't going to peepee my bed tonight, so I'll let you guys have this one.

We have three Switch and three PS4 keys to give away. To enter to win, tell us?? which system you'd like and why you like punishing games. I mean, I'm all into punishment, b??ut I usually reserve mine for behind closed doors. I need something more relaxing from a video game!

Our keys are for North American digital accounts only; winners will be drawn on Halloween! Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. New users can sign up here to join in on ??the c?ommunal gluttony for punishment.

Dark Devotion is now available for PS4 and Switch. Our sister sites, PlayStation and Nintendo Enthusiast, have some extra keys for grabs!

The post Contest: It’s almost Halloween, so win a free copy of Dark Devotion appeared first on Destructoid.

What the hell did I just type?

Today's contest is for a Steam copy of bullet hell shmup Azure Reflections!

This one is a bit out of my personal wheelhouse, but I figure?d you guys would enjoy it. There are magical fairies flying around shooting stuff. Bullets or energy beams or some shit are flying all over the place. I had an epileptic seizure a??bout 12 seconds into the video. Yeah, I think this is right up Dtoid's alley.

Azure Reflections released on Ste??am today, and we're giving away some copies so you can figure out what the [bullet] hell is going on!

I honestly have no c?lue what's going on. Normally when this happens I'll just copy and paste some press release stuff, but I'm not going to do that. Today, I'm going to try to explain this game. So, based on what I could gather from the trailer, something called The Scarlet Mist Incident has returned. Allegedly it's unknown who the culprit is this time. I guess this happens a lot? I don't know. Anyway, a witch, an ice fairy, and a librarian or something have to fly around and avoid getting hit with spells and shit to try to stop it. There's a viewer mode where if you try to look up the character model's skirt the game doesn't show anything good. You can put moustaches on your magical girls for power-ups.

All? I know is it's a bullet hell game, and it doesn't make any goddamn sense to me. Can you figure it out? If so, tell me what's going on. Just give me something, man. Anything. That's how you enter this contest -- make sense of this for me.

We have five Steam copies to give away; winners will be drawn Thursday, September 26. Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. Don't have an account? Sign up here to help me figure out wha??t I'm giving away today.

Azure Reflections is available now on Steam, as well as Switch and PS4.

The post Contest: Win Azure Reflections on Steam for magical g??irl bullet h??ell action appeared first on Destructoid.

King of Goblin

In today's contest, we're giving away Switch and PS4 copies of indie brawler Lost Castle!

Why are castles always haunted? Or vexxed? Or otherwise just full of monsters and stuff? Seems odd. Someone should really consider that before building these huge things. Like, just don't put a bunch of skeletons in the?re. It's not hard.

Well, no one ever listens and of course yet another castle is haunted. It's up to you to pair up with some friends and hack and slash your way to clearing it in Lost Castle. We've got PS4 and Sw?itch keys up for grabs, so? help us send the spook away!

I usually like to include press in these posts, because it lets readers and potential contest winners get info straight from the devs. It works because it's less for me to reword, and more of a chance to let the people who make these games (that they give away for free) tell you about them. This usually includes bullet points with game features. This presser has TWO sets of bullet points, so eat fudge,?? readers, I'm putting them all in!

• Greedy or generous: Single-player campaign or co-op for up to four players.
• New experiences every run: Randomly generated dungeons, items, enemies and bosses.
• Gorgeous hand-drawn characters and environments.
• Old school: Hardcore retro action inspired by classic beat 'em ups.
• Sacrifice system: Level up your hero and gain new abilities.

Ar?e you not entertained?! That first list is telling you about the game. This next one is specifically game features. Ha ha ha!

• Invite up to 4 players to take over; the Lost Castle.
• Battle other players in brutal 4 player death bets.
• 100+ weapons, perfect for clearing the demonic infestation!
• 50+ sets of armor; should keep you safe from teeth, claw, blade, and acid!
• 50+ potions, healing, hurting, shapeshifting, devil summoning!
• 70+ special items to give you the edge you need to secure the treasure and cleanse the castle!

Looks ??like spooky fun, which is right up my alley. My very non-haunted alley, of course.

To enter to win, use the widget below to leave your name and email address. Also, be ?sure to tell us which platform you'd like. You can enter daily. For bonus entries, follow Dtoid and @AnotherIndieS on Twitter, and share our co??ntest post with your friends!

While you're waiting, tell us in the comments why castles keep getting haunted. Is it a flaw in the design, or something to do with the tenants? Do ghosts and monster just li??ke big castles, or do they wind up there, kin??da like drifters in a park? I'm dying to know.

We have three Switch and three PS4 keys to give away -- all are for North American accounts, only. Winners will be drawn Tuesday, September 24. Head over to PlayStation and Nintendo Enthusiast for more chances to win.

Lost Castle is available now for Switch and PS4.

Dtoid Contest: Get lost in Lost Castle for? PS4 or Switch

The post Contest: Get lost ??in Lost Castle for PS4 or Switch appeared first on Destructoid.

It sounds like the start of a dirty joke

Today's contest features sidescrolling runner Jet Kave Adventure!

If you give a mouse a cookie, it'll inevitably ask?? for milk. If you give a caveman a jetpack, it'll use it to run into dinosaurs. It's just how these things work -- don't question it.

Well someone went and gave a caveman a jetpack, despite the obvious flaw in the plan. They also gave us some Switch keys of Jet Kave Adventure to give away?, so hey,? at least you'll get some free stuff out of it!

Meet Kave. He's kind of a doofus, so his caveman tribe kicked him out. But then aliens showed up when they crash landed, and now they're trying to use the island's resources to fix their sh?ip. Problem is, it'll blow up the local volcano if they do. Kave's all like, nah. So he grabs his trusty jetpack he just found and takes to the skies, platforming and jetpacking his way to saving his tribe and proving his worth. I mean, it kind of feels like cheating because he's got a jetpack and they're still using sticks to hunt mastodons, but whatever.

Ok read some game features:

• Save the island and Kave's honor in a playful "Stone fiction" adventure
• Jetpack through 36 colorful levels riddled with hazards and rich with secrets
• Use your trusty club and alien jetpack to smack and whack 30 types of enemies
• Show what you're made of in breakneck flight sequences and boss fights
• Master jet-fueled platforming to find collectibles and upgrade your gear
• Enjoy a 2.5D adventure platformer tailor-made for Nintendo Switch!

Again, finding a jetpack while all your friends have rocks and a tenuous grasp of?? f??ire sounds a bit like cheating, but whatever.

To enter to win, use the widge??t below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. For bonus entries, follow Dtoid on Twitter and share our contest post with your ?friends.

While you're waiting, tell us in the comme?nts just what the hell Jark, Kave's rival back in the village, is supposed to do now that homeboy has a jetpack. Jark has a much better jawline and once started a fire after only 47 minutes of rubbing two rocks together (a tribe record), but damn yo, what's a fella to do when his rival has a jetpack?

We have three Switch NA keys to give away; winners will be drawn Monday, September 23. Head over to Nintendo Enthusiast for more chances to get your hand?? on this bad boy.

Jet Kave Adventure is available now for Nintendo Switch.

Dtoid Conte?st: Give ??a caveman a jetpack with Jet Kave Adventure

The post Contest: Give a caveman a jetpack with Jet Kave ??Adventure appeared first on Destructoid.

Steam, Xbox One, and Switch

Enter our contest and win your own copy of Damsel for PC, Xbox One, or Switch!

There's nothing ?I love more than a kickass female lead in a video game. Unfortunately, we don't get nearly as many as we deserve. Give me more Lara Crofts, and fewer Nathan Drakes. More Bayonettas, less Dantes. More Joanna Darks, and absolutely no Duke Nukems. That dude straight up sucks.

Damsel is here to deliver on that badass? lady lead. We've got some keys for PC, Xbox One, and Switch to give away so you can kick vampire ass ?all across your screen.

You were give??n eyes for a reason. Use ??them to read this:

Cause distress in Damsel, a challenging, fast-paced, arcade platformer. Experience a dark cartoon world come to life as frenetic action gameplay meets comic book visuals and storytelling. Dash through beautiful arenas va??n??quishing vampires, rescuing hostages, disarming bombs, and much more.

The game consists of three episodes of Damsel's adventure totalling 75 action packed missions and a comic book story that sees Special Agent Damsel investig?ate the vampire-owned Red Mist Beverage Corporation. The word on the street is that Red Mist is creating a "secret menu" drink containing real human blood. Spoiler: They are!

Features:

• Classic Arcade Vibe - Bite sized gameplay that'll make you say, "Just one more go" (although you said that a few tries ago...)
• Comic Book Campaign - Learn the secrets of Red Mist and put a stop to their evil plans.
• Competitive Arcade Leaderboards - Master your abilities by perfecting your runs and become the top agent.
• Chill Out Time - Chillout mode lets you take the edge off and enjoy the game without worrying about pesky things like dying.
• Extra challenge modes - For the discerning slayer, take the difficulty up a notch!
• Pumping Synth Soundtrack - Gothic grooves to slay to!

This game doesn't suck! LOL VAMPIRE JOKE GET IT?!

To enter to win your copy, comment below telling us which platform (and if Switch, which region) you'd like to win. Also, tell u?s your favorite female video game character! I'm a sucker for Tifa Lock??hart. A huge sucker. A total fool for that woman, I am.

We have 5 Steam, 4 Xbox One, 2 Switch NA, and 2 Switch EU keys to give away. Winners will be drawn Wednesday, August 14. Don't have a Dtoid account? Naughty. Sign up here to join the party.

Damsel is available now for PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

The post Contest: Cau??se vampiric distress with a copy of?? Damsel appeared first on Destructoid.

Android users, unite!

Android users: We have some MapleStory M keys to give away to upgrade your mobile experience!

We've put together several MapleStory contests and giveaways in the past. Apparently, ?y'all really like it! We've covered most of our bases on the PC games, so why not try something for the mobile one?

We've got 200 keys to give away to MapleStory M players, granting them access to the new Phantom Class Upd??ate. Why buy or grind when you can skip the line and get things for free?! It just makes more economic sense this way.

MapleStory M tak??es the gameplay the series is known for and adapts it to mobile phones. Read some press about it so I don't?? have to try to describe things with my own words:

MapleStory M, launched globally on July 24, 2018, brings the nostalgic world of side-scrolling MMORPG MapleStory to the mobile platform in a smartphone-friendly way -- allowing players to enjoy Maple World without limitations. This game offers endless amount of customization, immersive storylines, and epic boss raids that fans have come to expect from the iconic franchise. MapleStory M reached global 5 million downloads within 2 weeks of its launch, and 10 million downloads within 100 days. Maplestory M is now available in 140?? countries and 9 languages in both Apple App Store and Google Play Store.

I'm only available in one country, an??d two languages. I nee??d to step up my game, I suppose.

We've g?ot a bunch of keys to get you all up to date with th??e new Phantom Class Update content! Our keys include:

The code includes access to all the features available in the MapleStory M Phantom Class Update. Special gift boxes containing Unique Weapon Whetstone, Unique Armor Whetstone, Auto-Battle Charge Ticket and more are up for grabs, as well as newly implemented additions, such as the Wedding System and Em??ote Wheel and events, like the Maple Memory Leaf Gathering and the opening of Monster Park.

To claim a key, si??mply use the widget below. That's it! Take them. Just try to make your Wedding System longer than I did with mine.

We have 200 keys, so please don't leave me with any at the end of the weekend. They're only good with Android devices, so keep that?? in mind! Redemption instructions will be sent with your key.

MapleStory M is available now for Android and iOS devices.

The post Gi?veaway: Take a key for the Phantom Class Update in MapleStory M appeared first on Destructoid.

A real, working Sega Genesis cart!

Enter our contest for your chance to win a Sega Genesis cartridge for Mega Cat Studios' upcoming Phantom Gear!

I've done ??a few giveaways already with my good friends over at Mega Cat Studios. Wanna know why? They put awesome retro-inspired games on ACTUAL retro consoles! It's a really cool business model, if you ask me.

They've got a physical release of Sega Genesis-inspired title Phantom Gear in the wor??ks, and they thought why not let Dtoid get in ?on winning a copy? Since contests are kind of my thing, I jumped at the opportunity.

Run, jump, and blast your way through classic 16-bit platforming in this Genesis-style release from developer Bits Rule and publisher Mega Cat Studios. You're Josephine, a mechanically-enhanced explorer out to ave??nge her mother's death at the hands of the Ocular Force. Guide Josephine through five retro levels filled with platforming, enemies, and bosses as you double jump, glide, and shoot your way to the end. Upgrade her abilities with orbs you find throughout the levels, and switc??h between different weapons with multiple modes of fire.

I grew up as a Sega kid, so full disclosure: I'm really biased toward the Genesis look and style. It real?ly ??????????????????????????brings me back to that golden age of gaming on Saturday afternoons without a single care in the world. This one really nails that feeling!

To enter to win your very own Genesis copy of Phantom Gear (comple??te with case and freaking game manu??al -- remember those?), use the widget below to leave your name and email address. You can enter daily. For bonus entries, follow Dtoid and Mega Cat Studios on Twitter and share our contest post with your friends.

While you're waiting to see who won, tell us your favorite kind of game from the 16-bit era. Were you a platformer fan? Into RPGs? Couldn't get enough NBA Jam, like me? Let us know!

We have one Sega Genesis copy of the game t??o give away. You must have a United States shipping address in order to win. Winner will be drawn Friday, August 2.

Phantom Gear is currently in development, with a full Genesis cart production from Mega Cat Studios over 80% of the way funded on Kickstarter.

Conte?st: Win a physical Sega Genesis cartrid??ge of Mega Cat Studios' Phantom Gear

The post Contest: Win a physical Sega Genesis cartridge of Mega Cat Studios’ Phantom Gear appeared first on Destructoid.

Beck's redemption

During Inti Creates' panel at Anime Expo yesterday, the company revealed that Mighty Gunvolt Burst will be heading to PC (via Steam) on July 31, 2019. Retailing for $9.99, this new port will contain all three playable characters from the PS4 version (called Gal Gunvolt Burst) and have its DLC avai??lable for purchase?? from day one.

The characters included with the game are Gunvolt, Beck (from Mighty No. 9), and Ekoro (from Gal*Gun). The available DLC adds the characters Copen, Call, Joule, Tenzou, and Ray. There's no word on pricing for the additional characters, but it will likely mirror the Switch version and have each one priced at $1.99.

Inti Creates [Twitter]

The post Mighty Gunvolt B?urst blasts onto Steam later this?? month appeared first on Destructoid.

Growing up ain't all it's cracked up to be

I'm gonna break away from my normal shtick of weird shit and animals for something a little more grounded, but no less esoteric. Growing up playing video games in public, in arcades, ?now counts as esoteric, right?

198X looks to tickle that nostalgia fancy for anyone who remembers pumping quarters in?to machines. For most of us, they weren't just games -- they were an integral part of our youths. Whoa, that's like, deep.

Players take on the role of Kid, who discovers video games through his local arcade. Five games representing five genres are present: There's a sidescrolling beat-'em-up, a shmup, a racing title, a ninja game, and a cyber RPG. Each game recreates the look and feel of t??heir '80s counterparts, to t??he point where when the trailer first started I thought they were using clips from actual old games. If nothing else, the attention to detail is a sight to behold.

But just playing through classically-tinged games would make this less of a complete game, and more of a mini-game collection. Luckily, 198X is tied together through a narrative following Kid as he finds meaning in life through the games he plays. With each world he enters and masters, he learns mo?re about himself and the world around him.

As he says in the trailer, these games are more than just? games to him -- they're inexorable parts of his own personality. I think most of us here can relate to that; every game we've ever played has left some impact on us -- some more than others. And while the games we grew up playing may be visually or mechanically dated, they left an impression on us that goes beyond just being a game we played, being more of a part of who we are today. If done right, the narrative can really strike a chord with what it means to be a gamer. At least it's got a hell of a style about it.

The first chapter of 198X is av?ailable now for Steam. A PS4 release comes next week, followed by a Switch and Xbox One appearance later in the year.

The post 198X takes you back to ’80s arcades appeared first on Destructoid.

Switch or PC

Enter our contest for your chance to win a Switch or PC copy of My Friend Pedro!

Do you have a friend name Pedro? How's about a homicidal ?banana giving you instructions? Maybe a skateboard, frying pan, and several acrobat??ic gunkata moves? Yeah, I don't have any of that either.

The good news is you can enter our contest for a copy of My Friend Pedro, and get all of the above -- and more!

Read our review and check the trailer for specifics, but let's just say this game is oozing with style. And bullet time. And bananas. You're a masked gunman on the run from hundreds, maybe thousands, of deranged henchmen trying to take you out. So return the favor using any means necessary. And by "any means," I?? mean mostly parkour, slowing down time, and shooting anything and everything while doing backflips and shit. In fact, I think you get penalized for not doing flips like a ninja monkey.

And if you don't, you should.

To enter to win a copy, comment telling us which platform you'd like, and tell us the proper penalty for not doing backflips and shit when you have the clear ability and purpose to do so. ?Our penal code here at Dtoid is no laughing matter, so please make your responses very, very serious to deter people from not parkour-ing everywhere.

We have five Switch NA and five Steam keys to give away. Winners will be drawn Wednesday, June 26. Make sure to comment using a Dtoid account with your current email address on file. New users can sign up here to dole out some capital punishment!

My Friend Pedro is available now for Switch and PC.

The post Conte?st: Grab your banana and split with My Friend Pedro appeared first on Destructoid.