Quick Facts
| Developer: | Shatter Flask Games || Rocket Panda Games Japan |
| Publisher: | Rocket Panda Games || acttil, inc. |
| Genre: | 2D Side-scrolling Action Platformer |
| Platforms: | PC (Steam, Epic), PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S (Switch/Switch 2 planned down the road) |
| Release Date: | Mid-2027 (Kickstarter coming late 2026) |
| Featured Event: | Gamescom ’26 |
In a fallen world shaped by betrayal, war, and forbidden magic, a legendary warrior rises to reclaim his honor. Players step into the boots of Phaedon of Arsica, a betrayed revenant who was imprisoned and left for dead. Freed by a twist of fate, Phaedon embarks on a brutal hunt across a vibrant, pixel-crushed 2D world to track down those who betrayed him and his homeland. Bringing this cinematic story to life is a sensational voice cast, including Ben Starr (famous for his phenomenal role in Final Fantasy XVI) and Aleks Le (the star of Solo Leveling), who also serves as the game’s voice director and co-producer.
While the dark fantasy aesthetic and rich atmospheric environments instantly give off classic Castlevania and Strider vibes, the developers at Shatter Flask Games and Rocket Panda Games have made a crucial design choice: Cresata is not a Metroidvania. Instead, the game employs a highly polished, stage-based progression system. This linear focus allows the team to deliver meticulously handcrafted, puzzle-laden levels (reminiscent of modern retro platformers like Celeste) where dynamic camera work and clever 2.5D visual rotations make every stage feel incredibly fresh.
Hands-on Impressions: Grappling Traversal Meets Relentless Action
Our hands-on gameplay session at Gamescom ’26 gave us a fantastic taste of Cresata’s central gameplay hook: Phaedon’s Crescent Claw. This versatile grappling hook is seamlessly integrated into both traversal and combat. Players can strike in any direction, tether through gorgeous pixelated environments, and swing across deadly chasms with remarkable speed and precision.
The combat itself is incredibly fluid and expressive. By mastering the Cresata Arts, players can dash, deflect incoming projectiles, and unleash brutal counterattacks with lethal grace. Traversal and combat flow together naturally: you can grapple an enemy to drag yourself forward, execute a mid-air combo, and tether onto a distant ledge to escape incoming fire. The level design beautifully incorporates these mechanics, forcing you to utilize the environment to outsmart both standard guards and colossal, screen-filling bosses.
Super Fair Checkpoints: Hard Core, No Hassle
Make no mistake: Cresata is a challenging game. The platforming is precise, the enemies are aggressive, and boss encounters require razor-sharp reflexes. However, the game completely bypasses the frustration that plague many hard platformers by incorporating an incredibly fair checkpoint system.
Instead of punishing players with tedious backtracking or forcing them to run through empty corridors after every single death, Cresata features incredibly frequent, near-instant checkpoints. You can jump straight back into the action for another quick try within milliseconds. This rapid-retry design philosophy completely changes the pacing of the game: it encourages experimentation, makes failure feel like part of the fun rather than a punishment, and ensures that you are always focused on mastering the actual challenge in front of you.
The Verdict: A Masterclass in Modern-Retro Side-Scrolling
By stripping away the tedious backtracking of traditional Metroidvanias and focusing entirely on fast-paced, stage-based action, Cresata stands out as one of the most exciting platformers on the horizon. With its gorgeous 2.5D visual style, phenomenal voice talent, and a combat loop that is exceptionally satisfying to master, this is an absolute must-play. The developers are launching a Kickstarter campaign later this year to gather some extra polish funds before heading toward their planned launch in mid-2027. Make sure to keep your eyes on this one!
Curious to see Phaedon’s lethal grappling traversal and the breathtaking pixel-art of Pywel in action? Watch the official gameplay teaser trailer below:
