If you like hand-crafted indie games, you have to take a look at the upcoming bullet hell shooter ZOE Begone! The high-octane shooter injects new life and messy splodges of ink into the genre.
Players must take on the role of Zoe, a film-strip heroine who wants to take a peaceful nap but finds herself having to fight a formidable foe. The Animator sketches waves of enemies into existence with a paintbrush and pen, unleashing vibrant hand-drawn chaos in the process (see our guide to the best game development software if you're looking to start work on your own masterpiece).
ZOE Begone was created by solo developer Retchy. With run-and-gun reflexes and screen-clearing dashes, Zoe must reclaim her reel from hordes of painted enemies in a world of surreal cartoon physics inspired by 1930s drawn-on-film animation.
You collect Apples to unlock new weapons, game-changing power-ups, and passive abilities to help evolve your playstyle, and there are multiple modes, a wide selection of levels, and online leaderboards to keep gameplay feeling fresh.
Retchy cites the work of Norman McLaren and the golden age of arcade shooters as influences, and the combination makes for a unique-looking game that blends classic shoot ‘em up design with modern action.
A gigantic paintbrush brings the next wave of enemies to life, and some fourth wall-breaking humour makes the game even more refreshing. Watch out for enemies that splatter ink when defeated!
ZOE Begone! is launching on September 17 for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 & 5, and Xbox Series X|S. A free playable demo is available on Steam.
For more inspiration, see our piece on the best indie game devs and our guide to game art styles.
