While few other details about the port have been revealed, it will also likely feature specially developed touch controls that make gameplay on smartphones and tablets easier. Along with this, it wouldn’t be too surprising to see the Android version of Replaced also get compatibility with gamepads, allowing for more refined control schemes even on mobile.

Replaced was released across PC and Xbox Series X/S earlier this year, and has a great critical reception, with its Metacritic rating sitting at 76. In our own review, we gave it a score of 7 out of 10 thanks to its gorgeous pixel art visual style that has been beautifully animated and well-lit, excellent world-building, and satisfying combat. Our only complaints revolved around the clunkiness of the Pickaxe in the game’s 2.5D plane and the slow pacing of its story.

Back in August 2025, Sad Cat Studios co-founder Igor Gritsay had revealed more details about why the team decided to go with the 2.5D art style that melds 3D assets with pixel art. He noted that the team wanted to make a visually striking game but lacked the budget to make a AAA-level title.

“You don’t see many of those games like Inside, maybe Little Nightmares and stuff, but those are far in between. And this is for a reason, because even if a game is fully 3D, it’s really difficult to compose everything in a cinematic way. But we shot ourselves in the leg with doing all the pixel art because, to do proper camera work so that you don’t break the illusion of sprites being 2D is a lot of work.”

Interestingly, Gritsay said that the team thought that going with the 2.5D art style would end up being easier, and ultimately concluded the discussion by saying: “spoiler alert, it was not.”

His statement was accompanied by a video that gave us a look at its gameplay. Replaced puts players in the shoes of an AI named R.E.A.C.H. as they explore the cyberpunk world to uncover deep secrets and webs of conspiracies. There is a heavy emphasis on exploration throughout the game, with several hostile encounters thrown in, allowing players to flex their melee and ranged combat capabilities.

The main setting of Replaced is a dystopian world that has a vast amount of income inequality, with an entire category of people being called “disposals”. These people were previously victims of corporations that have stolen their organs and thrown the survivors out of the city.

For more details about Replaced, take a look at our interview with Gritsay and director Yura Zhdanovich, where we discussed the studio’s inspirations, how the team managed to balance melee and ranged combat, and how exploration became one of the core gameplay pillars of the title.

It’s hard to believe that we’ve got so many great ones in just the first half of the year, but the current generation of gaming hardware has made developers push the envelope on graphical fidelity, making games that can blur the line between what’s real and what’s not. We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite ones of the year, beginning with:

1. Resident Evil Requiem

The RE Engine has always been great at bringing whatever the developer dreams up to life, but this one’s great use of lighting, environmental detail, and excellent photorealistic graphics was the pinnacle of what the studio has achieved over the years. From Leon’s grizzly look to Grace’s raw fear and vulnerability, the character models were brilliant. Even better was how the franchise’s often moody and dark vibe was reflected in the very walls of the Rhodes Hill Care Facility or within the gloomy ruins of Raccoon City.

Of course, it wasn’t all about looks, as the gameplay was made all the more immersive thanks to how smooth the entire thing was, be it Grace running from The Child or taking control of Leon to beat down on zombies that came with superior numbers. All of the blood and gore on display served to underline the horrors of what the two protagonists were facing, while the addition of differing camera perspectives was a very welcome touch.

The developer really cooked with this one.

2. RIDE 6

We really liked how the world and the bikes themselves fed into the illusion that we were right there on the tracks, swinging a leg over those impossibly fast machines in the process. The details on each bike were nothing short of stunning, with Unreal Engine 5 working under the hood to ensure that their metal panels let the light gently glance off of them.

The tracks and the world in general were additional facets of the experience that added to the immersion, and the way things moved once you let your throttle loose is a feeling that only those among us who love riding can describe. This one’s definitely earned its place among the year’s finest on the graphical front, and with good reason.

3. Reanimal

An adventure that’s as emotionally layered as the harrowing one that The Boy and The Girl undertake in Reanimal was always going to rely on the grim and gritty world that acted as its stage. Tarsier Studios definitely had that in mind when crafting this one, and the sense of isolation and despair that the Island brought to the table was definitely a highlight of the experience.

The art direction, cinematic presentation, and the stunning level of detail on offer in this one did well to make the horror side of things stand out, while lending a layer of poignancy to the tale of two lost children looking for a way out of desperate circumstances. From the efficient use of limited light in specific situations to presenting the desolation of a world that’s designed to make you hesitate, this one definitely stands tall among the year’s finest titles.

4. Subnautica 2

While the long wait for this one might not feel as rewarding in terms of the narrative, which is going to take a bit of time to fully present its complexities, the world of Proteus is an entirely different story. It’s crafted to make you feel like a smaller part of a larger landscape, its flora and fauna designed so well that they’re almost calling to you to investigate further. That’s a crucial pillar of this one’s gameplay loop, and to see it implemented as well as it has been is a reason for Subnautica 2 to shine as bright as it does.

Exploring the world gives you a strong feeling of venturing into the unknown, and the graphics do a very good job of selling that sentiment as you try to make sense of what’s been unfolding on the planet before you got there. On the graphical front, Proteas does well to make itself a world that you can’t help but explore, the desire to see more of it stemming from how well it’s presented to you.

5. Pragmata

Hugh and Diana’s time in The Cradle wouldn’t have been as engaging if the darn thing hadn’t been as ethereally beautiful as it was. It’s almost as if the facility was designed to be the perfect backdrop to an adventure that had action and emotion woven in with a sublime balance. It wasn’t just the pristine walls and stunning environments but the way Diana’s hacking minigame was designed and presented, alongside enemy designs that we continue to grin about when we think about them.

This one’s design chops were a very memorable part of the experience it was offering, and it almost made us sad that there wasn’t more of it to go around. Well, there’s every chance a sequel comes along to dazzle us even more sometime in the future, so there’s that. But Pragmata definitely deserves a place on this list thanks to how well the world you’re a part of makes the entire journey even better without taking away from the rest of it.

6. Forza Horizon 6

Japan’s a popular place in modern gaming, and the Horizon Festival’s take on the land, its unique vibe, and, of course, the cars is a very impressive way to make its latest iteration engaging right off the bat. From the bustling streets of its cities to the serene beauty of its open roads and mountains, Japan almost feels like it’s where the Festival has always belonged, although we know that it’s going to move on in the franchise’s next offering.

Nevertheless, this one’s going to have you stopping to just take in the sights more often than not. We even gave up on a race to just admire the scenic beauty of a road high up on a mountain at one point, and that’s a testament to how the game’s weather system and excellent lighting make every inch of Japan a place worth looking into. The graphics are a solid part of why this one feels so special, and it’s going to be interesting to see how Playground tops them in whatever it’s planning next.

7. Crimson Desert

Oh, Pywel. What a place for a fan of fantasy titles to visit. From its well-designed cities to biomes that not just remain visually distinct from each other but constantly seem to be trying to be more impressive than the one you just left, this one’s definitely up there with some of the most visually impressive open worlds there are. And that’s not even factoring in the Abyss and whatever mysteries its sci-fi vibes are hiding.

Lush fields, dense forests, mechanical marvels, dark caves, bright palaces contrast well with desolate ruins, terrifying monsters, and a harsh desert, all of which serve to underline a land that’s as visually diverse as it is on a mechanical level. Yes, this one had a bit of a shaky start, but its problems are now just blips on a very promising horizon thanks to the developer’s efforts to make this a fantasy you can’t get enough of.

8. REPLACED

In our review of this one, we were quite impressed by how detailed its pixel art-style environments could be, and that continues to be a highlight of the experience on offer. It’s never easy to present great detailing and a unique style in a way that communicates desolation and a grim reality for the people exploring worlds like Phoenix City, and Sad Cat deserves credit for crafting environments that make you gape at their melancholic beauty even as the sadness of what’s created such spaces remains as an undercurrent to nudge your emotions a certain way.

The platforming puzzle sections deserve a special mention, and we’re still thinking about how well they’ve been presented in this one. On the graphical front, this one definitely deserves praise for the way in which it brings the world to life, dystopian hellscape vibes and all.

9. 007 First Light

IO Interactive’s take on James Bond’s early trysts with MI6 is as stylish as the man himself. If you’ve seen even a hint of this one, you probably already know why we’ve given it a spot on our list. Lights reflect off surfaces so naturally, while character models and environmental details help sell the story it’s trying to tell so well that it isn’t easy to remember that this one’s a video game and not an interactive film.

It also helps that everything is so polished that it enables the gameplay to better sell a version of Bond who’s brutal in a fight, while being quite the marksman if he’s at range. All in all, this one is a Bond game for the ages, and its visual fidelity is definitely a pillar that props up the experience it offers.

10. Saros

We weren’t really surprised at how visually resplendent Carcosa was after our time with Returnal, but Saros definitely earns its place on this list thanks to how Arjun’s harrowing time in a world that doesn’t make sense to him as often as he’d like is presented. From those almost spellbinding bullet patterns to some truly terrifying enemy designs, this one definitely belongs among the stronger visual feats this year has achieved.

Carcosa itself shouldn’t be discounted, with places like the Shattered Ruins, the Mysterious Depths, and, of course, the Ancient City all standing out as places that you want to learn more about while remaining imposing enough to make you hesitant about indulging that curiosity. This one’s as good as they come, and Housemarque deserves credit for a title that looks this good.

And that’s about it for this one. It’s been a pleasure to dive into the worlds these games have given us, and we’ve no doubt that the rest of the year has more of these visual marvels coming our way. Until then, it’s probably a good idea to give any of these titles a shot if you’re looking for something to cast a spell on you.

But as Sad Cat Studios showcased more, slowly but surely working towards a release date, wanting everything to be perfect, other concerns arose. In snippets, Replaced seemingly had it all, even within the confines of its 2.5D perspective. A combat system clearly based on the Batman: Arkham series. Intriguing characters with their own complicated – and often tragic – backstories. An atmosphere fueled by post-consumerist despair and nightmare scenarios, where humans are little more than products.

There’s quite a bit, but surely those disparate parts come together in the end, right? Well, not quite, and your mileage really will vary, depending on what exactly you expect from Replaced.

The story begins with R.E.A.C.H., an AI, investigating the well-being of its developer, Warren, who works at Phoenix Corp. After what seems to be an accident, the AI finds itself inhabiting the latter’s body. Even worse is the fact that the building is suffering numerous failures. Fires breaking out, roof panels collapsing, the works, and it’s all that R.E.A.C.H. can do to find help…until he discovers the police executing patients and mercilessly hunting him down.

"For all intents and purposes, that is the core of Replaced, and it’s backed by some compelling lore. The Prospero Incident, the journal of a fresh Termite who goes from owning slaves and weapons to losing it all – there’s some fantastic world-building going on."

Even if it goes on for slightly too long, it’s a compelling introduction to the world of Replaced, and R.E.A.C.H. serves as a strong medium for several reasons. On the one hand, there’s the official story about the world, and what he witnesses with his own eyes. Following a nuclear catastrophe that left a sizable portion of the country uninhabitable, the Phoenix Initiative arose, providing aid and opportunities for all and sundry. Of course, as with any megacorp, it’s also engaged in shady dealings. Building a Wall to curtain off a sizable portion of Phoenix City, seizing body parts and organs, then disposing of individuals without a care in the world (with many of the survivors taking up residence in The Station) – and that’s only to start.

On the other hand are Warren’s memories, which occasionally surface and reveal some very not-nice things about his developer. But perhaps most notable throughout is R.E.A.C.H.’s candor. Seeing him face reality, which clearly doesn’t line up with everything he’s been fed, is interesting, especially when he’s dealing with the whole experience of being human. It influences how he deals with others – honest to a fault, even when it’s not the best tactic. At times, it’s awkwardly charming, especially when interacting with Sadie, who runs the local arcade in the station; at others, he serves as a straight man to the energy of Tempest; and sometimes, his logic just can’t reconcile why someone had their larynx taken away or why one person has to die while the other lives due to insufficient medical care.

Of course, as despair-filled as Replaced can be, it’s also just so utterly gorgeous at every single turn. A simple stroll through The Station’s market reveals an incredible amount of detail – rundown stalls, shoddily constructed signs, decadents on crutches, barely functioning equipment, and so many different kinds of illumination. That lighting is all the more endearing when you’re walking through the outskirts of the wall at dusk, or watching the telltale glow of a Termite sniper to avoid a quick death. And even if it’s already been mentioned, it deserves repeating – the animation, which capably captures every little nuance, to an almost unnaturally impressive degree. It all meshes incredibly with the synth soundtrack, which can range from soothingly atmospheric to industrially oppressive.

For all intents and purposes, that is the core of Replaced, and it’s backed by some compelling lore. The Prospero Incident, the journal of a fresh Termite who goes from owning slaves and weapons to losing it all – there’s some fantastic world-building going on. And as dull as the optional quests can feel, at least they shine more light on the characters. Some of the lore doesn’t always feel represented in the actual plot, however, which is where the game’s first weakness emerges: Pacing.

"When everything flows together, the combat can feel good, though once again, it’s Arkham-inspired on a 2.5D plane. Anyone expecting the same level of feel and tactical brilliance will be left wanting."

While not the longest experience, the plot often feels like it drags at points. R.E.A.C.H.’s observations and conversations with Warren – or Warren’s body, rather – keep things moving while you’re actually playing. Stopping multiple times to interact with different items puts a slight damper on things. At best, it can feel like an adventure game; at worst, a walking simulator.

Aside from that, there’s the cinematic puzzle platforming and Free Flow Combat. While it takes a while to get going, the former does present some interesting scenarios, like turning off water valves and avoiding steam to ascend higher. They’re not always the most challenging or clever – you would think reaching that box on the walkway above meant pushing it down for…something, but no, it’s meant as a boost for climbing on the pipes above (and then you get to do it again). Some scenarios can also be randomly frustrating, like a Termite Sniper sweeping past a wall where I’m hidden, only to suddenly annihilate me. At least the movement is on point more often than not.

Combat is easy to pick up and feels impactful enough. Smack enemies with one button, counter them with the other, dodge red attacks, and power up the Huxley with enough hits to execute foes. Problems, as you would expect, emerge once you get the Pickaxe. It can destroy armor and shields – without doing this, they’ll remain invulnerable to hits or shots. Pretty simple, except it has an annoying wind-up.

Maybe you win the 50-50 and manage to get it off before an enemy uses their red attack. Maybe you don’t. The fact that they weave between other foes makes it all the more annoying, especially when trying to pick off ranged foes first. The Huxley also slowly loses charge if you’re not attacking, which means every opportunity to break armor on, say, a tank means still having to smack it twice, dodge its red attack, repeat, until you can take the shot.

When everything flows together, the combat can feel good, though once again, it’s Arkham-inspired on a 2.5D plane. Anyone expecting the same level of feel and tactical brilliance will be left wanting.

"Maybe that’s just my brain wanting something more from this brilliant aesthetic. Either way, it can be an enjoyable story for the cyberpunk aficionados, as long as you can accept its various stumbles."

Once again, it boils down to what you want out of Replaced. If it’s the vibe that you’re after – the graphics, the music, the world, and these characters – then it can absolutely fill that niche, so long as you’re fine with extensive conversations and methodical pacing. Neither combat nor platforming is the worst – not even close. You can find things to enjoy about either, but they just don’t measure up to the presentation or world-building.

The result is an experience which doesn’t feel like more than the sum of its parts (that too at times when it just manages to reach that). And as stunning as the vistas can be, the camera panning and zooming out to great effect, Replaced can feel equal parts movie-like and relatable – like you’re simply passing through some environments rather than really getting a feel for them. Maybe that’s just my brain wanting something more from this brilliant aesthetic. Either way, it can be an enjoyable story for the cyberpunk aficionados, as long as you can accept its various stumbles.

This game was reviewed on PC.

Samson: A Tyndalston Story

Growing up is never easy, yet there’s a bittersweet feeling in returning to your childhood town, older and wiser. Not for Samson, though. His goal in Tyndalston is to pay off a debt that increases each day. Time is money, literally – you have limited hours to choose different jobs, whether it’s a getaway driver for a bank job or tuning up some local thugs. With a combat system that’s more about fighting dirty and vehicular mayhem that would make Mad Max proud, Samson promises a lot for its $25 price when it launches on April 8th.

DarkSwitch

Think Against the Storm, but expanding vertically – that somewhat explains Cyber Temple’s DarkSwitch. With a giant tree as your base and a malevolent fog slowly creeping in, you need to build, construct defenses and sometimes venture into the unknown to survive. It probably isn’t a coincidence that Akira Yamaoka is composing the soundtrack, probably hearing the word “fog” and asking nothing more. But with a full-fledged story mode that promises over 20 hours of thrills, DarkSwitch could end up a dark horse when it launches on April 9th.

Replaced

AI trapped in a human’s body, an alternative United States under the thrall of megacorporations, post-nuclear panic – all of this and more await in Replaced, Sad Cat Studios’ long-in-development cinematic platformer, which launches on April 14th. It also features stunning 2.5D graphics and a Free Flow combat system akin to Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham franchise. Over its eight-hour runtime (11 to 12 if you stay and smell what’s left of the roses), there’s a harrowing, unpredictable experience with more than its fair share of bleak commentary on the world as we know it.

Starfield (PS5) and Terran Armada

Bethesda’s new – and not at all controversial – IP is finally coming to PS5 on April 7th alongside the latest story DLC, Terran Armada. At $49.99 for the base game ($10 for the new DLC), it’s the best time for PlayStation players to explore the Settled Systems, especially with the Free Lanes update. Besides expanding on space travel, it introduces new companions, outpost improvements, new points of interest, more upgrade systems, and more. Meanwhile, Terran Armada promises a more interesting story, its own exclusive Incursions, new ships, and even an HK-47-style companion in Delta.

Regions of Ruin: Runegate

As intriguing as the pixel art style and sheer number of systems could be, I never expected 2018’s Regions of Ruin to get a sequel. Runegate is out on April 14th and follows pretty much the same premise – venturing out into a ruined world, helping your Dwarven brethren, obtaining resources, and ultimately, establishing a place to call home. With more varied locations, sleeker visuals and much more to do, it promises to be the definitive Regions of Ruin experience.

Road to Vostok (Early Access)

If you can’t wait for S.T.A.L.K.E.R. 2’s first story DLC to hit this Summer, Road to Vostok may tide you over. Entering early access on April 7th, it tasks players with exploring the post-apocalyptic areas between Finland and Russia, ultimately culminating in Vostok. You’ll need to loot supplies and build a formidable arsenal, dealing with changing seasons, rough weather, bandits, and even the military, with death in Vostok causing you to lose everything. It’s a ways off from full release, but those looking for another challenging survival FPS may find it worthwhile.

Diablo 4: Lord of Hatred

Vessel of Hatred was a steaming hot pile of whatever, but Lord of Hatred, Diablo 4’s next expansion, looks more promising. Available on April 28th, it sees the world in peril once more because Mephisto. You’ll likely be the one to lay the smackdown on him after venturing to Skovos, a scintillating new region full of new points of interest and plenty of demons to scour. Two new classes, the Paladin and Warlock, bring even more unique playstyles and build variety than before, while Blizzard is reworking the Skill Tree, bringing back the Horadric Cube, and more. Maybe this will be the release that finally elevates Diablo 4 to the next level. We can only hope.

MOUSE: P.I. For Hire

What if you combine the rubber-hose animation of Cuphead with boomer-shooter-like gameplay? You get MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, a hard-boiled noir adventure focused on Jack Prepper, as he investigates a missing persons case and ends up discovering more than he bargained for. The slick hand-drawn animation is undoubtedly the appeal, as it brings Mouseburg to life in astonishing detail. Of course, this is a shooter as well, with weapons ranging from the grounded – pistols, shotguns, machine guns – to the wacky like freeze rays, corrosive turpentine and more. It’s out on April 16th and promises 12 to 20 hours of gameplay for $30.

Pragmata

Moon’s haunted, but instead of ghosts, there are homicidal robots out to get you. Launching on April 17th, Pragmata isn’t a Resident Evil-style survival horror – it’s the journey of Hugh, investigating a lunar base after lost contact and becoming swept up in the robot uprising. Together with the android Diana, he seeks a way out, providing the firepower while she hacks through an enemy’s defenses. The twist is that you have to do both simultaneously, creating a mix of puzzle-solving and tense shooting. It’s unlike anything we’ve seen before, and after the demo, we only want more.

Saros

Death is only the first step in Housemarque’s latest, and protagonist Arjun Devraj has miles to go before he can sleep. Investigating Carcosa for any sign of previous Soltari expeditions, he and his crew are caught up in the Eclipse, which twists the planet’s surface, culminating in the sun’s death. And yet, death won’t let them escape. Cue close encounters with tentacled monstrosities, discovering new weapons and clues that could help. And while Saros leans much further into rogue-lite progression than Returnal, it’s also expanded on the bullet dodging with a new shield that lets you absorb some damage and send it back with a vengeance. Saros arrives on April 30th, and even if you haven’t played its predecessor, it’s looking like another killer PS5 exclusive.

Invincible VS

Seemingly addressing the lack of 3v3 fighters, Quarter Up’s take on the brutal superhero epic packs 18 playable characters – including favorites such as Invincible, Omni-Man, BattleBeast, and of course, Conquest. And if the prospect of different classes, active and counter tags, and rollback netcode for online play doesn’t interest you, there’s a story mode to experience every bloody skirmish. It’s available on April 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Spark in the Dark (Early Access)

As typical of a dungeon crawler as Stellar Fish’s latest title appears, there’s an inherent charm and grittiness to Spark in the Dark. Maybe it’s the isometric perspective or more methodical pacing, coupled with how inherently dark the endless Dungeon appears (which makes it all the more scary when monsters show up). It’s available on April 7th via early access and only includes the initial tiers of the Dungeon, but we’re keen on plundering its depths.

MotoGP 26

Credit where it’s due to Milestone, as this will be its third consecutive racing game in three months. MotoGP 26 is all about the thrill of competitive bike racing at the highest level, although you can opt between Arcade and Pro Experiences to determine the difficulty. With an in-depth career mode, cross-play between all platforms (Nintendo not included, sadly), and new disciplines like Minibikes, Flat Tracks, Production Bikes, and more, this could be the series’ most feature-packed entry yet.

WILL: Follow the Light

Cropping up more than once during Steam Next Fest and impressing with its visuals, WILL: Follow the Light is a hard-hitting adventure focused on a seemingly simple goal: Returning home. It’s far from easy, however, as Will must brave islands, mountains and even the sea to reach his hometown and save his son. Puzzles and environmental storytelling abound, but it’s all about the atmosphere and how deep you’ll go to learn the truth. WILL: Follow the Light launches on April 28th for PC.

Kiln

Listen, I’m not saying this is exactly what I expected from Double Fine, which has delivered some of the finest platforms to date. But Kiln is…curious in a way that fits the developer’s profile. After all, what other multiplayer title invites you to become a pot, finely sculpted by your hands and scuttling off into an arena for some ceramic destruction? The fact that a pot’s design influences its playstyle is even more intriguing. Whether it figuratively blows up or not, Kiln is out on April 23rd for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC.

Gorgeous 2.5D Pixel Art

Replaced doesn’t just hit you with its art style – it is its art style, but not just because it’s exquisitely crafted 2.5D pixel art. Or even that it’s inspired by titles like Flashback, Another World and The Last Night (which is still MIA). There’s a sense of style and atmosphere that is the most fitting evocation of Blade Runner yet. It’s cinematic (and very often cinema), whether you’re nervously running through abandoned buildings, avoiding being blown up by psychotic Termites, or casually strolling through a busy marketplace, taking in all the little details.

Alternative 1980s Setting

Where it all goes down isn’t necessarily as important as when. It’s the 1980s, but an alternative timeline where nuclear disaster has reshaped the United States. The Phoenix Corporation has emerged in the aftermath, promising jobs and hope, but also conducting some shady experiments (as is expected from any megacorp in the future). R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence, is seemingly one of them, having been trapped inside Warren’s body and escaping from the corporation’s clutches to Phoenix City, which is confined within The Wall. To what end?

AI and the Meaning of Humanity

You would have to think that R.E.A.C.H. wants to undo this whole mess because he’s not very good at acting human. Nevertheless, he tries, and while the meaning of being human is a core theme, developer Sad Cat Studios is also keen on exploring the dark turns that A.I. usage can take, especially when it comes to bio transplantology, namely replacing damaged organs and tissues through various means. Kind of gives a whole new dimension to the name “Replaced”, doesn’t it?

Cinematic Platforming

Like all those previously mentioned classics, Replaced involves platforming. There’s a sense of weight to R.E.A.C.H.’s movement, at least based on the recent demo, as he leaps across gaps, swings from bars and climbs up ledges. However, it’s less precision-focused and more cinematic with the cinematography, lighting, and overall atmosphere coming into play, especially when it comes to the…

Realistic Level Design

As director Yura Zhdanovich and composer Igor Gritsay told us, the goal with the environmental design is to keep them grounded – not just to accommodate the game’s cinematic feel but also from a setting standpoint. It’s not unlike what you would see from titles like Inside, but keeping to more realistic scenarios, as the art direction does a lot of the heavy lifting, bridging the gap between the surreal and the depressingly life-like.

Free Flow Combat

Of course, running through these gorgeous levels is only one component of Replaced’s gameplay. The other is combat, and Batman: Arkham fans rejoice, because it’s a clear nod to the glorious days of Free Flow (except on a 2.5D plane). You can seamlessly transition between enemies, hitting faster if you remain unscathed, and countering when necessary.

The Huxley

The Huxley is R.E.A.C.H.’s handgun, and it progressively builds charge as you smack enemies around. When fully charged, it can take down an enemy in one strike, and even works at range, making it ideal against gun-toting threats. Hanging back or rolling around too much means losing any charges. So on the one hand, you need to keep swinging, but on the other, also dodging to avoid the heavier hits. There’s a rhythm and flow here which feels good, and where R.E.A.C.H.’s weightiness feels the most appropriate.

Pickaxe and Heavy Strikes

One function that isn’t available in the demo is the Heavy Strike. It’s tied to the mechanized pickaxe that players unlock later, and is required to break through armored foes to hit them where it hurts. This is the only other tool that we currently know of, but it’s not just for combat – the pickaxe also adds in traversal, specifically wall-climbing. Perhaps even opening up previously locked-off areas?

Huxley Upgrades

The Huxley can also receive some upgrades to unlock more combat options, like deflecting bullets, and much like the pickaxe, it also provides a unique non-combat function (specifically double-jumping, and no, I don’t know how to reconcile the two). You would have to think that deflecting is better than wasting shots for takedowns, or that it would help in building weapon charge, but we still need to wait and see how it feeds into the overall combat loop.

Exploration and Dialogue Choices

The third and arguably most important aspect of Replaced? Exploration. We’re talking about entering the Station in Phoenix City and simply walking around, mingling with its residents to learn more about the world, their plight and what to do next. There’s a lot to see – especially lore entries that outline just how thoroughly everything’s gone to hell – and dialogue choices when conversing with the likes of the Council, even if it’s just to inquire about their backgrounds.

Side Quests

You’ll also take on side quests, and while they don’t currently offer much beyond “go collect and deliver things,” there are some notable NPCs to meet. Like Susan, who stays in the arcade and won’t give R.E.A.C.H. her binoculars if he doesn’t find a rectifier to help repair one of the broken machines. Thus, he sets out to find a ticket machine and, in true A.I. fashion, rips out everything and hopes one of the components is what she’s looking for.

Playable Arcade Games

Funnily enough, Susan won’t part with those binoculars, even if you help her fix the machine. Instead, she invites you to beat her high score, which confirms yet another distraction: Arcade mini-games. Described by IGN as a mix between Crazy Taxi and Operation, it’s pretty straightforward. Whether other such games exist is unknown, but seeing R.E.A.C.H. in all his hulking glory in this kind is…unorthodox, to say the least.

Stealth and Hacking

We’ve seen a bit of the stealth mechanics, which mostly comprise crouching behind objects to avoid detection (and a high-powered explosive shot to the face). However, another later scenario involves mixing in with crowds to avoid detection, not unlike the old-school Assassin’s Creed titles. Hacking also comes into play as a dedicated mini-game, especially when having to manipulate traffic lights.

Average Playthrough Length

Despite everything that Replaced has to offer, the development team isn’t “forcing side-content” on players. An average playthrough will take about eight hours, but going out of your way for optional content will bump it up to 11 to 12 hours. It’s about as expected, especially for a finely-honed experience that blends cinematic platformer with tense combat, and we can’t wait to see where the story goes.

Xbox Series X/S Performance and Minimum PC Requirements

Sad Cat Studios touts the game as “rather heavy graphics-wise,” but those on Xbox Series X won’t have to worry, as it runs at 4K and 60 FPS. Series S owners can expect 1440p resolution and the same frame rate. And while recommended PC requirements have yet to be confirmed, the minimum demands a Core i5-8400, 16 GB of RAM, a GTX 1060 with 6 GB VRAM and 8 GB of installation space.

Of course, it depends on the side content, especially since the developer isn’t “forcing any” on players. “We’re not forcing any side content on players, so it really depends on your playstyle. I would say that the average might be around 8 hours, and 11-12 if you’re really searching for optional stuff.”

At the time of our interview, the team was “still in the process of final polishing (the game is rather heavy graphics-wise),” but the goal is to lock the resolution and frame rate on Xbox Series X to 4K/60 FPS. Xbox Series S players can look forward to 1440p/60 FPS gameplay if everything goes well.

You have to wonder, though – why didn’t Sad Cat Studios consider releasing on PlayStation 5? “When we first started developing Replaced and speaking to the various platform partners, we decided to launch it as an Xbox-first and Game Pass title as we felt this was the right fit for us.” When asked about Nintendo Switch 2, however, the developer said, “We can’t confirm any additional platforms at this time.”

Given the length of the development process, especially with challenges like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, it’s not unreasonable for the studio to focus on the currently announced platforms. If Replaced ends up successful, perhaps it will have more resources (and demand) for other versions.

In the meantime, it’s available on April 14th for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Check out the latest extensive gameplay here, which sees R.E.A.C.H. arriving at the Station and meeting up with its various residents, including the Council and Susan, who runs an arcade.

Replaced has a striking art style. What were the biggest inspirations behind this look, and how did you translate those influences into the final visual direction?

While the artstyle of Replaced is not particularly new, we have been hard at work combining different approaches and experimenting with what works and what doesn’t when it comes to 2.5D pixel-art. With notable, recent inspirations being games like Octopath Traveler and The Last Night, we have obviously been inspired by classics like Flashback and Another World as examples of more grounded approaches to making a sidescroller.

"We have been hard at work combining different approaches and experimenting with what works and what doesn’t when it comes to 2.5D pixel-art"

Going beyond the pixel art aesthetic, we have also gathered quite a lot of knowledge from games that do completely different visuals, while driving for a more cinematic feel. The likes of Limbo, Inside, Deadlight and other games that have been praised for their general atmosphere, lighting or camerawork.

And how can we forget Disney’s Hercules for PSX? Total next gen 2.5D!

What are the core themes you are exploring in Replaced, and how important is the presence of AI to the story given the current state of the world?

The main topic of our story is “what does it mean to be a human?”. AI is always present in some shape or form in the context of the cyberpunk/retrofuturistic genre, so it was just a means to explore this topic within a setting that we adore. For us, being relevant in terms of news agenda was never the point, since we started the development of Replaced much earlier than the current AI boom has happened. Our own reality is much more bleak and mundane in terms of actual problems that have arisen due to AI overuse. Meanwhile in Replaced, we wanted to explore AI usage gone wrong when applied to a much more complex task – that of biotransplantology – and the societal consequences this may have.

How do you approach the balance between combat and exploration across the full experience?

Even though our game is heavily focused on a cinematic and atmospheric component, we still have quite a bit of combat encounters, which tend to get progressively harder towards the end of the game. It’s not our goal to be hardcore, so at one point we had to lessen the difficulty of late combat encounters.

It’s important to have an internal sense of rhythm so that one part of the game ends at the right time, leaving room for the next one.

"The main topic of our story is “what does it mean to be a human?”."

As players progress, what kinds of new moves or abilities will they unlock, and how do these additions change the flow of combat?

We have several gadgets that players will obtain during their playthrough. Most of them have dual purposes for both combat and platforming. For example: the mechanized pickaxe destroys enemy’s armor, but it also allows you to climb walls. Or, let’s say, one particular pistol upgrade allows you to deflect enemy’s bullets while in combat, but during platforming it grants you a double jump ability.

Replaced has been described as a cinematic action platformer. What does that mean in practical terms, and what sets it apart from more traditional platformers?

It mostly comes down to the amount of pain in the butt that we have to overcome while developing it! The main difference is the way the story is connected with the gameplay. All the camera work, VFX, overall cinematography – this is something that is usually not present in traditional arcade platformers.

The second main difference is level design: level structure and design can be absolutely abstract and random in classic platformers. In a cinematic platformer we have to make level design believable: we have to incorporate all platforming elements in a 2D manner, while keeping the surroundings grounded, as if this is something that could happen in real life.

What is the intended balance between melee and ranged combat, and is there a preferred style you expect most players to lean on?

We’re locked within a 2D framework, so our main focus is melee combat. Ranged combat is a part of core combat, but it’s mostly a method of getting rid of the most annoying enemies. Our game rewards aggressive playstyle. Your gun charges when you hit enemies. If the player is being passive and rolls a lot, they will lose gun charge. And since the Huxley (the name of the gun) is your most powerful option in combat, you really want to keep it charged. The protagonist – R.E.A.C.H. – also gets progressively faster in his attacks if you chain a combo without being hit or without being passive for too long.

"Ranged combat is a part of core combat, but it’s mostly a method of getting rid of the most annoying enemies."

The lighting in the trailers and screenshots stands out a lot. How did the team achieve that look, both artistically and technically?

Lighting is the core component of any cinematic scene, and with Replaced the goal has always been to make the game look and feel as cinematic as possible throughout the whole experience. To make it look like it does in the videos and screenshots, while running decently on the lower-end hardware, we have spent a lot of time developing our own Scriptable Rendering Pipeline for Unity, combining some of the great visual features and post processing effects found in Unity’s HDRP with the tailored performance optimizations specific to our game.

After that it’s all about carefully planning out the scenes to not only support the game design needs, but also have space for dramatic lighting opportunities, all while navigating the peculiarities of this particular style.

Roughly how long is the game expected to be, and how much optional content is there for completion focused players?

We’re not forcing any side-content on players, so it really depends on your playstyle. I would say that the average might be around 8 hours, and 11-12 if you’re really searching for optional stuff.

Is there a specific reason Replaced is not coming to PS5?

When we first started developing Replaced and speaking to the various platform partners, we decided to launch it as an Xbox-first and Game Pass title as we felt this was the right fit for us.

"We’re not forcing any side-content on players, so [the game’s length] really depends on your playstyle."

What resolutions and frame rates are you targeting on Xbox Series S and Xbox Series X?

We’re still in the process of final polishing (the game is rather heavy graphics-wise), but we hope that we can lock it at 4K/60 for Series X and 1440p/60 for Series S.

Do you have plans to bring Replaced to Nintendo Switch 2?

We can’t confirm any additional platforms at this time.

He meets up with Susan, who stays at the local arcade while her mother works in the mines. After some small talk and R.E.A.C.H. revealing his need for binoculars, she offers to think about it if he can retrieve a rectifier. Eventually, he meets up with the Council, headed by the Matriarch and Ironwood, after a tense conversation with Tempest.

While keen to help, R.E.A.C.H. is advised to explore the Station as she finishes up some other work. Throughout all of this, players can engage with various NPCs and select dialogue choices, whether it’s learning more about Ironwood or what Tempest meant about Prospero. Shortly after meeting with Tempest, R.E.A.C.H. discovers some electrical components and returns to Susan.

Unfortunately, she isn’t giving up the binoculars yet, instead inviting him to beat her high score in an arcade mini-game. There isn’t really any combat, but this entire walkthrough highlights the sheer attention to detail, whether it’s the bustling marketplace or the dim glow of the arcade’s neon signs.

Arriving on April 14th, Replaced will be available for Xbox Series X/S and PC. Check out this overview trailer for more details.

“As a small team working on our very first title, we’ve poured everything we have into this project,” wrote Sad Cat Studios on Steam. “While the game is technically finished, reaching this final stretch has shown us that we need just a few more weeks to ensure the experience is exactly what you deserve. We want the version of Replaced you play on day one to be polished, stable, and true to the vision we’ve shared with you.”

It also addressed the reaction to its Steam demo, and while “nerve-wracking” to release, “Seeing your gameplay, reading your reviews, and hearing your excitement has been overwhelming in the best way possible. We are constantly reading your comments, and that feedback is helping us make the final tweaks that will make the full game shine.”

“We are super close to the finish line, and we can’t wait for you to experience the final results of years of hard work.”

Looking back on its initial announcement from E3 2021, Replaced has definitely come a long way. The graphical style has evolved into something truly stunning, but it’s also worth noting the real-world issues that Sad Cat Studios faced during development. Based in Ukraine, it saw numerous setbacks due to Russia’s invasion in 2022. Of course, the team has also insisted time and again that it doesn’t want to “release a sub-par game.”

The current demo offers a very small slice of the game, introducing players to R.E.A.C.H., an AI developed by Phoenix Corporation, suddenly trapped in a human body. Escaping confinement to Phoenix-City, players take on hostile bandits while coming to terms with this alternate 1980s America.

Its exploration and platforming are pretty straightforward, and you can also get a feel of the Free Flow combat, inspired by the likes of Rocksteady’s Batman: Arkham series. Of course, there’s a lot more to look forward to, including free roam and taking on requests from other NPCs.

Replaced will be available for Xbox Series X/S and PC on release alongside Game Pass. Stay tuned for more updates leading up to its new release date.

Following the AI R.E.A.C.H., which suddenly ends up in a human body, you’re on the run from the Phoenix Corporation, venturing into Phoenix-City. But despite the 1980s setting, this isn’t the United States that many would know. Due to a nuclear catastrophe, a third of the country has become uninhabitable, and Phoenix-City is full of bandits, slums, and other horrors that players must combat.

Not that R.E.A.C.H. is helpless by any stretch. Replaced offers Free Flow Combat akin to the Batman: Arkham titles, but on a 2.5D plane. You can dodge bullets, counter blows, and effortlessly chain attacks on foes. There’s even a sidearm for executions, be it from afar or up close. Of course, there’s a lot more to the gameplay, including platforming and puzzle-solving. You’ll even encounter various side quests and requests in a location to complete.

Arriving nearly five years after its initial announcement, Replaced has evolved significantly, especially with the gorgeous art direction. It will be available on March 12th for Xbox Series X/S and PC alongside Game Pass.