Zoe Begone! is a new retro-inspired hand-drawn shooter from developer Retchy Games due for release September 17th, 2025, on Steam, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5, and Xbox Series X|S. This follows this week’s earlier news of another arty shmup, Platypus, getting a revamp with new content and visuals. There is currently a Steam demo available for those who wish to get an early glimpse of what can be expected.
In this high-octane shooter, players will take on the role of Zoe, a reluctant heroine who wants nothing more than to take a peaceful nap. However, she finds herself having to fight back against the Animator, continuously sketching waves of enemies into existence. With danger drawn in every corner, Zoe must fight to reclaim her peace. Zoe Begone! is inspired by 1930s drawn-on-film animation, particularly the work of Norman McLaren, and the golden age of arcade shooters. It blends classic shoot ‘em up design with modern, exciting action.
Key Features of Zoe Begone!:
- Hand-Drawn Animations: Fully hand-drawn animations, inspired by the aesthetic of the 1930s.
- Frenetic Bullet-Hell Gameplay: Dash, shoot, and pound your way through chaotic arenas packed with enemies drawn by the Animator.
- Dynamic Upgrades: Collect Apples to unlock new weapons, game-changing power-ups, and passive abilities to help evolve your playstyle. Spend them early for a boost now, or save up for big, strategic upgrades later on – the choice is yours!
- Infinite Replayability: With multiple modes, a wide selection of levels, and online leaderboards, gameplay feels fresh every time you jump into the game.
- Groovy Soundtrack: A jazzy, reactive soundtrack to emphasize every dodge, dash, and victory.
- Arcade: Players are tasked with taking down the Animator themselves.
- Time Attack: Race against the clock to beat the Animator as time ticks down to zero.
- Frame Trap: Fight off everything the animator has to throw at you in an extended boss rush.
