Acclaim made its long-awaited return this week with the first Play Acclaim Showcase, unveiling a slate of nine titles that mix inventive ideas with nostalgic flair. The event marked the publisher’s re-entry into the industry after years of dormancy, and it was capped off by a surprise release: Katanaut, which is available now on PC, according to a press release.
The showcase demonstrated Acclaim’s intent to support a wide variety of genres. Katanaut set the tone with its blend of fast-paced roguelite combat and cosmic horror, drawing early comparisons to Dead Cells and Dead Space. Players slash and dodge their way through a derelict station crawling with once-human horrors, unraveling secrets with every run.
Other highlights leaned on both inventive mechanics and playful concepts. Tossdown pits players against deadly hazards in a package-delivery gauntlet, while Ground Zero Hero injects survival and mutation into roguelite action, asking players to absorb the powers of irradiated mutants in a candy-fueled apocalypse. Basketball Classics struck a different chord, offering a retro-inspired take on 5-on-5 hoops with arcade simplicity paired with tactical play-calling.
Pixel Washer embraced whimsy by handing players a power washer and a pig protagonist tasked with scrubbing a messy town clean. The Prisoning: Fletcher’s Quest took a darker approach, turning a developer’s struggle with burnout into a surreal Metroidvania about escaping a collapsing mental prison. GRIDbeat!, meanwhile, fused rhythm mechanics with dungeon crawling, challenging players to survive a hostile network by moving in sync with the beat.
Talaka brought Afro-Brazilian mythology to life through hand-painted roguelite action, while Hyper Yuki: Snowboard Syndicate promised colorful downhill racing with unlockable cosmetics and a stylish cast of characters. Each game offered a distinct identity, reinforcing Acclaim’s focus on eclectic indie projects rather than a singular direction.
For Acclaim, the showcase was about more than just new titles. It served as a statement of intent: to revive the spirit of a brand that once published genre-defining hits like NBA Jam and Turok, while also aligning itself with today’s vibrant indie scene. As CEO, Alex Josef put it during the reveal, these games are only the beginning of Acclaim’s next chapter.
With nine distinct projects announced and Katanaut already in players’ hands, Acclaim’s return feels less like a nostalgic callback and more like a genuine attempt to carve out a place in the modern gaming landscape, with a full trailer available now.