Are you a curious cat or hardcore action fan sniffing out your next favourite indie game? Either way, we're inviting you to the world of CLAWPUNK! This 2D action game is infused to its core with relentless feline-related chaos.
My name is Jamie, I'm the Lead Designer and Director of Kittens in Timespace. I am THRILLED to be sharing a behind-the-scenes peek into the development of our latest passion project.
WHAT IS CLAWPUNK?
At its heart, CLAWPUNK is a melee-focused 2D action game starring an array of badass cat characters. You'll tear through a fully destructible environment, where every smash and bash rewards an aggressive play style. Aim for the highest score possible by laying to waste everything in your path!
Today, we'll scratch the surface of the gameplay, reveal some lore, and introduce you to a few members of the squad.
SCRATCH, SMASH, SURVIVE!
CLAWPUNK is best described as an arcade-inspired action game. Every run drops you into a destructible playground where players are encouraged to cause as much carnage as possible. More powerful attacks are offered to those who take risks by charging right into the fray. You’ll smash your way through tons of enemies, defeat powerful bosses, and rip up the environment like a true menace.
The game leverages a fast-paced loop:
Dive straight into the chaos with melee combat, guns, and clever positioning.
Destroy your surroundings.
Collect and equip cards to enhance your cats with new abilities and effects (so, so, much more on this later!).
Each playable cat has a unique rage ability, stat distribution, and the card system will allow you to bend the rules to make the cats your own. Upgrade your loadout in the Hub Stage and prepare for even more frantic encounters.
Each zone is a new opportunity to test your reflexes and try out a different playstyle. Thanks to the game’s persistent card system, you can tailor your loadout to your favourite tactics, whether that’s dishing out brutal area damage or executing surgical strikes with finesse. You can expect boss fights that push your builds to the limit, breakable arenas that reward creative play, and loads of feedback that makes every swipe feel satisfying.
INSPIRATIONS
CLAWPUNK draws inspiration from many games and genres. This includes Hotline Miami, Hades, Katana ZERO, and even Super Smash Bros. if you squint a little. We’re big fans of games that feel punchy, reactive, and built for experimentation. We’re channelling all that energy into CLAWPUNK with a twist.
LORE
There's much more on this to come, but for now, here’s a some backstory to set the scene...
CLAWPUNK takes place in a post-collapse metropolis called Feral City. Inspired by a dystopian London, it is a place torn apart by gang war, corruption, and an oppressive regime. Amidst the ruins, factions rise and fall…but from the shadows, a resistance is growing.
You play as part of a gang of street-punk feline fighters, each with their baggage, backstory, and combat style. They’re not just fighting for survival; they're fighting for revolution underpinned by mystery and betrayal. There will be nine playable cat characters, and each one brings their flavour to the fight. Some are driven by personal vendettas, others by loyalty, greed, or just the thrill of the fight. The full line-up reveal will come in a future devlog.
THAT'S A WRAP!
I hope to share more devlogs every month with deeper dives into combat, level design, characters, art style, and more. If this sounds like your kind of chaos, we’d love for you to join the Kittens and Megabit community! Please, follow us on social media, jump into our Discord, and spread the word.
Stay Clawsome!
– Jamie, Director, Kittens in Timespace
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