PM Studios has announced the release date for developer Retchy Games’ upcoming hand-drawn bullet hell shooter, ZOE Begone, and it’s not too far away.
ZOE Begone (stylised as ZOE Begone!) looks gorgeous, and it even has a demo on Steam if you want to try it ahead of time. The full game, then, will be released on PC and consoles on September 17th. It’ll be on PlayStation, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch, as well as PC via Steam.
The publisher says: “Inspired by 1930s drawn-on-film animation – particularly the work of Norman McLaren – and the golden age of arcade shooters, ZOE Begone! blends classic shoot ‘em up design with modern, exciting action – players can shoot, dash, and pound their way through creations of the Animator, who scribbles enemies into existence with the help of a trusty paintbrush and pen.
Watch out for the gigantic paintbrush swinging to bring the next wave of foes to life, and prepare for the fourth wall-breaking humour as you blast your way through the chaos. Just be sure to keep an eye out for the enemies that splatter ink upon defeat, and don’t be surprised if you end up with a little mess on your hands!”
Grab your Apples and ready your dash, because ZOE Begone! is bringing its hand-drawn bullet hell arcade gameplay to PC and consoles on September 17, 2025. Created by solo developer Retchy, players will step into the role of Zoe – a feisty film-strip heroine, who wants nothing more than to take a peaceful nap.
But when the Animator starts scribbling chaos into her world, she must fight back. Armed with run-and-gun reflexes, screen-clearing dashes, and a deeply questionable tolerance for surreal cartoon physics, Zoe must get ready to reclaim her reel from the painted hordes of enemies poised to take her down.
Destroy the Animator’s tools, blast their creations to bits, collect Apples to spend on power-ups, and reclaim your serene surroundings to help Zoe get the break she deserves as fast as you can (and bag yourself a high score in the process).
Here’s the key features:
- 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.
- Multiple Modes:
- 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.
ZOE Begone! is coming to PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, and PC on September 17th.
