2.5D Cyberpunk Thriller Replaced Revealed at gamescom 2025

Veteran gamers develop a certain intuition for spotting titles that feel genuinely exceptional. While the final product is the ultimate test, that gut feeling is often right on the money.

Replaced, a 2.5D action-adventure game steeped in a breathtaking sci-fi cyberpunk pixel-art aesthetic, complete with masterful cinematography and an atmospheric synth score, sets that intuition ablaze. I had already experienced a short, three-part demo over a year ago, which only solidified my high expectations from its initial reveal four years prior. This time, I played the opening 30 minutes of the campaign, and my enthusiasm remains undimmed. If the full game delivers, Replaced could join the ranks of timeless indie classics like Limbo, Braid, Inside, and Balatro.

From the very beginning, it's clear that Replaced's art direction is in incredibly capable hands. This dystopian world, set in an alternate-history 1980s America, elevates the 16-bit graphics of my youth with soft dynamic lighting and brilliant cinematography. A subtle depth of field creates a world that feels authentically lived-in—a place oozing with griminess and despair, yet rendered with a strange, compelling beauty.

Replaced is set in an alternate-history 1980s America and takes the 16-bit graphics I grew up with and plusses them up with soft dynamic lighting and some absolutely brilliant cinematography.“

You assume the role of R.E.A.C.H., an artificial intelligence trapped within the body of a man named Warren, who awakens discarded in a heap of corpses. The world of Phoenix City is the brutal outcome of a global nuclear event decades earlier. Diaries, news clippings, and other fragments of lore are scattered throughout the environment for you to collect and review on your "Wingman"—this universe's cyberpunk take on a 1980s Walkman fused with a Palm Pilot.

The opening of Replayed is deliberately straightforward, confining you to a classic left-to-right 2D plane with simple platforming. Yet, it establishes its bleak setting with remarkable efficiency. Whether through the world-building clippings that detail a radiation-scarred history or the searchlight-wielding snipers who eliminate you with a single shot, the grim reality of Phoenix City is unmistakable. Soon, you must fight to survive, first against a few faction members and then against entire gangs.

This is where Replaced delivers its next major thrill: a combat system inspired by the Batman: Arkham series. A yellow lightning bolt appears over an enemy's head to signal an incoming attack, which you can counter by pressing Y. When a red lightning bolt appears, it signifies an unblockable attack, forcing you to perfectly time a dodge-roll with the A button. Successful dodges and counters build a special-attack meter, allowing you to either fire a scavenged firearm from a distance or perform a brutal melee execution. The complexity escalates as riflemen join the fray, requiring different timing for their unblockable shots, and heavily armored enemies enter the mix. One such heavy appears early on; while manageable alone due to a lack of supporting enemies, his sheer durability and entirely unblockable moveset foreshadow the more challenging encounters to come. I expect the brawls to intensify significantly in scale and difficulty as the game progresses.

Replaces is packing a proper Batman: Arkham combat system. “

The game soon introduces its 2.5D elements, expanding the world by allowing movement into the background and foreground to retrieve items essential for progression. You might slide dumpsters to create platforms or bridge gaps, for instance. While this initial section offered limited environmental freedom, previous demos have shown that this will expand. Exploration is rewarded with collectibles, often cleverly tucked away, that flesh out your dossier with more details about this shattered world or provide valuable upgrades. I wouldn't call Replaced a game built for replayability, but if the developers craft a compelling enough backstory for Phoenix City, it might provide the incentive to hunt down every last hidden piece of information.

This latest demo, being the very start of the game, did not showcase the biggest surprise from my earlier hands-on: the RPG elements hidden beneath its 2.5D cyberpunk exterior. From the impressive initial trailers, I assumed Replaced was a straightforward side-scrolling action-adventure. Instead, it features areas brimming with quest-giving NPCs and free-roaming exploration. I am incredibly eager to dive deeper into this aspect.

Returning to this new slice of Replaced, the music deserves high praise. A moody synth soundtrack is essential for nailing the dystopian cyberpunk atmosphere, and Replaced demonstrates a masterful understanding of this requirement. I must also revisit the game's visual identity. The pixel art is phenomenal, with top-shelf use of color and lighting, but the animation is equally praiseworthy. In striving for a retro look enhanced by modern techniques, there's a risk of animation being *too* fluid. Sad Cat Studios has struck a perfect balance. The movement of R.E.A.C.H. and his enemies retains a slightly stilted quality, which brilliantly reinforces the broken, desolate spirit of Phoenix City and perfectly sells the neo-16-bit aesthetic.

When the demo concluded, my only desire was to keep playing. Replaced is a captivating experience from start to finish. I am keen to follow R.E.A.C.H.'s journey, uncover the deeper narrative, and see how much further the combat and RPG systems evolve. I sincerely hope my intuition is correct and that Replaced becomes one of the most memorable games of 2026. While we await a specific release date, the sense that it's drawing near is palpable. Hopefully, we'll soon learn exactly when we can experience the final, and potentially extraordinary, game.