Deal | Grind guaranteed: Challenging platformer free on Steam

A handful of vibrant pixels, some jumping and slashing, and a hint of story are the core of a classic 2D platformer. That’s exactly what Cybarian: The Time Travelling Warrior offers, topped off with a steep difficulty curve. The story begins as the titular warrior discovers the legendary Sword of Ages, a powerful blade that lets him travel through time. Naturally, he ends up in the future – a neon-lit cyberworld full of deadly traps and relentless enemies.

Cybarian features a retro pixel style reminiscent of classic Sega Mega Drive titles and stays true to traditional platformer gameplay. You’ll leap across hazards, take down enemies with melee and ranged attacks, and fight your way to the end of each level. That’s where the challenge ramps up: every stage ends with a boss fight, and according to Ntower’s review, these encounters are seriously tough. The game also mixes things up with a unique triple combo attack that requires precise timing, adding another layer of difficulty.

With only 65% positive feedback from 197 reviews, Cybarian hasn’t exactly won over the crowd. Still, it scored a solid 7 out of 10 in German gaming magazine Ntower’s review. The main criticisms? A thin storyline and short runtime – according to HowLongToBeat, it takes just 1.5 hours to finish. Even so, if you’re in the mood for some boss battle grinding, you might still have a good time. Just be prepared for some frustration. True to its arcade roots, Cybarian sends you back to the start of the level after every death. It can be annoying, but it also adds a grindy appeal that many players enjoy.

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