Digital Eclipse – the developer behind Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Cowabunga Collection and many other retro compilations – has surprise released a new game for Halloween, and you can even get it for free.
Candy Creeps is a 1 or 2-player retro, arcade-like platformer that sees you taking on the Pumpking, who has stolen a whole neighborhood’s candy and can only be stoppped by some well-placed head stomps, Mario Bros. style.
It marks the first release in a new Digital Eclipse Arcade line, “a series of all-new games inspired by classic ’80s arcade vibes.”
“Play as Elma and Harper, two tweens who may or may not have inadvertently summoned the evil Pumpking, who has swiped the whole neighborhood’s Halloween candy and hidden it inside his army of tiny, adorable decorative gourds,” reads a press release. “Smash the pumpkins to find candy, then chow down. Once you’re turbo-charged with sugar, transform into a costume-clad avenger and bash the Pumpking until he explodes! Master four unique levels and go for a high score in one- and two-player modes.”
Out today for PC, Candy Creeps is available for $4.99 USD on Itch.io, but you can get it for free by signing up to the Digital Eclipse mailing list by October 31.
Candy Creeps is the start of a new project for Digital Eclipse, which has made its name creating well-received retro collections for the likes of Mega Man, Blizzard, Disney, and more. Digital Eclipse Arcade will be “a series of throwback games made for the Digital Eclipse community… a celebration of pure arcade gameplay.”
Joe Skrebels is IGN’s Executive Editor of News. Follow him on Twitter. Have a tip for us? Want to discuss a possible story? Please send an email to newstips@ign.com.