Have you ever stumbled across a demo for an upcoming game that immediately pulls you in and develops into an almost obsessive number of replays of the limited glimpse into the full game? It doesn’t happen often, but that’s the experience I’ve had after finding Outclaw. 

Outclaw is a 3D platformer in development by British indie dev team Moss Monkey Games. It’s an absolute masterpiece of gorgeous backdrops, incredibly smooth mechanics, and an added aspect of collecting little friends to help you along the way.

You’re not alone

In Outclaw, you play as a dual-tailed cat-like creature called Giblet, cast out from her home and now seeking revenge. She’s not alone in this quest for vengeance, though. Throughout the levels, you can find and unlock several ‘Shades’, which you then get to control and manage as though they are your minions. 

Shades can attack enemies, stand on switches, be sacrificed to unlock pathways, and are generally your most powerful tool when it comes to reaching one end of a level from the other. You cannot complete a level without using the Shades to help you, so the key to this is teamwork.

In the full game, you’ll be able to customize your shades with various hats and body types, although this is currently not available in the demo, at least not that I have yet discovered. 

Giblet will also team up with various characters along the way, including a detective and an ‘artistic rock monster’, whatever that means. This group will eventually turn into a family of misfits, growing as the game progresses. However, you choose to look at it, this quest for vengeance is never going to be a lonely one, and that makes it all the more fulfilling. 

Vistas to die for

It’s very hard to explain the view in Outclaw other than to say it glows, even when it doesn’t. The backdrop is alive with sparkles and floating orbs of color, the platforms are covered in glowing crystals that can be destroyed, and even the Shades glow despite their deep black coloring. Everything has a touch of whimsy to it, but it’s balanced gorgeously with dark shadows and details that will pull your attention in various directions. 

Outclaw is undeniably gorgeous, no matter which way you look. Every direction offers something new to stare at, and you might have a hard time hopping between platforms because you’re too distracted by how utterly pretty everything is. Thankfully, movement is smooth and satisfying, with a dash mechanic that works as an “oh sh*t” button in a pinch. 

Outclaw doesn’t have a set release date just yet, but you can go and wishlist/follow the game on Steam. If you want to play the demo, and you absolutely should if you’re a fan of platformers, then you can download that through Steam as well.