The golden age of 80s and 90s fantasy is making a roaring comeback.

Publisher SelectaPlay and indie developer Dormidin Studio have just unveiled a brand-new gameplay trailer for Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster, a hand-drawn 2D action-adventure that looks like a love letter to the era of Conan, Golden Axe, and Beastmaster.

Released as part of the GDC 2026 festivities, the trailer offers our most comprehensive look yet at the brutal combat and mystical transformations that define the world of Arborea.

A Prophecy Written in Blood

Set in a land scarred by the “Wars of the Portals,” Barbarian Saga places you in the boots of the last Beastmaster. The King of Imperia has declared a genocidal war against all non-human races, and you are the only one capable of uniting man and beast to stop the slaughter.

The new footage highlights several core mechanics that set this title apart in the crowded Metroidvania genre:

Soul Transformation: Players can harness the souls of defeated creatures to transform, gaining unique abilities essential for both combat and accessing new areas of the interconnected map.

Arena Duels: In a nod to classic arcade fighters, the game features dedicated arena battles with close-up camera angles and traditional energy bars.

The Ritual Necklace: A deep customisation system where players collect beads, fangs, and amulets to modify vitality, mana, and attack patterns.

Hand-Drawn Majesty: Every frame of the game is hand-animated, evoking the aesthetic of Saturday morning cartoons like He-Man but with a distinctly darker, more “brutal fantasy” edge.

Physical and Digital Editions Confirmed

In a move that will delight collectors, SelectaPlay confirmed that the game will receive standard physical editions for the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.

“We aren’t following formulas or trends,” says the team at Dormidin Studio. “We are just driven by our passion for the games we grew up with and the freedom to do things our own way.”

Why It’s on Our Radar

Beyond the nostalgia, Barbarian Saga: The Beastmaster seems to be leaning into a branching narrative. With various NPCs offering unique mission arcs and multiple endings, the fate of Arborea truly rests on the player’s choices. It’s a rare level of narrative depth for a side-scrolling action title, and the “heart-devouring sword” mechanics shown in the trailer suggest a combat system with real weight and consequence.

Find out more here on Steam – https://shorturl.at/X97QB

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