Summary
Crazy Viking Studios, the developer behind the 2013 action platformerVolgarr the Viking, has finally announced a follow-up to the hit indie game more than a decade later. Simply titledVolgarr the Viking 2, the long-belated sequel is set to revive the franchise with a more brutal successor that aims to significantly enhance the gameplay elements of its predecessor while sticking true to its old-school arcade roots. Arguably the most exciting part of this reveal, though, is that theindie gameis surprisingly close to being released.
Volgarr the Vikingis an action-heavy, 2D side-scrolling platformer that was developed by a team led by game industry veterans. Having initially released on PC in September 2013, the title eventually made its way to other platforms, including Xbox One, PS4, and Nintendo Switch. It even came tofailed game consoleslike the Wii U and the PlayStation Vita in 2016-17. Upon launch, the title was a critical and commercial hit, eventually selling over 1 million copies worldwide. Many fans praisedVolgarr the Vikingfor successfully modernizing the arcade game formula and serving as a faithful spiritual successor to classic ’80s titles likeRastanandGhosts ‘n Goblins. Unfortunately, despite its success, there was no word on a potential sequel toVolgarr the Vikingfor years, but that has finally changed.
During the Guerrilla Collective 2024 Showcase, Crazy Viking Studios and co-developer Digital Eclipse formally unveiledVolgarr the Viking 2and announced that it’ll be released onAugust 8, 2024. This direct follow-up to thebeloved indie platformerstrives to “[up] the ante on the original’s hardcore 2D side-scrolling action” and make every playthrough “grislier than the last,” according to an official description provided by the developers. However, althoughVolgarr the Viking 2will maintain the intense difficulty of the first game, it’ll also have a handful of quality-of-life features, like “practice mode, checkpoints, save profiles, and unlimited continues.”
The developers behind the title had some comments to share regarding the game’s announcement. “We love and celebrate games where every pixel is hand-crafted,” said Mike Mika, head of theGold Master series developer Digital Eclipse. “Volgarrwas one of those games we couldn’t put down… and we’re happy to play a role in seeingVolgarr IIrealized.” Meanwhile, Crazy Viking Studios CEO and Creative Director Kristofor Durrschmidt stated, “We learned a lot from launching the original, and even with some modern updates, fans are going to love the sequel.Volgarris still a game where, if you want the ultimate experience, you’ll need to really master what it asks of you.”
Volgarr the Viking 2 Could End Up Being One of 2024’s Best Indie Games
Volgarr the Viking 2is slated for a release on all modern platforms, including PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam and GoG. If this title lives up to expectations, it could end up being one of thebest pixel art indie games of 2024.
