Balkadia

Balkadia is a classic platformer inspired by Super Castlevania IV, with dismemberment combat and giant bosses that have multiple forms. The evil wizard Mirev has kidnapped your son to sacrifice him in a ritual to resurrect Yaga, a Slavic monster that eats children. If Mirev succeeds, the world will end.

The 8-directional whip

The whip is your only weapon. It can cut through enemies, shield you, fire projectiles and throw objects. Mastering its eight directions is important: without that skill, the game can feel very hard. Balkadia has no bottomless pits or one-hit deaths, but still tests your retro gaming skills.

Slavic mythology

You encounter Slavic symbols and face monsters from Slavic mythology, including Leshy and Baba Yaga. The game has 15 levels, each different from the others, along with optional upgrades that make it easier and add replay value.

Length and presentation

A first playthrough takes 3–5 hours or more, depending on your skill; a speedrun takes about 90 minutes. The graphical assets are made with 4K in mind and scaled down at lower resolutions. The game supports ultrawide monitors up to 32:9.