Dark Scrolls is delayed so its developer can play Mina the Hollower

Doinksoft has delayed the release of its retro action game Dark Scrolls from May 28 to June 22 on Nintendo Switch and PC. The studio pushed the date back for a very specific reason: developer Cullen Dwyer already requested time off from work to play Mina the Hollower.

Yacht Club Games is launching its top-down adventure on May 29. Rather than compete for attention or work through a launch weekend while thinking about another game, Doinksoft just moved its own release date. Delaying a commercial product so the creators can play someone else's video game is a very funny reason to alter a schedule.

Co-op mechanics and battle locks

The developers also detailed the game's local and online co-op modes. The core loop combines side-scrolling platforming with shoot-'em-up screen management. The camera constantly pushes forward to the right. Players have to avoid getting pinched at the edges of the scrolling screen while dealing with procedural stages and hand-crafted enemy encounters.

The progression system relies heavily on "battle locks." When players hit one of these zones, they have to clear out the enemies before a countdown timer hits zero. Beating the clock grants rewards. In one example, clearing a battle lock drops a cannon that shoots the players directly to the next shop. Failing to clear the room in time means missing out on the shortcut and the extra loot.

Shops let players spend meta-currency crystals on perks that attach to specific star levels. Characters charge a star meter during combat to trigger special abilities. Dwyer demonstrated Pigeon the Thief's stealth special, which makes her immune to damage and guarantees a critical hit. His co-op partner, Britt, played as Grizz the Barbarian and activated a "hot feet" perk that damages enemies as he runs around the screen.

Character classes and emotes

The roster has a lot of variety, with each class bringing distinct advantages to the screen. Along with Pigeon and Grizz, players can pick Emeris the Mage or Biscuit the Dog. Each character has different auto-fire mechanics and specials. The developers noted that the stark differences between the classes are a major focus of the design. Biscuit the Dog, for instance, has a very different playstyle than a standard warrior. The gameplay gets chaotic quickly when multiple players start spamming abilities, stealing each other's carrots, and scrambling for health drops.

Death is not a permanent end to the fun. Dead players can still collect the game's meta-currency crystals while floating around the screen as a ghost. They also retain the ability to interact with the surviving players in annoying ways. A dead Biscuit the Dog can stun-lock enemies by blowing kisses at them. Players can also spam emotes at their teammates. The emote wheel includes a heart, a thumbs down, and a cat face (a direct reference to Doinksoft's previous game, Gato Roboto). It is a system built specifically for couch co-op griefing.

Between the chaotic scrolling levels, players can find rest spots. These quiet areas grant maximum health increases and give players a brief moment to coordinate before jumping back into the action. The developers also teased a mysterious spaceship area, though they kept the exact destination a secret for the final release.

Visually, the game leans into a chunky pixel art style that fits alongside Doinksoft's previous catalog. The enemy designs are strange, ranging from standard fantasy tropes to bizarre floating heads and aggressive carrots. The entire package has a chaotic arcade energy that prioritizes fast-paced fun over serious lore.

Dark Scrolls is the next project from the team behind Gato Roboto and Gunbrella. It is being published by Devolver Digital and will be available on Steam and the Nintendo eShop. The game will cost you a few weeks of extra waiting, but at least the developers will be well-rested after finishing their Mina the Hollower playthroughs.