Gravity Circuit 2 adds a new playable robot and a 2027 release window

Domesticated Ant Games has announced Gravity Circuit 2, a follow-up to their 2023 action platformer, is launching in 2027 for PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and PC.

The publisher, Dear Villagers, released a short gameplay trailer today to accompany the announcement.

Two circuits are better than one

The original Gravity Circuit was a heavily melee-focused take on the Mega Man Zero formula. Instead of relying on an arm cannon to exploit boss weaknesses, you played as Kai, the titular Gravity Circuit, who punched enemies and used a grappling hook to swing around levels. The hookshot doubled as an offensive tool. Players could grab stunned enemies or projectiles and launch them back across the screen.

Kai is back for the sequel, and this time he has backup. A new green-armored robot named Cable (the Power Circuit) joins the roster as a second playable character. Kai sticks to his familiar close-quarters combat, but Cable operates from a distance. He can chain multiple jumps in the air to stay above hazards, fire projectiles, and convert defeated enemies into scrap metal to use as ammunition.

Players can swap between Kai and Cable at their hub headquarters before starting a mission. The two characters share the same campaign progress, so you can tackle each stage with whichever playstyle fits best. The hub area itself has been expanded to include vendors, training rooms, and non-playable characters to interact with between missions.

Expanding the loadout

The sequel brings back the flexible upgrade system from the first game. You can equip Booster Chips to alter your base stats and slot in Burst Techniques for heavy finishing moves. Gravity Circuit 2 also introduces Circuit Shards, which are new abilities earned directly from defeating the game's eight Hunter Circuit bosses.

The campaign promises over a dozen stages, with environments including an artificial forest, a water processing plant, a weather control tower, and a theater. Each stage is built around its own specific gimmicks and hazards before a final fight against a Hunter Circuit boss. Composer Dominic Ninmark is returning to provide the soundtrack for these new zones.

Free on Steam

There is no excuse to miss the first Gravity Circuit now. To celebrate the sequel's announcement, Domesticated Ant Games made the original game completely free to keep on Steam until June 14.

It is an easy recommendation. The first game nailed the 16-bit Capcom aesthetic without feeling weighed down by 1990s design constraints. It moves incredibly fast, and the melee combat forces you to play aggressively rather than hanging back and taking potshots at enemies from across the screen. There are also hidden civilians to rescue in each stage. This mechanic is returning in the sequel alongside hidden health and burst boosters.

Gravity Circuit 2 will hit PS5, Switch, and PC via Steam and the Epic Games Store next year. Just like the first game, there is no mention of an Xbox release. Cable's ranged attacks should make the sequel feel completely different from the melee-heavy original.