Contrast Games released the demo for their 2D Metroidvania Akatori on Steam on the 17th. The title features staff-wielding combat and kung-fu parkour, inviting players to explore a world that spans various eras. Players take on the role of Mako, a young monk tasked with saving her homeland from a corrupted force known as the Amber Storm, all while accompanied by a mysterious red bird sealed within her staff.

The gameplay revolves around Mako's staff, which serves as a weapon, a traversal tool, and a key to unlocking the world's secrets. In combat, players can string together ground and aerial combos, or toss the staff as a projectile and retrieve it for continuous attacks. Outside of combat, the staff is used for parkour maneuvers such as gliding, wall-clinging, sliding, and utilizing momentum to navigate vertical environments. The game world consists of various biomes, including medieval Asian landscapes, flooded underground mines, floating bamboo islands, and otherworldly dimensions. Enemies react to their environment, often fighting each other or triggering traps.

This free demo is approximately 45 minutes long and covers three areas: Monk Forest, a vertical bamboo location, and an underwater location. Players will experience Mako's core mechanics, glider movement, and breath-limited exploration. The demo includes over 10 types of enemies, a Chaos Arena, a giant snake chase, and a battle against the final boss, Bumblebee. It also features a comprehensive tutorial introducing deep movement tools and a versatile combat system. The demo supports controllers and keyboards, with language options including English, German, Russian, Japanese, and Simplified Chinese. It is available during the Steam Next Fest: February 2026 Edition (February 23 – March 2).

The narrative follows Mako, who grew up in the Firebird Temple, on her journey to save the world from the Amber Storm. Mako travels through interconnected worlds with the red bird sealed in her staff to uncover the truth behind the decay. Themes of reflection, self-discovery, and resilience are woven into the exploration and combat through environmental storytelling and character dialogue. Contrast Games' Game Director, Serge, stated, "Bringing these worlds together was a real challenge. The goal was to provide a unique experience in each location while integrating them with a shared meaning." Art Director Stanislav added, "Pixel art Metroidvanias are not a time-saver, and combining 2D and 3D elements with modern technology is another challenge."

Akatori highlights kung-fu parkour, movement-focused combat, impressive 2.5D visuals, and staff-centric design as its key features. It offers an immersive experience through myth-inspired biomes, a living enemy ecosystem, non-traditional boss fights, and a memorable soundtrack. The Akatori demo is currently available for free on Steam, and the full game is in development for PC (Steam), PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and Nintendo Switch.