CLAWPUNK – Fast, Furious, and Unapologetically Chaotic

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• DEVELOPER: Kittens in Timespace
• PUBLISHER: Megabit Publishing
• PLATFORMS: PC
• GENRE: Roguelite / Platformer / Action
• RELEASE DATE: November 14, 2025
• STARTING PRICE: 9,99 €
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

CLAWPUNK is a fast and aggressive 2D action roguelite/platformer that focuses heavily on movement, destruction, and constant pressure. Developed by Kittens in Timespace, the game is built around the idea that stopping or hesitating will get you killed. From the very beginning, it pushes you forward with intense combat, neon visuals, and a rule that stays true throughout the entire experience: keep moving, keep smashing, and never slow down. This approach will not appeal to everyone, but for those who enjoy arcade-style action and high challenge, it creates energetic experience.

Nine Cats, Nine Playstyles

Every run in CLAWPUNK starts with a single playable cat, but as you continue playing, you unlock up to nine different feline characters. Each cat has its own weapons, stats, and special attacks, which makes them feel very different from one another. Some cats are fast and light, relying on speed and quick strikes, while others are heavier, slower, and able to deal massive damage in a single hit. Because of this variety, choosing the right cat becomes an important part of the game, and experimenting with different characters helps keep the experience fresh and engaging.

You slash enemies with your claws, use ranged weapons as special attacks, and chain hits together to build an anarchy meter that rewards aggressive and stylish play. While it is possible to take a slower and more careful approach in the early zones, the game gradually increases the pressure and makes defensive play harder to maintain. As enemy numbers grow and traps stack up, staying on the move becomes essential, and the game constantly encourages you to push forward instead of playing it safe.

The structure of the world supports this fast-paced design as four different zones are available from the start and you are free to tackle them in any order. Each zone has its own look, enemies, traps, and destructible environments, ranging from scrapyards to sewers and neon-lit streets. Every zone ends with a large boss fight that is designed to test your reflexes, movement, and ability to handle chaos. Once all four zones are cleared, a fifth and final area unlocks, acting as a endgame challenge that brings everything together in one intense final stretch.

As you move through each level, you will come across shops where gold, the main currency, can be spent on fish that restore health or on a rotating selection of guns. Another currency, chaos coins, is rarer and is mainly used at the airfield, which acts as the hub between runs. At the airfield, you can unlock new cats, gamble for weapons and bonus coins, and prepare for your next attempt. This is also where you equip perk cards, which add meaningful changes to your abilities and playstyle.

Varied Runs, Rising Difficulty, and a Stylish Pixel World

Perk cards play a large role in shaping each run where You can equip up to three cards per cat, and these cards cannot be shared between characters, which makes each cat feel even more unique. The cards add effects like elemental damage, movement changes, or combo boosts, and some can completely change how you approach combat. Because your starting cat and chosen cards define how a run begins, every attempt feels different.

Early on, enemy swarms, environmental hazards, and powerful bosses can feel overwhelming, especially before unlocking additional cats. These extra cats act as additional lives during a run, and once they are available, progress starts to feel more manageable. Some areas, such as the Construction Zone with its missile-firing helicopter, can feel especially punishing without the right movement cards. Mini-bosses that appear regularly can also drain resources quickly, particularly shielded enemies that require precise positioning. For those seeking even more difficulty, finishing the game unlocks Hardcore and Iron Cat modes, which push the challenge to extreme levels.

Worth mentioning is that during longer play sessions, the game can begin to feel slightly repetitive. Enemy types and level layouts do not change dramatically, and without new unlocks, the roguelite loop can lose some of its impact. This issue is minor for shorter sessions, where the fast pace and constant action keep things exciting, but it becomes more noticeable when playing for extended periods.

Visually, CLAWPUNK embraces retro pixel art mixed with a strong neon cyberpunk style. The chunky sprites, bright colors, and heavy use of lighting create a dystopian world that feels alive and chaotic. Despite the old-school look, the game runs extremely smoothly, even when the screen is filled with enemies, explosions, and effects. Animations are sharp, combat is clear, and performance remains stable at all times, which is crucial for a game that relies so heavily on speed and precision.

Embrace the Chaos

Overall, CLAWPUNK is a tough but rewarding experience that thrives on speed, destruction, and constant forward momentum. It demands focus and persistence, and it will punish mistakes without mercy. However, for those who enjoy high-energy arcade action, strong visuals, and a roguelite structure built around mastery and experimentation, it delivers an exciting and memorable ride. It is not a game about taking your time or playing safely, but about embracing chaos, learning through failure, and pushing forward until everything breaks.

Review copy provided by the publisher