Old School Platformer GladMort Fights Evil With Evil on PC And Neo Geo
PixelHeart, an all-in-one studio and publisher of contemporary retro games, has released the Ghosts ‘n Goblins-inspired GladMort on PC and Neo Geo. Other console releases are planned for later in 2025.
GladMort tells the tale of a fantasy land plagued by terrible monsters. In a last ditch attempt to save the kingdom, the king summons GladMort, an evil black knight with supernatural strength and questionable charisma.
“In a desperate bid to survive, the kingdom’s ruler calls upon a being of supernatural powers, versed in the ancient magic of relics,” PixelHeart said in a news post on its official site. “With no other choice, he seals a pact with GladMort, a dark knight of unmatched might, capable of wielding legendary artifacts and vanquishing evil at its source.”
Kickstarted to Life
GladMort is the result of a successful Kickstarter campaign, in which its goal was met at the start of June 2024 as 867 backers pledged €188,495 ($203,547) to bring the platformer to life.
PixelHeart is not the first company to turn to Kickstarter to get help funding a video game, either, as recent efforts such as Deathground by Jaw Drop Games and The Sinking City 2 by Frogwares also both surpassed their respective goals.
Thanks to reaching its goal, GladMort has been made available for gamers on PC, as well as on Neo Geo and other consoles: PixelHeart announced compatibility with Dreamcast, Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation. Neo Geo was also the game’s initial target, as PixelHeart teamed up with a developer, Chipsonsteroids, to specifically make the game for Neo Geo MVS and AES (arcade and console).
Goodbye, Pants!
GladMort borrows a few things from the classic Ghosts ‘n Goblins/Ghouls ‘n Ghosts template, including challenging level progression, fearsome undead enemies, and a main character who loses his clothes when he gets hit.
“But don’t worry, you can get your armor back from the treasures in the levels, just keep an eye out!” PixelHeart said on the official Kickstarter page. “If you already have your armor, you’ll be lucky enough to find a new weapon in these chests!”
PixelHeart is based in France, but its team comprises industry professionals across multiple disciplines and countries. Other releases by the company include Beyond The Ice Palace 2 and DaemonClaw.