This is the kind of 2D action-adventure concept that immediately hooks me. Forget saving a mythical kingdom or a damsel in distress; Death Trap Mountain is a pure, unadulterated platforming quest driven by the ultimate motivation: rescuing your dog.
Developer Daniel Gill (Gillis LLC) has taken a simple, heartfelt premise and wrapped it in a challenging retro-modern aesthetic. This game is hitting PC (Steam) on December 24, 2025, and it looks like the perfect Christmas Eve challenge.
When an ordinary worker takes on a bone dragon
The hero of our story is Mitch, an ordinary worker thrust into destiny when his loyal dog, Gil, is kidnapped by the sinister Bone Dragon Xelthorak. I love a reluctant hero story, and arming him with “determination and a few makeshift tools” before sending him up a cursed mountain is just great storytelling.
As Daniel Gill, the developer, puts it: “I wanted to create a game that feels dangerous but fair—the kind of platformer I grew up loving.” The game is built around that promise of grit, heart, and humor.
The climb itself is a huge part of the adventure, with each layer of Death Trap Mountain bringing new, distinct dangers:
- You’ll traverse Trash filled caves and Acid Caves.
- You’ll fight through Grell’s Keep and Aria’s forest.
- And finally, you’ll reach the dragon’s shadowed keep.
Death Trap Mountain also has chiptunes and epic bosses
Death Trap Mountain blends that nostalgic platforming feel with modern precision. The Key Features show exactly why retro fans should be excited:
- Challenging Platforming: Expect tight, skill-based movement through environments packed with hazards and traps. This is a game that wants you to earn your progress.
- Boss Battles: Mitch has to face the terrifying Xelthorak and his twisted creations, ensuring the climb is punctuated by epic, skill-testing fights.
- Upgradeable Abilities: As you ascend, you’ll unlock tools and power-ups to survive the increasingly brutal challenges, which is a key necessity in any great action-adventure.
- Aesthetic: The visual style combines crisp 2D pixel art with a vibrant, chiptune-inspired soundtrack.
This looks like a genuinely heartfelt, challenging adventure where the ultimate prize is friendship. If you love unforgiving-but-fair platformers with a great look and a huge secret count, make sure to add this one to your Steam Wishlist (although the game is not yet Steam Deck compatible) ahead of its Christmas release!
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Christian Cawley is the founder and editor of GamingRetro.co.uk, a website dedicated to classic and retro gaming. With over 20 years of experience writing for technology and gaming publications, he brings considerable expertise and a lifelong passion for interactive entertainment, particularly games from the 8-bit and 16-bit eras.
Christian has written for leading outlets including TechRadar, Computer Weekly, Linux Format, and MakeUseOf, where he also served as Deputy Editor.
When he’s not exploring vintage consoles or retro PCs, Christian enjoys building with LEGO, playing cigar box guitar, and experimenting in the kitchen.
