Another day, another pixel platformer — but this one looks like it might have a sense of humour about it. Croatian studio Hrtz Games and publisher Ocean Media have announced that their retro-styled action game Saving Princess of Mars lands on Steam, PlayStation 5, Xbox, and Nintendo Switch on November 6, 2025.
The pitch? You play as Jack, an Earth lumberjack who somehow ends up on Mars with one simple mission: rescue the Princess of Mars. Naturally, it’s not that simple. Expect slapstick combat, multiple playable characters, and a storyline that gleefully leans into the absurd.
Saving Princess of Mars: Lumberjacks, Martians, and chaos
The game promises seven hand-crafted levels with branching paths, plus four playable heroes, each with their own quirks. Combat looks deliberately chaotic — a mix of stomping, kicking, and physics-based improvisation that feels closer to Earthworm Jim than Celeste. Add a “cinematic” narrative, unlockable hard mode, and 42 achievements, and you’ve got the usual indie cocktail of replayability and self-aware charm.
Of course, the big question is whether Saving Princess of Mars can stand out in a market that’s overflowing with 8-bit-style platformers. The genre’s nostalgia appeal is undeniable, but we’re at a point where even nostalgia itself could use a remaster. The promise of “humor at every step” is encouraging, though — if it delivers genuine laughs rather than just pixel winks and meta jokes, it could be worth the ride.
Old-school spirit, new punchlines
According to the developers, the game’s tone mixes 1990s sci-fi parody with modern storytelling twists. That means players can expect a few surprises beneath the silliness, along with plenty of nods to the era that made the phrase “save the princess” a gaming cliché. There’s even a mysterious “Professor One-Rock” to contend with, which suggests things might get weirder than the screenshots let on.
Saving Princess of Mars launches digitally on November 6. If you fancy mixing your retro with a bit of red-planet ridiculousness, you can wishlist it now on Steam.
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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.
