The creators of Steel Assault returned with their most ambitious project yet. Zenovia Interactive launched Neon Inferno on November 20, 2025, bringing their signature pixel art aesthetic to a cyberpunk dystopia where players shoot enemies in both the foreground and background simultaneously. Published by Retroware, the team behind the recent Contra-inspired hit Iron Meat, this innovative run-and-gun blends classic arcade action with modern mechanics including bullet time deflection, upgrade systems, and two-player couch co-op. Available now on PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One and Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam, Neon Inferno represents the culmination of years of development that started shortly after Steel Assault’s 2021 release.
The Hybrid Shooting Concept
What sets Neon Inferno apart from the crowded retro shooter market is its unique dual-plane combat system. Drawing inspiration from classic titles like Contra for foreground action and Wild Guns for gallery shooting mechanics, the game splits battles across two distinct layers. Players control characters in the foreground who can run, jump, slide, and shoot traditionally while simultaneously targeting enemies positioned in the background using a separate aiming reticle.
This isn’t just a gimmick layered onto standard run-and-gun gameplay. The mechanics integrate deeply, with certain enemy types exclusively attacking from the background while others rush from the foreground. Boss fights particularly leverage the system, forcing players to juggle threats on both planes simultaneously. You might dodge a charging enemy in the foreground while simultaneously aiming your reticle to shoot a sniper in the background, creating intense multitasking challenges.
The breakthrough innovation comes through the Bullet Time mechanic, which allows players to slow down time and deflect certain projectiles back at enemies regardless of which plane they occupy. This defensive tool adds a strategic layer beyond simple dodging, rewarding players who master the timing to turn enemy firepower against them. The deflection system works on both foreground and background projectiles, creating satisfying moments where you redirect a volley of background bullets to eliminate multiple enemies at once.
The Story and Setting
Neon Inferno takes place in a war-torn New York City in 2055, decades after society collapsed into violence and chaos. The NYPD has become a corrupt militarized force that wages brutal warfare against various crime syndicates for control of territory. Into this powder keg steps a fledgling crime family trying to carve out their place in the power struggle, with you serving as their deadliest weapon.
Players choose between two assassins: Angelo Morano or Mariana Vitti. Each character features different stat distributions affecting speed, firepower, and special abilities, though both follow the same narrative path. The campaign sends you through multiple boroughs of this dystopian metropolis, from the impoverished battle-torn slums of The Bronx where gangs and police wage open warfare covering entire neighborhoods in flame, to the walled neon gardens of Inner Manhattan where the wealthy elite enjoy high culture blissfully shielded from outside chaos.
The contrast between these areas provides variety not just visually but mechanically. Bronx levels feature more chaotic street warfare with heavy enemy density and environmental destruction, while Manhattan missions emphasize precision shooting against better-equipped security forces in pristine environments that gradually get torn apart during combat. The environmental storytelling through background details and level design communicates the stark inequality dividing this future New York.
The Development Journey
Zenovia Interactive founder and creative director Sri Kankanahalli started preliminary work on Neon Inferno shortly after Steel Assault released in September 2021. The studio knew their second project needed to differentiate itself from the straightforward action platforming of their debut title. During brainstorming sessions, a friend mentioned an old idea about combining Contra-style and Cabal-style mechanics, which sparked the foreground-background shooting concept.
Early development focused on prototyping the dual-plane system to ensure it felt satisfying rather than confusing. By summer 2023 when the team showcased a vertical slice at Play NYC, they had committed to the gallery shooting mechanic and cyberpunk aesthetic with one or two areas mostly complete. From there, development progressed smoothly toward the November 2025 release.
The team remained intentionally small and international throughout development. Sri Kankanahalli handled project leadership, game design, and almost all programming. Christopher Anry created the stunning background art, UI design, and overall visual direction from France. Additional contributors included pixel artists from both Western studios like Team17 and Japanese doujin game circles, plus musicians who worked on titles like Devil Engine and Xydonia.
Publisher Retroware came aboard partway through development, taking responsibility for porting to various platforms and handling marketing. This partnership lifted significant weight off Kankanahalli’s shoulders, allowing him to focus on core development rather than business management and promotion.
Gameplay Features and Modes
Beyond the signature dual-plane shooting, Neon Inferno includes several systems designed to increase replayability and player expression. Between missions, players can equip multiple upgrades purchased using currency earned during levels. These upgrades range from increased damage output and expanded health bars to special abilities that enhance the Bullet Time deflection mechanic or provide temporary invincibility.
The upgrade system creates strategic depth as players decide whether to specialize in offense, defense, or utility abilities. Different upgrade loadouts suit different playstyles and difficulty levels, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs. The game doesn’t force grinding, but replaying missions to unlock preferred upgrades remains an option for players who want specific builds before tackling harder content.
Multiple difficulty settings accommodate various skill levels. Lower difficulties allow newcomers to experience the story and spectacle without overwhelming challenge, while higher tiers test veterans with aggressive enemy patterns, limited continues, and punishing damage values. Arcade Mode serves as the ultimate challenge, implementing classic 1-credit-clear rules where death sends you back to the beginning with no checkpoints.
Two-player local co-op doubles the chaos and the firepower. Playing with a friend fundamentally changes the experience as coordination becomes essential during boss fights where one player handles foreground enemies while the other focuses on background threats. The co-op implementation supports drop-in, drop-out functionality so friends can join or leave between missions without disrupting progress.
Boss Battles Take Center Stage
Every mission concludes with a unique boss encounter that puts players through extended gauntlets featuring multiple phases and attack patterns. Zenovia Interactive released preview footage showcasing three bosses: the Leviathan, Dreadnought, and Hydrosnake, each demonstrating how the dual-plane system creates complex battles.
The Leviathan functions as a massive mechanical serpent that weaves between foreground and background, requiring players to track its position across both planes while dodging projectiles and environmental hazards. The Dreadnought appears as a heavily armored vehicle deploying drones and turrets on both layers simultaneously, forcing constant target switching and prioritization. The Hydrosnake lurks underwater before erupting into combat, using water-based attacks that obscure visibility and create dynamic hitboxes.
These preview bosses represent just a fraction of the full roster. Each boss incorporates unique mechanics beyond simply having more health than regular enemies, with pattern recognition, positioning, and upgrade choices all influencing success. Learning boss patterns and executing strategies creates the kind of arcade satisfaction that defined classics like Contra and Metal Slug.
Visual and Audio Presentation
The pixel art style channels Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS aesthetics, reflecting the background of several team members who worked on games for those platforms. The decision to pursue this 16-bit inspired look came after the Kickstarter campaign for Steel Assault, when artists with handheld gaming experience joined the project and shifted the visual direction from late NES style to something more detailed and colorful.
Neon Inferno pushes that aesthetic further with vibrant cyberpunk lighting, detailed background layers featuring animated crowds and environmental storytelling, and smooth character animations that rival or exceed commercial GBA titles from that era. The neon-soaked future New York feels alive despite its apocalyptic setting, with every level packed with visual details that reward observation.
The soundtrack delivers what Kankanahalli describes as evocative music that enhances the cyberpunk atmosphere. Composed by musicians who previously worked on Devil Engine and Xydonia, the score blends synthetic sounds with driving rhythms appropriate for intense action. Sound effects punch with satisfying weight, from weapon firing to enemy explosions, creating clear audio feedback that helps players track combat amid the visual chaos.
Platform Availability and Physical Edition
Neon Inferno launched simultaneously across all major platforms on November 20, 2025. The digital version is available on Steam for PC, Nintendo eShop for Switch, PlayStation Store for PS4 and PS5, and Microsoft Store for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S. The game supports 60fps performance on all platforms with Xbox Series versions specifically optimized to take advantage of the hardware.
Limited Run Games announced physical editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5, with pre-orders opening November 14, 2025. The physical release includes standard editions featuring the game cartridge or disc with box art, plus potential collector’s editions with additional materials though specific details weren’t disclosed. Limited Run typically produces these in finite quantities that sell out within weeks or months, appealing to collectors who prefer physical media.
Cross-buy and cross-save features weren’t mentioned in official communications, suggesting each platform purchase remains separate. However, Smart Delivery on Xbox ensures buying the game once grants access to both Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S versions automatically.
Retroware’s Publishing Track Record
Partnering with Retroware proved strategic for Zenovia Interactive given the publisher’s recent success with Iron Meat, another retro-inspired run-and-gun shooter that launched in September 2024. That game, developed by solo creator Ivan Suvarov, became a sleeper hit among fans of classic Contra and Metal Slug gameplay, earning praise for brutal difficulty, gorgeous pixel art, and satisfying gunplay.
Retroware specializes in modern games that channel arcade and 16-bit era design sensibilities, creating a curated catalog of titles that appeal to retro gaming enthusiasts. Their involvement with Neon Inferno signals confidence in the project’s commercial viability and artistic merit. The publisher handles porting, localization, marketing, and retail relationships, allowing small development teams to focus on creation rather than business logistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Neon Inferno release?
Neon Inferno launched on November 20, 2025, across all platforms including PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, and PC via Steam.
Who developed Neon Inferno?
Zenovia Interactive developed Neon Inferno, the same studio behind 2021’s Steel Assault. The New York City-based team is led by founder and creative director Sri Kankanahalli.
Does Neon Inferno have co-op?
Yes, Neon Inferno features two-player local co-op with drop-in, drop-out functionality. Players can team up on the same screen to tackle missions together with double the firepower.
What makes Neon Inferno different from other retro shooters?
Neon Inferno combines foreground run-and-gun action with background gallery shooting mechanics inspired by Wild Guns. Players fight enemies on two separate planes simultaneously, creating unique multitasking challenges not found in traditional side-scrolling shooters.
Is there a physical version of Neon Inferno?
Yes, Limited Run Games is producing physical editions for Nintendo Switch and PlayStation 5. Pre-orders opened November 14, 2025, with standard and potential collector’s editions available while supplies last.
How long is Neon Inferno?
The game features multiple missions across various New York City boroughs, with each mission concluding in a unique boss fight. Total playtime depends on difficulty selected and whether players pursue upgrades and secrets, but expect several hours for a complete playthrough.
Can I play Neon Inferno solo?
Absolutely. While co-op adds an extra dimension, the game is designed to work perfectly as a single-player experience with balanced difficulty and enemy patterns that account for solo play.
Conclusion
Neon Inferno represents Zenovia Interactive’s evolution from competent retro homage to innovative genre hybrid. By combining classic run-and-gun mechanics with gallery shooter elements and wrapping it all in cyberpunk aesthetics, the studio created something that feels simultaneously familiar and fresh. The years-long development cycle starting in 2021 clearly paid off with polished gameplay, stunning pixel art, and smart design decisions that respect arcade traditions while adding modern quality of life features. Whether you’re a veteran who memorized Contra patterns in the 80s or a newcomer curious about why people love these punishing action games, Neon Inferno offers an accessible entry point with enough depth to satisfy both audiences. The dystopian streets of 2055 New York await, and The Family needs its deadliest weapon ready for action.