«Previous post | Next post»

Press release:
Andorra – September 8, 2026. Independent developer Naula Studio today announced Necro Pop, an all-new action platformer that combines the fast-paced action of classic arcade games with dungeon exploration, character abilities and replayable challenges in a genre the team affectionately calls “Arcadevania.” Built from the ground up for the legendary Neo Geo MVS arcade board and AES home console platforms, Necro Pop will also launch digitally for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and Steam, with releases planned for 2027.

Alongside today’s announcement, Naula Studio has released the first trailer for Necro Pop, providing a first look at its colourful 16-bit world, frenetic combat and ghostly protagonist, Poppi.

As well as the announcement trailer reveal, players can also play Necro Pop for themselves with a free demo available now on Steam. The demo gives players a taste of the game’s fast-paced Arcadevania action, showcasing its core mechanics, characters and abilities through the complete third level of the game. It offers an early opportunity to experience Poppi’s adventure firsthand and discover how combat, movement and exploration come together across the game’s dungeons.

Players will also get their first opportunity to go hands-on with Necro Pop at Tokyo Game Show 2026, where Naula Studio will showcase a playable version of the game from September 17–21 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Welcome to Ghostreach

In Necro Pop, players take control of Poppi, a ghost who finds herself caught in a battle against an evil darkness known as The Gloam. Having spread across the land of Ghostreach, The Gloam has trapped friendly ghosts throughout the world, leaving Poppi to set out on a mission to free them.

Everything changes when Poppi discovers an ancient amulet that grants her a corporeal form. Armed with her newfound physical abilities, she sets out to push back The Gloam, explore the dungeons of Ghostreach and rescue her ghostly friends.

As players progress, they will discover new abilities, upgrades and secrets across multiple replayable dungeons, opening up new ways to approach both combat and exploration.

Arcade Action Meets Dungeon Exploration

Naula Studio describes Necro Pop as “Arcadevania”, a fusion of the immediate, pick-up-and-play action of classic arcade games with exploration, progression and secrets.

Poppi has an arsenal of attacks and abilities at her disposal, giving players the freedom to decide how they want to tackle enemies and navigate the game’s challenges.

Players can strike enemies by charging up attacks for increased impact, unleash magical strikes such as fireballs, blow bubbles to assist with movement and even pogo across enemies. A mysterious minion may also join Poppi on her journey, providing another potential tool in the fight against The Gloam.

Rather than locking players into a single approach, Necro Pop encourages experimentation, allowing different attacks, magic and movement abilities to be combined as players make their way through Ghostreach’s dungeons.

A New Game for a Classic Platform

At the heart of Necro Pop is Naula Studios’ passion for classic pixel art and Neo Geo hardware.

Developed specifically for the Neo Geo MVS arcade board and AES home console, Necro Pop showcases vibrant, cartoon-inspired pixel art designed to bring its ghostly cast and world to life.

The game’s colourful visual style takes advantage of the Neo Geo’s capabilities to create a rich 16-bit world filled with expressive characters, enemies and environments that players can explore again and again.

While created with Neo Geo hardware at its core, Necro Pop will also bring its distinctive Arcadevania gameplay to modern audiences, with digital versions planned for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S and Steam in 2027.

Play Necro Pop at Tokyo Game Show 2026

Naula Studio will showcase a hands-on playable version of Necro Pop at Tokyo Game Show 2026, taking place from September 17–21 at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, Japan.

Visitors and media attending the show will be able to get their first hands-on experience with Necro Pop, exploring its fast-paced Arcadevania gameplay, testing Poppi’s varied combat and movement abilities, and discovering the vibrant pixel-art world of Ghostreach.

Naula Studio – Tokyo Game Show 2026
Hall: 9
Booth: C35
Dates: September 17–21, 2026
Location: Makuhari Messe, Chiba, Japan

Necro Pop will launch for Neo Geo MVS arcade board and AES home console platforms and will also launch digitally for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation, Xbox and Steam in 2027.

Wishlist Necro Pop on Steam now

Follow Necro Pop’s development journey X | Instagram and the official website https://www.naluastudio.com/

About Naula Studio

Naula Studio is an independent development team with a passion for classic arcade gaming, pixel art and creating new experiences for retro hardware and modern platforms.

The studio previously developed Vengeance Hunters, a Neo Geo beat ’em up, and continues to explore new ways of combining the spirit of classic arcade games with contemporary game design.