Super Meat Boy is one of those games that cemented its place in gaming history thanks to its uncompromising difficulty, snappy controls, and sense of humor. Now, about a decade later, Meat Boy is back in a whole new dimension. Super Meat Boy 3D takes the original’s foundation and boldly shifts it into a new perspective, trading flat planes for depth and scale. The question, of course, is whether that razor-sharp gameplay still works when stretched across three axes – and after a hands-on session at Gamescom, the answer seems encouraging.
What we know
Super Meat Boy 3D is being developed by Sluggerfly in collaboration with Team Meat and published by Headup. It’s a precision platformer that stays true to its roots while embracing a fully three-dimensional style. Players once again guide Meat Boy in his quest to save Bandage Girl from the tuxedo-wearing villain Dr. Fetus, this time leaping and sliding through environments that range from fiery forests to industrial deathtraps. Alongside standard levels, players can expect tough boss encounters, hidden secrets, and Dark World challenges that push skills to their limits. The game is set to launch on PC and consoles, bringing the same blend of punishing but fair platforming to both veteran fans and newcomers – now with an added layer of spatial complexity.
What we saw
We met with Headup at Gamescom, where we went hands-on with a demo build of Super Meat Boy 3D. The demo featured several early levels, designed to give a taste of how the franchise’s well-known mechanics translate into a fully 3D environment.
What we thought
Jumping into Super Meat Boy 3D felt instantly familiar, despite the visual overhaul. The design cleverly minimizes camera movement, keeping the action clear and focused while preserving the quick reaction-based platforming that made the original so iconic. This allows the tight, speedrun-friendly gameplay of the 2D series to remain intact, just with more room to maneuver. Levels felt brisk and demanding, with the kind of precision jumps and wall-running sequences that will delight fans who enjoy mastering tough challenges.
The new perspective also brings a sharper look to Meat Boy’s world. Levels are strikingly colorful and cleanly rendered, with environments that feel both playful and menacing at once. The visual style doesn’t overcomplicate things – it keeps the action readable while injecting variety and personality into each setting. The soundtrack, meanwhile, hits that same understated yet chaotic energy the franchise is known for, underlining the frantic pace of play.
In terms of controls, the game feels as tight as it needs to be. Responsiveness is key in a platformer this demanding, and in the demo build, every jump and dash carried the weight of instant feedback. At times, the learning curve was steep, with some sequences punishing mistakes mercilessly, but that’s part of the appeal – each retry came with the promise of doing just a little better. What stood out was how the 3D design doesn’t dilute the challenge, but instead reframes it, demanding spatial awareness alongside timing.
Still, there are a few concerns. Precision in 3D platformers can be tricky, and while the camera system helps, there’s always the risk of losing track of depth in more complex levels. Some preview levels hinted at moments where the perspective made lining up a jump more finicky than it might have been in 2D. If the full game can smooth these rough edges, it has the potential to be a truly seamless evolution of the series. But even in its current state, Super Meat Boy 3D already feels like a strong continuation – one that dares to take a beloved formula and stretch it in new directions without losing sight of what made it work in the first place.
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