Neon Inferno Review: Retro run-and-gun madness at its best

Side-scrolling run-and-gun games were huge in the ’90s. Do you miss ’em? Well, Zenovia and Retroware’s new pixel-art title Neon Inferno is a game every ’90s kid would’ve raved about and added to their “Greatest of All Time” lists. The amazing pixel art, music, and high-octane action will have you reminiscing about the good old days in the best way possible. I kept thinking back to the days of playing Mega Man X4 in an arcade cabinet. Time to throw those rose-colored nostalgia glasses off and look at Neon Inferno as a modern release. Does this intense indie game stack up in an already-stacked year?

About ‘Neon Inferno’

Cyberpunk run-and-run game 'Neon Inferno' (2025) — Image Credit Retroware

Neon Inferno takes players to the cyberpunk jungle of NYC in the year 2055. Here, the Big Apple is dirty and overrun with crime. Players can take control of Angelo or Mariana, skilled assassins belonging to one crime family.

As one of these characters, gamers are looking to turn the all-out gang wars in their family’s favor. The city-wide conflict has boiled over, and you must do your part to take out key players. Take on beautiful hybrid run-and-gun/gallery shooter stages either solo or with a friend. Much like Mega Man, you choose the order in which you tackle all the stages and their respective bosses.

Run-and-Gun Gameplay

The gameplay is your standard run-and-gun style, but with some twists. Your parries can send green projectiles back at enemies, and you can even trigger bullet time to aim where the deflected items will hit. Pressing RB or R1 allows you to shoot into the background like a gallery shooter.

Players must manage enemies in both the foreground AND background. Sometimes, there’s so much action on the screen that it feels like a bullet hell. Some levels throw curveballs, like riding a motorcycle or moving monkey bar style in the rafters of a club. Right when you think you’ve figured out the formula, Neon Inferno does something new to keep it fresh. There is a flying car section that’s now one of the most intense levels I’ve ever played. Jump from car to car as the screen pushes forward, and gun down enemies in the foreground and background. It was a truly wild ride!

Captivating Art and Audio

The presentation is impeccable. Neon Inferno contains some of the best pixel art I’ve ever seen. Between Angelo and Mariana’s strong character designs and the multilayered, lush pixel-art levels, the style oozing from the screen could bring a tear to your eye.

The soundtrack really seals the deal. Rock, cyberpunk-inspired tracks help bring the breakneck level speeds to life, and the original soundtrack switches gears to calm noir jazz-style tracks when you talk to the boss. I’d buy the vinyl soundtrack for Neon Inferno in a heartbeat.

Final Thoughts

Neon Inferno is a game that arcade heads and old-school gamers will absolutely adore. Anyone who loves the run-and-gun genre should get their hands on this title immediately. The beautiful pixel art and amazing music will pull you in, but the satisfyingly tight controls and challenging gameplay will make you stay. Expertly navigate your character using some of the best controls I’ve seen in a retro-style title.

The only real criticism I have of Neon Inferno is that it isn’t very long. I know it is award season, and if this game is eligible for any indie distinctions, it deserves some nominations.

The 2D action, stunning OST, and snazzy controls put Neon Inferno in my Top 10 for 2025. Developer Zenovia Interactive and publisher Retroware need to keep pumping out these retro experiences because Neon Inferno is undiluted 90s retro gaming at its core.