Stylish indie action games are everywhere on modern consoles, but CLAWPUNK stands out with its bold attitude and unique identity. Combining cyberpunk aesthetics with roguelite brawler mechanics, this neon-soaked adventure delivers pixelated chaos via an army of weapon-wielding cat mutants. CLAWPUNK is unapologetically weird, intense, and sometimes brutally challenging — but when everything comes together, it’s an exhilarating experience.
CLAWPUNK’s gameplay focuses on speed and aggression. Each run tosses players into frenetic, side-scrolling arenas packed with traps, turrets, and waves of enemies reminiscent of arcade action. The combat blends melee strikes, finishers, aerial combos, and explosive weapons. Responsive controls make the action manageable, and performance stays smooth even amid vibrant effects and neon visuals.
Starting with Dash, the game doesn’t hold your hand or really tell you what to do. But that’s for tutorials, time to hack and slash as fast as possible. First thing you’ll notice is that this game has A LOT of explosives. Every second feels like thousands with red circles of blasting pain thrown at you.
A major draw of CLAWPUNK is its collection of unlockable feline characters, each offering unique stats, weapons, and special abilities. Some cats are built for tanky, brute force playstyles, while others excel at agility and combos. Customizing builds and applying mutation-card upgrades between runs adds depth and replay value, making progression feel rewarding even during the game’s tough early hours.
As I made my way through the first floor, I made sure to pick up every gold and purple coin. These are the resources used to upgrade your runs with things like extra health and more firepower. Unfortunately, my first run ended on floor 3. A boss floor. Too much carelessness was my downfall. But we upgrade, and we go again. Progression has a nice feel to it, feeling like it's earned rather than just handed out. Clawpunk ain’t here to mess around. It has its own unique niche, and its difficulty is one of them.
It’s important to note that CLAWPUNK can be highly challenging. Early progress feels punishing until enough upgrades are unlocked to balance the difficulty. Occasionally, enemy groups or environmental hazards can wipe out a strong run without warning. The procedurally generated levels can also become repetitive during longer play sessions, especially once you have experienced all main tile-set patterns.
Storytelling in CLAWPUNK takes a backseat to its visual style and energetic gameplay. The game relies on atmosphere and attitude rather than a detailed narrative, which works well for this action-packed genre.
For players who enjoy chaotic action, challenging roguelite gameplay, and replay-driven progression, CLAWPUNK is a standout indie title. While its steep difficulty curve may not appeal to everyone, those who embrace its style will find a ferocious, synth-driven experience that’s hard to put down.
Developer - Kittens in Timespace
Publisher - Megabit Publishing
Released - November 14th, 2025.
Available On - PS5, PC, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
Rated - (E 10+) - Comic Mischief, Fantasy Violence, Mild Blood, Language, Use of Drugs and Alcohol
Platform Reviewed - Xbox
Review Access - A review code was provided by the publisher for the purpose of this review.
James, has been a gamer for as long as he can remember with a particular passion for sports games, shooters and adventure games. He only started writing reviews earlier this year over at The Outerhaven, but I've quickly become extremely passionate about this part of the industry.