I recently acquired a garden plot, surprisingly cheap at only £60 annually. Eager, I grabbed my new shears and ventured to my supposed haven, only to find a neglected mess. It was overflowing with discarded cans, suspicious piles of old clothes, nettles tougher than any fence, and bugs unlike anything I’d ever seen (or want to see again).
At one point, my foot became trapped in an old bucket. Panicked, I stumbled and planted my other foot directly into a thriving red ant colony. The experience was reminiscent of playing the demo for Cleanfall, except I lacked the ability to construct a jellyfish-powered airship with flamethrowers to conquer this unruly allotment. Though, Cleanfall itself shows that even a jellyfish-and-flamethrower airship only gets you so far.
Last year, when the demo released, I succinctly described the game as “Spelunky and Terraria, but with hints of Carrion and Noita“. Now, having played the updated demo that was released alongside the early access annoucement, which is coming August 8th, I would describe it as “a side-scrolling Scavenger’s Reign.”
In Cleanfall, players control a robot tasked with digging to the core of a planet teeming with various creatures. Some of these creatures are generally harmless, at least until provoked. For example, the initial jungle area contains frogs that burp and hop around, searching for plants to eat. They’re quite adorable! You can even stand on them without causing a problem. But as night falls, the game changes. A horde of glowing red eyes emerges, pouring into the level from every direction.
The obvious threat comes from the red-eyed night creatures. However, many organisms in Cleanfall are difficult to categorize as friend or foe, and it is even harder to know without risking confrontation. I spent a good portion of the demo listening intently to the sounds, trying to decipher whether “squibleeyahckckckc” meant “stay away from my nest” or “where’s the food?”. The consumable items are just as mysterious. What does a “nanite egg” do? Oh, it instantly disintegrates the entire cave around me. I definitely should have saved that for later.
One thing is certain: you need defenses, as danger comes from all directions. Thankfully, the chasms contain vending machines where ore and dead insects can be exchanged for turrets. These turrets then attach themselves to the environment. Each night, you barricade yourself behind these automated guns, praying that you’ve placed enough of them.
Better yet, take to the skies. Notice that veiny, purple airship idly dropping explosive seedlings? Attach a platform, some Gatling guns, a rocket thruster, and you’ve got a flying fortress.
The first time I built a flying fortress in Cleanfall, I immediately fell out of it. The fortress continued firing at enemies above, showering me with crafting materials as I struggled to climb back up. It inadvertently became an efficient farming method, but that was before sunset. As darkness approached, I checked my inventory. Hmm, I doubt this “fart bulb” will be of much use, or for very long. A nanite egg would be really handy right now.
Other things worth mentioning: the updated demo features redesigned UI elements and jetpacks for certain character classes. Players have three lives, with a brief ghost form before respawning. After using all three lives, a phantom train transports you back to the surface. On the surface resides a tall man with a long nose and a top hat, who claims to be a friend. I’m sure there’s nothing to worry about there.
Cleanfall is unrefined, reluctant, and unpredictable: exactly what makes a good video game in 2025. Unlike my defiant and possibly haunted allotment, I think this game has staying power. Let me know your thoughts on the demo. Also, if you have any tips for relocating ants humanely, I’m all ears.