Neon Inferno is a fast-paced run-and-gun action game reminiscent of the unforgettable Contra. The game features vibrant levels, charismatic characters, and an intriguing system for switching between the foreground and background during battle. Learn more in our review.
- Developer: Zenovia Interactive
- Publisher: Retroware
- Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5 , Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
- Release date: November 20, 2025
Neon Inferno takes us to New York City in 2055, a dark, decadent city teeming with villains. Here, the main characters, Angelo Morano and Marianna Vitti, carry out contracts for the Family, tracking down and eliminating targets.
The developers have taken care to add a cutscene-like quality to the game: dialogue reveals the names of their victims and the reason they need to be eliminated. Before a mission, you can stock up on supplies on the black market, gaining temporary bonuses like homing bullets or extra armor, and then set off.
The project contains fewer than a dozen levels, but each one is crafted with meticulous attention to detail. Shootouts take place on busy highways, in nightclubs, and on battlefields between police and gangsters . Sometimes, the protagonist’s task is complicated by the presence of civilians: every accidental death is punishable by a fine, which is deducted from the overall reward. Therefore, it’s not always possible to fire in all directions: the game encourages tactical and cautious play.
The heroes have a rapid-fire pistol and a blade at their disposal, the latter of which is useful both for close combat and for deflecting enemy projectiles. Attacks that can be deflected are marked in green, and you can not only return a bullet to the enemy but also redirect it.
Additionally, Neon Inferno stands out for its ability to switch between the foreground and background. Pressing a button stops your character, allowing you to control your aim and shoot enemies lurking in the background. In some scenes, bandits will attack from both sides of the screen, forcing you to actively react to the situation, attacking enemies here and there. This can be challenging at first, but you get used to it over time. The game also features a cover system, allowing you to hide behind a car and temporarily protect yourself from projectiles from the background.
But beyond the regular enemies, there are also bosses . Each one requires a unique tactic to defeat. One will require constant tracking between the foreground and background, another will be perched atop a massive mech festooned with guns, and so on. These enemies aren’t always easy to defeat on the first try: you need to study the boss’s habits and develop a strategy for the fight.
Neon Inferno is captivatingly fast-paced, but it’s over quickly. The arcade mode with hardcore rules will help prolong the fun – no checkpoints, no deaths, try to complete the game with just one life. For added security, you can bring a partner: the title supports co-op , and playing with two is certainly more fun than playing alone. In any case, the project will be a great gift for fans of the run ‘n’ gun genre, especially considering that good titles in this genre appear treacherously rarely.
- Very lively gameplay
- Nice retro graphics
- There is a cooperative
- It ends very quickly
