Bold statement: A fast-paced, anime-inspired metroidvania is poised to redefine Steam indie showcases, with Kotama and Academy Citadel arriving January 15th. But here’s where it gets controversial: does a neon-soaked future academy setting sustain long, exploratory gameplay, or does it risk feeling like a stylish mash of familiar tropes? This press release confirms the core details while inviting fresh perspectives.
Overview
Kotama and Academy Citadel is a 3D side-scrolling metroidvania developed by Atomstring Games and published by 2P Games. The title is slated for release on Steam on January 15, 2025, and a playable demo invites players to explore the academy ahead of the launch. The game follows Kotama, a mysterious young fighter with exceptional combat finesse and silky-smooth control, as she competes for the Carmel Star, the prestigious prize within a futuristic academy.
Setting and Story
Set inside Carmel Academy, a hub of advanced science and cutting-edge research, the narrative hinges on strength as a guiding principle. Players step into the role of Kotama, who presents herself as an exchange student determined to win the Carmel Star—a coveted symbol of honor among the student body. As the academy nears its 100th anniversary, a new Carmel Star selection process begins, propelling players through a labyrinthine campus where magic and science fiction collide in surreal scenery. Space-time‑bending trains whisk players between locations, gradually revealing the academy’s hidden truths.
Gameplay and Combat
Kotama and Academy Citadel promises rapid, kinetic combat in a metroidvania framework. Players will face both elite peers and surreal adversaries in tightly choreographed encounters that reward precise timing and skill. A diverse arsenal of weapons and abilities enables players to craft distinctive combat styles, execute flashy combos in bullet-time, and unleash Kotama’s signature move, Fluid Detonation, to swing battles in their favor.
Characters and Choices
Beyond the competition for the Carmel Star, players will meet a cast of classmates, each with their own arcs and motives. Interacting with these characters and assisting them with personal challenges can influence the ending and even shape the academy’s fate. The true scope of the story unfolds as players uncover a century‑old design lurking beneath the gleaming surface.
Additional assets
Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zoiwFtJtQk
Steam page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/3639650/KotamaandAcademyCitadel/
About 2P Games
2P Games is a China‑based publisher founded by a team with a decade of industry experience. Their portfolio includes indie titles such as Sultan’s Game, Immortal Life, Dust to the End, Greedland, The Hungry Lamb, and Looper Tactics. For more information, visit 2pgames.net/links or join the 2P Games Discord server.
Discussion spark
This project blends fast action with a narrative-driven, exploratory structure. Do you think this combination will entice players to return for multiple run-throughs, or will it struggle to stand out in a crowded genre? Share your take on whether Kotama and Academy Citadel’s premise, visuals, and combat design offer a compelling balance between spectacle and depth.
