Rusty Rabbit
Rusty Rabbit is a metroidvania action platforming video game developed by Nitroplus and published by NetEase. It was released on April 17, 2025, for Windows, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
| Rusty Rabbit | |
|---|---|
 Promotional artwork starring the game's main protagonist Stamp | |
| Developer | Nitroplus |
| Publisher | NetEase |
| Producer | Yuichiro Saito[1] |
| Writer | Gen Urobuchi[1] |
| Engine | Unreal Engine |
| Platforms | |
| Release | April 17, 2025 |
| Genres | Platformer, metroidvania |
| Mode | Single player |
Rusty Rabbit is a metroidvania action platforming video game developed by Nitroplus and published by NetEase. It was released on April 17, 2025, for Windows, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Synopsis
[edit]The game takes place in a post-apocalyptic world where humans have long abandoned Earth, leaving it to rabbits, who have developed a civilization where the books of Peter Rabbit are seen as holy. The game follows rabbit Benjamin "Rusty" Stamp (voiced by Takaya Kuroda[2] in Japanese and Yong Yea[3] in English), who sets on a journey to save his daughter in Smokestack Mountain.
Gameplay
[edit]Rusty Rabbit is a 2.5D Metroidvania. While Stamp's only weapon is a drill at first, he discovers new ones as the game progresses. His abilities can be upgraded by collecting junk and bringing it to his village.[4]
In addition to the story dungeons, the game also has optional procedurally generated dungeons.[5]
Development and release
[edit]The game was written by Gen Urobuchi and produced by Yuichiro Saito.[1] Urobuchi was inspired by a picture on Twitter of a Sylvanian Families doll in a mecha. He had developed the game as a passion project during the COVID-19 lockdown and later fleshed it out as a full game. The game was developed by Nitroplus and uses the Unreal Engine.[6] A teaser trailer was shown in the 2023 Tokyo Game Show.
In June 2024, NetEase originally announced for a September 24 launch on Windows and PlayStation 5.[7] However, in late August the same year, the game was delayed to 2025 to "provide the best possible release" and that the addition of a Switch port was also in the works.[8] In January 2025, the companies revealed that the game would be released on April 17.[9] However, the voiceovers will only be in Japanese upon release, whilst the English voiceover option will be released two weeks later on May 1.[9]
Reception
[edit]| Aggregator | Score |
|---|---|
| Metacritic | (PS5) 70/100[10] (PC) 59/100[11] (NS) 73/100[12] |
| OpenCritic | 46% recommend[13] |
| Publication | Score |
|---|---|
| Famitsu | 8/10, 9/10, 8/10, 8/10[14] |
The PlayStation 5, PC, and Nintendo Switch versions of Rusty Rabbit all received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.[10][11][12] Fellow review aggregator OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, being recommended by 46% of critics.[13] In Japan, four critics from Famitsu gave the game a total score of 33 out of 40.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Chik, Kalai (8 August 2024). "An In-Depth Preview of Rusty Rabbit Game with Writer Gen Urobuchi and Producer Yuichiro Saito". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 August 2024.
- ^ Colantonio, Giovanni (9 June 2024). "I saw an absurd game about rabbits at Summer Game Fest, and I'm obsessed with it". Digital Trends. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (8 July 2024). "Rusty Rabbit Game Reveals Gameplay Videos, English Dub Voice for Main Character". Anime News Network. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
- ^ Krabbe, Esra (22 March 2024). "Rusty Rabbit Preview: SteamWorld Dig Meets Psycho-Pass and Peter Rabbit". IGN. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Ogilvie, Tristan (21 September 2023). "Rusty Rabbit is a Post-Apocalyptic Metroidvania in Which Rabbits Have Inherited the Earth". IGN. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Cryer, Hirun (27 November 2023). "One tweet about a mecha Sylvanian Family doll inspired an acclaimed anime writer to make a Metroidvania starring a 'sh**ty father' rabbit". GamesRadar+. Retrieved 6 August 2024.
- ^ Mateo, Alex (4 June 2024). "Rusty Rabbit Game's Trailer Reveals September 24 Launch, Takaya Kuroda as Main Character". Anime News Network. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
- ^ Romano, Sal (29 August 2024). "Rusty Rabbit adds Switch version, delayed to 2025". Gematsu. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
- ^ a b Mateo, Alex (14 January 2025). "Rusty Rabbit Game's Trailer Reveals New April 17 Release Date". Anime News Network. Retrieved 17 January 2025.
The English voiceovers will launch two weeks after the game's initial launch.
- ^ a b "Rusty Rabbit PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Rusty Rabbit PC Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ^ a b "Rusty Rabbit Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 15 May 2025.
- ^ a b "Rusty Rabbit". OpenCritic. Retrieved 27 December 2025.
- ^ a b Romano, Sal (9 April 2025). "Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1894". Gematsu. Retrieved 18 May 2025.