Thu Jun 26 2025
The studio Retro Sumus, well known among Dreamcast fans for the game Xenocider, is back in the spotlight with a new project that is as bold as it is retro: Sovietborgs, a top-down run 'n' gun inspired by classics like The Chaos Engine. After more than a year of teasing, the Indiegogo campaign is finally live, and the game promises to be as rich as it is wild.
Sovietborgs plunges players into a radical alternate history: in 1989, a Soviet artificial intelligence named Tovarisch-Prime takes control of Arpanet and triggers the self-destruction of the capitalist nuclear arsenal. As a result, the planet becomes an irradiated no man’s land, populated by hostile mutants. This is where the Sovietborgs come in — ultra-resilient cyborgs sent by the Red Army to eradicate all resistance.
With its pre-rendered graphics style reminiscent of Donkey Kong Country or Vectorman, and its classic top-down view, the game clearly targets nostalgic fans of the 16/32-bit era.
Retro Sumus is not cutting corners. Sovietborgs is planned for:
Each version receives special care in packaging, including a Dreamcast steelbook edition, rigid Mega Drive cases in PAL or US format, and even a retro-style MS-DOS edition, fully embracing the 90s spirit.
Prices vary depending on platform and edition:
First shipments are expected in December 2026. A playable demo is already available here to give a taste of the gameplay.
The game will feature music by Xenocider composer and Spanish electronic musician Juango Martín, and original cover art by Agustín Padilla, an illustrator who worked on Green Arrow, Borderlands, and G.I. Joe. Many retro gaming influencers, such as Dreamcast Junkyard and The Sega Guru, have already praised the early playable footage.
With Sovietborgs, Retro Sumus delivers an explosive tribute to 90s action games, while pushing the boundaries of homebrew development. A project to watch closely for any retro gaming enthusiast.