Publisher THQ Nordic and developer Weappy have announced that a demo for their hand-drawn side-scrolling platformer, The Eternal Life of Goldman, will be available for PC through Steam in February. This release coincides with Steam Next Fest: February 2026 Edition and will allow players to experience the first 90 minutes of the game.
About the Game
This captivating platformer adventure invites players to explore a vast, hand-drawn Archipelago. The world draws inspiration from ancient fables and is brought to life with classic frame-by-frame animation. The primary objective involves confronting and defeating a mysterious Deity.
A Narrative with Depth
The Eternal Life of Goldman presents a vibrant yet somber adventure, intricately weaving together various legends, fairy tales, and myths. It approaches the genre from an unconventional perspective, consistently delivering unexpected elements.
Players arrive at the Archipelago with a peculiar task: to eliminate the Deity, an enigmatic entity that is widely discussed but remains unseen. To locate this Deity, players must delve into the numerous secrets held within these islands. The journey reveals a place marked by tragedy, populated by eccentric characters, and characterized by striking contrasts.
Players can enhance their cane with new components and unlock additional abilities, enabling further exploration of the Archipelago’s hidden areas and encounters with formidable creatures.
Meticulously Crafted Visuals
The Eternal Life of Goldman is the culmination of extensive effort by individuals who share a passion for classic cartoons, comics, and games. The goal was to create an uncompromising 2D game of exceptional beauty, leading to a return to the genre’s origins. This involved the challenging process of meticulously drawing, coloring, and animating every frame by hand using traditional techniques. No shortcuts were taken, resulting in a visually stunning experience. In The Eternal Life of Goldman, every room, landscape, object, character, and visual effect is uniquely designed and executed with precision.
The creators aim to rekindle the sense of wonder experienced when first encountering a 16-bit platformer, or to provide that feeling for the very first time.
Embracing Genre Strengths
Far from relying on clichés, The Eternal Life of Goldman reinterprets the platformer genre. The game thoughtfully incorporates beloved aspects of side-scrollers from various styles and eras, while omitting frustrating elements that detract from the experience.
It offers a challenging platformer that demands precision, yet it avoids becoming a grueling exercise requiring players to memorize and execute exact sequences of actions. Success hinges on improvisation and ingenuity.
The game encourages exploration and fosters a sense of discovery, without forcing players into confusing backtracking after acquiring new abilities or artifacts. It is designed to ensure that time spent in The Eternal Life of Goldman is always engaging and productive.
Furthermore, the game features complex scenes, robust characters, and a multi-layered story, all without succumbing to overly thoughtful poses or feigned pretension. All elements work in harmony to create an adventure that is both breathtaking and emotionally resonant.
The Eternal Life of Goldman is scheduled for release on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series, Switch, and PC via Steam in 2026.
