Indie developer Mommy’s Best Games has announced the release date for ChainStaff. ChainStaff is a heavy metal–inspired sci-fi action platformer slated for launch on April 8 for PC via Steam and on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch.
Led by Nathan Fouts, a veteran developer with previous credits at Insomniac Games and on Serious Sam Double D XXL, the studio describes ChainStaff as a fast-paced platformer built around a transforming grappling weapon and deliberately retro design sensibilities drawn from 1980s sci-fi and action games.
ChainStaff Gets an April 2026 Release Date for PC and Consoles
Players take on the role of a mutated survivor with an alien parasite attached to their head, using the titular ChainStaff, a weapon that functions as a spear, shield, grappling hook, and traversal tool, to fight through enemy-filled levels and large-scale boss encounters. Combat and movement are designed around rapid weapon transformations rather than loadout switching, with all forms accessible through a single input.
Progression in ChainStaff is shaped by player choice. Throughout the game, stranded soldiers can either be rescued or consumed, branching upgrades across two different progression paths and influencing which of the game’s three endings players ultimately reach. According to the developer, a full playthrough lasts between four and six hours, with New Game+ available for repeat runs.
The game features ten handcrafted levels, oversized boss fights that require different uses of the ChainStaff, and a soundtrack composed by Deon van Heerden, known for his work on Broforce and Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef.
ChainStaff positions itself firmly within the modern revival of precision-driven action platformers, but its emphasis on a single, multifunctional tool sets it apart from more conventional weapon-based designs.
Rather than expanding complexity through additional systems, the game appears focused on depth through mastery, leaning on mechanical consistency and player expression, an approach that echoes classic platformers while adapting to contemporary expectations. ChainStaff was also featured in the Guerilla Collective 2024 showcase.
Pre-orders for ChainStaff are now live on Xbox worldwide and in the USA for Nintendo Switch. The game launches globally on April 8 across Xbox, PC via Steam, and Nintendo Switch.
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