We love seeing new retro-style budget titles, and Nico Saves the State is the next off the production line for prolific retro publisher Ratalaika Games. The game is due for release on the 2nd of May 2025 on Switch, Xbox, and PlayStation, priced at $4.99. During the game, players take control of Nico, a cat-like creature who has accidentally fallen into the role of a hero. With the usual hero, Jack, on vacation, it is up to lab assistant Nico to save the land of Ririland that is under threat from Dr. Voo Doom. The evil doctor’s followers have started to gather power crystals, which will enable them to free their master and continue the evil plans.

The usual ‘save the world’ story aside, Nico Saves the State features an interesting mechanic that enables players to save different aspects of the state and then load them later to navigate obstacles. This mechanic allows players to navigate obstacles, solve intricate puzzles, and defeat enemies. It seems like the mechanic will make Nico Save the State similar to a 2D Blinx on Xbox, where players rewind, fast forward and use other fancy tricks to finish levels. Nico Saves the State will have 40 levels to puzzle through and will include hand-drawn story scenes to flesh out the story. It will also feature 25 retro-inspired chiptunes and use a colourful 2.5D art style.