Rusty Rabbit

{{Infobox video game

| image = File:Rusty Rabbit promo art.png

| caption = Promotional artwork starring the game's main protagonist Stamp

| developer = Nitroplus

| publisher = NetEase

| producer = Yuichiro Saito

| writer = Gen Urobuchi

| engine = Unreal Engine

| platforms = {{ubl|Windows|PlayStation 5|Nintendo Switch}}

| released = April 17, 2025

| genre = Platformer, metroidvania

| modes = 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

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{{Cite web|url=https://www.digitaltrends.com/gaming/rusty-rabbit-summer-game-fest-preview/|title=I saw an absurd game about rabbits at Summer Game Fest, and I'm obsessed with it|last=Colantonio|first=Giovanni|website=Digital Trends|date=9 June 2024|access-date=6 August 2024|language=en}} in Japanese and Yong Yea{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-07-07/rusty-rabbit-game-reveals-gameplay-videos-english-dub-voice-for-main-character/.212961|title=Rusty Rabbit Game Reveals Gameplay Videos, English Dub Voice for Main Character|last=Mateo|first=Alex|website=Anime News Network|date=8 July 2024|access-date=8 July 2024|language=en}} in English), who sets on a journey to save his daughter in Smokestack Mountain.

Gameplay

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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rusty-rabbit-preview-steamworld-dig-meets-psycho-pass-and-peter-rabbit|title=Rusty Rabbit Preview: SteamWorld Dig Meets Psycho-Pass and Peter Rabbit|last=Krabbe|first=Esra|website=IGN|date=22 March 2024|access-date=6 August 2024|language=en}}

In addition to the story dungeons, the game also has optional procedurally generated dungeons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/rusty-rabbit-is-a-post-apocalyptic-metroidvania-in-which-rabbits-have-inherited-the-earth|title=Rusty Rabbit is a Post-Apocalyptic Metroidvania in Which Rabbits Have Inherited the Earth|last=Ogilvie|first=Tristan|website=IGN|date=21 September 2023|access-date=6 August 2024|language=en}}

Development and release

The game was written by Gen Urobuchi and produced by Yuichiro Saito.{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/feature/2024-06-12/an-in-depth-preview-of-rusty-rabbit-game-with-writer-gen-urobuchi-and-producer-yuichiro-saito/.211809|title=An In-Depth Preview of Rusty Rabbit Game with Writer Gen Urobuchi and Producer Yuichiro Saito|last=Chik|first=Kalai|website=Anime News Network|date=8 August 2024|access-date=8 August 2024|language=en}} 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.{{Cite web|url=https://www.gamesradar.com/one-tweet-about-a-mecha-sylvanian-family-doll-inspired-an-acclaimed-anime-writer-to-make-a-metroidvania-starring-a-shty-father-rabbit/|title=One tweet about a mecha Sylvanian Family doll inspired an acclaimed anime writer to make a Metroidvania starring a 'sh**ty father' rabbit|last=Cryer|first=Hirun|website=GamesRadar+|date=27 November 2023|access-date=6 August 2024|language=en}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2024-06-04/rusty-rabbit-game-trailer-reveals-september-24-launch-takaya-kuroda-as-main-character/.211527|title=Rusty Rabbit Game's Trailer Reveals September 24 Launch, Takaya Kuroda as Main Character|last=Mateo|first=Alex|website=Anime News Network|date=4 June 2024|access-date=4 June 2024}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2024/08/rusty-rabbit-adds-switch-version-delayed-to-2025|title=Rusty Rabbit adds Switch version, delayed to 2025|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=29 August 2024|access-date=29 August 2024}} In January 2025, the companies revealed that the game would be released on April 17.{{cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2025-01-14/rusty-rabbit-game-trailer-reveals-new-april-17-release-date/.220038|title=Rusty Rabbit Game's Trailer Reveals New April 17 Release Date|last=Mateo|first=Alex|website=Anime News Network|date=14 January 2025|access-date=17 January 2025|quote=The English voiceovers will launch two weeks after the game's initial launch.}} However, the voiceovers will only be in Japanese upon release, whilst the English voiceover option will be released two weeks later on May 1.

Reception

Both the PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch versions of Rusty Rabbit received "mixed or average" reviews from critics, according to the review aggregation website Metacritic.{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rusty-rabbit/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-5|title=Rusty Rabbit PlayStation 5 Critic Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=May 15, 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/rusty-rabbit/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch|title=Rusty Rabbit Nintendo Switch Critic Reviews|publisher=Metacritic|access-date=May 15, 2025}} In Japan, four critics from Famitsu gave the game a total score of 33 out of 40.{{cite web|last=Romano|first=Sal|date=April 9, 2025|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/04/famitsu-review-scores-issue-1894|title=Famitsu Review Scores: Issue 1894|website=Gematsu|access-date=May 18, 2025}}