It’s bad enough to end up in the afterlife, and it’s probably even worse to be banished as soon as you arrive! And that’s especially true when you’re just a cute little kitten. Crypt Administrator is the latest game from veteran developer Kyle Thompson, who has also developed previous titles Sheeppo And islet. Just like his other titles, Crypt Administrator is a top-down Metroidvania with a particular focus on exciting combat and movement, and strikes an entertaining balance between quirky, carefully crafted humor and visual flair alongside thrilling, action-packed gameplay. You play as Pluto, a mischievous cat turned caretaker, and explore a vast landscape filled with curious and funny inhabitants, hidden secrets, and a seemingly endless amount of nooks and crannies in your exile in the afterlife.
But wait, how did How does this cute little cat end up as a caretaker? And why are there so many wayward and – sometimes – hostile spirits in the afterlife anyway? Enter Kendra, the Guardian of the Afterlife. Upon your unexpected entry into this realm, you have a rather fateful encounter with her – where you are banished to being a caretaker… forever! You would think that this is entirely your fault, but after meeting other inhabitants of the realm… let’s just say you’re no longer so sure. It’s certainly a mistake for all these cute little animals to be in the same realm as all these evil spirits!
Surprisingly, the afterlife is a pretty dangerous place. Fortunately, as a clever and nimble cat, you have many skills at your disposal to help you master and overcome dangers! Movement and combat are at the heart of Crypt AdministratorDesign philosophy. Following on from Kyle Thompson’s previous titles, movement is very fluid, precise, and intuitive. Combat is easy to learn, but full of nuances and quirks that make it worth mastering. Movements and attacks are flexibly linked together, creating a wonderfully fluid system of jumping, sprinting, rolling, attacking, and more. Plus, you’ll pick up plenty of special abilities along the way that expand not only your combat skills, but your movement skills as well.
The ultimate test in combat is, of course, who you are actually fighting against – enemies and bosses – and Crypt Administrator is full of unusual and creative hostile inhabitants. The afterlife is a very strange place, and what you’re battling certainly reflects that! You’ll be battling the rather odd hostile spirits that inhabit the corners of this strange realm. Golems, witches, ghouls, oversized bugs, animal-like abominations, wayward vagrants, and…a huge pot full of spiders?It goes without saying that every enemy in the game is uniquely designed, with individual behaviors and movement patterns that will always keep you on your toes…or on your paws!
But luckily, not everyone in the afterlife is hostile (or rude)! In fact, you’ll also encounter plenty of friendly faces – some of them share your unfortunate fate. As you travel through the realm, you’ll often find refuge in a cute little bar run by a large bird. As you meet various friends and acquaintances scattered throughout the world, some will return to seek refuge here themselves. You can also purchase items here, modify your inventory, and view unlockables. But there’s one more thing… don’t ask what’s in the VIP room!
Developed by Kyle Thompson, ported to Xbox and published by Top Hat Studios, Crypt Administrator will be released on Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One on August 27th at 12pm EST / 9am PST / 4pm UTC, with a 15% introductory discount through September 10th.
Crypt Administrator
Top Hat Studios, Inc.
Sweep up the afterlife as Pluto the cat in this charming action-adventure/metroidvania about life, relationships, and moving on. Take on the role of Pluto, a mischievous cat who just died and ended up in the palace of the afterlife. After a brief and fateful meeting with the guardian of the afterlife – Kendra – you are banished from the palace and sentenced to clean… FOREVER!!! Explore the vast grounds surrounding the palace, fight beasts with your trusty broom, and gain new skills to expand your world. Hang out with doomed ghosts, solve puzzles, discover secrets, and… organize an ambush to break back into the palace!
