ChainStaff, the 1980s-inspired sci-fi action platformer from independent studio Mommy’s Best Games, launched today on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and 5 in the Americas and Europe, and worldwide on Xbox One and Series consoles. The game is also available on Steam and carries a launch price of 14.79 euros or 12.79 pounds, with a 10 percent discount for the first two weeks.
Developed by Nathan Fouts, a veteran who has contributed to titles such as Resistance: Fall of Man and Ratchet & Clank at Insomniac Games as well as Serious Sam Double D XXL, ChainStaff casts players as a mutant with an alien parasite attached to their head. The core gameplay revolves around a single versatile weapon called the ChainStaff — a transforming tool that functions as a grappling hook, spear, shield, and more, all controlled primarily through one button. This design encourages players to experiment with movement, combat, and environmental interaction without relying on menus or preset commands.
The game features ten hand-crafted levels filled with grotesque, mutated enemies created by invading Star Spores. Combat involves swinging, spearing, and shielding against hordes of creatures, culminating in boss encounters that demand creative use of the ChainStaff’s abilities, such as prying open jaws or shattering teeth. Players also encounter stranded soldiers throughout the world and must decide whether to rescue them or consume their organs, choices that feed into two separate upgrade trees and lead to one of three possible endings. The campaign is designed to last roughly four to six hours, with New Game+ support for replayability.
A prominent element is the soundtrack composed by Deon van Heerden, known for his work on Broforce and Warhammer 40,000: Shootas, Blood & Teef. The music draws on classic metal influences that complement the fast-paced, retro-flavored action.
Fouts described the weapon’s simplicity as intentional, noting in a developer video that the ChainStaff’s multi-purpose nature rewards player ingenuity rather than complex inputs. While the concept of a one-button transforming tool is not entirely new in platformers, its execution here appears tightly focused on momentum and experimentation.
The console versions were ported by Super Soul, an independent studio based in Lexington, Kentucky, with previous credits including ports of other Mommy’s Best Games titles. Pre-orders for the Nintendo Switch edition are open in the Americas, with European availability expected shortly, while the Xbox version is available worldwide.
ChainStaff joins a long line of smaller-scale action games that blend run-and-gun intensity with platforming and light narrative branching. In an era dominated by larger productions, titles like this serve as reminders of the creativity possible within modest budgets and focused design. Whether the single-weapon hook sustains interest across multiple playthroughs remains to be seen by players, but the compact length and multiple endings suggest a deliberate effort to encourage return visits rather than endless grinding.
