Tokyo, Japan, July 7, 2026 | Studio Loading, Kibou Entertainment and Alunite Inc. are excited to announce that ORPHEUS: TO HELL AND BACK, the retro action-puzzle adventure originally released as a physical Game Boy cartridge, will launch on Steam on July 13th, 2026. The Steam release is published by Alunite Inc., a Tokyo-based anime company. A demo is available now.
Funded on Kickstarter with over €16,000 raised, more than double its initial goal, Orpheus: To Hell and Back brings the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice to life in glorious 8-bit, 80s chibi-anime style.
About the Game
Set in a stylized vision of ancient Greece and the underworld, players take control of Orpheus as he descends into Hades to rescue his lost love. The game blends classic puzzle-solving with action elements, featuring environmental challenges and enemies that can be manipulated through the magical power of Orpheus’ lyre. Players can perform different melodies to charm, put enemies to sleep, or instil fear, opening multiple strategic paths through each level.
ORPHEUS: TO HELL AND BACK embraces the limitations and charm of retro hardware while expanding its reach with a PC release on Steam.
Key Features
- Music-based combat: Use three lyre melodies to charm, slow or repel enemies and push them into traps.
- Action-puzzle gameplay: Navigate the depths of Hades across a series of puzzle levels.
- 80s chibi-anime aesthetic: Adorable pixel art and original chiptune music.
- Retro authenticity: Originally released as a physical Game Boy Color cartridge.
- Available in English and Japanese.
About Studio Loading
Studio Loading is an independent Italian game development studio dedicated to creating unique, retro-inspired experiences focused on preserving the classic take on games from the “golden age” of gaming without compromise.
About Kibou Entertainment
Kibou Entertainment is an independent Italian game development studio focused on “mixing the classic way of making games with the new one”. With several published projects and collaborations with PLAYISM and Kadokawa, the studio is now expanding with new projects in development.
About Alunite Inc.
Alunite is a creative studio based in Tokyo, specializing in high-quality 2D animation, storyboarding, and art direction. Alunite is deeply rooted in the anime industry, contributing to major productions such as Apothecary Diaries, Digimon Beatbreak, Pokemon and more!
