Screenbound is an adventure platform indie game where users will play in both 3D and 2D worlds simultaneously. It’s a unique style of gameplay that pushes users to think in different ways for a playful experience. At the Summer Game Fest, we demoed the game and were impressed by the direction it takes players.

Adventure in 3D with 2D

Developed by Crescent Moon Games, Those Dang Games, and Radical Forge, and published by Digital Pajamas, Screenbound puts players in a 3D world while using their “Qboy” to help them navigate the game.

In first-person view, you’ll hold your Qboy, which connects you to the world displayed on the screen. The Qboy simultaneously plays on the screen as you move in the 3D environment but in a 2D sprite view. You’ll see enemies in both sprite and 3D models moving at the same time, and the platforms to jump on will match as well. When you jump, your avatar on the Qboy screen jumps too. It’s a clever and neat idea, as it’s used as a tool to complete levels. Players have the option to put their devices away to focus on the 3D world, but most of the time, while I was playing the demo, the Qboy was going to be needed. 

Some perspectives are only visible in the 2D version, while some moments are exclusive to the 3D version. The Qboy will reveal hidden secrets that allow players to cross pits. One of the boss fights we played was all in a 2D view, which brought some nostalgia when playing it and was entertaining. Not all boss fights will be like this, adding variety to the game experience. I’m looking forward to how the rest of the game will play.

A Colorful View

Designs are clean, vibrant, and fun while exploring. Caves carry a clean design but also a more dreary color theme. Some special stages utilize neon colors that play off the ‘80s neon theme. The 3D environment felt like playing Super Mario 64 but in a more linear pathway. A 2D view carries detailed pixels, and like platformer games, in 2D games, users move from left to right.

Overall, Screenbound looks to be a game that’ll fly under the radar that platformer lovers should keep an eye on.

Screenbound is set to launch in 2026 for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and launches on September 10, 2026 for PC (Steam). Fans can visit the game’s official website for more information and purchasing options. We appreciate Day of the Devs team for giving us the opportunity to test out this platformer at the Summer Game Fest.