Developed primarily by solo creator Ben Hickling under the name MNKY, with publishing support from Pixeljam, Ex-Zodiac is a fast-paced low-poly rail shooter that wears its inspirations proudly. The moment you see it in motion, it’s impossible not to think about classics like Star Fox, Star Fox 64 and even Space Harrier.
The game throws players into the role of Kyuu, a pilot fighting to free the Sanzaru Star System from an intergalactic terrorist group known as Zodiac. Gameplay focuses on classic on-rails shooting action where your ship automatically moves through levels while you dodge obstacles, blast enemies, perform barrel rolls, and take down huge bosses waiting at the end of each stage.
If you grew up during the SNES or Nintendo 64 era, this whole thing immediately feels familiar in the best possible way. But Ex-Zodiac isn’t just relying on nostalgia alone. The game also modernizes the formula with tighter controls, smoother movement, score systems, shield mechanics, boost abilities, and more dynamic level design than many older rail shooters had back in the day.
Ex-Zodiac originally launched into Steam Early Access back in 2022 and currently holds “Very Positive” reviews on Steam, with many players calling it one of the best modern takes on the rail shooter genre in years.
At the moment, the game includes 11 main levels alongside bonus stages, while the final release is expected to expand things further with around 15 stages, branching paths, hidden secrets, and additional content.
Hickling has also mentioned that the project is nearing completion despite balancing development alongside a full-time job, which honestly makes the game even more impressive considering how polished it already looks.
Right now, Ex-Zodiac is available on PC through Steam, while a Nintendo Switch release is also planned for the future.
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Author: 360 Technology Group
