Sugar Ghouls: New PS1-Style 3D Platformer Debuts Free on itch.io for Halloween

Sugar Ghouls: New PS1-Style 3D Platformer Debuts Free on itch.io for Halloween This October, indie game developer sodaraptor has unveiled Sugar Ghouls, an original, Halloween-themed PS1-style 3D platformer, now available for free download on itch.io.

The release aligns with the approach of Halloween and provides retro gaming enthusiasts with a nostalgic, spooky adventure to enjoy as the season’s festivities kick off.

Sugar Ghouls arrives courtesy of sodaraptor, well known for previous titles such as Hypnagogia - Boundless Dreams, Late Homework, and Bubble Dreams 3D.

Developed using Unity, this project was created for Scream Jam 2025, a community-driven game jam event that began on October 9th and concluded on October 17th.

These game jam sessions challenge developers to produce playable titles under tight deadlines—a factor that often leads to inventive mechanics and compact, memorable experiences. At its core, Sugar Ghouls is a playable demo that puts players in the shoes of Ghostkid, a candy-obsessed child venturing through an alternate, gothic dimension.

The objective: hunt down the legendary Ghoul Bar, described by the developer as "the biggest, tastiest, and rarest full-size candy bar any kid has ever seen." The journey takes place in a single, handcrafted 3D stage, deliberately designed to evoke the visual and mechanical style of classic PlayStation 1 platformers. Players navigate as Ghostkid, collecting scattered candies while avoiding or outmaneuvering the mischievous sugar snatchers—goblin-like enemies ready to bite should anyone stray too close.

Defeating these adversaries causes them to drop additional sweets, rewarding player skill and keen timing.

However, as with most game jam projects, the tight development schedule leaves room for future polish.

Jumping and stomping require precision, and currently, the margin for error may be narrow.

A basic melee attack or a more forgiving stomp mechanic could enhance the gameplay experience in potential post-jam updates. Speaking on the game's itch.io store page, sodaraptor reflected, "Creating a 3D platformer has always been a goal of mine, and Scream Jam was the perfect motivation to bring this spooky prototype to life using everything I've learned as a developer so far.

While it's just a demo, working on it was both challenging and rewarding, and I hope players enjoy exploring it." Sugar Ghouls features: - Fluid controls as Ghostkid explores a large, hand-crafted 3D level in pursuit of the hidden Ghoul Bar - Platforming challenges, from slime pits and fireball-throwing pumpkins to enemy-filled paths - Original 90s-inspired Halloween soundtrack by BassClefff and DJ Trooz - Authentic retro 3D visuals and effects - Full controller support Sugar Ghouls can be downloaded now for free from itch.io, making it an accessible Halloween treat for fans of retro-inspired indie games.

With its charming aesthetic and heartfelt throwback to beloved 90s collectathons, the debut highlights sodaraptor’s creativity and signals potential for expanded future projects.

PS1 itch.io platformer Sugar Ghouls sodaraptor Scream Jam 2025 Unity BassClefff DJ Trooz