Slime-san: Blackbird's Kraken is an action indie adventure platformer that places players in control of the titular slime character as he navigates an aquatic escape from a massive kraken. The story follows Blackbird's mistaken belief that Slime-san has stolen his treasure, prompting the release of the giant squid and setting up a focused campaign of evasion and survival through its interior.
Gameplay
The core loop revolves around precise platforming and quick reactions in a series of interconnected stages set inside the kraken. Players move through tight spaces, avoid hazards, and collect bananas that serve as currency for shops offering clothing, furniture, and other upgrades. New mechanics expand the movement options, including a submarine mode for underwater sections, acid bubbles that interact with the environment, and suction cups that allow clinging to surfaces. These additions integrate directly into level design to create varied traversal challenges without altering the fundamental fast-paced feel of the platforming.
Exploration extends beyond the main stages to a tropical island filled with characters and secrets. Players can customize a personal house using collected items, unlocking different play styles and outfits along the way. Cutscenes advance the narrative between sections, while secret characters and set pieces reward thorough searching. The visual style maintains a limited color palette that emphasizes clarity during high-speed movement.
Game Modes
The main campaign consists of 25 normal levels followed by 25 NG+ variations that increase difficulty through altered layouts and enemy placements. Ten target mode challenges provide focused skill tests separate from the story progression. A dedicated speedrunning mode tracks times on leaderboards for competitive play. The bizarre FPS mini-game Gloomy shifts the perspective to first-person shooting against an alien invasion, offering a distinct break from platforming. Additional elements include boss encounters and rhythm-based segments that appear in certain areas.
These modes support extensive replay through banana collection goals, outfit experimentation, and house customization. Extensive settings allow players to adjust controls, visuals, and audio to suit individual preferences.
Is It Worth Playing?
Slime-san: Blackbird's Kraken delivers a self-contained campaign suited to players who enjoy challenging platformers with speedrunning elements. The combination of new mechanics, multiple difficulty layers, and side activities like the tropical island and Gloomy mini-game provides substantial single-player content. Reviews highlight the responsive controls and variety of tasks as strengths, with the expansion noted for adding meaningful depth to the base experience. It appeals most to those seeking precise movement challenges and leaderboard competition rather than open-ended multiplayer or frequent updates. The game remains available as a standalone title on PC with no ongoing seasonal content, making it a complete package for interested buyers.
