I've been sold on REPLACED for a good while. The trailers have been scarce, but the content looked sublime. A dystopian, cyberpunk setting where you play as an AI trapped in a scientist's body? Lots of intricate story threads to discover? A combat system mimicking the Batman: Arkham series? Not to mention, all of that stuffed into a 2.5D side-scroller with a pixel-ish art style? It sounded too good to be true back at its initial announcement.
Fast forward to 2024, and I finally got my hands on it at Summer Game Fest. While brief, my taste of the game left me wanting more. Now, with a new demo arriving just in time for Steam Next Fest, the masses can try it; and I got it early. After playing another short slice – albeit without as much narrative juice as the sections I tried at SGF 2024 – REPLACED is instantly at the top of my list of favorite games of 2026... and it did it within thirty minutes.
This demo only lasts that long, but what it purveys is a tight-knit experience perfect for its medium. It all begins in a quick tutorial, which takes you walking down a road through a farmland area. The 16-bit choice of art style is simply immaculate, portraying the dilapidated, post-apocalyptic scenery with aplomb. There's an ambiance created that I can't exactly describe – you know it when you see it, and this is it. REPLACED is alive and full of character, and it's due to an incredible setting.
After learning what little controls are involved, like jumping and moving a box in order to get over an obstruction, it's into the combat. There are plenty of beat 'em ups that share this aesthetic, but few are as structured and deliberate as REPLACED. Each swing matters; you shouldn't just spam the X button on your Xbox controller. It's reminiscent of the intentional yet fluid nature of the combat in the Batman: Arkham games, yet with much more lethality. Smack this guy, counter another who's trying to hit you from behind, dodge a projectile shot, and repeat. There's even a gun you'll earn shots for from your combos, and it enables intense finishers when timed correctly.
At the end, you even get a small taste of dialogue, which is what I'm really looking forward to. It's more than just tapping a button to move forward; there seem to be actual dialogue trees involved, which would make me think important decisions will be made as you progress in this adventure. Again, this demo isn't enough to sell you on the writing, but the premise and method of engagement certainly are.
Now that I've finally gotten to play REPLACED again, I honestly feel somewhat hollow. This is going to be a great introduction to the game, and you 100% need to play it. But, as someone who has experienced REPLACED in a demo setting before, this taste leaves me so hungry for the full game. Thankfully, we won't have to wait much longer, as REPLACED launches on March 12th on Xbox and PC. You'll see me there day one; I'm chomping at the bit to see what REPLACED is packing.
