When Cuphead launched in 2017, it stood out not just for its punishing difficulty but also for its breathtaking hand-drawn 1930s cartoon style.
Fast forward to 2025, and Acecraft, developed by Vizta Games under Moonton, has arrived on mobile, carrying forward that same concept but with its own identity.
The most striking aspect of Acecraft is its entirely hand-drawn animation.
Familiar But New Visual Style
Every background, boss, and projectile is crafted with brushstrokes and the rubber hose animation.
Where Cuphead was popular on platforming and precise boss fights, Acecraft shifts gears into the bullet hell genre.
Players control flying crafts instead of cartoon brothers while dodging endless streams of enemy fire.
The game emphasizes cooperative play, allowing two players to team up and combine powers. Roguelike elements such as random skills, upgrades, and weapon synergies add replayability.
Mechanics like absorbing special bullets for counterattacks echo Cuphead’s parry system.
It is impossible not to draw comparisons to Cuphead. Still, Acecraft leans more toward a mechanical and whimsical world design with stages like Candy City and Technology Square that add their own uniqueness.
The Mobile Touch And Community have provided a Great Reception
Unlike Cuphead, which was a premium console and PC title, Acecraft is built for the free-to-play mobile market.
Nontheless, it features more than 50 maps, numerous unlockable characters, and a gacha system with pity rates.
However, this has also brought both variety and criticism towards the developers, Skystone Games and Vizta Games.
Fans indeed praised the creativity, while others argue that the stamina system and monetization detract from the experience.
Reactions have been split, but primarily intrigued. Some players view it as a blatant Cuphead clone, while others argue that sharing an art style does not constitute a rip-off.
Many agree that despite monetization, the visuals are “seriously incredible” and the gameplay surprisingly polished for a mobile release.
With more than 8 million plus re-registrations, one million plus downloads, and collaborations with franchises like Tom and Jerry, Acecraft has already started out strongly.
Acecraft may have taken its inspiration, but it is not just Cuphead on mobile. By combining nostalgic animation with cooperative bullet-hell action, it delivers a fresh, fast-paced experience suitable for both Android and iOS.
For players who loved Cuphead’s art style but prefer shoot ’em up mechanics, or simply want a visually great game to play when lying on the bed, Acecraft is worth a try.
