Kotama and Academy Citadel

Kotama and Academy Citadel

Released Jan 2026

In the Academy Citadel, strength reigns supreme: only the most powerful survive and thrive. Fight your way through the high-tech Academy in your quest to get the highest of honors for a student, and uncover secrets that can save it in its direst crisis in this 2.5D side-scrolling Metroidvania.

80% positive · 3,065 reviews
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development
Not yet
Released, but still in active development
Medium confidence
Active Development

Where to buy

Steam $19.99 Green Man Gaming Steam key $19.99
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Evaluation

Kotama and Academy Citadel launched on January 14, 2026. Since then, the developer (Atomstring Games) has maintained an active post-launch update cadence. In the roughly five months following launch, they have shipped three rounds of meaningful new features: an outfit change system with 5 new appearances and character battle voice lines (March 19, 2026), three new language localizations — German, Russian, and French (April 28, 2026), and most recently a Gallery mode (for viewing unlocked art and videos) plus a Boss Rush mode called "Simulation Battle" (June 16, 2026). Alongside these feature updates, the team has also been steadily releasing bug fixes and quality-of-life improvements throughout the post-launch period. The developer has also participated in a bundle alongside other Metroidvania titles (May 1, 2026). No specific future content has been announced by name, but the pattern of consistent, substantive updates — roughly every 4–6 weeks — shows a team actively expanding the game beyond its launch state. There are no announcements of the game being complete or development winding down.
Evidence
Special update adds Gallery feature and Boss Rush mode; engineering team continues fixing issues. This is the most recent developer communication.
news post · Jun 16, 2026 source development ongoing
high
Spring update added outfit change system with 5 new appearances for Kotama and character battle voice lines — significant post-launch feature additions.
news post · Mar 19, 2026 source content shipped
high

Content

1 of 1 released · no outstanding content

Media

Details

Publisher
2P Games
Achievements
40
Platform
Windows, Linux
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player

About this game

Welcome to Carmel, an Academy Citadel renowned for its cutting-edge technology, where survival of the fittest is the only law and strength reigns supreme.

The "Carmel Star" —symbolizing the ultimate honor— is the goal students dream of. As the Centennial Anniversary approaches, a new "Carmel Star Election" is about to begin.

You represent a mysterious "exchange student" who suddenly appears, determined to join the competition.

To get the Carmel Star you will have to explore the sprawling labyrinth that is the Academy Citadel, a treacherous place where technology can unravel reality itself with mind-bending illusions, impossible machines, and self-contained biomes.

Each area demands mastery of your fluid powers. Use your special abilities to overcome deadly traps. Return to previous zones with your newfound powers to uncover secrets hidden behind illusory walls and locked gates, revealing shortcuts and unexpected treasures.

In this Academy where "survival of the fittest" is the only law, exceptional power is the key to turning ambition into reality.

Master Kotama's unique fluid constitution to weave through hordes of bizarre enemies with blistering speed. Switch weapons seamlessly, combining them with skills and Memocards to chain dazzling combos. When your energy peaks, unleash a Fluid Detonation to wipe the field in a flash.

Different sections of the Academy Citadel are guarded by powerful creatures or robots that will stand in your way to the dreamed Carmel Star. They all have unique attacks and game mechanics, but all are strong enough to destroy you in a heartbeat; it will take all your skills to emerge victorious.

Master your opponent's patterns, parry at the critical moment to neutralize lethal strikes, and break their stance. As you enter bullet time, seize the fleeting openings to deliver a decisive, crushing blow.

You are not completely alone in this adventure – there are other peculiar, captivating students scattered across the Academy Citadel! Aid them during your journey, uncover their stories, and earn their loyalty as allies in your search for the Carmel Star. What might seem like a small choice at the moment could make a real difference and end up saving the Academy and deciding your fate.

The Academy Citadel welcomes challengers of all kinds, offering a range of difficulty settings to suit your style. You can choose to immerse yourself in the rich narrative and the joy of exploration on a laid-back difficulty—checking every nook and cranny for gear, weapons, and upgrades to optimize your build. Or crank up the challenge for intense, skill-focused combat that pushes your mastery to its absolute limit.

VERIFIED ON STEAMDECK

Last evaluated Jun 16, 2026
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