Before it was swamped with too many Pokemon games to make, Gamefreak used to create original 2D games. One of them is an underrated 2D platformer-slash-drilling-sim called Drill Dozer, and it was a lovely Game Boy Advance marvel.

Fast forward to now, and it seems that the cult game has inspired developers like Ahr Ech to make their own drilling game. Enter Pepper Grinder, a newly-announced game from publisher Devolver Digital which is a 2D pixel art platformer involving a giant drill named Grinder, weapons that can combine with drills, and loads of platforming and gravity-defying flying drill shenanigans. The main character Pepper burrows through terrain and water, as well as drill through enemies like an anime mecha piercing the heavens.

The trailer and gameplay below look glorious, to say the least, especially if you’re into creative spins of existing 2D platforming tropes.

Pepper Grinder will be out in 2023 for Nintendo Switch and PC.