A bizarre physics-based platforming game

Struggling is a premium adventure game for PC by developer Chasing Rats Games. It’s a physics-based platformer wherein players will control a squishy two-armed abomination. They will need to make their way through a toxic wasteland filled with acid pools, ravenous creatures, and everything else in between.

Having a similar presentation to Super Meat Boy Forever, Struggling features tricky platforming challenges complemented by mature humor and art style that players will appreciate and enjoy. There is also a demo version that offers a glimpse of what players can expect from the full version of the game.

Squishy and grotesque

There are no two ways about it. Struggling is a bizarre-looking game bordering on the grotesque. In it, you control a science experiment gone wrong: an abomination with two sets of eyeballs connected together by nothing more than a pair of arms. You will be guiding this foul creature through a deranged world by controlling its appendages independently as you overcome various platforming challenges and obstacles.

In this game, your arms are your way of getting around as they stick to any surface. You’ll be swinging, climbing, and latching on to everything with realistic physics-based mechanics. Be wary of rabid creatures that come after you, as well as random traps and pitfalls like pools of toxic waste that you can fall into. You’ll also unlock new powers that will help you solve challenges.

What’s more, there’s a two-player co-op mode available that lets you and a friend control the creature’s arms separately and independently, making for an interesting test of communication and teamwork as you play. True to its name, some players will most likely experience a steep difficulty curve that might be too much. This is further aggravated if you opt to play with the aforementioned co-op mode.

Squirm and struggle

If you fancy yourself a challenging platforming game that’s different from your usual fare, Struggling is a must-play. It takes the art direction of Super Meat Boy and goes completely over-the-top with it. Its gameplay mechanics are also a mix of intriguing and bizarre. It’s humorous, grotesque, and a complete stand out from other titles in its genre. Give it a try to understand why.