More than three decades after the NES’s peak, it just got a fresh injection of chaos. The Trial of Kharzoid, a newly released homebrew title, smashes together Arkanoid-style brick-breaking and Castlevania-inspired boss fights and somehow makes it all work. Designed by Canadian developer Pascal Belisle and published under Broke Studio’s Homebrew Factory label, this quirky mashup is both a love letter to 8-bit classics and a genre-mutating beast of its own.
An “Arkaidovania” that breaks the mold
At first glance, The Trial of Kharzoid plays like Arkanoid gone rogue. Instead of a paddle, you’re guiding a magical skull through 80 trap-laden stages inside the haunted realm of Xyleria. Each stage demands precision, but the twist is in the structure: Metroidvania progression lets players gain new powers, explore secret paths, and double back through previous levels with added skills.
This isn’t just another retro homage it’s packed with branching exploration, tight control, and deadly surprises behind every wall. Yes, including cooked chicken tucked inside bricks.
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Boss fights with bite and co-op chaos
Then come the bosses. Big, nasty, and clearly inspired by Castlevania’s flair for dramatic duels, these fights aren’t just obstacles, they’re centerpieces. Players must use both reflexes and upgrades to survive. And if it gets too rough? Bring a second player. The NES co-op mode lets friends fight together from the same couch, dodging traps and laughing through rage-quits.
A collector’s box worth smashing for
The physical edition of The Trial of Kharzoid is every retro fan’s dream. Here’s what it includes:
- Full-color NES-style box
- Brand-new cartridge
- Printed manual
- Custom sleeve and styrofoam insert
- €50 / $60 price point
For budget-minded players, the game’s also up on Itch.io for just 10 CAD as a digital download.
The Trial of Kharzoid sequel is already planned
After raising over 42,000 CAD on Kickstarter earlier this year, Belisle wrapped up development in November 2025, with just final testing left before release. Now that the first 60 boxed units are shipping, he’s already thinking ahead. A sequel is in the early stages, and this time, he’s mixing even more genres together. No Steam port, no ports at all just pure 8-bit mayhem.
