Voidling Bound is a new creature collector developed by Hatchery Games, a studio made up of veteran developers whose credits include Skylanders, Borderlands 3, and other triple-A titles. The concept is relatively simple, but still quite different to anything I’ve played before: you collect alien creatures, level them up, send them into missions, gather resources, and evolve them into increasingly more powerful versions with acid, fire, and cold attacks.

The creatures get bigger and weirder looking the more you evolve them as well, with each path unique from the next. I’ve had a lot of fun experimenting with builds and mastering the surprisingly complex combat mechanics already, and can’t wait to see how far I can take them.

Recapturing The Magic Of Older Creature Collectors

It also has an unmistakably nostalgic quality. Rather than chasing modern trends in the creature collecting genre, the team deliberately set out to recapture the feeling of games they grew up making and playing.

"We wanted to create something unique that leaves players wanting more," the team tells me via email. "We also wanted to dive deep into the nostalgic feeling of games from another generation. From inspirations taken from Pokémon, Spore, and Skylanders to the resemblance some players see with Ratchet & Clank, Voidling Bound brings back a lot of memories."

Those influences are immediately apparent. The evolution systems are very Spore-like, while the progression and mission structure share similarities with Skylanders. Given the studio's background, I was curious how much of that long-running series' DNA carried over into this new project.

"You'll feel the Skylanders DNA in the gameplay loop where you complete missions, acquire resources, and upgrade your creatures," the developers explain. "But we've pushed those systems much further. We wanted to appeal to players who outgrew those games. It's still accessible enough for the whole family, but with enough depth to satisfy a more mature audience."

That philosophy extends to the game's overall identity. In a genre packed with creature collectors - particularly after the breakout success of Palworld - I asked whether Voidling Bound was built around a clear vision from the outset or gradually evolved during development, much like the creatures that inhabit the game.

"We always knew we wanted players to evolve Voidlings and take direct control of them," the team says. "It naturally became less about hunting and more about crafting and upgrading your creatures. We let the design of our unique selling point drive everything else around it."

Like many independent games, that vision wasn't immediate.

"The concept evolved over time, but we always knew we wanted to build around creating cool creatures and monsters. We went through many iterations before landing on the version players are experiencing today. Every iteration helped us find our identity."

Such creativity is perhaps most obvious in the creatures themselves. Some of Voidling Bound's monsters are delightfully strange, including Kwipeck, the first companion players recruit, summon, and command.

"We lean into the alien aspect and try to mix the familiar with the unexpected," the team says. "I love seeing players' reactions the first time Kwipeck's beak opens four ways."

The inspirations behind the designs are often surprisingly grounded, even though some of the creatures resemble a figment of H.R Giger’s imagination.

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"We like blending familiar animals together to create entirely new species, while keeping gameplay in mind because evolving body parts influence how each creature plays. Morfang started as a mole crossed with an angler fish, while Kwipeck began as a kiwi mixed with a water gun - which is why so many of its evolutions have those large vesicles on its back."

While Voidling Bound already has a distinct identity, Hatchery Games isn't treating this as a finished project. The studio says its roadmap includes expanding the popular Abyss mode, essentially the endless mode you reach at the end of the game, with brand new features, introducing additional Voidlings, releasing both major and minor quality-of-life updates, and adding entirely new levels. Console versions are also in development, giving more players the chance to experience its nostalgic take on the creature-collecting genre. As the team puts it: "We're not done with Voidling Bound just yet."

Voidling Bound Like Follow Followed Creature Collector Action Third-Person Shooter Systems Released June 9, 2026 Developer(s) Hatchery Games Publisher(s) Hatchery Games Number of Players Single-player Steam Deck Compatibility Unknown 9 Images Close
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Genre(s) Creature Collector, Action, Third-Person Shooter Powered by Expand Collapse