First Impressions: The Last Phoenix, a Free Indie Platformer RPG Demo

TL;DR: The Last Phoenix is Terraria meets Downwell with sexy shirtless goblins. Go play it. Right now. Don’t make me tell you twice.

I just played The Last Phoenix demo on itch.io expecting another pixel RPG from another indie dev. I thought it was going to be some cute little game about cute little goblins that bonk baddies with big swords. But what I got was 3 hours of pure unhinged gameplay and a full-blown “forget weekend plans” obsession. The Last Phoenix looks like a love letter between Terraria and Yoshi’s Island, but with way more blood and a lot less crying babies.

Let me say this: I died. A lot. But I’ve never felt so rewarded for dying in a video game. It wasn’t punishment… it was encouragement. In fact, it kind of felt like dying was the point. And that’s the genius behind The Last Phoenix. It turns failure into fuel. And I’m 100% here for that twisted kind of therapy.

A Love Letter to Retro Platformers & 2D RPGs (with Goblin Thirst Traps)

You play as Felix, a goblin with big ears, big biceps, and even bigger baggage. You’re dropped into a pixel world full of divine politics, hungry monsters, and shirtless goblins who clearly hit the gym between raids. Their physique is phenomenal, as if the dev crossbred JRPG sprites with Men’s Health magazine models. 

The game’s story is equally tantalizing. It’s dark, rich, and punches you in the feels with way more emotion than you’re prepared for. After losing his brother, Felix makes a pact with Blood Root, a demonic (and literal) skill tree that grows as you die. You suffer, it blooms. Just like parenting.

This is Yoshi’s Island for the goth kids. Terraria with trauma. Downwell but emotional af. And the only thing standing between you and oblivion is how skillfully you can 360° slash your way through procedurally generated levels.

Reincarnation is the Key

Here’s the twist that hooked me: every time you die, you don’t respawn… you evolve.

The Blood Root skill tree isn’t just some static stat pad like in every other RPG. It’s a growing, branching network of personality, power, and pain. As I unlocked new skills (pro tip: pump up Fire Power first), the need for blood and coin-collecting consumed me. It’s brilliant, and it makes dying feel weirdly… comforting? Like, suspiciously comforting. Yeah it’s messed up, but I’m addicted.

The Last Phoenix Highlights

Visuals: gorgeous handcrafted pixel art, parallax backgrounds, and anime-style character portraits. Obor is already my favorite grumpy mentor. And Evelyn? She’s gonna become the internet’s next Belle Delphine. Where do I buy her goblin bath water?

Combat: a juicy hybrid of hack-and-slash & twin-stick shooter controls. Swing sword, fireball in all directions, die beautifully, repeat.

Audio: killer music, goblin grunts, and animal noises + monster ‘splats’ makes it sound like a AAA game got jealous, but built entirely by a solo indie dev. Respect.

Campfire: idk what it is about cozying up to campfires, but this game nails it while regenerating your HP. I’m manifesting a marshmallow equip endgame. 

Replayability: procedurally generated dungeons, level goals, branching paths, repairable armor, and multiple endings mean this game’s got legs. Goblin legs. Really sexy goblin legs.

Customization: yes, the goblins are hot. Make ‘em hotter by equipping fireball buffs, bombs, and bigger swords. The earring charms are the real MVPs, adding perma stat boosts like Crit and HP Regen while maxin your aesthetic. 

Meet the Monsters

The monsters don’t have names. Yet. So I’m giving them mine. Prepare for some awful descriptions that’ll make any immortal goblin roll over in his grave.

Slime: your basic homicidal monster from every RPG ever

Boar: wild pigs have been the bane of my existence since Mulgore, circa 2004

Spiky Snail: 80s punk meets Gary the Snail, zero chill 

Not Zubat: annoying flying critters just like the Zubats in Mt. Moon 

Suicidal Radish: the root of all evil that literally self-destructs (Mt. Moon PTSD again?)  

Spiny Bug Thing: I’m assuming it’s some kind of bug that gave a big middle pincher to gravity  

Demogorgon But Different: a fireball-breathing non-copyright-infringing Piranha Plant that looks like it auditioned for Stranger Things   

Cultists: think Ornstein and Smough from Dark Souls, but one shoots fire and the other wields a massive axe. Both have stupid smart enemy ai. They’re inseparable and impossibly hard and will make you question if you always sucked this much fighting the first boss in any game. I died so many times I lost count, hair, and sanity, but when you do finally defeat them… [redacted for spoilers] 

These are just the monsters in the first level. And let’s not forget all the other things that can kill you: falling stalactites, switchblade-sharp stalagmites, and thorny tendrils akin to my legs after not shaving for a week. Oddly and uncomfortably specific. I’m excited to see what horrors await in subsequent levels and my next shower sesh.

An Insanely Fun Game from a Solo Indie Dev

The game is wildly impressive. Even more impressive is that it didn’t come from a giant studio. The Last Phoenix was cooked up by Peter Milko, aka Pixel Pete, aka Sad Slime Games. Whatever name you vibe with most, this guy is the solo indie dev pouring his HP bar and soul into a game that plays like his childhood dreams collided with modern chaos. And damn does it show.

The game plays smooth, looks like a fever dream, and sets up a story that’s already way more compelling than most big-budget RPGs. It’s a full-on story-rich action RPG that feels like one of those games you’re going to tell your friends about before it blows up. Consider this my megaphone. 

Final Thoughts on The Last Phoenix

The Last Phoenix isn’t just another 2D pixel platformer. This game’s got heart. It’s got difficulty. It’s got a hot goblin love and a skill tree that probably judges you harder than your mom when you skip family dinner. I haven’t been this excited about an early demo since Hollow Knight… and that’s not praise I throw around lightly.

Play The Last Phoenix on Steam or itch.io right now and go die gloriously.

Seriously. Reincarnate yourself. Jump on a llama. Get a little weird with some shirtless goblins. And then Wishlist on Steam and Follow on Kickstarter to support an indie dev chasing the dream. Nightmare? Both? Both.

👉 Play the free Demo on Steam (PC only)

🎮 Play on itch.io (Mac and PC and probably others since it plays in the browser)

✅ Follow & Support on Kickstarter (Campaign starts November 1st! So show your support… or else)