The Pico-8 Adventures episode is scheduled for Monday evening (7 PM UTC+3). This review will be updated to feature it upon its release.
River Kitty Ransom is a beat ’em up action game and a tribute to Technōs River City Ransom by ducktapedave, released in October, 2026.
While I wouldn’t call River Kitty Ransom a 1:1 RCR demake or port — its stages are way too short for that — this tribute perfectly recreates the authentic aesthetic of old-school beat ’em ups.
Five gangs have taken over River City, and Whiskers the alley cat is the only person standing in their way. We are going help this brave tabby drive his red motorcycle through all 5 stages of the game, busting up rat punks and bulldog bruisers to challenge their leaders and break the reign of crime and violence.
Initially player’s movement feels a bit sluggish, considering our feline hero is supposed to be driving a motorcycle, not walking. Thankfully, double tapping left or right arrow buttons brings Whiskers to a more respectable bike-riding speed.
Ramming attacks stun enemies and rob them out of their first attack, and you don’t even have to go super fast to land the hit. The circle button will serve you well regardless. What you have to keep in mind is that ramming is not spammable. It’s a skill that needs recharging, forcing a player to come up with a plan ahead of the time.
Our brave cat can fight crime with paws alone or grab his makeshift weapon of choice off the street for faster and heavier swings that knock out thugs with one hit. A baseball bat, a chain or a pipe — they all feel good in the hand. And when Whiskers needs a better reach — the throwable part of the arsenal fits right in.
Trash cans, tires and bricks serve the same exact purpose, but crates can be broken open to drop food and extra cash. Mobsters don’t come empty handed too, but it’s not all about money. Catnip is one of those items you don’t want to miss. It doubles the damage you deal, which makes it a very desirable power-up.
The inevitable conclusion to any stage arrives in the shape of a boss you have to defeat to finish off yet another gang for good. These lads come in two varieties. Chopper bosses charge at you in a straight line. Dodge them and you’ve got a chance to land a few hits. Brawlers on the other hand are not as fast, but their beefier build more than compensates for this drawback.
As long as you’re mindful of enemy attacks, the fight is not going to be impossibly challenging. Some time later, our feline friend will defeat the gang leader and then it will be the purrfect time to visit a corner shop we find at the end of every encounter.
There Whiskers can enjoy a fish taco to restore his stamina or purchase and level up his gear improving the attack damage. Vitamins come on a more expensive side, but they raise maximum stamina and that makes them a worthy investment.
From Fish Market St. to Midnight Ave., all five stages are dressed up in well-crafted spritework that turns them into distinct parts of the city. These levels are quite short, more resembling boss arenas than traversable streets, and the gameplay may feel relatively basic at times; yet, it draws you in so completely that you won’t even notice when all the gangs are defeated and peace is fully restored.
River Kitty Ransom brings a recognizable retro look and feel while serving as a fine tribute to a classic NES game without overstaying its welcome, and it easily walks away with an Avarian thumbs up!
Play the game on Lexaloffle Pico-8 BBS.
Developer’s Pico-8 BBS profile.