3D Version of Super Meat Boy Incorporates Unreal Engine 5 and Introduces a Mario-Style Evolution of the Original Gameplay
Super Meat Boy 3D: A 3D Evolution of the Indie Platformer Classic
After making its mark with the challenging 2D platformer series, Super Meat Boy is now stepping into the third dimension with Super Meat Boy 3D. This new game, developed by the indie team at Sluggerfly, promises to maintain the core "tough as nails" twitch reflex platforming gameplay while adapting it to a 3D environment.
In this new iteration, Meat Boy, now an animated cube of meat, navigates through intricate 3D levels such as lush forests, dumps, and high-tech forges filled with hazards. The use of Unreal Engine 5 enables high-fidelity visuals and complex level design, effectively modernizing the experience while drawing inspiration from classic 3D platformers like Mario to guide level and gameplay structure.
The game retains the classic retro difficulty but has been streamlined to focus on "no bull straightforward twitch reflex platforming" adapted into the 3D space, including new mechanics such as wall-running. Meat Boy's signature blood trails are also present, helping players remember paths and what to avoid.
The development team has faced challenges in translating the precise and intense difficulty of 2D platforming into three dimensions, where depth perception and spatial navigation add complexity yet must not dilute the game's signature difficulty spike. The fixed 3D camera system poses challenges related to visibility problems due to the need to keep the foreground clean.
Despite these challenges, the team has managed to create a dynamic 3D world that expands the gameplay with verticality and wall-running, while addressing challenges in maintaining gameplay precision and pacing during the transition to three dimensions. The game is scheduled to release on Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC in 2026.
The level design in Super Meat Boy 3D is built in defined angles, either 45-degree angles or 90-degree angles. The dash move from Super Meat Boy Forever has been incorporated into the gameplay mechanics. When completing a level, all playthroughs are shown simultaneously in a replay.
New traps like meat grinders, long cylinders shaped like saw blades, add to the challenge. The game also features a new replay feature that shows multiple Meat Boys running around, similar to the trailer shown at this year's Xbox Summer Showcase.
Sluggerfly, an indie team with over a decade of experience in 3D platformers using Unreal Engine, has been working on this evolution for several years. They emphasize an enraging but rewarding gameplay loop that challenges players intensely, similar to the original’s reputation. The game's development includes a fixed 3D camera system that takes inspiration from Super Mario 3D World.
The game is being developed with Unreal Engine 5, but does not utilize its Nanite tool. The procedural generation (PCG) tool in Unreal Engine 5 is being used to spread meshes for backgrounds in Super Meat Boy 3D. The game initially features 8-directional movement, which can be disabled to keep the player on track on specific angles.
In summary, Super Meat Boy 3D adapts the essential twitch-based, ultra-difficult platforming of the original into a dynamic 3D world using Unreal Engine 5, expanding gameplay with verticality and wall-running while addressing challenges in maintaining gameplay precision and pacing during the transition to three dimensions. The release is planned for early 2026 on major platforms, including PC and consoles.
- Sluggerfly, with over a decade of experience in 3D platformers and Unreal Engine, is the creative team behind the evolution of Super Meat Boy into a 3D game.
- The game Super Meat Boy 3D utilizes Unreal Engine 5 for its high-fidelity visuals and complex level design, while drawing inspiration from classic 3D platformers like Mario for level structure.
- The layout of Super Meat Boy 3D levels uses defined angles, either 45-degree or 90-degree, and incorporates new gadgets like meat grinders and saw-blade cylinders for additional challenges.
- The art style in Super Meat Boy 3D places emphasis on bold colors and a layout that supports intuitive UI and UX, while the fixed 3D camera system provides clear visibility and maintains the fast-paced gameplay the series is known for.
- The development process for Super Meat Boy 3D includes using Unreal Engine 5's procedural generation tool for backgrounds and the Nanite tool is not utilized during development.
- Graphic design, 3D technology, and creative gadgets combine in Super Meat Boy 3D to create a challenging 3D platformer, which is set to release for PC and consoles in early 2026, promising a gaming experience that keeps the tough-as-nails gameplay prominent while adapting to the verticality of a 3D environment.
