Acecraft is more than the first mobile 2-player vertical scroller that's fully hand-drawn. It reinvents the genre. It combines the warmth and personality of 1930s rubber hose animation with genre-exclusive gameplay features and a long-term aim to build its characters and universe into an IP.
According to developer Moonton Games, Acecraft's style comes from the team's childhoods watching Steamboat Willie, Betty Boop, and Looney Tunes. Acecraft captures that enchantment for a new generation, turning childhood memories into a joyful, exhilarating co-op bullet hell.
Behind The Game
Acecraft producer Darren "Chen" Lu said the team's boldest decision was art direction:
We insist on producing every frame of animation by hand… using the 'one-by-one' animation standard of 24 frames per second to highlight the game's cartoonish charm and animation tension.
This dedication shapes more than appearances. Acecraft emphasizes expressive motion and amusing flair in combat, making it feel alive on every screen. Most shoot 'em ups (STG) prioritize speed.
The gameplay design is also unorthodox. Acecraft has a typical plot but introduces many new systems for mobile shoot 'em-ups. The team integrated elements rarely seen in mobile shoot 'em up games into a classic storyline. For instance, "Balloon Party" is a fun race to pop the most balloons for high points. Meanwhile, "Bullet Rain Storm" increases difficulty with thick, intricate projectile patterns influenced by Eastern bullet hell games. Each mode has its unique rhythm, giving gamers more variety than linear shoot 'em ups.
Not Just a Game, but Also an IP
Acecraft means more to producer Darren. This starts an IP. The development team is creating seasonal updates, side stories, and events featuring its eight Ace Pilots.
Darren shared:
We plan to continuously iterate on the game in seasonal formats, developing a series of content around the characters.
This IP-first mentality informs the visuals and how characters will be developed through episodic content, story updates, and new systems that highlight their personalities, which is rare in shoot 'em ups.
Pre-Launch Event
MOONTON Games calls on future Acecraft players to "recruit their wingman" via the mobile game's new referral web campaign. The pre-launch event offers rewards to players who bring friends to Cloudia skies before the game's official release date, August 28, 2025.
Accomplish missions to gain dice, roll a virtual board for in-game freebies, and invite friends via your unique link for more chances. Complete the board to enter a draw for themed items, theme park tickets, and two free flight tickets. Acecraft's social media pages (Facebook, Discord, TikTok, and Instagram) will announce winners.
The game's "We Fly 2gether" slogan makes the referral campaign a great pre-flight check to discover your companion.
Pre-registration is still open via the Google Play, Apple App Store, and the official Acecraft website (https://ift.tt/PTb5Xya). Pre-register to claim all the milestone rewards like Recruit Tickets and Gold once the game goes live. As of this writing, over five million players globally have already pre-registered. – PinoyTechSaga
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