- Publisher: 2P Games , Atomstring Games
- Release Date: Jan 14, 2026
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Summary:
In the Academy Citadel, strength reigns supreme: only the most powerful survive and thrive. Fight your way through the high-tech Academy in your quest to get the highest of honors for a student, and uncover secrets that can save it in its direst crisis in this 2.5 side-scrolling Metroidvania.
- Developer: Atomstring Games
- Genre(s): Action, Platformer, Metroidvania
- # of players: No Online Multiplayer
- Cheats: On GameFAQs
- More Details and Credits »
Score distribution:
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Positive: 7 out of 10
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Mixed: 3 out of 10
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Negative: 0 out of 10
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Jan 14, 2026Kotama and the Academy Citadel rewards your exploration just like what a good metroidvania is about, with an exciting combat that just makes you want to keep going.
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Jan 14, 2026Kotama and Academy Citadel stands out as a cheerful counterpoint to a genre that’s lately leaned hard into gloom and grit. It’s also my latest addiction; a consistently enjoyable trip whether you’re experiencing it at its highest highs or pushing through its most frustrating lows. As a bonus, it’s also shockingly affordable for just how much visual flair it brings to the table.
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Feb 25, 2026Kotama and Academy Citadel is a solid entry into a very crowded genre that struggles to distinguish itself from its numerous peers. It does have above-average combat and tons of sexy anime girls, but really if you have played a Metroidvania in the past few years, this will feel pretty familiar. It's an enjoyable enough way to pass 20 hours if you have an itch for the genre, but if you're expecting the next Hollow Knight or Super Metroid, you're going to come away disappointed.
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Jan 8, 2026Kotama and Academy Citadel is a good metroidvania with stylish combat and an exciting world to explore. However, you may encounter some issues that can make your Caramel Star campaign more of a pain than it should.
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Jan 16, 2026Kotama & Academy Citadel is a competent metroidvania that clearly understands the fundamentals of the genre and delivers a solid overall experience. The fast, combo-heavy combat and the vast map packed with content are standout features, and the colorful anime-style atmosphere helps make the adventure engaging. Still, its approach is quite conservative: the traversal abilities follow the expected pattern, and the main structure is almost entirely linear. Although it introduces interesting ideas, the game does not explore these mechanics deeply enough to leave a lasting impact. The result is an enjoyable, but not a particularly bold experience.
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Jan 14, 2026A fairly by-the-book platformer where gameplay never goes to any great heights or depths. Certain small aspects regarding platforming and combat can occasionally become annoying, but these negatives aside, the art and general charm of the game is quiet compelling. The story hints at some dark sci-fi plots, and exploration is satisfying, if sometimes annoyingly difficult. The characters are especially attractive with their highly animated visual novel portraits, which gives a sense of life this genre often doesn't have. Overall, though, Kotama and Academy Citadel feels like it needed more cohesion to really come together.
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Apr 14, 2026Kotama and Academy Citadel hits the ground running and expects you to keep up from frame 1. It's a beautiful and well animated metroidvania that packs a punch when it comes to art and gameplay, but leaves a lot to be desired when it comes to creating a cohesive beginning-and-end narrative experience.