- Publisher: Mommy's Best Games , Null Games
- Release Date: Apr 8, 2026
- Also On: PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X
- Critic score
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Apr 7, 2026ChainStaff is one of the coolest freaking platformers I’ve played in a long time. It’s just cool to dart around these vibrant levels with a neat grapple gun. It’s rewarding to toss your staff from across the screen to one shot a big enemy. It absolutely rules to throw down your staff to block projectiles and then climb up your staff to get to higher ground and lay waste to your foes. This is just a cool video game with novel gameplay mechanics and a consistently heavy metal style. If you came in here wanting another stellar Mommy’s Best Games distillation of classic 2D tropes, you’ll be satisfied. If you’ve never heard of Mommy’s Best Games before, sign up here for an incredible action platformer that will feel like a long-lost retro classic.
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Apr 28, 2026ChainStaff is a fast-paced action platformer built around a single, highly flexible weapon that blends combat and movement into one system. You explore alien-infested environments while making choices that affect your abilities, progression, and how the story unfolds. It’s a game focused on experimentation, replayability, and learning how to master its unique traversal and combat flow.
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Apr 8, 2026ChainStaff is a stylish retro-inspired run and gun platformer that stands out with its bold 1960s sci-fi art direction and inventive alien chain weapon, blending classic influences like Contra and Bionic Commando with modern design ideas. While its versatile chain mechanic and branching progression add depth and replay value, uneven pacing, inconsistent combat flow, and technical hiccups on Switch hold it back from fully realizing its potential.
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Apr 23, 2026I went into the review hoping for the best. And while ChainStaff is undeniably creative and visually appealing, I really wish that Mommy’s Best Games spent more time fine-tuning the gameplay, mechanics, and level design. If you’re a fan of retro-styled adventures and aren’t put off by complex gameplay, you might find this is the alien parasite you’re looking for. Less patient gamers, however, will probably want to skip this one.
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Apr 9, 2026While it has some cool ideas and style to spare, a combination of stiff and sometimes awkward controls, as well as level design that tends to exacerbate those problems, keeps it from reaching its potential.