Mullet MadJack | Xbox Game Pass

Brazilian indie blends 90s anime aesthetics with fast-paced shooter gameplay

Hammer95 Studios and publisher Epopeia Games have brought their retro-styled first-person shooter Mullet MadJack to Xbox platforms, including Game Pass. Already finding success on PC with over 120,000 copies sold, the game is now available for purchase on the Microsoft Store for $19.99.

Cyberpunk Aesthetics Meet Roguelite Structure

Set in the 2090s, Mullet MadJack presents a cyberpunk world heavily inspired by classic anime from the 1980s and 90s. Players take on the role of a police officer sporting the titular mullet hairstyle, tasked with rescuing a famous influencer from an organization of billionaire robots.

The game’s visual style embraces stark contrasts between black backgrounds and vibrant neon highlights, deliberately evoking the aesthetic of adult-oriented anime from the VHS era. This artistic direction is complemented by a synthwave soundtrack designed to enhance the urban atmosphere.

Time-Pressured Gameplay

Mullet MadJack structures its gameplay around short, intense bursts of action. Players must progress floor by floor through skyscrapers, facing increasingly difficult challenges within strict time limits. The game incorporates a fictional in-game audience watching via livestream, adding narrative pressure to perform impressively.

The roguelite elements come into play through character upgrades that affect gameplay mechanics. Players must make strategic choices about how to develop their character’s abilities to reach the top floor efficiently—or face starting over.

Multiple Game Modes

Beyond the main campaign, Mullet MadJack features a survival mode where players can test their skills in endless waves of enemies, competing against friends’ high scores. The combat system emphasizes speed and special “ultraviolent” finishing moves that are crucial for survival in key moments.

Critical Reception

Early reviews have been positive, with Xbox Achievements scoring it 8.5/10, describing it as “One part Hotline Miami, one part Duke Nukem,” while ImpulseGamer awarded it 8/10, praising its “fast and furious” gameplay that “scratches that just one more go itch perfectly.”

Game Director Alessandro Martinello has stated that the game is meant as a tribute to “the golden age of Japanese anime from the 80s and 90s,” suggesting a sincere passion for the source material that inspired the game’s distinctive look and feel.

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