Awaria: A Free Ghost-Kissing Game from the Creator of Helltaker

Imagine taking on a game not just for the glory or the loot, but simply to stay alive long enough to earn a ghostly smooch in Awaria. Łukasz “Vanripper” Piskorz, the mastermind creative who brought us the darling yet devilish Helltaker, is back with another offering. This time, he’s challenging players to win over some charming ghostly gals, using their charm as incentive to keep you hooked on the gameplay.

Awaria is available for free on both Steam and Itch.io, but don’t assume that means winning over its ghostly inhabitants comes easily. At first glance, the game looks straightforward, much like Helltaker did. You’re placed in these compact 2D rooms, operating as a nimble mechanic working to fix various machines. Using WASD keys, you navigate the space, delivering the needed parts to machines. But brace yourself—ghosts will pop up, transforming your repair mission into an impromptu dance through bullet-like hazards.

If it weren’t for these apparition adversaries, your task would be a breeze. It reminds me somewhat of the chaos management in Overcooked, but instead of fulfilling customer orders, you’re trying to keep machines operational while avoiding deadly encounters. As a delicate character, one touch from a ghostly girl sends you reeling, forcing you to tactically evade them while keeping machines from malfunctioning. Enthralling for any Undertale veterans, but if you’re not hardened by those battles, Awaria might feel like quite the challenge—though who can resist the promise of being “READY TO KISS” at the end of each level?

These moments of victory give you a glimpse into the personalities of your spectral paramours. Take Zmora, for instance; she’s all flustered on your first encounter, warning you with a classic tsundere flair that you’ll regret it next time. Meanwhile, Cutwire plays the dangerous vixen, promising another encounter with a hint of backstabbing. Then there’s Nikita, who towers over and playfully mocks your small stature. Truly, Awaria offers a ghostly collection for all tastes.

It’s not long before these ghostly ladies find joy in making your life difficult, teaming up in mischievous glee. Managing more than one at a time quickly overwhelmed me, leading me to no shame in dialing down the difficulty. Whether you choose to make it easier with more resilience against their attacks or amp up the challenge with relentless machine breakdowns, the choice is yours.

Fans of Helltaker might suspect hidden treasures await those who explore every nook and cranny of Awaria, though I didn’t stumble upon any dialogue trees or divergent routes in my playthrough. Yet, the achievement roster hints at possible rewards for the nimblest players, tempting even me to push further. The game’s brisk pace and Mittsies’ energizing soundtrack make it easy to dive back in for another round instantly.

While each ghost girl might not strike my personal fancy as much as Helltaker’s demon girls did, I’m sure Awaria holds a favorite for everyone. Maybe I haven’t met the triplet rival to Cerberus yet. Apologies in advance to my Discord friends who might want to hear about anything else—but until that discovery, it seems I’m destined to let these ghostly girls keep me guessing and gaming a bit longer.