Damon and Baby preview: A devilishly good top-down shooter

It’s usually not a good sign when you’re dying repeatedly in a game’s tutorial, but the 2.5D twin-stick shooter Damon and Baby is a notable exception. In the vein of Nex Machina, Enter the Gungeon, and even all the way back to Smash TV, Damon and Baby merges fast-paced gunplay with rewarding exploration and exhilarating traversal. Arc System Works’s latest sees you step into the role of the exiled demon king, Damon, who must find his way home and regain his powers — all while protecting the wee human girl perched upon his shoulder. I spent about an hour with the game ahead of The 2025 Game Awards last week, and came away eager to spend more time with this oddball duo.