Cuphead

CUPHEAD is an ART-STYLE MASTERPIECE INDIE RUN-AND-GUN BOSS-RUSH VIDEO GAME developed by STUDIOMDHR — an Ontario, Canada studio founded by BROTHERS CHAD MOLDENHAUER (art director) + JARED MOLDENHAUER (design). Development took 7+ YEARS (2013-2017); brothers reportedly mortgaged their houses to complete the project. Released SEPTEMBER 29, 2017 on XBOX ONE + PC/STEAM (initially Xbox exclusive as MICROSOFT-published console launch title); later Switch (April 2019), PS4 (July 2020), tvOS/Amazon Luna (2021). HAND-DRAWN 1930s RUBBER-HOSE CARTOON art style (inspired by FLEISCHER STUDIOS' Betty Boop + Popeye, early DISNEY [Steamboat Willie era], UB IWERKS animations, Max Fleischer's rotoscoped movement). EVERY FRAME DRAWN BY HAND, inked with real ink, then watercolored — the ENTIRE GAME was traditionally animated on paper first, then digitized. Backgrounds are watercolor paintings. Music is authentic 1930s BIG-BAND JAZZ recorded with 20+ LIVE MUSICIANS (Krisstenn Fitzgibbon Jazz Orchestra), including composer Kristofer Maddigan on original score. Considered one of the most VISUALLY DISTINCTIVE video games ever made. GAMEPLAY: Players control CUPHEAD + brother MUGMAN (2-player co-op available throughout) — anthropomorphic cup-headed characters — who lost a soul-bet to THE DEVIL at his INKWELL ISLES casino; to save their souls, they must collect SOUL CONTRACTS from 19+ Inkwell Isle debtors (also indebted to the Devil). GAMEPLAY combines RUN-AND-GUN platforming stages + intense BOSS FIGHTS. Every boss is a MASSIVE MULTI-PHASE ENCOUNTER (usually 3-5 phases with radically different attacks + forms per phase; bosses transform mid-fight). BOSSES include: Root Pack (vegetables), Ribby & Croaks (frogs), Cagney Carnation (flower), Baroness von Bon Bon (candy queen), Wally Warbles (bird), Rumor Honeybottoms (bee queen), Grim Matchstick (dragon), Sally Stageplay (theater), Werner Werman (rat pilot), Djimmi the Great (genie), Beppi the Clown, Captain Brineybeard (pirate), Cala Maria (mermaid), Phantom Express (spectral train), Dr. Kahl's Robot, PHANTOM PILOT + KING DICE + DEVIL final bosses. NOTORIOUSLY DIFFICULT — compared favorably to Dark Souls in difficulty (though shorter individual attempts). PLAYERS must learn every attack pattern via death-driven iteration (checkpoint at boss start; retry instantly). 6 SHOT TYPES (peashooter, spread, chaser, lobber, roundabout, charge) + SUPER ARTS + CHARM upgrades (Smoke Bomb, Whetstone, Coffee, Heart) purchased at Porkrind's Emporium with coins from stages. 8M+ COPIES sold across all platforms. THE DELICIOUS LAST COURSE DLC (June 30, 2022) adds MS. CHALICE (playable third character with new mechanics: double jump + dash-parry + dash cancel), 5 new massive bosses (Glumstone the Giant, Moonshine Mob, Mortimer Freeze, Esther Winchester, Chef Saltbaker + secret bosses), 1 new island. Also spawned THE CUPHEAD SHOW! Netflix animated series (2022-2023, 3 seasons, based on game). Won 100+ industry awards including BAFTA Best Debut + Best British Game 2018 + The Game Awards 2017 Best Art Direction + Best Independent Game. Considered a MASTERPIECE of art direction + one of the most influential indie games of the 2010s.

Boss-rush completion; grade bosses (A+ to F); collect coins in stages; equip Charms + Super Arts.

Win condition · Defeat The Devil in main game; defeat Chef Saltbaker in DLC. Multiple endings based on Good/Evil choices.

Xbox One/Series (launched exclusive), PC/Steam, Switch (handheld ideal), PS4, tvOS. On Xbox Game Pass.

• Cuphead ($20 USD)

  Base game; all platforms; often on sale $10-15

• Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course DLC ($8)

  Requires base game; adds Ms. Chalice + 5 bosses

• Cuphead: The Cuphead Show! Season 1-3 (Netflix)

  Animated adaptation

• Modern controller with d-pad + shoulder buttons

  Precision platforming benefits from d-pad

• Parry pink objects for damage + super charge

  Central mechanic; find and parry aggressively.

• Equip Charge shot + Smoke Bomb charm for melee bosses

  Popular loadout.

• Learn phase transitions

  Boss phases have brief animation windows — position for phase 2 attacks.

• Practice Peashooter Only for S-rank

  Reduced damage forces perfect play.

• Co-op strategy: 1 focuses damage, 1 focuses parries + revives

  Parry downed teammate to revive.

Inkwell Isle

Setting; 3 islands + DLC 4th island Inkwell Isle Hell.

Soul Contract

Debtor's contract; collect from 19+ bosses to earn Devil's favor.

The Devil

Antagonist casino owner; final boss.

King Dice

The Devil's right hand; penultimate boss; runs Inkwell Hell casino.

Parry

Tap jump on pink object to bounce off + gain super meter.

Super Art (Super I / II / III)

Super attacks; unlock at Mausoleum shrines.

Charm

Passive item (Smoke Bomb, Whetstone, Coffee); equip 1 at a time.

S-Rank

Highest boss grade; requires no-damage + parries + specific supers + fast time.

Expert mode

Hard difficulty; unlocks after main story.

Ms. Chalice

DLC third playable character; double jump + dash parry + revive.

• The Game Awards 2017 Best Art Direction + Best Independent Game + Best Debut Indie Game

  annual · worldwide · since 2017

• BAFTA Game Awards 2018 Best Debut + Best British Game + Best Music

  annual · UK · since 2018

• DICE Awards 2018 Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction

  annual · USA · since 2018

• Cuphead speedrun scene: All Bosses, Any%, Any% Peashooter Only

  ongoing · worldwide online · since 2017

• Steam 2017 Best Debut Award

  annual · worldwide · since 2017

• 🇨🇦Canada
• 🇺🇸United States
• 🇬🇧United Kingdom
• 🇩🇪Germany
• 🇫🇷France
• 🇮🇹Italy
• 🇪🇸Spain
• 🇧🇷Brazil
• 🇲🇽Mexico
• 🇯🇵Japan
• 🇰🇷South Korea
• 🇦🇺Australia

• StudioMDHR (developer + publisher)

  Founded 2010 · Oakville, Ontario, Canada

• Microsoft Game Studios (2017-2019 console publisher)

  Founded 2002 · Redmond, Washington, USA

• StudioMDHR — Cuphead— StudioMDHR
• Wikipedia — Cuphead— Wikipedia