- Hand-drawn black-and-white art and a profound narrative, a new challenge for Belgian indie games
- Stripping away color and filling with emotion, a puzzle adventure completed with black-and-white visuals and music
- Steam Demo 98% Positive Rating… A journey of solitude and exploration unfolding in a hand-drawn black-and-white world
Belgium has long been a center of global comic culture. In this place, the birthplace of masters such as Hergé and André Franquin who led the golden age of 20th-century European comics, a new game has been unveiled that offers a modern reinterpretation of Franco-Belgian sensibilities.
Helix: Descent N Ascent (hereinafter Helix), a black-and-white puzzle adventure developed and serviced by the indie studio Badass Mongoose located in Wallonia, Belgium, will be released simultaneously on Steam and Nintendo Switch on July 23.
The game, originally targeted for a May release, had its launch postponed to further enhance content and improve the quality of the Nintendo Switch version following high praise on the Steam demo. Currently, the Steam demo maintains a ‘Very Positive’ rating, with a 98% positive rating based on 63 user reviews.
A unique world created entirely in black and white
The first element that characterizes Helix is its bold black-and-white visuals. Beyond a simple stylistic choice, this functions as a core element in establishing the overall atmosphere and identity of the game, playing a crucial role in completing its unique worldview.
The development team perfected a unique art style inspired by 1980s black-and-white indie comics, 1990s Japanese manga, and 1970s works that led the golden age of Franco-Belgian comics. Hand-drawn-like graphics and intense contrasts of light and shadow create a distinctive atmosphere unique to this game.
A game that started with Jim Guthrie’s music
Instead of the typical approach of adding music after the game is finished, Badass Mongoose designed the entire game with composer Jim Guthrie’s music at its center. The development team explains, “We didn’t create music for the game; we developed the game with the music in mind.”
Jim Guthrie is an indie game music composer who gained worldwide attention through the Superbrothers: Sword & Sworcery EP. Since then, he has been highly acclaimed for his distinctive, dreamy yet tense sound, having composed music for titles such as Below and Nobody Saves the World.
In this work as well, his music is utilized not merely as background music, but as a key element that drives the game’s atmosphere and emotions.
A story of identity and solitude conveyed without words
Helix chose a method of conveying the story through direction and atmosphere rather than dialogue.
As the player continues their solitary journey, they encounter a doppelganger that seems to reflect their own actions. The truth as to whether this mysterious entity is an ally or an enemy is gradually revealed as the game progresses.
Instead of flashy descriptions, the game unfolds emotions regarding identity, solitude, and relationships through black-and-white artwork, lifelike 2D backgrounds, and music. The process of exploring the traces and memories of a forgotten civilization adds depth to the narrative.
Acclaimed from the demo… The first challenge of a Belgian indie studio
Helix is the debut work of Badass Mongoose, a Belgian indie studio founded by Cédric de Moulenaier and Gillian Sampont.
The game was first revealed in 2024, and a demo was showcased at Steam Next Fest in February 2026, receiving favorable reviews for its unique visuals, atmosphere, and music. Currently, the Steam demo has a 98% positive user review rating.
Although the development scale is not large, the goal was to achieve a high level of polish by combining intense visuals, collaboration with renowned composers, a progressively expanding puzzle system, and an emotional narrative. Furthermore, a stable development environment was established by proceeding with the project through the Rayonnement Wallonie grant from the Wallonia government of Belgium and support from Wallimage.
Attention is focused on how ‘Helix: Descent N Ascent,’ featuring a unique black-and-white world inspired by the tradition of Franco-Belgian comics and music-driven direction, will be received in the indie puzzle adventure genre following its official release.
Information regarding ‘Helix: Descent N Ascent’
| item | detail |
|---|---|
| Developer / Publisher | Badass Mongoose (Belgium / Cédric de Moulenaier · Gillian Sampont) |
| Genre | Black and White Atmospheric Puzzle Adventure / Puzzle Platformer / Exploration |
| Release platform | PC (Steam) / Nintendo Switch |
| Release date | July 23, 2026 |
| Steam Demo Review | Very positive 98% (63 items) |
| Soundtrack | Jim Guthrie (Same composer as Sword & Sworcery, Below, and Nobody Saves the World) |
| Major announcements | May 2024 / Steam Next Fest February 2026 Demo |
| Financial support | Wallonia Government Rayonnement Wallonie Subsidy / Wallimage |
| Main Keywords | Black and White, Puzzle, Adventure, Doppelganger, Forgotten Civilization, Atmosphere, Non-violence, Jim Guthrie |
| Official Channel | X · Instagram · YouTube · TikTok · Discord |
| Steam Page | Go to Wishlist |
