Headlander

A severed human head becomes an unlikely weapon in a gleaming, deeply strange future where humanity has abandoned flesh for robot shells. Headlander is a side-scrolling action-adventure built around that absurdly compelling idea, sending its last human protagonist through an automated space-age utopia controlled by a malfunctioning authority. The world channels colourful 1970s science-fiction design, complete with chrome corridors, psychedelic signage, leisure-suit robots, and an upbeat surface hiding something far more sinister. Its tone is funny and deliberately ridiculous, but the mystery of what happened to humanity gives the adventure real momentum.

Most of the action comes from launching your helmeted head through levels, dodging hazards, firing at enemies, and docking with vacant robotic bodies. Each host grants a different practical advantage: some carry weapons, others survive environmental threats, and certain bodies possess the access permissions needed to open colour-coded routes and machinery. That possession system turns navigation into a constant puzzle, since the best combat body is not always the one that can reach the next locked area. Progress follows a familiar Metroidvania rhythm, with interconnected zones, new abilities, secret paths, boss encounters, and reasons to revisit earlier rooms once better hosts or upgrades become available.

Double Fine’s personality is everywhere, from the deadpan robotic banter to the exaggerated retro-commercial presentation and cartoonish visual detail. Rather than simply handing out keys, Headlander makes identity itself the key, which gives its exploration a clever twist even when its shooting remains straightforward. The campaign is focused and largely single-player, making it a good fit for players who want a polished, story-driven adventure rather than an endless sandbox. Fans of Guacamelee!, Metroid, or Double Fine’s offbeat humour should find plenty to enjoy, while newcomers get an accessible action game with a genuinely unusual central mechanic.