Headlander

Is this a hidden gem? Nah. Is it fun? Yeah, it's pretty fun.
Headlander is a Metroidvania where you play as a rocket-powered disembodied head that can suck off the heads of robots to steal their bodies. When you're sans a body, you have free vertical and horizontal movement but have no offensive capabilities; when you have a body you'll get access to guns (and dancing). The gunplay is... there. You'll spam a lot of lasers. They'll make pretty colors. Things will explode.
The Metroidvania aspects of the game rely less on acquired skills and more on the bodies that you steal. Doors have clearance levels and you'll have to find and steal bodies with the appropriate clearance levels to open doors. You'll still get new skills but they don't feel as consequential as they do in other Metroidvania games.
The presentation is great. It oozes 1970s kitsch and the graphics still hold up today. It's humorous without being annoying but the writing isn't as strong as Double Fine's other games.
I'd recommend playing this if it looks interesting to you. This was published by Adult Swim Games so there's no telling how long you'll be able to purchase it, which is a real shame.

No idea when or how I even got this game. Maybe in a bundle? Anyway, I had fun. Groovy aesthetic, wacky storyline, good gameplay. Fly around as a disembodied head. What more can you ask for?

A short, fun, amazing, addictive metroidvania. Damn I wish this game had some DLC or a sequel.

Headlander is one of those Double Fine creations that immediately strikes you with its eccentricity: a retro futuristic action-platformer where you play as a disembodied head equipped with a rocket-powered helmet. It sounds bizarre but that weirdness is the game’s greatest strength.

Set in a 1970s-inspired sci-fi world bathed in neon and drenched in funky synth, Headlander channels a unique aesthetic. Humanity has uploaded itself into robot bodies, and you, as the last “human,” are literally reduced to a head capable of latching onto anything with a socket. From humanoid shells to vacuum cleaners and turrets, swapping bodies becomes both your primary mechanic and a consistent source of comedy.

The gameplay mixes Metroidvania exploration with puzzle-solving and light combat. Progress often requires clever body-hopping: you might inhabit a guard to bypass a door, then eject mid-battle to hijack a turret. It’s inventive and occasionally brilliant, though the novelty can wear thin when the mechanics repeat without much escalation. Movement and controls are mostly smooth, but combat can sometimes feel floaty or imprecise compared to the crispness of its contemporaries.

Where Headlander truly shines is in its atmosphere and personality. The writing is cheeky without being overbearing, the voice work adds charm and the art direction nails that kitschy sci-fi vibe. The soundtrack, packed with analog synth grooves, makes every room feel like you’ve stepped into a forgotten pulp magazine cover brought to life.

The main drawback is longevity. It’s relatively short and once the central mechanic has been fully explored, there’s little incentive to revisit beyond enjoying the aesthetic again. Some players may also find the pacing uneven, with stretches of backtracking that dull the momentum.

Still, Headlander remains a one-of-a-kind experience: playful, stylish and brimming with Double Fine’s trademark creativity. It may not stick with you for its mechanics alone, but as a quirky adventure with unforgettable flair, it’s worth docking your head for the ride.

Good metroidvania style game.

The artstyle makes it so that it does not nook dated. The world is well designed and the mechanics are fun to play.

Not too complicated to 100% as well.

8/10

Absolutely amazing. This game has definetly been overlooked. Never heard of it, found it by chance. Every aspects are great. The design, the animation, the soundrack, the gameplay, the action and the quests are all so cool. Getting this game is a now brainer.

A doubly fine game. A wacky story, fun characters, interesting combat, great aesthetic, fully voice acted and lots of puns.
I hesitate to call it a metroidvania though, but i guess that's just me. Also 60fps lock is kinda meh.
Get it on discount if you think it's too short.