Acecraft Aims to Rework the Bullet Hell Genre with Hand-Drawn Charm, IP Ambitions

Acecraft Aims to Rework the Bullet Hell Genre with Hand-Drawn Charm, IP Ambitions

SINGAPORE – Acecraft, the latest title from MOONTON Games, is shaking up the mobile shoot ’em up (STG) scene as the world’s first fully hand-drawn two-player vertical scroller.

Combining 1930s rubber hose animation with innovative gameplay systems, the game aims to reimagine what bullet hells can be while setting its sights on long-term IP growth.

Acecraft’s art style leaned heavily on the vintage animation era of Looney Tunes and Betty Boop. Producer Darren “Chen” Lu said the team made a deliberate choice to handcraft every frame at 24 frames per second, giving each movement expressive charm and tension.

The painstaking approach extended beyond visuals, influencing gameplay to focus less on raw speed. Instead, the playthrough is more on battles filled with personality and fluid animation that made encounters feel alive.

Varied Gameplay Beyond the Linear

Where most STGs stuck to linear progression, Acecraft offered multiple game modes that added variety and replayability. Balloon Party introduced light-hearted scoring races, while Bullet Rain Storm raised the stakes with dense, intricate projectile patterns inspired by Eastern bullet hells.

Each mode gave players a fresh rhythm, setting Acecraft apart from the single-style design usually found in the genre.

Building an IP, Not Just a Game

For the team, Acecraft marked the beginning of a long-term franchise rather than a one-off release. Seasonal updates, side-stories, and special events focused on its roster of eight Ace Pilots were already in development.

“We plan to continuously iterate on the game in seasonal formats, developing a series of content around the characters,” Lu explained. This IP-first strategy shaped both the gameplay and narrative, highlighting characters through episodic expansions and ongoing storylines. This is a rarity for the shoot ’em up genre.

“We Fly 2gether”: A Referral Event Kicks Off Open Beta

To build its community early, MOONTON launched the “We Fly 2gether” referral campaign alongside Acecraft’s open beta. Players could recruit friends through personal links, complete missions to earn dice, and roll across a virtual board for in-game rewards.

Finishing the board entered them into a raffle for physical prizes. These include themed merchandise, theme park tickets, and a grand prize of two free air tickets. Winners were announced via Acecraft’s official Facebook, Discord, TikTok, and Instagram channels.

Acecraft is ready to welcome players to Cloudia’s skies and chart a new course for bullet hells on mobile. Aspiring players can pre-registration on the App Store, Google Play, and the official Acecraft website.