HellWake
HellWake is a dark action platformer for the classic Game Boy, mixing gothic storytelling with tight, retro-inspired gameplay.
You play as Torin, the cursed son of a witch and a demon. Betrayed, tortured and mutilated, he rises with the severed arms of a fallen demon fused to his body. A living weapon on a path of vengeance.
Fight through corrupted cathedrals, forgotten villages and hellish sanctuaries in search of Kael, the father who tried to sacrifice you. Wield demonic powers, face ruthless inquisitors and twisted creatures, and uncover the truth behind your bloodline.
Created by Geralf, a Brazilian illustrator and solo developer based in São Paulo (and yeah, that’s me). I built HellWake as a passion project to bring back the raw energy of classic Game Boy titles, mixing my love for gothic art, brutal stories, and retro gaming. This is my tribute to the games that raised me, like Castlevania, and I hope it burns into your memory like it did in mine.
Playable on real Game Boy hardware (physical edition coming soon).
Download
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Development log
- HellWake Arranged Soundtrack Now AvailableJun 24, 2025
- HellWake is out now!Jun 20, 2025
Comments
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Really impressive! I really like the bosses and the gameplay changes between levels, bravo!
Thank you so much!! It really means a lot to me 💚 This was actually my first game ever and I had so much fun making it, especially knowing it can run on a real Game Boy. It still feels kinda unreal haha.
Hello ,just stumbled into your game from a post on Twitter .
So the game has a nice story set up (i love revenge stories) but I get the feeling this is a work on progress as there is plenty of room to improve.
maybe it's me but the trailer video actually looks better than the main game itself , why is that ?What happened to the cinematic intro ?
The sprite movement needs more calibration ,this is essential since you have us jumping onto small platforms .
The save points need work , after the player selects save , the player barely had a chance to move away before the pop up displays again ! You can literally get stuck at the save point when the game doesn't allow the player avatar to move away from the save point !
The ladder animation needs work ?
I am at the castle stage and I am stuck there at one of the ladders becos the aviator doesn't transition from climbing to walking mode so I am stuck there !
Just my 3 cents on your work so far 😁👍
Hey! First off, huge thanks for checking out the game and taking the time to share your thoughts, I really appreciate it! Just to give a bit of context: the game is actually being made for real Game Boy hardware, using an engine that sticks to the system’s original limitations. That means stuff like sprite movement, animation frames, and transitions can be a bit more rigid than what you'd see in modern games or even in the trailer, which is a bit more polished to show the vibe. That said, you nailed a couple of points that aren’t hardware-related. The save point issue and ladder animation are both things on my radar, and they’ll definitely get tightened up soon. And yeah, that transition bug you hit at the castle ladder, that’s a rough one, and I'll be working on a fix for that too. Again, really appreciate you playing, this kind of feedback makes the game better. Hope you’ll stick with it and see how it evolves! Cheers :D
Looks really cool, don't forget to add the "Game Boy ROM" tag. It makes it easier for people to find your game. :)
Thanks! I’ve already added the “Game Boy ROM” tag really appreciate the tip! 😊