Two New Cuphead Projects Mark a Major Series Expansion
Cuphead’s new game announcements refer to a dual project reveal from Studio MDHR, confirming both a mainline hand-animated sequel in early development and an 8-bit spin-off called Mighty Cuphead Adventure, signaling a deliberate expansion of the run-and-gun series beyond its original 1930s cartoon style. Revealed during Summer Game Fest, the Studio MDHR announcement confirms this is the first major step for the franchise since the original Cuphead in 2017 and its Delicious Last Course expansion that followed years later. The mainline project remains untitled, known only as a brand-new, hand-animated Cuphead game, teased through a stop-motion trailer. Meanwhile, Mighty Cuphead Adventure arrives as a smaller, self-contained project from a dedicated internal team. Both games currently have no release window, but together they set the stage for Cuphead’s next era.
A New Hand-Animated Cuphead Game Enters Early Development
Studio MDHR’s headline reveal is a new hand-animated sequel, described as a brand-new Cuphead game that serves as the first substantial follow-up to the original and its Delicious Last Course expansion. The game was teased at Summer Game Fest through a stop-motion trailer produced with external partners, but no title, gameplay footage, or release timing has been shared. According to MobileSyrup, the studio has only confirmed that the project is in the “early stages” of development, which suggests a long runway before launch. In keeping with Cuphead tradition, hand-drawn animation is once again at the center, but it remains unknown whether this will be framed as a direct “Cuphead 2” or a differently titled sequel. For now, fans only know that more information is planned for a later date.
Mighty Cuphead Adventure Brings an 8-Bit Retro Spin-Off
Running alongside the hand-animated sequel, Mighty Cuphead Adventure is an 8-bit action platformer that recasts Cuphead and Mugman in a retro, side-scrolling format. Built by a smaller team within Studio MDHR, it trades the detailed 1930s cartoon look for pixel art designed to match Sega Master System-era specifications. FullCleared reports that the game was programmed in classic Assembly Language, emphasizing an authentic old-school feel for its run-and-gun platforming. Unlike a straight demake, Mighty Cuphead Adventure is framed as a spin-off that stands apart from the mainline Cuphead new game, giving the studio room to experiment with level design and pacing. It is planned for modern consoles and PC, though, like the main project, it has no confirmed release window yet.
What the Dual Projects Mean for Cuphead’s Future
The paired announcement of a hand-animated sequel and Mighty Cuphead Adventure points to a broader strategy for how Studio MDHR sees Cuphead’s future. One path keeps refining the painstaking animation and boss-driven design that defined the original, while the other opens the door to faster, more experimental projects that can explore different tones and mechanics. This is the first time the studio has publicly committed to more than one Cuphead new game at once, and it arrives after a long quiet period following the Delicious Last Course expansion. For fans, the message is clear: Cuphead is now a franchise with room for both prestige mainline entries and smaller spin-offs. The lack of release dates may test patience, but the scope of the Studio MDHR announcement suggests that Cuphead is set to stay in the spotlight for years to come.
