I'll admit I had some doubts over Super Meat Boy 3D before finally having the chance to play it at Gamescom 2025. After all, the original 2D platformer is one of the most iconic for indie games and still holds up 15 years later. Not all 2D platforming heroes have benefitted from an extra axis to navigate, especially not one that demands speed and precision in increasingly tricky levels. Does it need another dimension? But ten minutes was all that I needed to be convinced that Sluggerfly, co-developing the game alongside the original's Team Meat, has successfully adapted the indie classic.

The Unreal 5-rendered 3D visuals certainly makes this a pretty update, as the adorable little cube of meat is re-introduced in a lavish cutscene dropping into an idyllic forest via a portal, back to save his girlfriend Bandage Girl from the clutches of Dr. Fetus once again.

The 3D levels are also a lot more detailed, but crucially not at the expense of readability. Though there was an initial moment to adjust to the new perspective, I was soon instinctively running, jumping and splatting my way up walls and platforms just like before, as Meat Boy smears blood trails on any surfaces he touches.

That familiarity and readability is arguably down to a shrewd decision to have a fixed camera to make it easier to navigate 3D spaces at high speed. That still allows the levels to experiment with layouts so though you're initially following paths and platforms from a top-down camera, sometimes you'll also be viewing the action from a 45-degree angle. It also takes the opportunity to cut the camera in close for the end-of-level punchline where Meat Boy's rescue attempt is always thwarted by Dr. Fetus.

While a lot feels surprisingly familiar, including a thematic progression of how the forest level gradually transforms from tranquil idyll to hell on earth, this extra dimension also changes a few things up. Take for instance enemies that Meat Boy can run around instead of just jumping over. And the iconic saws of the original, still present in some situations, are mostly replaced with cylindrical meat grinders that cover the whole width of a path.

Although the original game was used as the base for the 3D glow up, mechanics from the follow-up Super Meat Boy Forever are also reimagined and prove very useful. That includes an air-dash when pressing jump again in the air, helping you get over a longer gap or trap, and you can also perform a vertical dive if you need to get down quicker or also want to fall directly downwards through a tight space. You can even cancel the drop with an air-dash if necessary.

The newest 3D-exclusive ability however is that Meat Boy can also wall-run, and he can of course also jump off one wall to run along another wall. Admittedly, it was these moments where the perspective is also changing a little where I began to slip up more as I tried to gauge the depth perception of the level.

Brutal trial and error is still a hallmark of a Meat Boy game then. But if there is ground below you, the addition of a red circle indicating where you're going to land while airborne is a smart way to make some platforming feats a little less risky. Perhaps less helpful in the moment but a wonderful sight to see is that you'll still be able to activate a replay option that lets you see all the ghosts of your Meat Boys running through the level simultaneously, showing all the paths they took and how they whittle down to your eventual winning route.

Boss fights were also a part of the original Meat Boy, but sadly the demo cut short before I could get a taste of such an encounter. But if the design of the first boss, a massive robot with buzzsaws for arms, is anything to go by, then I'm confident that Sluggerfly will have some memorable boss encounters to complement what feels set to be a bloody and welcome return and future for everyone's favourite piece of meat.

Super Meat Boy 3D feels like a respectful transition for the indie icon that makes some interesting adjustments to fit the new dimension. Sure, there may be a few frustrations as you acclimate, but I can see platforming masochists making this new entry a new part of their speedrunning diet.

You can wishlist Super Meat Boy 3D on the Epic Games Store.