He-Man to feature in a Retro Beat-’Em-Up Dragon Pearl of Destruction

 

By the power of Grayskull—He-Man is back! During Gamescom Opening Night Live, Mattel and Limited Run Games pulled back the curtain on He-Man and the Masters of the Universe: Dragon Pearl of Destruction, a brand-new retro-inspired 2D brawler for PC and consoles. Developed by Bitmap Bureau (Final Vendetta, Terminator 2D: No Fate), the game is set to launch in early 2026, with both digital and physical editions available for pre-order.

Fans of the classic ‘80s cartoon will instantly feel at home. Players will step into the boots of Eternia’s greatest heroes, including He-Man, Teela, Man-At-Arms, and more, to stop Skeletor and Evil-Lyn from unleashing an ancient ritual that could plunge the world into darkness. Battle Cat even joins the fight, claws ready, as a playable companion.

The game promises 12 action-packed stages, each packed with enemies, bosses, and character-specific moves. Expect power-ups, special attacks, and plenty of pixel-perfect nostalgia. The visuals lean heavily into ‘80s-style animation, complete with authentic designs crafted by longtime Masters of the Universe artists and fans.

“It’s a love letter to those who grew up with He-Man,” said Erika Winterholler, Head of Business Development at Mattel Digital Games. “We wanted to honor the franchise’s legacy while also introducing it to a new generation of players.”

Limited Run Games CEO Josh Fairhurst echoed the sentiment, calling the project “the Masters of the Universe arcade game I yearned for as a child.”

Between Bitmap Bureau’s retro brawler pedigree and Limited Run’s reputation for premium physical releases, Dragon Pearl of Destruction looks ready to deliver the Eternian arcade experience we never got back in the day.

The game launches in 2026, but if you’re itching for more, you can check out the official Gamescom reveal trailer here.