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Cuphead
Promotional artwork with Cuphead and Mugman
DeveloperStudio MDHR
PublisherStudio MDHR
Directors
  • Chad Moldenhauer
  • Jared Moldenhauer
Producers
  • Marija Moldenhauer
  • Ryan Moldenhauer
DesignerJared Moldenhauer
Programmers
  • Tony Coculuzzi
  • Eric Billingsley
  • Kezia Adamo
  • Thomas Pryde
Artists
  • Chad Moldenhauer
  • Marija Moldenhauer
WriterEvan Skolnick
ComposerKristofer Maddigan
EngineUnity
Platforms
Release
  • Windows, Xbox One
    • WW: September 29, 2017
  • macOS
    • WW: October 19, 2018
  • Nintendo Switch
    • WW: April 18, 2019
  • PlayStation 4
    • WW: July 28, 2020
GenreRun and gun
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

Cuphead is a 2017 indie run and gun game developed and published by Studio MDHR. The game follows its titular teacup-headed character and his brother Mugman, as they make a deal with the Devil to pay casino losses by repossessing the souls of runaway debtors. In the game, up to two players control Cuphead and/or Mugman to fight through several levels and boss fights; the game does not have a rigid narrative structure. As the game progresses, the protagonist acquires more power and abilities, eventually facing the Devil. Players, however, can only equip a limited number of these abilities at a given time.

The game's creators, brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, took inspiration from the rubber hose animation style from the golden age of American animation and the surrealist qualities of the works of Walt Disney Animation Studios, Fleischer Studios, Warner Bros. Cartoons, MGM Cartoon Studio and Walter Lantz Productions. Reminiscent of the aesthetics of the 1930s and the Jazz Age, the game is noted for its animation and soundtrack. All in-game assets were created through traditional animation with deliberate human imperfections and the soundtrack was written for and recorded with a full jazz ensemble.

Cuphead was announced in 2013, had a preview at E3 2014 and was released in 2017 as a timed exclusive for Microsoft's Windows and Xbox One, plus later ports to other systems. The game was a commercial success, with two million copies sold within two weeks of release and six million in two years. Cuphead received universal acclaim[1] for its art style, gameplay, soundtrack, and difficulty. Multiple outlets extolled it as one of the best video game soundtracks of all time and one of the hardest video games ever made. Its many awards include a trio of both Game and D.I.C.E. Awards and a British Academy Games Award. A DLC expansion, Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, was released on June 30, 2022. An animated series adaptation, The Cuphead Show!, premiered in February 2022 on Netflix.

Gameplay

[edit]
The player, as Cuphead, fights Captain Brineybeard. The art style is heavily based on rubber hose animation.

Cuphead's gameplay is centered on continual boss fights, interspersed with run-and-gun levels. Each is housed in one of four worlds, with the final fight against the Devil. Each boss fight includes a simple, regular, and expert difficulty mode (with the exception of the final two bosses, which lack a simple mode). Defeating a boss on regular mode is required to progress through the game and unlocks expert mode for that particular level. Most boss battles take place on land, although some involve player characters piloting aeroplanes and play like a side-scrolling shoot 'em up. The game includes role-playing elements and a branching level sequence.[2][3] Player characters have infinite lives, maintaining all equipment between deaths.[2]

Equippable weapons and special abilities, referred to as Charms, can be purchased from Porkrind's Emporium, an in-game shop, using coins found in levels and the overworld. Player characters can use a slapping parry attack on objects marked in pink to various effects, the most important of them being a super meter charge that enables more powerful attacks. The super meter is represented by a row of five playing cards, and can also be charged through attacking or Charm effects. An enhanced attack can be executed at the cost of one card, with its particular form determined by the currently equipped weapon. The most powerful strikes, or Super Arts, require the Super Meter to be fully charged and will completely drain it upon use. Three Super Arts are available, one in each of the first three worlds; to earn each one, the player must enter a mausoleum and parry a horde of ghosts to stop them from reaching an urn at the center of the screen.

After completing a level, the players are ranked with a grade based on performance, determined by the time taken to complete the level, hit points left post-battle, number of parried attacks, and the number of times part of the super meter was used, in addition to the level difficulty. The levels are accessible through a top-down perspective overworld with its own secret areas.[3]

The game has a two-player local cooperative mode,[4] in which either player character can return to the game after being killed if the one parries the other's soul before it rises off the screen. Cuphead's brother, Mugman, acts as an alternative skin and potential co-op partner within the game.[5] The DLC expansion, Delicious Last Course, adds a new area with its own campaign, including new bosses, weapons, and Charms; a third playable character is also added, Ms. Chalice, who replaces either Cuphead or Mugman when equipped with the Astral Cookie Charm. Ms. Chalice has her own unique set of moves, including a double jump, an invincible roll maneuver, and a parry dash.[6]

Plot

[edit]

On Inkwell Isle, the game follows Cuphead and Mugman, two fun-loving brothers who live under the watchful eye of Elder Kettle. Against his warnings, the brothers wander off to the Devil's Casino and begin playing craps. When they go on a winning streak, the Devil appears and makes a deal, offering to give them all the money in the casino if they win the next roll and threatening to take their souls if they lose. Cuphead accepts the offer but loses by rolling snake eyes. As he and Mugman beg for mercy, the Devil offers them another deal – if the brothers can collect the "soul contracts" from his runaway debtors by midnight the next day, the Devil might spare them. After returning home and informing Elder Kettle about their predicament, he gives the brothers a potion that allows them to fire blasts of energy from their fingers and warns them that the debtors may not turn in their soul contracts willingly.

The brothers travel across Inkwell Isle, fighting the debtors to obtain their contracts. As they enter the second sector of the island, Elder Kettle notices that the duo are getting stronger from their battles and urges them to make the right choice when they meet the Devil. After Cuphead and Mugman enter the third sector, King Dice, the Devil's right-hand man, reports the brothers' progress to his boss and tells him that he is suspicious of their intentions, to which the Devil replies that if the brothers were to try anything, he will be ready for them.

The brothers eventually collect all of the soul contracts and return to the Devil's Casino. King Dice stops them, saying that their success has caused him to lose a bet. In retaliation, he sets up an extended casino-styled battle in an attempt to exact revenge. After defeating King Dice, the brothers confront the Devil, who tries to tempt them by inviting them to join him if they turn over the soul contracts. If the player chooses to do so, Cuphead and Mugman are transformed into the Devil's demonic lackeys and the game ends. If they refuse, the Devil becomes furious at the brothers for not upholding their end of the bargain and battles them. Cuphead and Mugman defeat the Devil, incinerate the contracts and return home. Learning that they have nothing to fear from the Devil anymore, the former debtors honor the brothers for their heroism.

The Delicious Last Course

[edit]

After freeing a spirit known as the Legendary Chalice from one of the main game's mausoleums, Cuphead and Mugman receive a summons from her to visit the distant DLC Island. Once they arrive, Chalice demonstrates an "Astral Cookie" which allows her to trade places with the brother who eats it, turning him into a spirit and temporarily bringing her back to life in a youthful form. The cookie's inventor, Chef Saltbaker, unveils his recipe for a special dessert known as the Wondertart, which has the power to give Chalice her own permanent body. Saltbaker notes that several antagonistic inhabitants on the island hold its required ingredients and the brothers set out to collect them with Chalice's help.

Once the trio returns to the bakery with the ingredients, they find Saltbaker in its cellar. He reveals that the Wondertart requires a living soul baked into it to work and that he has kidnapped a member of the trio in their spiritual form, who may be any character not in play upon reaching the bakery, with the intention of using the Wondertart himself to conquer the astral plane. The remaining two engage Saltbaker in battle and defeat him, subsequently resulting in the bakery being destroyed and preventing the Wondertart's creation. Unwilling to let anyone else give up their soul for her benefit, Ms. Chalice decides to remain in her spiritual form until she can find a non-sacrificial way to revive herself while offering to continue helping Cuphead and Mugman when needed via the Astral Cookie.

In an epilogue, Saltbaker is arrested for his crimes and sentenced to a form of community service that involves assisting DLC Island's inhabitants with their various problems. Saltbaker changes his ways as his sentence nears its end, rebuilds his bakery once it is served and prepares pastries for everyone, including Cuphead, Mugman and Chalice, the latter of whom is implied to have found a way to permanently return to life, as an apology.

Development

[edit]
Cuphead developers Danielle Johnson, Jared and Chad Moldenhauer, Jake Clark, and Hanna Abi-Hanna were at the 2018 Game Developers Conference.

Cuphead is a game by Studio MDHR, a Canadian indie game development studio founded by brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer. The game was written by Evan Skolnick;[7] additional animation work was contributed by Jake Clark, with programming led by Tony Coculuzzi.[8][9] Its development began in 2010 using the Microsoft XNA, later switching to the Unity game engine in 2014, and it was developed from the brothers' homes in Oakville, Ontario and Regina, Saskatchewan, respectively.[3][10][11][12] It was inspired by cartoons from the early days of the golden age of American animation such as those from Disney and Fleischer Studios, along with cartoonists Ub Iwerks, Grim Natwick and Willard Bowsky.[2] Chad Moldenhauer called Fleischer Studios "the magnetic north of his art style", and particularly sought to mimic their "subversive and surrealist" elements.[13]

The Moldenhauers watched many early golden-age cartoons in their youth, largely from VHS compilations supplied by their parents.[14] Among other siblings in their Regina, Saskatchewan childhood home, the duo shared an interest in video games. They attempted a game in the style of Cuphead in 2000 but lacked the tools to continue. The brothers decided to try again following the success of the indie game Super Meat Boy, which was released in 2010. The character that became Cuphead descended from a 1936 Japanese propaganda animated film featuring a character with a teacup for a head. The Moldenhauers emulated the animation because they found it strange, and "right away it stuck".[13] Before settling on him as the main character, the brothers had created many different character designs, including a kappa wearing a top hat and characters with a plate or fork for a head.[13]

Their animation techniques are similar to those of these cartoons.[13] Chad Moldenhauer, who had previously worked in graphic design, hand-drew the animations and painted the backgrounds using watercolors, colorizing them in Photoshop.[15] The gameplay's frame rate is sixty frames per second, while the animation runs at 24 per second, which is the standard in American film. Chad Moldenhauer saw the deliberately included human imperfections of their art design as a reaction to the perfectionism of modern pixel art. Jared Moldenhauer worked on other aspects of the game, and they discussed gameplay design together. Their studio hired a Romanian developer, a Brooklyn animator and an Ontario jazz musician for the project. They sought to use recording processes vintage to that era.[13] The score was composed by Kristofer Maddigan and consists of fifty-one tracks performed by jazz and big band musicians.[16]

The Moldenhauers described Cuphead as having a difficultly "retro game" core for its emphasis on gameplay over plot.[2] Kill Screen described the developers as "obsessed" with run-and-gun fundamentals of "animations and exploits and hitboxes".[3] They made multiple revisions to many gameplay elements, including how gameplay actions feel at the edges of platforms and how long players are disabled after receiving damage.[13] They planned multiple difficulty levels and chose to abandon a typical damsel in distress plot for one where Cuphead perpetually creates trouble for himself.[2] The developers planned to surpass the Guinness World Record for number of boss battles in a run-and-gun game by having more than 30, compared to the record's 25 in Alien Soldier.[4] The game's implementation and visual design, combined with the limited number of staff, was Studio MDHR's biggest challenge, so the Moldenhauers went to great lengths to complete the game, even remortgaging their house to finance it.[17][18]

Release

[edit]

Though the game was shown during the Xbox press event of Electronic Entertainment Expo 2014 to audience approval, it was not available to play and was estimated to be 40 percent complete. It was expected to be extended via expansion packs[3] with 10 to 15 bosses each,[4] similar to how Sonic & Knuckles added atop the Sonic series.[3] Cuphead was released on September 29, 2017 for Windows and Xbox One, and it supports Xbox Play Anywhere.[19] King Features Syndicate has the licensing rights to merchandise and assorted paraphernalia.[20]

The Delicious Last Course is downloadable content adding a new island, boss encounters, and a third playable character (Ms. Chalice), and was revealed at E3 2018 for release in 2019.[21] However, the new content was pushed back into 2020 to avoid putting too much pressure and crunch time on the development team.[22] It was further delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and was eventually released on June 30, 2022.[23][24]

A port of Cuphead for macOS was released on October 19, 2018, and advertised with an animated short titled Crisp Apples.[25]

A port for the Nintendo Switch was released on April 18, 2019.[26] This was made possible when Microsoft approached the development team about it.[27] A PlayStation 4 port was released on July 28, 2020.[28]

In June 2019, a port for Tesla, Inc.'s Linux-based operating system for some of its cars was announced by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, who expressed his appreciation of the game.[29] It was released in September 2019 as part of Tesla's software version 10, though only the first level was playable.[30][31]

Reception

[edit]

Ben Kuchera of Polygon wrote that Cuphead was one of the five most interesting reveals at Microsoft's E3 2014 press conference, even though he knew little about the game apart from its aesthetic. He said it "stood out immediately" and that everyone in the website's press room viscerally reacted to the trailer.[64] Cuphead won the IGN Best Xbox One game at E3 award in 2015,[65] and "Best Indie Game" at the Gamescom 2015 Awards.[66] It was nominated as "Best Independent Game" at the E3 2016 Game Critics Awards.[67]

Cuphead received "generally favorable" reviews, according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[34][35][32][33] Its difficulty was noted by several media outlets.[68][69] Destructoid's Brett Makedonski welcomed the high difficulty, which he noted as "tough but fair". Based on "exhaustive" pattern recognition, he said it ultimately relied on muscle memory, rather than reaction. He thought structuring the game around boss battles was well executed, and that each boss encounter held "different and special and memorable" traits. Praising the 1930s aesthetics as cohesive, he found the jazz-based soundtrack to be "similarly fabulous". He said the "eight-direction firing radius" was "clunky and awkward".[37] Though dying 188 times in his playthrough, Ray Carsillo at EGMNow was not frustrated by the difficulty, but rather was motivated to "dig my heels in deeper". He lauded the "gorgeous" hand-drawn visuals, surpassed only by the gameplay which goes "beyond pattern recognition".[39] Peter Brown of GameSpot opined that combating enemies provided a considerably rewarding experience. He described the cartoon aesthetic as charming, infusing "color and expression", and a "true recreation" of hand-drawn cel animation. He relished the quick loading times which serve trial and error tactics. Though he saw "the fear of the unexpected" as part of Cuphead's thrill, he disparaged its failure to identify progress and capability.[41]

Lucas Sullivan at GamesRadar+ wrote that Cuphead "stands tall among the best 2D shooters of all time", and that the gameplay demands patient pattern recognition, but which is not frustrating and would reward players "tenfold". Sullivan called the animation adorable, with a wealth of detail in the watercolor backdrops, which worked well with the gameplay.[42] Giant Bomb's Ben Pack remarked that playing the game yielded one of his most enjoyable gaming experiences, citing the combination of "brutal" platforming and an "exceptionally well realized" art style.[43] Joe Skrebels of IGN declared every scene a "masterwork" and commended the sound work, calling it an "ideal match" to the aesthetics. He called platforming battles the most imaginative part, and the lack of enemy health bars its "smartest" and "most devilish" feature. He found the battles rewarding and "one of Cuphead's greatest strengths". He said the "run 'n' gun, left-to-right platforming" lacked inventiveness, and criticized the "parry system" and control scheme.[44] Chris Schilling of PC Gamer liked the "reliable jump and dash" controls with "nimble and responsive" handling. Schilling explained that certain random elements meant "you can't simply learn patterns by rote and rely entirely on muscle memory".[45] Chris Plante of Polygon said the game educates the player in strategy through trial and error. He enjoyed the "crucial" and "relatively forgiving" parrying system, more than the various attacks. He complained that the final bosses diminished the game's greatest features, and that the difficulty "eventually goes too far".[46] Colm Ahern of VideoGamer.com wrote, "Cuphead will best most games in how it looks and sounds, and defeating that boss that you once deemed unbeatable is glorious." He criticized the final bosses, saying that the challenge was "a step too far".[47]

Sales

[edit]

In the two first weeks of release, more than one million copies of Cuphead were sold worldwide.[70] Sales reached more than four million by July 2019,[70] and five million by its second anniversary of release.[71] By the time it was released for the PlayStation 4 in July 2020, it had reached 6 million sales.[72]

Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course accumulated a total of one million sales within less than two weeks of its launch.[73] In December, MDHR said that it sold over two million copies.[74][75][76]

Awards

[edit]

Entertainment Weekly placed Cuphead fifth on the list of its "Best Games of 2017",[77] GamesRadar+ ranked it ninth on its list of the 25 Best Games of 2017",[78] and Polygon ranked it 14th on its list of the "50 best games of 2017".[79] In Game Informer's Reader's Choice Best of 2017 Awards, the game won the "Best Microsoft Game" and "Best Co-op Multiplayer" categories, and got third place for "Best Action Game".[80][81] The website also gave it the awards for "Best Microsoft Exclusive" in its "Best of 2017 Awards", and for "Best Bosses" in its 2017 Action Game of the Year Awards.[82][83] EGMNow ranked the game at #2 on its list of the 25 best games of 2017.[84] The Verge named it one of its 15 best video games of 2017.[85]

Cuphead was nominated for "Breakout Game of the Year" in PC Gamer's 2017 Game of the Year Awards,[86] and won the award for "Best Xbox One Game" in Destructoid's Game of the Year Awards 2017.[87] It won "Best Xbox One Game" and "Best Art Direction" in IGN's Best of 2017 Awards,[88][89] whereas its other nominations were for "Game of the Year", "Best PC Game", "Best Platformer", "Best Original Music", and "Best Multiplayer".[90][91][92][93][94] It won "Best Looking Game" and "Best Style", and was runner-up for "Best Shopkeeper" for the character Porkrind, "Best Music", "Best Debut", and "Game of the Year" at Giant Bomb's Game of the Year 2017 Awards.[95][96][97][98] The game won all six awards for "Animation, Artistic", "Art Direction, Period Influence", "Character Design", "Control Precision", "Game, Original Family" and "Original Light Mix Score, New IP" at the 17th Annual NAVGTR Awards,[99] while The Delicious Last Course was nominated for the "Outstanding Animation, Artistic", "Outstanding Art Direction, Period Influence", "Outstanding Character Design", "Outstanding Game, Franchise Family", and "Outstanding Original Light Mix Score, Franchise" awards at the 22nd Annual NAVGTR Awards, winning only three of them ("Outstanding Animation, Artistic", "Outstanding Game, Franchise Family", and "Outstanding Original Light Mix Score, Franchise").[100]

In the week of September 14, 2019, the album Selected Tunes from Cuphead topped the Jazz Albums Billboard charts.[101][102] It became the first video game to do so.[103][104] It was also ranked #1 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz and #6 on the Billboard Vinyl Charts that week.[105][106][107] The game was awarded a Guinness World Record for being the first game to reach first place on a Billboard chart.[108]

List of awards and nominations for Cuphead
Year Award Category Result Ref.
2017 Golden Joystick Awards Best Visual Design Won [109]
Best Xbox Game of the Year Won
The Game Awards 2017 Best Art Direction Won [110][111]
Best Independent Game Won
Best Debut Indie Game Won
Best Score/Music Nominated
Best Action Game Nominated
2018 45th Annie Awards Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game (Hanna Abi-Hanna) Won [112]
Outstanding Achievement for Character Animation in a Video Game (Tina Nawrocki) Nominated
21st Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Game of the Year Nominated [113][114]
Action Game of the Year Nominated
Outstanding Achievement in Animation Won
Outstanding Achievement in Art Direction Won
Outstanding Achievement in Original Music Composition Won
SXSW Gaming Awards Excellence in Musical Score Nominated [115][116]
Excellence in Visual Achievement Nominated
Excellence in Animation Won
Excellence in Art Won
Most Promising New Intellectual Property Nominated
Excellence in Design Nominated
Independent Games Festival Awards Excellence in Visual Art Nominated [117][118]
Excellence in Audio Nominated
Game Developers Choice Awards Best Audio Nominated [119][120]
Best Debut (Studio MDHR) Won
Best Visual Art Won
Cartoons on the Bay Pulcinella Awards 2018 Interactive Media Won [121]
14th British Academy Games Awards Artistic Achievement Nominated [122][123]
Debut Game Nominated
Music Won
Original Property Nominated
2018 Webby Awards Action Nominated [124]
Best Art Direction Won
Best Visual Design (People's Voice) Won
Develop Awards Sound Design (Sweet Justice Sound) Nominated [125]
The Independent Game Developers' Association Awards Best Arcade Game Nominated [126][127]
Visual Design Nominated
2022 Golden Joystick Awards Best Game Expansion (The Delicious Last Course) Won [128]
2023 26th Annual D.I.C.E. Awards Outstanding Achievement in Animation (The Delicious Last Course) Nominated [129]
50th Annie Awards Best Character Animation - Video Game (The Delicious Last Course) Won [130]
19th British Academy Games Awards Music (The Delicious Last Course) Nominated [131][132]

Legacy

[edit]

Merchandise

[edit]

Since Cuphead’s release, the game has expanded its brand with the launch of a variety of merchandise, including accessories and collectibles.[133][134][135] In 2019, McFarlane Toys released a Cuphead line of construction sets.[136][137][138] Later in 2020, Arby's added limited-edition toys and papercrafts based on some characters from the game to its kids' menu at select locations.[139][140][141]

Cultural impact

[edit]

Cuphead has been referenced and featured in other video games. In 2018, the co-creator of Bendy and the Ink Machine expressed interest in a crossover with Cuphead in an interview.[142] In the 2018 fighting game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, a Cuphead Mii Fighter costume was added via downloadable content in January 2020, accompanied by the boss level theme "Floral Fury".[143] Four Cuphead-themed "spirits" were added to the game in February 2020.[144][145] The game Fall Guys released Cuphead and Mugman costumes in 2021. [146][147][148] In 2022, a Ms. Chalice costume was released in the game as well.[149][150]

Cuphead has appeared in exhibitions and promotional media. In 2021, a 3D-printed zoetrope based on the game was displayed at The Story of the Moving Image exhibition at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image in Melbourne.[151] The exhibit, created by Studio MDHR, used strobing light to animate individual character models, depicting scenes such as Cuphead jumping into a bucket of paint, King Dice dancing, and Mugman and Ms. Chalice avoiding attacks from the Devil.[152][153] In 2022, Cuphead made an appearance in a GEICO advertisement.[154][155] The Japanese physical release of Cuphead in April 2023 featured cover art by Yoshitaka Amano, who produced an original illustration of the game's characters in his signature style.[156][157] The release attracted attention online and was well received by fans.[158][159]

Cuphead has influenced other creative works and has been credited with reviving rubber hose animation—a loose-limbed, physics-defying style popularized by Fleischer Studios during the Great Depression—in video games. GamingBible’s Sam Cawley wrote that Cuphead was one of the games that helped bring this distinctive style back into the “mainstream.”[160] The Michigan Daily’s Isabella Casagrande similarly noted that rubber hose animation experienced a resurgence in the late 2010s following the success of games such as Cuphead.[161] Boing Boing’s Grant St. Clair described the game as having inspired a “wave of rubber hose–style games.”[162] Enchanted Portals (2023), developed by Xixo Games Studio, is a run-and-gun title inspired by Cuphead.[163][164][165] Mystic Clockwork Studio’s upcoming title Exil was also influenced by Cuphead during its development.[166][167] Several games have drawn comparisons to Cuphead, including Acecraft (2025),[168] Bad Cheese (2025),[169] and Mouse: P.I. for Hire (2026).[170]

Potential Cuphead successor

[edit]

On May 5, 2025, Studio MDHR announced on Twitter that they are hiring senior Unity programmers with experience working on games. This prompted talks about a potential sequel or a spiritual successor to Cuphead.[171][172]

Other media

[edit]

Tabletop game

[edit]

A tabletop game, Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game, was released in 2021, featuring a companion app for iOS and Android that plays music and calculates the score.[173][174]

Books

[edit]

Since 2019, Dark Horse Comics has been developing Cuphead graphic novels.[175] The first one, Cuphead Volume 1: Comic Capers & Curios, was released in August 2020.[176] Cuphead Vol. 2: Cartoon Chronicles & Calamities was released in March 2021.[177] In August 2024, the third graphic novel Cuphead Volume 3: Colorful Crack-Ups & Chaos was released.[178] A novel was also released in March 2020 by Studio MDHR.[179]

The Cuphead Show!

[edit]
Main article: The Cuphead Show!

The Cuphead Show!, an animated series based on the game and produced by Netflix Animation, was announced in July 2019. The show does not use pen-and-paper animation methods like the game and instead uses digital animation. Chad and Jared Moldenhauer serve as executive producers alongside CJ Kettler from King Features Syndicate.[70][180] The series premiered on February 18, 2022.[181] On August 19, 2022, the 13-episode second season was released worldwide.[182] The 11-episode third season was released on November 18, 2022.[183]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Cuphead

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Cuphead is a run-and-gun action developed and published by independent studio Studio MDHR. Released on September 29, 2017, for Microsoft Windows and , it draws inspiration from cartoons with its hand-drawn cel , watercolor backgrounds, and original soundtrack. In the game, players control the anthropomorphic cup protagonist Cuphead—either solo or in local co-op as his brother Mugman—through side-scrolling levels filled with run-and-gun platforming and intense boss battles, all to repay a debt to after losing a bet at his casino. The game was created by brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, who founded Studio MDHR in 2010 in , with a small team focused on recreating the style of classic cartoons. Development took over three years and emphasized traditional techniques, with all artwork penciled, inked, and scanned by hand before digital integration using the Unity engine. Following its initial release as a timed console exclusive for , Cuphead was ported to macOS in 2018, in 2019, and in 2020, and received a co-op expansion titled The Delicious Last Course on June 30, 2022, introducing new characters and areas. Cuphead garnered universal critical acclaim for its stunning visuals, meticulous animation, engaging soundtrack, and notoriously high difficulty, which rewards and precise controls. It won multiple awards, including Best Debut and Best Art Direction at , as well as Outstanding Achievement for in a at the 45th . Commercially, the title achieved strong success for an indie production, selling over five million copies by September 2019 and reaching six million units within two years of launch.

Gameplay

Combat and Progression

Combat in Cuphead revolves around run-and-gun mechanics, where players control the titular character or his brother Mugman, both of whom share identical abilities including jumping, dashing to avoid damage, and firing projectiles at enemies. The primary attack is the finger , which can equip different shot types purchased at Porkrind's Emporium using coins collected from run-and-gun levels; these include the default Peashooter for straight-line rapid fire, the Spread for a wide fan of close-range bullets, the homing Chaser that automatically targets nearby foes, the arcing Lobber for hitting enemies behind cover, and the Charge for a powerful held-shot beam. A key defensive and offensive mechanic is the system, activated by pressing the jump button mid-air when touching pink-colored objects or projectiles, which destroys them, prevents damage, and rapidly fills the super meter for powerful special attacks known as Super Arts—such as energy beams or area blasts—while also contributing to higher performance grades like A+ by requiring at least three successful parries per fight. The charm system provides passive upgrades bought with vials of ink collected from defeated bosses, offering benefits like extra health from the Heart charm, reduced damage from the Smoke Bomb, or automatic parries via P. Sugar to ease difficulty without altering core challenge. Boss battles form the core of progression, structured in multiple phases with escalating attack patterns that demand pattern recognition, precise dodging, and strategic weapon swaps; transitions between phases often feature dramatic animations and new behaviors, such as a boss summoning minions or altering the arena, culminating in a final vulnerable state upon depleting health. Completing run-and-gun levels unlocks new areas on the Inkwell Isle map, while boss victories collect souls to repay the Devil and grant ink for charms, enabling players to customize loadouts for subsequent challenges. In local co-op mode, a second player controls Mugman with the same mechanics, each with their own independent health pool of three hit points (modifiable by charms like Twin Heart, which shares damage between partners); boss health is scaled up in co-op for balance. The Delicious Last Course DLC introduces Ms. Chalice as a third playable character exclusive to its content, featuring unique abilities including a double jump for better aerial mobility, a rolling dash that parries on contact, and starting with four hit points instead of three.

Level Types and Modes

Cuphead features two primary level types: run-and-gun stages and boss battles, with the latter serving as the core emphasis of the experience. Run-and-gun levels consist of side-scrolling platforming segments filled with enemy encounters, environmental hazards, and mid-level checkpoints that allow players to respawn without restarting the entire stage. These levels encourage exploration through hidden objectives, such as collecting five coins per stage, which can be used to purchase upgrades at the in-game shop. There are six such levels in the base game, distributed across the first three Inkwell Isles. Boss battles form the majority of the content, accounting for approximately 75% of the playable material, and include over unique encounters characterized by multi-phase fights that evolve in complexity and visual spectacle. Each boss fight pits the player against a distinct, hand-animated adversary inspired by cartoons, requiring and precise timing to progress through escalating attack sequences. Certain run-and-gun and boss levels incorporate aircraft sections, where players control a plane in vertical scrolling aerial combat, dodging projectiles and enemy while maintaining momentum. The Delicious Last Course adds 12 new boss fights to the total. The game's world is structured around a overhead map divided into Inkwell Isle hubs—one, two, and three in the base game, with a fourth added in the DLC—where players select levels from a branching path. Progression is gated by completing specific boss encounters, which unlock new areas, run-and-gun stages, and collectibles like mausoleums for practice. This hub-based design allows non-linear exploration within each isle while enforcing a overall sequence across the islands. Multiplayer is supported through a local co-operative mode for two players, enabling simultaneous control of Cuphead and Mugman across all levels and boss battles. In co-op, the second player joins by pressing a during , with both characters having independent health pools that scale boss health for balance; successful by either player can revive a downed partner, integrating the parry mechanic into cooperative survival. Combat tools like weapons and charms selected in single-player carry over, allowing independent loadouts for each character. Difficulty options enhance replayability, with Simple mode available from the start to reduce challenge by simplifying boss phases and attack patterns, though it omits some content like the final game's latter sections. Expert mode, which increases enemy speed, , and pattern density, is unlocked only after completing the main campaign by defeating the final boss. These modes apply globally to all levels once accessed, encouraging multiple playthroughs to master the content.

Story

Main Plot

Cuphead and his brother Mugman are anthropomorphic brothers with cup and mug heads, respectively, who live a carefree life in the vibrant, cartoonish world of Isles alongside their elderly mentor, Elder Kettle. Despite Elder Kettle's stern warnings against temptation, the impulsive Cuphead convinces the more cautious Mugman to sneak away to the Devil's Casino for a night of . There, the brothers enjoy an initial winning streak playing , but their luck turns when they foolishly wager their souls against himself and lose spectacularly. Amused by their plight, the Devil—a fiery, horned who rules the and collects souls from debtors—spares their immediate demise but strikes a ruthless bargain: Cuphead and Mugman must traverse Isles to reclaim soul contracts from the Devil's various debtors, or forfeit their own souls forever. These debtors include a of eccentric bosses, such as the suave, dice-headed casino manager King Dice, who serves as the Devil's right-hand enforcer, and Hilda Berg, a blimp-flying fortune teller who transforms into celestial forms during confrontations. Armed with Elder Kettle's parting gift of a magical that enhances their abilities, the brothers embark on this redemption quest, battling through run-and-gun levels and boss fights that evoke standalone cartoon episodes. The narrative weaves moral themes of , , and into its structure, with each debtor's hinting at their own fateful pacts with the Devil, mirroring the protagonists' folly. The game's signature 1930s style—featuring bouncy, black-and-white character designs, hand-drawn cel animation, and jaunty soundtrack—immerses players in a bygone era of whimsical yet perilous tales, where simple vices lead to high-stakes consequences. The soul contracts not only drive the plot but integrate with as collectibles that track progress across the isles. The journey builds to a climactic showdown at the Devil's lair, where player choices—particularly regarding the completeness of the contract collection—influence one of two possible endings, underscoring themes of perseverance and moral resolve.

The Delicious Last Course

The Delicious Last Course serves as a to the main Cuphead storyline, where Cuphead, Mugman, and the ghostly Ms. Chalice embark on a quest to Inkwell Isle IV to gather ingredients for a magical Wondertart. This confection, crafted by the reclusive Chef Saltbaker, is intended to cure Ms. Chalice's astral curse and restore her to full corporeality, allowing her to escape the ethereal plane where she has been trapped. The narrative unfolds through interactions with new denizens of the isle, emphasizing themes of friendship and redemption as the trio navigates perilous encounters to collect the required components, ultimately confronting the consequences of their deal with the chef. A key addition is Ms. Chalice as a fully playable character, who possesses unique abilities that differentiate her from Cuphead and Mugman, including a double jump for enhanced vertical mobility, a parry dash for horizontal evasion of pink projectiles, an invincible dodge roll to avoid attacks, and an extra hit point for greater durability. These mechanics, enabled via the new Astral Cookie charm—which temporarily swaps one of the brothers for Ms. Chalice—allow players to revisit base game levels with her toolkit or tackle DLC content exclusively as her. Ms. Chalice also accesses six exclusive weapons, such as the homing Crackshot and the energy-restoring Twist-Up, alongside charms like the Heart Ring that rewards successful parries with health recovery, tailoring strategies to her agile playstyle. The expansion introduces Inkwell Isle IV, featuring six multi-phase boss fights against formidable new adversaries, including the aeronautical stunt performers known as the Howling Aces and the outlaw collective the Moonshine Mob. These encounters showcase elaborate 1930s-inspired animations and mechanics, such as dynamic phase transitions and environmental hazards. Complementing the bosses are three run-and-gun levels for platforming and shooting challenges, plus The King's Leap—a set of five parry-exclusive chess-themed platforming trials. Players can unlock a hidden boss via a graveyard puzzle involving the Broken Relic charm, leading to a secret ending that ties into Ms. Chalice's lore upon completion. Released on June 30, 2022, the DLC expands the Cuphead universe without altering the base game's canon. Access to The Delicious Last Course integrates seamlessly with the base game, becoming available after completing the first level on Isle I, where a ferryman NPC appears to transport players to the new isle. While progress in the DLC is tracked separately to avoid interfering with existing saves, Ms. Chalice and her associated items can be used in the original campaign once unlocked, encouraging replayability across both.

Development

Concept and Influences

Studio MDHR was founded in 2010 by Canadian brothers Chad and Jared Moldenhauer, who began developing Cuphead as a passion project inspired by their childhood love of 1930s-era cartoons. The brothers, who had previously worked on small animation and prototypes, sought to create a that captured the whimsical and exaggerated style of early animated shorts, drawing directly from the works of studios like , known for characters such as . The game's concept was heavily influenced by , a technique characterized by flexible, hose-like limbs and bouncy movements prevalent in cartoons, as well as the surreal humor and bizarre scenarios typical of that era's . To achieve authenticity, the Moldenhauers decided to emulate hand-drawn cel animation entirely, rejecting modern digital graphics and effects in favor of traditional frame-by-frame drawing scanned and colored digitally, ensuring the visuals and movements felt true to the source material. The audio design further reinforced this, incorporating original jazz compositions reminiscent of 1930s big band music to complement the era's playful yet chaotic tone. Early concepts centered on a boss rush format, where players would face a series of elaborate boss battles designed primarily to showcase the hand-animated sequences, with around eight or nine major encounters planned to highlight the animation without extensive platforming levels. This structure allowed the focus to remain on dynamic, cartoon-inspired fights that emphasized and quick reflexes. The game's difficulty was intentionally unforgiving, mirroring the trial-and-error challenge of classic arcade titles from the and earlier, where limited continues and precise execution were standard, to evoke the era's demanding playstyle. Cuphead was first announced via a in October 2013, introducing its unique aesthetic to a niche audience. It gained wider attention with a playable demo at , where the hand-drawn and intense boss fights impressed attendees and secured publishing support from . This early showcase solidified the project's commitment to its retro influences while setting expectations for a challenging experience rooted in historical gaming and animation traditions.

Production Process

Development of Cuphead began in 2010 as a by brothers and Jared Moldenhauer at the newly founded indie studio Studio MDHR, but full production ramped up around 2013 and lasted until the 2017 , spanning approximately seven years overall with about four years of intensive full production. The started small, with just the two founders and a handful of early contributors, but expanded to more than 20 members, including remote animators and artists across , to manage the project's ambitious scope. This growth was necessary to produce over 60,000 hand-drawn frames, each taking an average of 25 minutes to create in a style mimicking 1930s rubber hose cartoons. Technically, Studio MDHR switched from Microsoft's XNA framework to Unity early in production to better support multi-platform development and handle the 2D assets. They developed a custom pipeline to import the hand-drawn animations: frames were penciled on , inked, colored digitally in Photoshop, and then integrated into Unity using built-in tools like the Sprite Renderer, Sprite Packer, and 2D Physics for smooth 24 FPS animation within a 60 FPS game. Backgrounds were crafted using traditional watercolor paints on , scanned for digital layering, and in Photoshop to achieve a vibrant, era-appropriate depth without modern CGI artifacts. The soundtrack, composed by Kristofer Maddigan—a childhood friend of the Moldenhauers—featured original jazz, big band, and ragtime pieces recorded live with a full ensemble at Canterbury Music Company in Toronto, ensuring an authentic 1930s sound that synced dynamically with gameplay levels and bosses. Key challenges included sourcing talent for the labor-intensive , leading to to remote freelancers skilled in classical 2D techniques to preserve stylistic consistency amid a shortage of such experts. Balancing the game's high difficulty proved another hurdle, addressed through rigorous playtesting by a core group of four designers who iteratively adjusted hitboxes, efficacy, input responsiveness, and boss patterns to create fair yet punishing encounters. Initially self-funded through the founders' personal savings, job quits, and maxed-out loans, production gained crucial support in 2015 when invested after the game's demo, enabling expansion and securing console exclusivity at launch. Voice acting was minimal, consisting of grunts and short lines provided by performers such as Luke de Ayora as Cuphead and others for bosses.

Release

Platforms and Dates

Cuphead was initially released on September 29, 2017, for Windows via and , and , as a timed console exclusive to Microsoft's platforms. Subsequent ports expanded availability to additional systems. A macOS version launched on October 19, 2018, through and GOG. The port arrived on April 18, 2019, supporting both handheld and docked play with local co-op. The edition followed on July 28, 2020, completing the major console releases. The game's sole expansion, The Delicious Last Course, was released on June 30, 2022, for all supported platforms, available as a standalone DLC or bundled with the base game in editions such as Cuphead – The Delicious Last Course. No additional expansions have been developed since. Post-launch updates have been limited to content enhancements and maintenance. To mark the seventh anniversary, Studio MDHR shared new behind-the-scenes music tracks and on October 2, 2024. A minor update was released on October 3, 2025.
PlatformRelease DateNotes
Windows (PC)September 29, 2017Via and Windows Store
September 29, 2017Timed console exclusive
macOSOctober 19, 2018Via and GOG
April 18, 2019Supports local co-op
July 28, 2020Backward compatible on PS5

Marketing and Expansions

Cuphead's marketing efforts prominently featured its unique hand-drawn 1930s cartoon aesthetic, beginning with its reveal trailer at , which showcased the game's style and boss battles inspired by classic cartoons. Subsequent trailers at and further emphasized this visual fidelity, building anticipation through gameplay footage of challenging run-and-gun sequences. The game launched as a timed console exclusive for alongside its Windows release, a partnership that highlighted Microsoft's support for indie titles under the ID@Xbox program. A key promotional was the The Cuphead Show!, produced exclusively for and debuting in 2022, which expanded the game's universe with episodic adventures featuring the core characters. Physical editions of the game, bundling the base content with the expansion on a single disc, were published by in late 2022, including collector's variants with exclusive artwork and memorabilia. Merchandise collaborations, such as apparel lines and collectibles, were previewed through official announcements to extend the brand's reach. The Delicious Last Course, the game's sole expansion, was announced at as an add-on introducing a new island, playable character Ms. Chalice, and additional bosses, weapons, and charms. Developed by Studio MDHR following the base game's release, it underwent multiple delays before launching in June 2022 across all supported platforms. No further downloadable content has been announced or released since. Microsoft provided undisclosed funding to support the project's development from its early stages, enabling the small team at Studio MDHR to realize their ambitious vision without compromising creative control. Ports to additional platforms were managed through external development partnerships coordinated by Microsoft and Studio MDHR. To mark milestones, Studio MDHR shared promotions on their official blog, including behind-the-scenes tracks for the 7th in October 2024.

Reception

Critical Reviews

Cuphead received widespread critical acclaim upon its release, with reviewers frequently highlighting its artistic and technical achievements alongside its demanding gameplay. On , the game holds an aggregate score of 86/100 for the version based on 72 critic reviews, and 88/100 for the PC version. Critics praised the game's visual style, which meticulously emulates the of cartoons through hand-drawn cel animation and watercolor backgrounds, creating an immersive period-authentic aesthetic. The boss battles were lauded for their inventive designs, featuring multi-phase encounters with surreal, character-driven animations that blend whimsy and menace, often drawing comparisons to classic run-and-gun titles while innovating on pattern-based combat. Additionally, the original soundtrack, composed by Kristofer Maddigan with live big-band and performances, was commended for enhancing the era's atmosphere and providing dynamic cues that sync with gameplay intensity. The game's difficulty curve was a focal point of praise, described as challenging yet fair, rewarding player mastery through precise controls and responsive mechanics that encourage and quick reflexes. Local co-op mode was highlighted as a highlight, allowing a second player to join as Mugman for shared triumphs that mitigate solo frustration without diluting the challenge. However, some critics noted drawbacks, including high frustration levels for casual players due to the steep and lack of checkpoints in longer boss fights, which could lead to repetitive failures. The core content was occasionally critiqued for limited variety beyond boss rushes and run-and-gun levels, potentially feeling repetitive despite its brevity. options, such as simplified controls and adjustable damage, were introduced in post-launch updates to address these concerns. IGN awarded the base game an 8.8/10, calling it a "tough but beautiful" experience that stands out for its mastery. The Delicious Last Course DLC expansion garnered even stronger reviews, achieving a score of 89/100 based on 38 critics, with praise centered on its expanded roster of elaborate new bosses and the introduction of Ms. Chalice as a playable character with unique abilities. rated the DLC 9/10, emphasizing its "incredible boss fights" that build on the original's formula while adding fresh mechanics like divine charms.

Commercial Success

Cuphead achieved significant commercial success shortly after its release, selling over one million copies within two weeks and earning certification from Studio MDHR. By mid-2018, sales surpassed three million units, qualifying for triple status across platforms. The game's momentum continued, reaching five million copies sold by September 2019 and exceeding six million by July 2020, with the version attaining multi- certification due to strong performance on that platform. The Delicious Last Course expansion further bolstered the franchise's sales, moving one million units in less than two weeks following its July 2022 launch and reaching two million copies by December 2022, earning double platinum certification. Combined, the base game and DLC contributed to over eight million units sold by late 2022, demonstrating sustained demand years after the original release. No official sales figures have been released since 2022. The game's accolades included wins at for Best Debut and Best Art Direction, recognizing its innovative design and visual style. At the 2018 BAFTA Games Awards, Cuphead received the award for Best Music, honoring composer Kristofer Maddigan's jazz-infused soundtrack. The Delicious Last Course earned additional recognition in the indie space, winning Best Game Expansion at the 2022 .

Legacy

Cultural Influence

Cuphead's distinctive hand-drawn style, emulating rubber hose aesthetics, has significantly influenced the development landscape by demonstrating the viability of retro-inspired visuals in modern titles. The game's success highlighted how small teams could achieve high production values through labor-intensive techniques, inspiring subsequent indie projects to incorporate similar vintage approaches for unique istic identities. This revival of 1930s rubber-hose animation and challenging run-and-gun boss battles has influenced other indie titles adopting similar aesthetics and mechanics, including Toonsouls, a platformer that heavily emulates Cuphead's Fleischer-inspired art style while incorporating demanding gameplay elements; MOUSE: P.I. For Hire, a first-person shooter featuring hand-drawn rubber-hose animation in a noir detective setting reminiscent of early cartoons; and Enchanted Portals, a 2D run-and-gun platformer that closely mirrors Cuphead's structure and visuals, though it has drawn criticism for being overly derivative despite notable animation quality. In broader pop culture, Cuphead's notorious difficulty has generated widespread memes and online discussions, often portraying player frustration in humorous, exaggerated scenarios that underscore its challenging run-and-gun mechanics. This aspect has positioned the game as a benchmark for "Souls-like" hardship in gaming discourse. Its faithful recreation of cartoon tropes has educated audiences on early history, sparking renewed appreciation for Fleischer Studios-era techniques. The game's cultural footprint extends to institutional recognition, including a dedicated exhibit at the Australian Centre for the Moving Image (ACMI) in , where 3D-printed figures animate under strobing lights to mimic its hand-drawn motion. Cuphead has also fostered vibrant communities, with creators producing thousands of illustrations and animations that reinterpret its characters and bosses in diverse styles. Recent 2024 analyses continue to emphasize its enduring challenge, praising how the game's precise controls and pattern-based combat remain a test of skill years after release. Furthermore, Cuphead's original and soundtrack, composed by Kristofer Maddigan, revived interest in period-appropriate music for games, achieving the unprecedented feat of topping the Jazz Albums chart as the first video game OST to do so. Its diverse boss designs, ranging from whimsical to mechanical contraptions, have promoted creative variety in platformers, encouraging developers to blend visual flair with multifaceted mechanics.

Merchandise and Tie-ins

The official soundtrack for Cuphead was released in 2017 by Studio MDHR, featuring and compositions by Kristofer Maddigan, and is available digitally on platforms including and . A deluxe 4xLP vinyl edition of the original soundtrack was produced by that same year, pressed on 180-gram colored vinyl with artwork inspired by cartoons. In 2025, reissued a deluxe 4xLP edition on black vinyl as part of their 20th anniversary collection. The soundtrack for the The Delicious Last Course expansion followed in 2022, also composed by Maddigan with contributions from over 110 musicians, and released digitally on June 30, 2022, via and on July 4, 2022, via . A 2xLP vinyl version of the DLC soundtrack was issued by on black 180-gram vinyl, including recipe cards with family recipes from Studio MDHR. Merchandise expanded to apparel and collectibles through partnerships with and . offers game-themed items such as character shirts, argyle socks, and premium enamel pins featuring Cuphead and Mugman, designed in a retro style to match the game's aesthetic. produced a series of Pop! vinyl figures starting in 2017, including stylized 3.75-inch depictions of Cuphead and other characters like the , with subsequent waves released through 2018 featuring exclusives such as Mr. Chimes available at retailers like . Physical editions of the game were released in December 2022 by for , , and , including the base game and The Delicious Last Course expansion, bundled with collectibles like six "Cuphead Funnies" cards, a membership card, and a porcelain music box. A premium Collector's Edition added an operable puppet and exclusive interior art. Microsoft offered digital bundles on , combining the original game with the DLC for enhanced accessibility. In 2024, Books published The Art of Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, a art book showcasing , character designs, and production insights from the expansion, available in standard ($39.99) and deluxe editions ($150) with foil covers and acetate cels. Collaborations included Comic-Con exclusives, such as limited figures debuted at events like . The enduring cultural popularity of Cuphead has sustained these merchandise lines, with ongoing releases tied to the game's hand-drawn animation style.

Other Media

Animated Series

The Cuphead Show! is an American animated web television series based on the Cuphead, developed by Studio MDHR. The series premiered on on February 18, 2022, and consists of 36 episodes across three seasons, presented in an anthology format featuring episodic misadventures of the titular character and his brother Mugman, infused with 1930s style and comedy. The show was created and executive produced by , with consultation from Studio MDHR's founders and Moldenhauer to ensure fidelity to the game's aesthetic and characters. Production involved Netflix Animation and , emphasizing hand-drawn animation to replicate the game's retro visuals. The voice cast includes Tru Valentino as the impulsive Cuphead, as the more cautious Mugman, and guest stars such as voicing King Dice. Season 1 debuted with 13 episodes on February 18, 2022, followed by Season 2 on August 19, 2022 (13 episodes), and Season 3 on November 18, 2022 (10 episodes), concluding the initial run. Netflix canceled the series after three seasons, with no fourth season produced as of late 2024. However, at San Diego Comic-Con 2025, a panel titled "The Cuphead Show!: Inkwell Isles Revisited" featured the cast and crew, teasing potential revival projects or specials. The series received praise for its faithful recreation of the game's animation style and vibrant visuals, earning a 75% approval rating on for Season 1 based on 16 reviews. Critics and audiences lauded the humor and character dynamics, though some expressed mixed reactions to deviations from the game's lore and more lighthearted tone compared to the original's difficulty and .

Books and Comics

The official literature surrounding Cuphead encompasses art books that delve into the game's development process, a series of graphic novels featuring original short stories set in the Inkwell Isles, and middle-grade novels that expand the universe through prose adventures. These publications, primarily from Books and Little, Books for Young Readers, maintain the game's 1930s aesthetic while offering standalone tales that complement the core gameplay lore without directly retelling it. Art books provide in-depth explorations of the creative work behind the game. The Art of Cuphead, published by Books on March 17, 2020, features , character designs, and insights into the hand-drawn techniques used by Studio MDHR, spanning over 256 pages of curated visuals from the original 2017 release. A follow-up, The Art of Cuphead: The Delicious Last Course, released on November 5, 2024, focuses on the 2020 DLC expansion, showcasing 272 pages of artwork for new characters like Ms. Chalice, boss designs, and production notes on the additional content. These volumes emphasize the meticulous craftsmanship that earned the game acclaim for its vintage style. The Art of the Cuphead Show!, published September 3, 2024, by , features 256 pages of artwork, character designs, and behind-the-scenes details from the . The graphic novel series, also published by Books, consists of anthology-style collections of short comics starring Cuphead, Mugman, and supporting characters in mischievous escapades. Cuphead Volume 1: Comic Capers & Curios, released August 11, 2020, includes 72 pages of all-new stories illustrated in the game's fluid, black-and-white animation-inspired art, written by and illustrated by Shawn McManus and Tina Kugler. This was followed by Cuphead Volume 2: Cartoon Chronicles & Calamities on September 21, 2021, continuing the format with additional chaotic tales. The most recent entry, Cuphead Volume 3: Colorful Crack-Ups & Chaos, arrived on August 20, 2024, introducing color elements while preserving the series' 72-page structure of self-contained adventures that echo the game's whimsical tone. In addition to visual media, the franchise includes prose novels aimed at younger readers, co-created by Studio MDHR and author Ron Bates. Cuphead in Carnival Chaos: A Cuphead Novel, published March 3, 2020, by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, follows the protagonists on a carnival adventure gone wrong, featuring twenty original illustrations and interactive elements like a treasure hunt, across 272 pages. The sequel, Cuphead in A Mountain of Trouble: A Cuphead Novel, released December 8, 2020, shifts to a mining expedition mishap, maintaining the series' blend of humor, action, and Inkwell Isles lore in another illustrated 304-page installment. No full-length novels for adult audiences have been produced, and while digital strategy guides exist for gameplay walkthroughs, no official physical guidebooks have been released.

Tabletop Adaptations

The Cuphead: Fast Rolling Dice Game is a cooperative tabletop adaptation of the video game, released in November 2021 by USAopoly in partnership with Studio MDHR. Designed by Patrick Marino for 1-4 players aged 8 and up, it translates the game's intense boss battles into a fast-paced dice-rolling mechanic where participants race against a timer to defeat eight iconic bosses from Inkwell Isle. Players select from characters including Cuphead, Mugman, Ms. Chalice, and Elder Kettle, each with unique boards tracking health and abilities, and collaborate to roll custom dice within 10-20 second rounds to match symbols on enemy cards representing attacks, parries, jumps, and dodges. This setup mimics the original run-and-gun gameplay by requiring quick decisions to deal damage, parry pink projectiles for bonuses, and avoid hazards, with boss decks unlocked progressively in a campaign mode that includes weapon upgrades and a performance grading system. The inclusion of Ms. Chalice ties directly to the video game's The Delicious Last Course DLC, allowing players to use her abilities in the tabletop format ahead of the digital release. The game has received positive reception for successfully capturing the video game's challenging and frantic difficulty in an analog form, emphasizing and rapid reflexes without relying on digital elements beyond an optional companion timer app. Reviewers praised its thematic fidelity, high-quality 1930s-inspired artwork, and replayability through variable boss patterns, though some noted the short playtime (30-45 minutes) and potential frustration for solo players. On , it holds an average rating of 3.6 out of 5 from over 760 users, reflecting broad appeal among fans. Due to limited print runs, the game is now out of production and primarily available through secondary markets.

Future Developments

Sequel Teasers

Since the release of Cuphead and its The Delicious Last Course DLC, Studio MDHR has teased their next major project without confirming it as a direct under the title Cuphead 2. In a June 2022 interview, studio director Maja Moldenhauer described the possibilities as "the sky's the limit," noting that the team planned to retain the hand-drawn 2D style central to Cuphead but could vary the , era, or gameplay mechanics. Further hints emerged through job listings in 2024 and 2025, emphasizing an action-platformer in development. In October 2024, the studio advertised for a Senior Unity Programmer with experience in 2D games "filled with character action, enemies, and boss combat," signaling a project aligned with Cuphead's challenging run-and-gun formula. Earlier that year, in May 2024, Studio MDHR onboarded a new for a "brand new project," following a December 2023 hiring call for an experienced to shape its visual identity, inspired by 1980s/1990s arcade action games. These teasers intensified in May 2025 with openings for a Senior Unity Programmer and a Game Designer, both requiring expertise in 2D pipelines for hand-crafted experiences involving "character action, enemies, and boss combat," as well as unique problem-solving in action-platformers. This continued in October 2025 with further announcements for a Senior Programmer and a Game Designer, reinforcing the focus on 2D action-platformer development. While the listings evoke Cuphead's style, Studio MDHR has not disclosed whether the game will expand the existing universe or introduce a standalone title, maintaining focus on confirmed recruitment details amid the original game's enduring commercial success.

Ongoing Updates

Since its launch, Cuphead has received several post-launch patches focused on improving stability, adding content, and enhancing player experience across platforms. In April 2019, Studio MDHR released patch 1.2, which introduced the ability to select Mugman as the playable character from the start in single-player mode, fully animated cutscenes, new animations and artwork, visible weapon upgrade indicators, and additional phases for bosses such as the Root Pack, Djimmi the Great, and Sally Stageplay. A follow-up patch, 1.2.3, addressed specific crashes on macOS and minor animation tweaks. These updates supported the game's expansion to new ports, including Nintendo Switch, without altering core gameplay difficulty. Subsequent patches have primarily targeted bug fixes and compatibility. For instance, patches through 2022 fixed controller disconnections, infinite loading issues, and DLC-specific glitches following the release of The Delicious Last Course. In 2025, a minor update (build 20241530) was deployed to maintain compatibility with updated systems and depots, though no major features were added. No official features like color-blind modes have been implemented in the base game, though community-created mods have filled this gap for some players. Anniversary celebrations have provided ongoing content without new gameplay expansions. For the 6th in September 2023, an Xbox and Windows-exclusive update added over 100 archival photos, behind-the-scenes videos, unreleased music tracks, and concept art accessible via an in-game gallery, celebrating the game's partnership with . The 7th in October 2024 featured a free release of new behind-the-scenes music and footage on Studio MDHR's platforms, highlighting unused tracks and development insights to engage fans. For the 8th on September 29, 2025, Studio MDHR released special artwork and hosted giveaways throughout the week, including a contest offering free copies of the game, DLC, or the official artbook. No additional DLC has been announced or released beyond The Delicious Last Course in , with Studio MDHR emphasizing maintenance over expansion for the original title. Community mods, such as assist modes that increase health and damage for easier play, exist but receive no support or integration from the developers. Updates related to the animated series remain separate from the game, with no direct integrations like cross-promotional content or shared assets. Support for existing ports continues, ensuring smooth performance on PC, consoles, and macOS amid hardware advancements. The 2023 anniversary optimizations improved gallery loading and media playback on portable devices like handhelds, while the 2025 Steam patch included minor enhancements for newer hardware compatibility, such as updated controller mappings. These efforts underscore Studio MDHR's commitment to the game's longevity without shifting focus to new projects.

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  20. http://studiomdhr.com/what-kind-of-game-is-cuphead/
  21. https://gaming.stackexchange.com/questions/347904/how-exactly-does-the-two-player-mode-work-in-cuphead
  22. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/cuphead-simple-mode
  23. https://www.trueachievements.com/a241593/beat-the-devil-at-his-own-game-achievement
  24. https://www.gameindustry.com/reviews/game-review/cuphead-explained-reviewed/
  25. https://www.voxmagazine.com/arts/games/cuphead-review-a-video-game-of-pleasure-and-pain/article_ce965df6-a832-11e7-bffe-f719b7f4f32c.html
  26. https://www.giantbomb.com/studio-mdhr/3010-10018/characters/
  27. https://holdtoreset.com/cuphead-game-ending/
  28. https://www.polygon.com/reviews/23188169/cuphead-the-delicious-last-course-dlc-review
  29. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/cuphead-the-delicious-last-course-review-more-than-a-cherry-on-top/1900-6417904/
  30. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/cuphead-the-delicious-last-course-every-dlc-weapon-and-charm-explained/1100-6505083/
  31. http://studiomdhr.com/the-delicious-last-course-is-served-out-now-on-all-platforms/
  32. https://www.ign.com/articles/cuphead-the-delicious-last-course-review
  33. https://www.ign.com/wikis/cuphead/How_to_Start_The_Delicious_Last_Course_DLC
  34. http://loreleipepi.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/2017_Rolling-Stone-Mag_Cuphead.pdf
  35. https://www.theverge.com/2017/9/28/16378364/cuphead-art-design-1930s-animation
  36. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/herocomplex/la-et-hc-cuphead-soundtrack-20171026-story.html
  37. https://www.gamesradar.com/the-making-of-cuphead/
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  39. https://tcrf.net/Prerelease:Cuphead
  40. https://www.ign.com/videos/cuphead-trailer-e3-2014
  41. https://variety.com/2019/gaming/features/cuphead-creator-games-difficulty-is-more-about-being-intense-1203177572/
  42. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/art/how-i-cuphead-i-nailed-the-look-and-feel-of-classic-1930s-cartoons
  43. https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/508061-most-hand-drawn-frames-of-animation-in-a-videogame
  44. https://www.thewholenote.com/index.php/newsroom/feature-stories/28561-kris-maddigan-cuphead-s-musical-mastermind
  45. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4779924/fullcredits/
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  47. https://gamingbolt.com/cuphead-is-now-available-on-mac
  48. https://www.polygon.com/2020/7/28/21345003/cuphead-ps4-release-date-out-now-price-update
  49. http://studiomdhr.com/
  50. https://studiomdhr.com/celebrate-cupheads-7th-birthday-with-brand-new-behind-the-scenes-music/
  51. https://steamdb.info/app/268910/patchnotes/
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  53. https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2018/06/10/xbox-e3-2018-briefing-recap/
  54. https://www.dualshockers.com/xbox-one-exclusive-cuphead-is-full-of-1930s-charm-and-platforming-fun-debut-trailer-released/
  55. https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/07/09/cuphead-netflix-tv-show-details
  56. https://cuphead.iam8bit.com/
  57. https://www.anbmedia.com/news/2022/08/cuphead-new-partners-agents-merch-and-exclusive-social-content/
  58. http://studiomdhr.com/the-delicious-last-course-cuphead-dlc-announcement/
  59. https://www.ign.com/articles/2019/07/02/cuphead-the-delicious-last-course-dlc-delayed-until-2020-new-trailer-released
  60. https://xboxera.com/2022/06/10/preview-cuphead-the-delicious-last-course/
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  66. https://gamecritics.com/mike-suskie/cuphead-review/
  67. https://www.metacritic.com/game/cuphead-in-the-delicious-last-course/
  68. http://studiomdhr.com/cuphead-goes-platinum/
  69. http://studiomdhr.com/cuphead-goes-triple-platinum/
  70. https://www.pocketgamer.biz/from-xbox-and-nintendo-to-tesla-and-netflix-studio-mdhr-coo-maja-moldenhauer-on-ever-lasting-success-of-cuphead/
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  76. https://gamerebellion.com/blog/articles/cupheads-remarkable-journey-a-success-story
  77. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/toonsouls-is-the-dark-souls-of-cuphead-in-case-youve-got-one-of-two-solid-gold-games-journalism-jokes-raring-to-go
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  81. https://www.pcgamer.com/dark-souls-as-a-cuphead-inspired-2d-platformer-looks-great/
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  87. https://www.iam8bit.com/products/cuphead-4xlp-vinyl-soundtrack
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  120. https://www.ebay.com/itm/316877461841
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  122. https://www.facebook.com/studiomdhr/posts/this-just-inwere-hiring-a-senior-unity-programmer-with-experience-working-on-2d-/1001209365141019/
  123. https://www.instagram.com/reel/C6p-1ZHLDKc/
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  136. https://www.facebook.com/studiomdhr/posts/were-elated-to-state-that-today-is-the-date-when-cupheadturns8so-lets-celebrate-/1263955742199712/
  137. https://www.gamepressure.com/newsroom/free-cuphead-and-delicious-last-course-dlc-or-artbook-are-up-for/z386bc
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