(Credit: Bithell Games)
Disney's Tron returns to the big screen in 2025, 15 years after the cult-classic reboot, Tron: Legacy, and more than 40 years after the original film. Naturally, a franchise about people pulled into a computer should also extend to video games, and while there have been many great Tron games over the years, the upcoming Tron: Catalyst might just be the best yet. I recently played some of the isometric action-adventure title ahead of its June 17 release, and its blend of immersive interactivity and intriguing storytelling left me ready for me.
A New Tron Tale
Tron: Catalyst comes from acclaimed indie developer Mike Bithell, creator of Thomas Was Alone and Volume. This is actually Bithell's second Tron game, following 2023's Tron: Identity. However, that game was a visual novel, a beloved but niche genre that's almost entirely about story. Although Tron: Catalyst's gameplay is much more robust, it maintains that attention to narrative.
(Credit: Bithell Games)You play as a program, Exo, stuck in Vertical Slice, a seedy city where everyone has their own agenda. There’s a surprising amount of Cyberpunk 2077 energy as you gather intel at nightclubs, distract guards to sneak through passages, and participate in underground gladiator fights. Multiple dialogue options suggest multiple ways to handle story scenarios. The demo featured high-quality voice acting as well as music that, while not up to Daft Punk standards, created an excellent and evocative mood for your shady cyber-shenanigans. Despite the unreal sci-fi setting, I felt as if I inhabited a cool and somewhat dangerous real place.
Gameplay: Disc Battles and Light Racing
Tron: Catalyst is largely a top-down, action-adventure game. I spent much of the demo battling guards with my trusty Identity Disc. You can strike foes in melee combat or toss your disc from afar. Defensive options include parries and dodges. The combat isn't revolutionary, but it's satisfying. As you collect skill points and unlock upgrades, such as one that causes your disc to bounce between multiple enemies, Catalyst resembles an action scene from a Tron movie.
(Credit: Bithell Games)Combat helps punctuate surprisingly elaborate missions, such as tracking down a specific program or transmitting valuable data. The quests take you across several locations, from the rain-slicked city streets up to rooftop pool parties, showing off the beautiful artifice of Tron’s iconic, dark-neon world. I played the demo at a steady 60 frames per second on Steam Deck.
Exo has the ability to glitch the system and rewind time. Initially, I feared this might turn the game into a roguelike. Instead, rewinding time helps you solve puzzles. For example, you can know where a character appears ahead of time. You also maintain the shortcuts and passcodes you previously learned, making it less tedious to revisit old areas.
(Credit: Bithell Games)One gameplay feature I was especially intrigued by, but didn’t experience much of, was the Light Cycle. You can summon the vehicle anytime you're on the streets to quickly travel between distant locations faster, as well as leave light trails to block off foes. It felt awesome, but served little purpose in the demo because my missions were mainly in interior locations, very close to each other. Hopefully, the cycle serves a larger role in the final game, and the full world is large enough to justify it. This might be too ambitious, but I yearn for an isometric open-world game in the style of classic Grand Theft Auto, just with more derezzing.
Disney's Next Digital Frontier
Catalyst has the elements to make you feel like you're living in a Tron reality worth exploring. If you’re looking for an exciting new digital adventure this year, Tron: Catalyst could be the low-key surprise you've been waiting to download. The game launches June 17 on PC, PlayStation 5, Switch, and Xbox Series X/S; check back then for a full review.