Rockfish

About

Rockfish started as an ambitious project from Studio Pixel back in 2010 before shifting directions entirely. The early concept followed a rockfish trying to free an imprisoned mermaid by gathering amulet fragments. Development hit a pause later that year, leading to a complete reboot where you control a man piloting a submarine instead. This second version ran until late 2012, when the team decided to scrap the project for their next title, Kero Blaster. Fans finally got a look at the 2011 build in 2023 when Pixel released an unreleased demo dated November 27 of that year. This playable slice offers a rare glimpse into what could have been a major entry from the Cave Story creator. It plays as a single-player shooter, adventure, and platformer hybrid on iOS. The game feels unfinished since it never reached full release, but seeing the submarine section provides context for how Pixel's design evolved during this period. Many retro fans treat this demo as a curiosity piece because it bridges the gap between their older work and newer hits like Kero Blaster. It does not have complex stats or community ratings yet, so players should approach it expecting a raw prototype rather than a polished final product.