Denshattack! is a purposefully bizarre indie game that fuses the skateboarding tricks of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater with the mundane setting of a train simulator. Developed by Spanish studio Undercoders and published by Fireshine Games, it launched on July 15, 2026, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC at £15.99. The game received a 7/10 rating from our reviewer.
A Dystopian Japan with a Twist
The story follows Emi, a ramen delivery driver in a dystopian Japan where climate collapse has forced society into air-conditioned bubble cities connected by high-speed trains. She meets Fernando, an aspiring photographer who recognizes her potential as a Denshattacker—a daredevil performing gravity-defying tricks with her battered train car. Emi then travels across a climate-ravaged Japan, collecting allies like a Pokémon trainer, aiming to become the ultimate Denshattacker by defeating all rivals.
Gameplay: Simple Yet Addictive
Each level is a course Emi must complete based on objectives such as finishing the run, attaining a high score, knocking down buildings by crashing into them, and defeating enemies. Players jump across track gaps, avoid obstacles, and perform tricks by rotating the joystick mid-air. The game is repetitive but varies enough to stay entertaining—one moment Emi delivers soba noodles, the next she races rival gangs. Each level is timed, with a final score and medal based on tricks, dares (collectibles, scaring pigeons, breaking satellite dishes), and maneuvers.
The controls are deceptively tricky, requiring players to manage three or four buttons simultaneously to avoid flying off tracks or crashing into walls. New levels introduce gimmicks like switches unlocked by tricks, grind rails, and wall-run billboards. Physics are more suggestion than rule—cornering requires precise braking, and there are buttons for horn tooting, jumping, and aerial tricks like finger ollies and 360° flips.
Forgiving and Expanding
Denshattack is forgiving—crashes reset players to a save point seconds prior. As the game progresses, the world opens up with new mods: Emi can buy railcars, collect stickers for customization, and contribute to Fernando’s fanzine, which gets a new edition per region. Onsens (hot springs) appear between levels for the gang to discuss tactics and backstory, though plot is minimal. Each region ends with a boss battle that embraces pure silliness—mecha-men made of trains, baseball-themed encounters, and monsters from living castles. Rainbow railway tracks materialize after reaching a certain trick score.
Visuals and Tone
The animation style is bright, colorful, and comic-book-like, perfectly matching the absurd on-screen action. The game’s sunny outlook is reinforced by Emi’s friends consistently hyping her up—Fernando exclaims, “This is the making of a legend!” Enemies are often swayed by kind words and a demonstration of Emi’s skills. The game is not deep or profound but offers an entertaining, addictive way to spend a few hours without taking itself too seriously.
Pros and Cons
Pros include inventive boss battles and level design that keeps things fresh despite potential repetition, along with fun graphics and sound. Cons are overly complicated controls, limited trick variety, and a thin plot.
Score and Availability
Denshattack! scores 7/10. It is available now on PlayStation 5 (reviewed), Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC for £15.99, published by Fireshine Games and developed by Undercoders. Age rating: 12.
