A very popular 2006 indie platformer called Knytt has received a port for modern PCs, coming to Steam and GOG as a free download. Knytt was one of the earliest indie projects to gain fame on the internet and amass its own cult following. Steam already hosted one of Knytt‘s sequels, though the original title was only accessible through an old freeware download that didn’t perform particularly well on modern devices.
One thing that has kept Knytt a cult-favorite 2D platformer is its emphasis on the environment and limited move set. Instead of equipping the player with new skills after each stage, Knytt forced them to master the starting moves and improve their own skills, rather than making their character nimbler. Now, the port recreates the same philosophy while adding a few new features for modern gamers to explore as well.
Knytt Classic Is Free to Play on Steam and GOG
To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the original game’s release, Knytt Classic was made available on Steam and GOG as a free download on August 10. It is a recreation of the 2006 title with a new Ultra Tough mode and some famous mods, such as Baba Is You and Environment Station Alpha. At the time of writing, Knytt Classic has fewer than a hundred reviews on Steam, but 100% of them are positive, which could imply that fans of classic 2D platformers are enjoying the new release.
Scratch & Peek
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While Knytt was developed by Swedish solo dev Nifflas, the 2026 port is a project led by Bit Kid, another indie developer. Bit Kid explained that while the original game was still a playable masterpiece from the 2000s, it had several “annoying” problems, such as stuttering on modern devices, which prompted them to create a new port. Knytt Classic uses the same assets as the 2006 game, but it also adds native controller support and improved visuals that suit modern 60Hz desktops and digital TVs. And it is the most polished version of the game fans can play right now.
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Image via Bit Kid -
Image via Bit Kid -
Image via Bit Kid
Regarding the game’s design philosophy, original developer Nifflas said, “[I] knew nearly from the start I didn’t want the character in Knytt to have extra abilities. It was not the focus of the game, and the minimalism of the game’s design was very intentional.” Despite this minimalistic approach, Knytt Classic has turned out to be a game with immense replay value. Bit Kid states that there are “over 1,500 screens to explore across the original game and three bonus modes.” The new port also comes with achievements and hidden bonuses, giving fans of challenging 2D platformers more reasons to revisit its many stages.
Both Nifflas and Bit Kid are also working on new titles that are expected to release soon. Nifflas’ upcoming project, Rhythm Doggo, is another platformer that shares many similarities with Knytt in its gameplay and visual style. Bit Kid, meanwhile, is developing an indie Metroidvania called Wolfhound that appears to draw inspiration from renowned run-and-gun games like the Contra series. Both upcoming releases are currently available to wishlist on Steam.