Discover The Cub Gaming in 2026, honest review, fix stiff controls, full collectibles guide, gameplay tips, Limbo vs. comparisons & Steam deals for Asia. Jump into cub gaming with The Cub—2026 review, stiff control fixes, full collectibles guide, gameplay tips, Limbo comparisons, and Steam buy advice for Asia. $5 sale, 81% Very Positive – your next platformer pick!
3 Key Takeaways
- The Cub nails 90s platformer vibes with bright post-apoc worlds and killer radio tunes – a quick 3-4 hour blast worth every penny at $5.
- Beat those tricky controls by holding jumps and practicing slides; collectibles add hours of fun hunting.
- Better than pricier indies like Limbo for pure parkour joy, especially on PC – grab it on Steam sale now.
Cub Gaming: The Cub Review
Picture this: You’re a scrappy kid dodging Martian goons in a wild, overgrown Earth. That’s cub gaming at its best in The Cub. This indie gem from Demagog Studio hit Steam and consoles back in January 2024, and in 2026, it’s still a fresh pick for anyone craving tight platforming.
I fired it up on my setup here in Asia, and man, it hooked me right away. The feral child vibe – you’re “the cub” they’re hunting – pulls you in. If you’re eyeing cub gaming sessions that mix nostalgia and challenge, this review breaks it all down. Let’s get into what makes it tick.
What Is The Cub?
The Cub is a 2D platformer where you play a lone kid immune to Earth’s toxic air after the rich ditched us for Mars. Hunters spot you, and boom – you’re on the run, grabbing their helmet radio for tunes and tips. Demagog Studio built this, published by Untold Tales. It ties into their wasteland world from Golf Club Nostalgia and Highwater. Think Jungle Book parkour in a neon apocalypse.
Released on PC, PS5, PS4, Switch, and Xbox, it runs smooth on low specs – GTX 750M minimum works fine for Asiai rigs. File size? Just 11GB. Perfect for quick downloads on spotty connections.
Gameplay Mechanics
Cub gaming shines in its run-and-jump flow. Double-jump over pits, slide under lasers, swing from vines, and sneak past patrols. One-hit deaths keep you sharp, but checkpoints save your sanity.
Puzzles? Mostly environmental – shove crates, time wind gusts, dodge hybrid plants that snap like traps. The radio hints at secrets without spoiling.
Controls trip folks up, though. Jumps feel stiff at first. Here’s how to fix that:
- Hold the jump button longer for higher arcs; tap for short hops.
- Ledge grabs glitch? Aim a tad left or right while jumping.
- Slide-dodge patrols: Crouch-run into them for “Friends?” achievement.
- Practice the mine cart bit early – momentum is key.
I died a ton in the ruins level until I nailed the timing. Now it feels buttery. Stealth sections add tension – hide in grass, wait for hunters to pass. Tune the radio mid-run for survivor stories that pump you up. No major patches since launch, but these tweaks make cub gaming forgiving. Playtime? 3-4 hours straight through, more with hunting.
Story & Soundtrack
The tale unfolds without words – wrecked cities tell humanity’s fall. You’re evading Martians who want you for experiments. Radio Nostalgia from Mars steals the show: Chill synth waves, funny DJ banter, dark survivor logs. Art pops with 90s Disney/SEGA style – lush jungles over brutalist ruins, glowing mines. Biomes shift from labs to overgrowth, each hand-drawn frame bursting color.
It’s part of Demagog’s climate catastrophe arc. Golf Club Nostalgia showed the elite side; here, you’re the underdog. Short but hits hard – that ending twist lingers. Soundtrack’s a banger. Buy the OST bundle for $1.59 on sale – loops perfect for work breaks.
Pros, Cons & Stats
The Cub scores big on style. Steam: Very Positive, 81% from 384 reviews. Metacritic: 74/100 critics, users around 6.5-7.
Pros:
- Stunning visuals and audio immerse you fast.
- Tight 3-4 hour run; speedruns hit 90 minutes.
- Collectibles boost replay without grind.
Cons:
- Controls stay stiff – no 2026 fixes.
- Short length skimps at full $15 price.
- Repetitive enemy patterns late-game.
My score: 8/10. Art and tunes carry it; mechanics solid for cub gaming fans. Better value now at 65% off.
Collectibles Guide
Want 100%? The Cub packs 19 achievements tied to five types: Newspapers (news clips), Burps (hidden farts), Knick-Knacks/Luxuries, USBs, Books. “King of Nothing” trophy for all. Backtrack often – some spawn post-clear. Here’s a chapter breakdown:
Chapter 1: Labs
- 2 Newspapers: One left of start, one after first hunter.
- Burp: Bounce high on mushroom, fart in vent.
- Knick-Knack: Behind crates in puzzle room.
Chapter 2: Ruins
- USB: Slide under laser patrol.
- Book: Climb vines post-mine cart.
- 3 Burps: One per patrol “friend” hug.
Chapter 3: Mines
- Luxuries: 4 shiny bits in carts.
- Newspaper: Radio tower top.
- Perfect Run here – no deaths for gold trophy.
Chapter 4: Jungle
- All remaining: Hug every patrol (5 total), scour overgrowth.
- Final USB in boss area pre-end.
Tips:
- Use radio static for hints.
- Die on purpose to respawn near misses.
- YouTube timestamps help, but try blind first.
Full 100% unlocks Perfect Run mode – harder, no deaths. Doubles playtime to 5+ hours. Easiest platinum on PS5.
Vs. Similar Games
Cub gaming vs. Limbo/Inside: The Cub skips monochrome horror for vibrant parkour. Less puzzles, more speed – Limbo’s slow dread vs. your frantic dashes. Rayman Legends or Aladdin SNES: Nails that fluid swing/jump feel, but adds post-apoc edge. Shorter, no hub worlds. Planet of Lana: Both charming indies, but Cub ditches companions for solo stealth.
| Game | Parkour Focus | Length | Price (Sale) | Visuals |
| The Cub | High | 3-4 hrs | $5 | Neon apoc |
| Limbo | Medium | 4 hrs | $3 | Dark mono |
| Inside | Medium | 4 hrs | $10 | Moody |
| Rayman | High | 10+ hrs | $5 | Cartoon |
The Cub wins for quick, stylish cub gaming without bloat.
Platforms & Buy Tips
PC/Steam Deck shines – 60FPS locked, controller or keyboard. Min specs: GT 750M, fine for Asia PTA-approved laptops. Switch: Portable win, but input lag hurts precision. PS5/Xbox: Smooth, 4K visuals.
2026 deal: $5.24 (65% off $14.99) on Steam. Bundle with OST for $6.83. Asia? Steam uses USD, but top up PKR wallet – about 1,450 PKR. No region lock. Buy keys from GG.deals for $3.88 if hunting bargains. Download fast, play offline.
FAQs
How long is The Cub?
The main story clocks 3-4 hours, ideal for one sitting. Add collectibles and achievements for 5-7 hours total. Speedruns wrap in 90 minutes for pros. Perfect if you want quick cub gaming wins without endless grind – replay Perfect Run mode for challenge. Steam tracks your time automatically.
Is The Cub hard?
Moderate difficulty with precise platforming and one-hit deaths. Stiff controls frustrate newbies, but practice fixes jumps and slides. Stealth patrols add tension, mine carts test timing. Easier than Celeste, tougher than Rayman. Achievements like Perfect Run spike it – great for skill-building in cub gaming.
Controls fixed in 2026?
No patches since 2024 launch – still feels stiff on jumps/ledges. Workarounds: Hold jump for height, slide-dodge enemies, remap keys on PC. Gamepad helps over keyboard. Playable after 20 minutes practice; doesn’t ruin the fun. Demagog focused elsewhere, but core cub gaming loop holds up.
Best platform for Cub?
PC/Steam Deck tops for precision controls and mods. 60FPS smooth on mid-range rigs. Switch great portable, minor lag. PS5/Xbox for couch co-op vibes (single-player). Asia? Steam PC easiest – low specs, PTA ok. Avoid if controller picky.
All Cub collectibles?
Five types: Newspapers (clips), Burps (farts), Knick-Knacks/Luxuries, USBs, Books – 40+ total. Chapter guides: Labs (news/burp), Ruins (USB/book), Mines (luxuries), Jungle (rest). Backtrack, hug patrols. “King of Nothing” trophy. Timestamps online speed it up for 100%. Boosts replay in cub gaming.
Cub like Limbo?
Similar evasion/platforming in moody worlds, but Cub’s colorful post-apoc vs. Limbo’s black-white dread. More parkour, less puzzles; radio tunes add vibe Limbo skips. Shorter, brighter – cub gaming feels alive. Both ~$5 sales, pick Cub for speed, Limbo for tension.
Grab The Cub on Steam today – master the parkour, snag those collectibles, and dive into cub gaming