Casper Kelly's upcoming horror movie, Buddy, is set to receive a video game adaptation that harks back to the Game Boy Color era. The game, titled Buddy: The Video Game, is developed by playinstinct and published by ModRetro, with a planned release in Q4 2026 for the ModRetro Chromatic console.
The game aims to capture the essence of the film, which blends elements of survival horror with visual novel storytelling, alongside various show-themed mini-games. The movie follows the story of Buddy, a beloved orange unicorn from a children's television show. While Buddy initially brings joy and life lessons, the narrative takes a dark turn when a child refuses to participate, revealing a sinister side to the character.
Buddy: The Video Game will offer players four distinct modes. Story Mode allows players to immerse themselves in the film's plot, facing choices that could either appease Buddy or trigger his wrath. Survival Mode strips away the narrative, tasking players with evading and scavenging as Buddy actively hunts them in locations from the movie. In Buddy Mode, players step into the role of the unicorn, hunting down children. Finally, Mini Game Mode provides a break from the horror with a collection of cheerful, show-themed activities such as dancing, painting, and riding.
Chris Beach, Head of Games Publishing at ModRetro, stated that Buddy's distinct identity provides ample material for the game, allowing it to shift from humorous and colorful to genuinely unsettling. He highlighted playinstinct's success in translating this tension across the game's different modes.
The film Buddy is directed by Casper Kelly, known for 'Too Many Cooks,' and co-written by Jamie King. It stars Keegan-Michael Key as Buddy, with a supporting cast including Cristin Milioti, Topher Grace, Michael Shannon, and Patton Oswalt. The movie is scheduled to premiere in theaters on August 28, 2026.