Red Raketa Studio’s joyful action-adventure inspired by Malagasy folklore is available today on PC, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Paris, France – September 24, 2026 – Pack the frying pan, get those magical hair powers ready, and make some room in the taxi-brousse: Kalanoro is available now.
Developed by Madagascar-based indie team Red Raketa Studio and published by New Tales, with SEGA bringing the adventure to players across Asia, Kalanoro is a colorful action-adventure blending platforming, playful combat, band management and music into one very unusual road trip across the island of Lemuria.
Players step into the fluffy feet of Kalakely, a small Kalanoro from Malagasy folklore who suddenly finds herself chosen by a rather questionable prophecy. Her mission? Take down the witch Raneny, free Lemuria from her rule and stop the enormous concert she is organizing in her own honor.
The obvious solution: start a band.
A witch, a Prophecy and One Very Questionable Plan
Once a peaceful island, Lemuria now lives under the rule of Raneny, a witch with a taste for power, spectacle and apparently very large concerts.
To get close enough to crash her grand finale, Kalakely must travel across the island rescuing its legendary lemur musicians, bringing them together aboard a rusty taxi-brousse and building enough of a following to challenge Raneny on the biggest stage of all.
Along the way, players will explore colorful environments inspired by Malagasy landscapes and folklore, navigate industrial traps and hazardous machinery, meet an eccentric cast of characters and discover a world where almost anything can become part of the adventure.
Especially if it can be used as a weapon.
Fists, Frying Pans and Magical Hair
Small, fast and surprisingly dangerous, Kalakely combines agile movement with a deliberately playful approach to combat.
Players can punch their way through trouble, unleash hair-powered abilities, or simply grab whatever Lemuria happens to leave lying around. Frying pans, slippers, road signs, hammers and other unlikely tools can all become perfectly acceptable solutions when an enemy gets in the way.
Kalanoro moves between exploration, platforming and combat across handcrafted levels, with the camera shifting between perspectives to introduce new challenges along the journey. Boss battles push the chaos even further, mixing action with the game’s more theatrical and musical side.
The result is a lighthearted adventure built around movement, experimentation and embracing the occasional very bad idea.
Save the World. Start a Band. Keep the Lemurs Happy.
Defeating Raneny will take more than fighting skills.
Every musician rescued along the way joins Kalakely aboard the taxi-brousse, part tour bus, part home base and the heart of the band’s journey across Lemuria.
And legendary musicians can be demanding traveling companions.
Players will need to spend time with the band, keep spirits high through mini-games and activities, cook their favorite meals and make sure nobody feels too neglected. Ignore them for too long and they may decide to leave the tour altogether — with a decent chance of getting themselves captured again in the process.
Outside the bus, Kalakely can help locals, promote the band and perform concerts to grow its fanbase. The bigger the following, the bigger the stages that open up, bringing the group one step closer to becoming Lemuria’s number one band — and to Raneny herself.
It all adds up to what Kalanoro is at heart: a feel-good rebellion powered by collective energy, creativity and one killer setlist.
A Journey Rooted in Madagascar
Behind Lemuria’s joyful chaos is a game deeply inspired by the folklore, landscapes, music and artistic culture of Madagascar.
Founded in 2021 and based in Madagascar, Red Raketa Studio brings that perspective directly into Kalanoro, blending traditional influences with a playful modern tone and a colorful world brought to life through hand-drawn visuals and dynamic animation powered by Unreal Engine.
“Releasing Kalanoro is an incredibly special moment for all of us at Red Raketa Studio,” said Dina Valisoa Ratsisetraina, Co-Founder and Narrative & Lead Designer at Red Raketa Studio. “As our first game, it carries a lot of who we are as a team and where we come from. We wanted to create a joyful adventure with its own personality, while sharing a world inspired by Madagascar in a way that feels authentic to us. We hope Kalanoro can introduce players to a world and a culture they might not have encountered before, and we can’t wait to see their reactions.”
Music is just as important to that identity. Kalanoro’s soundtrack features Malagasy artists including Denise, Jyeuhair and Marco Klarck, whose work accompanies the journey and helps give Lemuria its distinctive rhythm and energy.
For Red Raketa Studio, Kalanoro also marks a major milestone: the studio’s debut game, created by a new generation of Malagasy developers and artists and now ready to welcome players around the world.
“Kalanoro is exactly the kind of project we love to support: a game with a strong cultural identity, a genuine point of view and a talented team with something unique to share,” said Cédric Maréchal, President & CEO of New Tales. “We’re incredibly proud to have accompanied Red Raketa Studio on this journey and helped bring their debut game to players around the world.”
The launch marks another step in Kalanoro’s journey beyond Madagascar, with SEGA partnering with New Tales to bring the game to players across Asia.
The Road Starts Today
So load up the taxi-brousse, assemble your crew and prepare for a road trip involving magical hair, questionable weapons, demanding lemurs and considerably more music than the average revolution.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/3158820/Kalanoro/
Kalanoro is available now on PC via Steam, Xbox Series X|S, PlayStation 5 and Nintendo Switch.
Follow Kalanoro on Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and X for more from Lemuria.
About New Tales
New Tales is an independent publisher and game developer focused on games’ DNA and player communities. With deep international expertise and a passion for bold ideas, New Tales partners with studios worldwide to bring innovative gaming experiences to global audiences. For more information, visit www.newtales.com.
About Red Raketa Studio
RED RAKETA STUDIO is a dynamic collective of talents, united by a shared dedication to crafting memorable game experiences. We value heartfelt visions and inventive stories that offer players new perspectives. Check out our website at www.redraketa.studio.
