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20XX
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20XX
DevelopersBatterystaple Games
Fire Hose Games
PublisherBatterystaple Games
DirectorChris King
ArtistZach Urtes
ComposerBrandon Ellis
PlatformsWindows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One
ReleaseWindows
PS4, Switch
July 10, 2018
Xbox One
July 11, 2018
GenrePlatform
ModesSingle-player, multiplayer

20XX is a platform game developed by American studio Batterystaple Games.[1] The early access version was released for Microsoft Windows on Steam on October 12, 2016,[2] and in full on August 16, 2017.[3] PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One versions were released in July 2018.[4] A sequel, 30XX, was released on Steam Early Access on February 17, 2021, and in full on August 9, 2023.[5][6]

Gameplay

[edit]

Inspired by Mega Man X, players must defeat enemies and complete difficult platforming challenges to finish a stage. In contrast to Mega Man X, stages are proceduraly generated based on level segments, or "chunks", and allow for both local and online co-op.[1] Rather than giving several lives, the game has permadeath, but is a "roguelite" in that the player can use Soul Chips earned during the level to unlock new types of passive upgrades to buy, and gain upgrades for the next attempt of that particular run.[7]

During levels, players can use bolts gained as currency to buy passive upgrades or to restore health or energy in vending machines. They can find upgrades in treasure chests and other places.[7] Upon beating a boss the player can choose between multiple rewards: the boss' power (granting them a new special ability), bolts, or a random passive upgrade.[7]

Plot

[edit]

The game follows Nina, an armored girl armed with a power blaster, and Ace, an armored boy with an energy sword, in the aftermath of a robotic uprising.[1] Traveling from their base on the Ark, a space station orbiting the Earth, they have been hired to clear dangerous locations infested with robots running amok.

Development

[edit]

20XX began development after a crowdfunding campaign on Kickstarter in the spring of 2014, when the game was called Echoes of Eridu.[1] Following a successful Kickstarter, the game joined the Fire Hose Games accelerator program and appeared in the Indie Megabooth at Penny Arcade Expo 2015.[8]

The game was developer Chris King's first commercial game, and its development was prompted by the belief that it was his last chance to do such a risky thing as game development without a family to support, as he was in his late 20s.[7] The idea behind the game was due to his belief that Capcom had ceased to make enough Mega Man titles, and that he and other fans desired more of that style of gameplay.[7]

The developer's main focus was on the game feel and getting it to play similarly to Mega Man. The most difficult aspect of developing the game was debugging its netcode that allowed for online play.[7]

Chris believes that Steam's Early Access program was essential to the development of the game, and he "couldn't imagine" releasing the game without it.[7]

Soundtrack

[edit]

The game's soundtrack was composed by Brandon "Cityfires" Ellis and includes chiptune and synthesizer elements to make it resemble that of a Super NES game.[9]

Reception

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Nintendo Life described the gameplay as addictive, and, although they felt some aspects were a bit repetitive, they said the upgrades and customization made up for it.[14] Nintendo World Report recommended it to fans of Mega Man and platform games, but they felt it should have more story.[15]

Notes

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See also

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References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

20XX

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
20XX is a action platformer developed and published by Batterystaple Games for Windows, with console ports handled by Fire Hose Games. Inspired by the classic series, it combines fast-paced 2D platforming and shooting mechanics with procedural level generation, permanent death, and persistent upgrades across runs. Players control characters like Nina or , battling through randomized stages filled with enemies and bosses while collecting over 100 power-ups that alter abilities, such as enhanced shots or mobility boosts. The game supports local and online co-op for up to two players, daily and weekly challenges, and multiple modes including endless runs. Originally released in on on November 25, 2014, the full version launched for Windows on August 16, 2017. Ports followed for , , and on July 10, 2018. It received positive reception for its faithful recreation of Mega Man-style gameplay in a roguelite format, earning praise for tight controls, replayability, and co-op integration, though some noted its high difficulty curve. By 2025, 20XX has maintained a "Very Positive" rating on from over 3,800 user reviews, highlighting its enduring appeal among retro-inspired indie titles.

Overview

Gameplay

20XX is a roguelite action platformer featuring precise 2D platforming mechanics inspired by classic run-and-gun games, where players control robotic protagonists navigating procedurally generated levels filled with enemies, hazards, and boss encounters. The core actions include jumping to traverse platforms, shooting projectiles to combat foes, dashing for quick evasion and momentum, and wall-clinging to scale vertical surfaces, all executed with tight controls that emphasize timing and positioning. Players select from starting characters Nina, who specializes in balanced agility with swift movement and ranged shots, or , who focuses on heavy firepower through powerful close-range melee attacks and area-clearing blasts. Levels are procedurally generated, combining modular stage layouts, enemy placements, and boss fights across themed zones that evoke a robot uprising, ensuring varied challenges and replayability with no two runs identical. From a central hub called The Ark, players choose stages in a non-linear order, aiming to progress through bosses toward the final confrontation with the creators of the android protagonists in Deepstation Two, in a structure where failure resets the run but retains meta-progression. During runs, players collect Prototypes—temporary power-ups found in special rooms—that grant abilities like the Thunder Beam for piercing shots or homing missiles for tracking enemies, alongside upgrade paths that enhance stats using Soul Chips dropped by bosses and elite enemies. Soul Chips also serve as currency for permanent unlocks between runs, such as expanded item pools and core augments that bolster starting health or weapon potency. The game supports two-player co-op, playable locally or online via , where partners share pickups and progression, with a revive system allowing the surviving player to activate capsules near stage ends to bring back a fallen teammate, promoting cooperative strategies without halting momentum. Difficulty escalates across modes: Reverent offers three lives per run for accessibility, Normal enforces strict for core challenge, and Defiant ramps up enemy aggression and reduces checkpoints to test mastery. Success in higher difficulties unlocks additional characters, like Revenants—prototype variants with unique trade-offs—further extending replayability through diverse playstyles. DLC adds characters and Draco, unlockable via purchase on PC or by beating the game on consoles excluding Rush Job mode.

Plot

The plot of 20XX is set in a futuristic world during the year 20XX, following the decline of human society due to a widespread led by corrupted machines. Players operate from the Ark, a hub serving as the base for humanity's resistance efforts. The protagonists are Nina, an agile female android designed for precision hunting and ranged combat, and , her powerful male counterpart focused on heavy melee and tank-like assaults. Tasked by scientists Drs. Brighton Sharp and Arlan Flat, the duo is deployed to reclaim infested locations across , fighting through procedurally generated stages that reflect the chaotic spread of the uprising. These missions involve confronting eight boss enemies, each a robot lord embodying aspects of the rebellion's chaos, such as Eternal Star, a celestial-themed overlord symbolizing unending domination. The storyline arc builds as players progress, unlocking lore snippets about the post-human era where robots turned against their creators, leading to societal collapse and the need for hunter androids like Nina and Ace. The narrative culminates in revelations about the uprising's true source, tied to experiments gone awry by the professors themselves, forcing a final confrontation in Deepstation Two. Endings vary based on run outcomes: a full victory over all bosses and the final threat unlocks expanded interactions in the Ark, including new dialogue from and permanent story branches; partial failures, such as dying before completing a run, reveal fragmented snippets about the robot society's fall and the androids' origins, encouraging repeated attempts to piece together the lore. Soul Chips, collected from defeated enemies and bosses, serve as currency for permanent upgrades between runs. This light, procedural integration ties the story to choices, like stage selection influencing narrative progression without rigid linearity.

Production

Development

Batterystaple Games was founded by Chris King in 2013 to develop the project that would become 20XX, with initial prototyping beginning in June of that year. In 2014, the studio entered into a with Fire Hose Games through their accelerator program, which provided additional support for expanding the small team of primarily two full-time members—King as and Zach Urtes as —along with various contributors for audio and other roles. To fund initial prototype development, Batterystaple launched a Kickstarter campaign for the game—then titled Echoes of Eridu—on April 11, 2014, setting a modest goal of $20,000 over a 30-day period. The campaign concluded successfully on May 11, 2014, raising $20,551 from 572 backers, enabling the team to refine core mechanics like procedural level generation and co-op gameplay. Key design influences included the Mega Man X series, which shaped the run-and-gun combat and boss fights, blended with roguelike elements such as permadeath and randomization drawn from games like Spelunky and The Binding of Isaac to create replayable, ever-changing runs. Development proceeded using a custom C++ engine, with the game entering on November 25, 2014, to gather player input on balancing against fair level design. The team issued bi-weekly patches—totaling 71 over nearly three years—incorporating community feedback from Steam forums, a dedicated subreddit, and a "Superfriends" tester group to address issues like uneven difficulty spikes in randomized stages. Full release followed on August 16, 2017, after 1,507 days of development, marking the exit from . Technical challenges centered on implementing seamless local co-op without split-screen, ensuring the shared screen followed both players fluidly during intense action sequences, and crafting procedural algorithms that avoided unfair enemy placements or navigation dead-ends while preserving unpredictability. Soundtrack integration by composer Brandon Ellis occurred during the audio design phase to align dynamic music with procedural level shifts and combat pacing. Following the full release, Batterystaple continued post-launch support with content updates adding new power-up prototypes and DLC playable characters, such as the whip-wielding (February 2018) and weapons-master Draco (December 2018), extending through a final major patch in April 2019 and preparations for console ports in 2018.

Soundtrack

The soundtrack for 20XX was composed by Brandon Ellis, professionally known as Cityfires, a video game music composer and sound designer recognized for his work on titles including Catlateral Damage and Techtonica. Ellis was brought on board during the game's early development in January 2014, contributing music iteratively alongside gameplay prototypes to capture the desired Mega Man X-inspired energy. The composition style fuses synthesizers with dynamic rhythms, evoking the fast-paced, nostalgic sound of Super NES-era games while incorporating modern electronic elements to suit the platformer's intense action and procedural levels. Fast-tempo tracks drive combat and exploration, while subtler ambient motifs underscore hub areas, creating an auditory rhythm that heightens the game's replayability and tension. Notable tracks include the boss battle theme "," which escalates in intensity to match escalating combat phases, and the stage background music "," featuring variations that adapt to the ever-changing level layouts. The final boss theme, "Omega Model," delivers a climactic orchestral-chiptune hybrid buildup, emphasizing the game's narrative stakes. Audio implementation emphasizes seamless integration with gameplay, using layered chiptune elements that respond to player actions like enemy encounters to maintain momentum without interrupting flow. Certain power-ups, such as Soul Chips, unlock variant remixes of core tracks, encouraging experimentation and extending the musical experience across runs. The official soundtrack album was released digitally on Bandcamp on August 15, 2017, shortly after the game's full launch, and is also available via Steam as DLC in MP3 and FLAC formats. It comprises 17 tracks with a total runtime of approximately 45 minutes, offered on a name-your-price basis to support the independent developers. Critics and players have praised the for its nostalgic homage that avoids direct sampling, delivering fresh energy that bolsters the game's addictive loop and atmospheric immersion. Reviews highlight how the music's high-octane contributes significantly to replay value, often comparing it favorably to classic scores for enhancing action without overwhelming the retro aesthetic.

Release and Legacy

Release

20XX entered on Steam for Microsoft Windows on November 25, 2014, allowing players to experience the core platforming mechanics during development. The full version launched on August 16, 2017, marking the completion of its initial PC release phase. Console ports followed in 2018, published by Fire Hose Games. The game became available on and on July 10, 2018, with the Xbox One version releasing the following day on July 11. Marketing efforts emphasized the game's inspirations from classic Mega Man titles, fostering engagement through announcements in gaming outlets and community discussions among retro platformer enthusiasts. Steam promotions, including seasonal sales, helped build visibility, while free updates during incorporated player feedback to generate hype and sustain interest. Post-launch support included minor patches for bug fixes and balance adjustments, with updates continuing through 2019, such as version 1.41.0 in June addressing gameplay stability. Character DLCs for Hawk and Draco were released in 2018, adding new playable contractors without major expansions. Cross-play functionality was later implemented between PC versions, though not across all platforms. Sales figures exceeded 100,000 units by 2020, reflecting steady digital distribution growth. As of 2025, no new ports or remasters have been announced for 20XX standalone, though a limited physical edition bundling it with its sequel launched on November 7, 2025, for via , ensuring compatibility with modern PC hardware and for co-op features. The game maintains worldwide digital availability across platforms.

Reception

20XX received generally favorable reviews from critics, earning a Metacritic aggregate score of 77/100 for the PC version based on 14 reviews and 77/100 for the version based on 6 reviews. The game was praised for its addictive roguelite loop and clear homage to the series, blending with precise platforming action. Positive feedback highlighted the game's engaging co-op mode and extensive customization options. Nintendo Life awarded it an 8/10, commending the enjoyable co-op experience that allows distinct playstyles for characters Nina and Ace, as well as the persistent upgrades like health extensions and mobility enhancements that encourage replayability. Similarly, Wccftech gave it an 8/10, noting the tight controls and infinite replay value through randomized levels and power-ups, making it a strong evolution of Mega Man X-style gameplay. Criticisms focused on narrative shortcomings and aspects of the . Nintendo World Report pointed out the shallow story, which lacks depth and engagement beyond basic setup, and repetitive elements in the procedurally generated levels that can lead to inconsistent pacing. echoed these concerns, describing the story as underwhelming and the level designs as occasionally frustrating due to uneven procedural assembly. Commercially, 20XX achieved steady sales on , with estimates of approximately 226,000 copies sold, bolstered by its 2018 console ports to , , and that expanded its audience. The community has extended the game's longevity through mods, including character customizations and tweaks that enhance replayability, though official support for custom levels is limited. The game has been fan-voted as a top roguelite in community polls. As of 2025, 20XX's legacy endures through its influence on similar titles, notably the sequel , which builds on its roguelite foundations with added features like Maker Mode for . An active but small persists on platforms like Reddit's r/20xxgame and the official server, where players share strategies, mods, and runs.

References

  1. https://store.steampowered.com/app/322110/20XX/
  2. https://kotaku.com/20xx-is-a-procedural-mega-man-x-and-it-feels-perfect-1797965399
  3. https://www.gamedeveloper.com/business/making-20xx-listening-well-and-lucking-out
  4. https://www.xbox.com/en-US/games/store/20xx/9p9h0rgll29w
  5. https://www.metacritic.com/game/20xx/details/
  6. https://operationrainfall.com/2018/07/10/review-20xx/
  7. https://www.heypoorplayer.com/2018/07/09/20xx-review-switch/
  8. https://20xx.wiki.gg/wiki/20XX:Characters
  9. https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/VideoGame/TwentyXX
  10. https://20xx.fandom.com/wiki/Eternal_Star
  11. https://lparchive.org/20XX/
  12. https://20xx.fandom.com/wiki/Dr._Arlan_Flat
  13. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/20xx-review-robot-generation/1900-6416944/
  14. https://www.nichegamer.com/reviews/20xx-review/
  15. https://batterystaplegames.com/press/
  16. https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/batterystaplegames/echoes-of-eridu-co-optional-roguelike-megaman-styl
  17. https://www.kicktraq.com/projects/batterystaplegames/echoes-of-eridu-co-optional-roguelike-megaman-styl/
  18. https://www.polygon.com/2015/3/25/8285291/20xx-batterystaple-games-roguelike-mega-man
  19. https://www.reddit.com/r/Games/comments/m6cgst/ama_eight_years_ago_i_quit_a_perfectly_good/
  20. https://lanoc.org/review/games/20xx-early-access-preview
  21. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/322110/view/3953269981521189762
  22. https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/322110/view/4626978209076488212
  23. https://www.linkedin.com/in/cityfires
  24. https://www.cityfires.com/aboutme
  25. https://cityfires.bandcamp.com/album/20xx-original-game-soundtrack
  26. https://www.christcenteredgamer.com/reviews/pc-mac/20xx-pc
  27. https://www.dualshockers.com/20xx-review-new-switch-ps4-pc-xb1/
  28. https://www.thexboxhub.com/stunning-mega-man-inspired-20xx-now-available-on-xbox-one/
  29. https://downloads.khinsider.com/game-soundtracks/album/20xx-ost
  30. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N7nBz2DBGsc
  31. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRpiDTZAUiM
  32. https://www.honestgamers.com/13517/pc/20xx/review.html
  33. https://store.steampowered.com/app/692510/20XX_Soundtrack/
  34. https://www.gematsu.com/2018/05/20xx-launches-for-ps4-and-switch-on-july-10-xbox-one-on-july-11
  35. https://steamdb.info/app/322110/patchnotes/
  36. https://store.steampowered.com/dlc/322110/20XX/
  37. https://steamcommunity.com/app/322110/announcements/
  38. https://gamalytic.com/game/322110
  39. https://www.fangamer.com/products/20xx-30xx-game-nintendo-switch
  40. https://www.metacritic.com/game/20xx/
  41. https://www.metacritic.com/game/switch/20xx
  42. https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/20xx
  43. https://wccftech.com/review/20xx-the-evolution-mega-man-x/
  44. https://steamcommunity.com/app/322110/discussions/0/3112518479590072475/
  45. https://www.reddit.com/r/20xxgame/
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