20XX

20XX PC is a roguelike action platformer that combines Mega Man-style movement with procedural stages, permanent death, and repeatable character builds. The current Steam and Epic storefront listings still use the name 20XX; there is no verified PC rebrand or replacement edition to account for. Its focus is direct: jump, dash, shoot or slash, defeat bosses, and learn from every failed run.

Developed by Batterystaple Games with Fire Hose Games and published by Batterystaple Games, 20XX is built for solo players and two-player co-op. It is a side-scrolling 2D game with precise platforming, ranged and melee combat, randomized level layouts, and a progression system that makes future attempts more flexible without removing the central challenge.

Run-and-gun platforming with a roguelike structure

Each attempt sends you through a chain of stages assembled from changing level sections. The broad structure recalls classic action platformers, but the exact hazards, enemy placements, rewards, and routes shift between runs. A familiar room can demand a completely different response when spikes, moving platforms, or projectile-heavy encounters appear in new positions.

Movement is the foundation. Players jump across gaps, climb with wall jumps, dash through danger, and attack while managing positioning. Precise controls matter because 20XX regularly asks you to combine platforming and combat instead of treating them as separate challenges.

Nina is the more traditional ranged specialist, using a blaster to control space and attack from safer positions. Ace relies on an energy sword and favors closer engagements. The difference is not cosmetic: choosing between ranged pressure and melee timing changes how you approach enemies, bosses, and risky platforming sections.

Players familiar with tightly designed 2D action games may recognize the movement language, but the procedural structure changes the learning process. You are not memorizing one fixed route. You are building execution skills that can transfer across many variations.

Powerups, augments, and persistent progression

Runs are shaped by a large pool of temporary abilities and passive upgrades. The game advertises over 100 powerups, giving successful attempts room to develop distinct offensive, defensive, and movement-focused combinations.

Power selection is where the roguelike layer becomes meaningful. A build that improves energy use may support frequent weapon firing, while movement-oriented upgrades can make difficult traversal safer. The strongest choices depend on the character you selected, the stage route in front of you, and whether you are playing alone or coordinating with another player.

Death ends the current attempt, but it does not erase every form of progress. Runs award Soul Chips, which unlock persistent upgrades and expand the pool of options that can appear later. This creates a measured progression loop: early failures teach the controls and enemy patterns, while long-term unlocks gradually widen the strategic possibilities.

20XX also includes Reverent Mode, which gives players three lives instead of the standard one-life structure. That option is useful for players who want the procedural experience but prefer a less severe failure state while learning.

Modes beyond the standard run

The main run is only one part of the PC package. 20XX includes several ways to alter the expected rhythm, from shorter boss-focused sessions to fixed-seed attempts designed for comparison and practice.

• Daily and Weekly Challenges give players shared conditions for score-based competition.
• Seed Racer uses a fixed seed so players can repeat the same procedural arrangement.
• Rush Job focuses on boss encounters rather than a full progression run.
• Optional difficulty modifiers let experienced players add restrictions and hazards.

These modes address different player goals. Seeded play is useful when you want to practice a known sequence, while challenge modes provide a more comparable test than an ordinary randomized run. The modifiers also let experienced players make familiar systems substantially harsher without requiring a separate campaign.

All of the core gameplay is available in both single-player and co-op formats. That matters because 20XX is not a solo mode with multiplayer added as an afterthought; its progression and stage challenges are designed to function with one or two players.

Co-op and multiplayer on PC

20XX supports local co-op and online co-op for two players. On Steam, the store listing also identifies shared or split-screen multiplayer and Steam Remote Play Together support, giving couch players another way to connect through the platform ecosystem.

The Epic Games Store listing confirms crossplay between the Epic and Steam versions. That makes the PC player pool less dependent on both friends owning the game through the same storefront, although the platform launcher still determines where each copy is managed.

Co-op changes the pressure of a run. Players can divide attention, combine different attack ranges, and help each other through difficult rooms, but the screen can also become more demanding when both characters and enemy projectiles occupy the same space. It works best for pairs who communicate rather than simply rushing forward independently.

Content model and character DLC

The base game is sold as a paid package rather than a free-to-play service. The current PC storefront listings show two character add-ons: Hawk Character DLC and Draco Character DLC. The store descriptions present Hawk as a power-focused playable Contractor and Draco as a character built around a distinct weapon arsenal.

The add-ons expand the playable roster, but they are not required to experience the core Nina and Ace campaign structure, procedural stages, co-op, challenges, or progression systems. The PC listings also offer the 20XX OST as a separate add-on containing the game's soundtrack.

That content model is straightforward for catalog buyers. You receive the main roguelike platformer first, then decide whether alternative characters are worth adding after understanding the base game's movement and build systems.

PC features, input, and localization

The Steam version includes controller support, Steam Cloud, achievements, leaderboards, Remote Play Together, and shared or split-screen play. These features suit 20XX's arcade-style controls, especially for players who prefer a gamepad for dashes, wall jumps, and rapid attack inputs.

Steam and Epic are separate storefront ecosystems for the PC version, so their respective launchers and account services apply. The store listings do not identify a separate third-party launcher or anti-cheat requirement, and 20XX is not presented as a competitive service game built around dedicated anti-cheat infrastructure.

Interface, audio, and subtitle support are listed for English, Spanish from Spain, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Brazilian Portuguese, Russian, and Simplified Chinese on Steam. Localization is therefore broader than English-only menus, although the exact presentation can vary by storefront build.

Players comparing it with other precision platformers may also want a more traditional fixed-stage structure, such as the classic 2.5D action design found in story-driven platformers like Mega Man 11. 20XX is less about replaying authored stages in the same order and more about adapting to changing combinations.

Who should play 20XX?

20XX is a strong fit for players who enjoy permadeath, repeatable runs, build experimentation, and demanding side-scrolling controls. It is especially appealing if you want a co-op game that remains mechanically focused instead of turning into a broad party experience.

It may be a poor match if you want a fixed campaign with carefully scripted stage progression, extensive exploration, or a large narrative cast. Procedural generation creates replay value, but it can also produce combinations that feel less curated than a traditional platformer level.

For a different version of the classic run-and-gun formula, retro-styled action platformers such as Mighty No. 9 provide a more conventional stage-based comparison. Players seeking a broader rogue-lite action-platformer with heavier exploration can instead look toward metroidvania roguelites like Dead Cells, though its combat and progression structure differ substantially from 20XX.

20XX FAQ

Is 20XX still the current PC storefront name?

Yes. The current Steam and Epic listings use 20XX. No verified rebrand, renamed edition, or definitive PC replacement was found in the storefront and publisher information checked for this guide.

Is 20XX a roguelike or a platformer?

It is both: a roguelike action platformer. Its moment-to-moment play uses jumping, dashing, shooting, sword attacks, and boss fights, while procedural levels, permanent death, randomized powerups, and Soul Chip progression define the repeatable run structure.

Does 20XX support two-player co-op?

Yes. It supports two-player local and online co-op. Steam also lists Remote Play Together, and the Epic listing confirms crossplay between Epic and Steam versions.

What characters are available in 20XX?

The base roster includes Nina, a blaster-focused character, and Ace, an energy-sword specialist. Hawk and Draco are available through separate paid character DLC add-ons.

Does 20XX have fixed stages?

No. Standard runs use procedurally assembled stages, so layouts and encounters change between attempts. Seed Racer provides a fixed-seed alternative when you want to replay the same generated arrangement.

What happens when a run ends?

Death ends the current life and returns you to the hub, but collected Soul Chips can unlock persistent upgrades and expand the future item pool. Reverent Mode offers three lives for players who want a more forgiving run structure.