Ultrakill
A fast-paced shooter blending retro visuals with modern movement and style.
Ultrakill is a first-person shooter developed by Arsi "Hakita" Patala and published by New Blood Interactive. It entered early access on Steam for Microsoft Windows on 3 September 2020. The game is notable for its retro-style graphics reminiscent of early PlayStation consoles, combined with modern movement mechanics from games like Titanfall and Doom Eternal and gameplay elements from action games such as Devil May Cry.
Quick Facts
- Title
- Ultrakill
- Developer
- Arsi "Hakita" Patala
- Publisher
- New Blood Interactive
- Producer
- Dave Oshry
- Programmer
- Arsi "Hakita" Patala · Heckteck · PITR
- Artist
- Andrei Mishchenko · BigRockBMP · Francis Xie · Victoria Holland
- Writer
- Arsi "Hakita" Patala · Jacob H.H.R.
- Composer
- Arsi "Hakita" Patala · Meganeko · Keygen Church · Health · King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard · Vylet Pony
- Platforms
- Windows
- Released
- 3 September 2020 (early access)
- Genre
- First-person shooter
- Modes
- Single-player
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The game is set in a future where humanity has gone extinct after a centuries-long period of warfare known as the Final War and a shorter period called the New Peace. The Final War led to the invention of blood-powered machines and a climate catastrophe that blotted out the Sun. During the New Peace, humans discovered Hell and began expeditions for resources before their extinction. With blood sources on Earth exhausted, blood-fueled machines descend into Hell in search of blood. The player character is V1, a prototype machine capable of self-repair by absorbing blood during combat. V1 fights husks, demons, angels, and competing machines while traveling through the layers of Hell, encountering characters such as V2, King Minos, and the archangel Gabriel. The plot involves God's disappearance, Heaven's rule by a council, and Gabriel's eventual rebellion against that council.
Reader's Guide
Ultrakill is significant for its emphasis on aggressive, stylish gameplay, encouraging players to heal by absorbing blood through close-range combat or parrying attacks. Its style meter, similar to Devil May Cry, rewards advanced moves, aerial maneuvering, and quick weapon swapping. The game's reception highlighted its movement mechanics and authenticity toward earlier arena shooters and first-person shooters. PC Gamer described it as faster and "even more metal than Doom Eternal," praising its verticality and noting it "looks like a PSX game." TheGamer wrote that "Ultrakill ticked off every box for me." The game achieved 100,000 Steam reviews with a 98% approval rating as of 15 May 2024. A major update on 24 February 2025, "ULTRA_REVAMP," overhauled graphics, added Encore levels, and included music from King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. The game also gained attention for an official mod called UKbutt, adding controller rumble support under the guise of sex toy support, which was met with positive user reviews.
Did You Know?
- The game's style meter and combination attacks are inspired by Devil May Cry.
- Achieving a P (Perfect) rank requires an S rank in all categories without dying.
- The "ULTRA_REVAMP" update on 24 February 2025 added music from King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard.
- An official mod called UKbutt added support for the buttplug.io plugin for controller rumble.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who developed Ultrakill?
Ultrakill was created by solo developer Arsi "Hakita" Patala and published by New Blood Interactive. It started as a small passion project before growing into a full standalone title.
What makes Ultrakill's gameplay feel different from other FPS games?
The game pairs a deliberately low-resolution, PS1-era visual style with fluid, momentum-based movement drawn from titles like Titanfall and Doom Eternal. It also layers in a style-rating system inspired by Devil May Cry that rewards creative, chained combat.
When did Ultrakill first become playable?
It entered Steam Early Access on 3 September 2020, initially available only on Microsoft Windows. As of mid-2024 the title has gathered over 100,000 Steam reviews with a 98% positive rating.
Who is the protagonist of Ultrakill?
You play as V1, a rogue, blood-powered robot that must constantly consume the blood of fallen enemies to keep its systems running. The narrative follows V1 as it battles its way through the layers of Hell.
How much of Ultrakill's story has been released so far?
Act I and Act II are fully complete, and the first two layers of Act III have been made available to players. The remainder of Act III and any further content are still in active development.
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