Black Future '88
A roguelike tower climb before your heart explodes.
Black Future '88 is a roguelike video game from developer SUPERSCARYSNAKES and publisher Good Shepherd Entertainment. It launched on November 21, 2019, for Windows and Nintendo Switch. The story takes place in a reimagined 1988, where survivors of a nuclear disaster must ascend a tower before their hearts give out. Critical response was split: the PC version earned mixed reviews, while the Switch version was better received.
In the game, players control a nuclear apocalypse survivor who must climb a procedurally generated tower to stop the Architect from freezing time in 1988. Six characters are available, each with unique loadouts and traits. After 18 minutes, the character's heart explodes. Movement includes double jumping, dashing, and simultaneous aiming and shooting. The tower is divided into rooms filled with enemies, with a boss fight every five or six screens. Defeated enemies drop currency used to buy ammunition, health, and weapons. As players complete more runs, they can carry or purchase more weapons.
Development was handled by SUPERSCARYSNAKES. The game was featured at the Indie Megabooth during the 2018 Game Developers Conference. In October 2019, the November 21 release date for PC and Nintendo Switch was announced.
According to review aggregator Metacritic, the PC version received "mixed or average" reviews, while the Nintendo Switch version earned "generally favorable" scores. OpenCritic reported fair approval, with 60% of critics recommending the game. Nintendo Life's Jake Baldwin praised the cyberpunk visual style as "masterfully crafted" and reminiscent of *Blade Runner*, and found all rooms "balanced to perfection." In contrast, Shacknews's Blake Morse criticized the game's lack of balance but liked its retro style and soundtrack. Nintendo World Report's Jordan Rudek disliked the time limit mechanic and felt variety was lacking, though he appreciated the music, gameplay, and visuals. Digitally Downloaded's Matt Sainsbury called the game "quite exceptional" but noted it lacked a standout narrative. Hardcore Gamer's Kyle LeClair said the time limit and pacing left little room for story development, concluding it was "almost a quintessential throwback to '80s arcade games."
Quick Facts
- Title
- Black Future '88
- Developer
- SUPERSCARYSNAKES
- Publisher
- Good Shepherd Entertainment
- Platforms
- Windows / Nintendo Switch
- Released
- November 21, 2019
- Genre
- Roguelike
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
Black Future '88 is set in an alternate version of 1988, where survivors of a nuclear apocalypse must climb a procedurally generated tower to stop the Architect from keeping time stuck in that year. The player controls one of six characters, each with different loadouts and traits. After 18 minutes, the character's heart explodes. The tower is split into rooms containing enemies, with a boss fight appearing every five or six screens. Defeated enemies drop currency used to buy ammunition, health, and weapons; the number of weapons available increases as more runs are completed. The game was showcased at the Indie Megabooth during the 2018 Game Developers Conference, and its release was announced in October 2019.
Reader's Guide
Black Future '88 is notable for its time-limit mechanic, which forces the player to complete runs within 18 minutes before the character's heart explodes. The game received mixed reviews on PC but generally favorable reviews on Nintendo Switch, according to Metacritic. OpenCritic assessed that the game received fair approval, recommended by 60% of critics. Critics praised the cyberpunk visual style, comparing it to Blade Runner, and the soundtrack, but opinions varied on balance and variety. Some reviewers found the rooms balanced to perfection, while others believed the game lacked balance. The time limit was criticized for leaving little room to develop the story, and the game was described as lacking narrative depth. Despite this, it was called 'quite exceptional' by one critic and 'almost a quintessential throwback to '80s arcade games' by another. Its legacy lies in its distinctive blend of roguelike progression, a strict time limit, and a retro-futuristic aesthetic.
Did You Know?
- The PC version received mixed reviews, while the Switch version received generally favorable reviews on Metacritic.
- The game features six characters with different loadouts and traits.
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