Hello everyone and welcome back to another blog post. Let’s get one thing straight: I’m not here to hold your hand through another “hidden indie gem” puff piece. I’m here because 30XX exists, it’s genuinely excellent, and roughly ninety percent of you are going to scroll past it anyway because the protagonist isn’t a depressed dad with a beard. Fine. Your loss.
But since I’m apparently obligated to prove I actually know what I’m talking about—with citations and everything—I’ll do it properly. With sarcasm. You’re welcome.
What Is 30XX, For Those Who’ve Been Living Under a Rock (Or Only Play AAA Sequels)?
30XX is a roguelike action platformer developed by Batterystaple Games, released out of early access in August 2023. It combines the crisp, precise movement of classic Mega Man X with the replayability of modern roguelikes like Dead Cells or Enter the Gungeon, plus co-op play. You wake up a thousand years after 20XX to find the world has become a lush, verdant prison ruled by a Synthetic Mind, and humanity has collectively lost its ambition. Relatable, honestly.
You pick between Ace, who punches things with swift combo techniques, or Nina, who uses a more intricate Power Fusion system. Every run gives you new levels, items, and powers. There’s a level editor that uses the same tools the developers themselves used. And yes, you can play with a friend, locally or online, which immediately makes it better than 90% of the games in your backlog that you’ll never finish alone anyway.
FAQ: Because Search Engines Want Bullet Points and I’m Compliant
Is 30XX the same as 20XX?
No. 20XX was the predecessor. 30XX is the sequel with more characters, a level editor, and significantly more polish. If you played 20XX and thought “this is fine but I wish it were better,” congratulations, your wish was granted three years ago and you missed it.
Is 30XX hard?
It’s a roguelike platformer inspired by Mega Man X. What do you think? Yes, it’s hard. But the meta-progression lets you tune difficulty and unlock permanent upgrades, so it’s the kind of hard that respects your time rather than the kind that just wants to watch you suffer.
Can I play 30XX with a friend?
Yes. Local and online co-op for up to two players. Finally, a game you can blame your friend for dying in instead of only blaming yourself.
Does 30XX have a level editor?
Yes, and it’s the same toolset the developers used. Which means either the developers are very trusting, or they’re confident you can’t make anything worse than what the procedural generator already throws at you. Both are valid.
Is 30XX worth buying in 2026?
It’s $20 or less, it runs on a toaster, it has 91% positive Steam reviews, and it’ll scratch the Mega Man X itch that Capcom has been ignoring for a decade. If that’s not worth your money, I don’t know what to tell you. Go buy another live-service battle pass. See how that goes.
The Part Where I Wrap This Up With a Bow
30XX isn’t trying to be your forever game. It’s not a live service. It’s not a cinematic universe. It’s a tight, responsive, beautifully pixelated roguelike that respects your time, your intelligence, and your muscle memory for dash-jumping. It’s the kind of game that reminds you why you liked video games before they became second jobs.
And if you’re still not convinced, that’s fine. The rest of us will be over here, dying to the same Guardian for the fifteenth time, muttering “one more run” at 2 AM. It’s a good time. You’re missing it.
But hey—at least this blog post had sources. That’s more than I can say for most of the internet.