View source for 20XX

{{short description|2017 video game}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = 20XX
| image = 20XX (video game).jpg
| caption = 
| developer = Batterystaple Games<br />Fire Hose Games
| publisher = Batterystaple Games
| series = 
| engine = 
| platforms = [[Windows]], [[PlayStation 4]], [[Nintendo Switch]], [[Xbox One]]
| released = '''Windows'''<br>{{Unbulleted list|October 12, 2016 ([[Early access]])|August 16, 2017 (full)}}'''PS4, Switch'''<br>July 10, 2018<br>'''Xbox One'''<br>July 11, 2018
| genre = [[Platform game|Platform]]
| modes = [[Single-player video game|Single-player]], [[Multiplayer video game|multiplayer]]
| director = Chris King
| artist = Zach Urtes
| composer = Brandon Ellis
| alt = 
}}

'''''20XX''''' is a [[platform game]] developed by American studio Batterystaple Games.<ref name="Polygon" /> The [[early access]] version was released for [[Microsoft Windows]] on [[Steam (service)|Steam]] on October 12, 2016,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://store.steampowered.com/app/322110/|title=20XX on Steam|website=[[Steam (service)|Steam]]|accessdate=July 21, 2016}}</ref> and in full on August 16, 2017.<ref>{{Cite web |title=20XX 1.0: Coming August 16, 2017! :: 20XX Events & Announcements |url=https://steamcommunity.com/app/322110/eventcomments/1634166237653616295?snr=1_2108_9__1601 |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=steamcommunity.com |language=en}}</ref> [[PlayStation 4]], [[Nintendo Switch]], and [[Xbox One]] versions were released in July 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2018-05-23 |title=20XX launches for PS4 and Switch on July 10, Xbox One on July 11 |url=https://www.gematsu.com/2018/05/20xx-launches-for-ps4-and-switch-on-july-10-xbox-one-on-july-11 |access-date=2023-08-15 |website=Gematsu |language=en-US}}</ref>  A sequel, ''[[30XX]]'', was released on Steam Early Access on February 17, 2021, and in full on August 9, 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-02-13|title=30XX is the sequel to Mega Man-inspired roguelike 20XX|url=https://venturebeat.com/2020/02/13/30xx-is-the-sequel-to-mega-man-inspired-roguelike-20xx/|access-date=2021-04-22|website=VentureBeat|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2023/06/30xx-launches-august-9|title=30XX launches August 9|last=Romano|first=Sal|website=Gematsu|date=2023-06-11|access-date=2023-06-11}}</ref>

== Gameplay ==
Inspired by ''[[Mega Man X]]'', players must defeat enemies and complete difficult [[Platformer|platforming]] challenges to finish a stage. In contrast to ''Mega Max X,'' stages are [[procedural generation|proceduraly generated]] based on level segments, or "chunks", and allow for both local and online [[Cooperative video game|co-op]].<ref name="Polygon">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2015/3/25/8285291/20xx-batterystaple-games-roguelike-mega-man|title=20XX is a co-op, roguelike take on Mega Man|date=March 25, 2015|author=Samit Sarkar|work=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]]|accessdate=July 21, 2016}}</ref> Rather than giving several lives, the game has [[permadeath]], but is a "[[Roguelike|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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=http://www.co-optimus.com/interview/1574/page/1/indie-ana-co-op-and-the-20xx-interview.html|title=Interview - Indie-Ana Co-Op and the 20XX Interview|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref>

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.<ref name=":0" /> Upon beating a [[Boss (video games)|boss]] the player can choose between multiple rewards: the boss' power (granting them a new special ability), bolts, or a random passive upgrade.<ref name=":0" />

== Plot ==
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.<ref name="Polygon" /> 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 ==
''20XX'' began development after a [[crowdfunding]] campaign on [[Kickstarter]] in the spring of 2014, when the game was called ''Echoes of Eridu''.<ref name="Polygon" /> Following a successful Kickstarter, the game joined the Fire Hose Games accelerator program and appeared in the Indie Megabooth at [[PAX (event)|Penny Arcade Expo]] 2015.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://indiemegabooth.com/project/20xx/|title=20XX - Indie MEGABOOTH|language=en-US|access-date=2016-08-27|archive-date=2016-09-14|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914134139/http://indiemegabooth.com/project/20xx/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

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 [[Young adult (psychology)|late 20s]].<ref name=":0" /> 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.<ref name=":0" />

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.<ref name=":0" />

Chris believes that [[Steam (service)|Steam]]'s [[Early access|Early Access]] program was essential to the development of the game, and he "couldn't imagine" releasing the game without it.<ref name=":0" />

== Soundtrack ==
The game's [[soundtrack]] was composed by Brandon "Cityfires" Ellis and includes [[chiptune]] and [[synthesizer]] elements to make it resemble that of a [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] game.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://soundcloud.com/cityfires/sets/20xx|title=20XX|website=SoundCloud|access-date=2016-08-27}}</ref>

== Reception ==
{{Expand section|date=March 2025}}
{{Video game reviews
| MC = NS: 77/100{{efn|Based on 14 reviews}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/20xx/critic-reviews/?platform=nintendo-switch |title=20XX for Switch Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref><br />PS4: 77/100{{efn|Based on 6 reviews}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/20xx/critic-reviews/?platform=playstation-4 |title=20XX for PlayStation 4 Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref><br />XONE: 79/100{{efn|Based on 6 reviews}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/20xx/critic-reviews/?platform=xbox-one |title=20XX for Xbox One Reviews |website=[[Metacritic]] |publisher=[[CBS Interactive]] |accessdate=26 March 2025}}</ref>
|OC=68% recommend{{efn|Based on 47 reviews}}<ref>{{cite web |title=20XX Reviews |url=https://opencritic.com/game/4748/20xx |website=OpenCritic |access-date=26 March 2025 |language=en}}</ref>
}}
''[[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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/20xx|title=''20XX'' Review (Switch eShop)|last=Jagneaux|first=David|work=[[Nintendo Life]]|date=2018-07-09|accessdate=2023-11-03}}</ref> ''Nintendo World Report'' recommended it to fans of ''Mega Man'' and platform games, but they felt it should have more story.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/47721/20xx-switch-review|title=''20XX'' (Switch) Review|last=Parton|first=Mitchell|work=Nintendo World Report|date=2018-07-09|accessdate=2023-11-03}}</ref>

== Notes ==
{{notelist}}

==See also==
* ''[[Mega Man X]]''
* ''[[Mighty No. 9]]''

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
* {{Official website|http://batterystaplegames.com}}

[[Category:2016 video games]]
[[Category:Action games]]
[[Category:Early access video games]]
[[Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games]]
[[Category:Kickstarter-funded video games]]
[[Category:Windows games]]
[[Category:PlayStation 4 games]]
[[Category:Xbox One games]]
[[Category:Nintendo Switch games]]
[[Category:Platformers]]
[[Category:Indie games]]
[[Category:Science fiction video games]]
[[Category:Video games about robots]]
[[Category:Video games set in the 21st century]]
[[Category:Video games about artificial intelligence]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Video games using procedural generation]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Fire Hose Games games]]