Oct 27

Totally Spaced - bigTbone59

Welcome back to your reinitialization training simulation! Please take time to orient yourself to this new environment.

The Training Simulation Update is now available in the main game!

In this update, we've added a beginning tutorial section to help newcomers with controls and mechanics. If you've been thinking that Totally Spaced seemed overwhelming to get in to, worry no more! When you start a new game, you will be transported to the user-friendly, simulated environment that will walk you through all the out's and in's of how to play.

You'll learn such things as:

1. Pushing buttons on your keyboard

2. Pushing in-game buttons

3. Pushing in-game buttons, but in sequences

And more!

We will continue to polish the tutorial, including adding a full voiceover guide to make it a more immersive and accessible experience. So stay tuned for that!

We are still trying to figure out how to teach players to 'git gud'; so if you are a game journalist, unfortunately, this super simple tutorial section still may be too difficult for you. And if you are not a game journalist and are still struggling with the tutorial, please let us know of any issues you are having so we can fix them!

In other news, we are still hard at work making updates to improve the game as well as add more content. You can expect the release of another small regular update soon that will add a few puzzles to an early section of the game.

Then we will be working on the next major update, Chapter 2.

If you'd like to try out the game in early access, playtest brand-new content in the beta version, leave feedback, or report bugs, please reach out to us on Discord!

🔗 Join us on Discord!

Oct 27

PAX Build

Fox and Shadow Playtest - JacksonM8 Games

The team has finally recovered from an amazing and hectic PAX Aus 2025, so it's high time we released some of the content updates that snuck their way into the PAX exhibition build. We've even added a few extra balance tweaks on top, we'd love to hear your thoughts on balance!

Before we dive into the details though, a huge thanks to everyone who dropped by the booth! It was amazing to see people turn up wearing the Fox and Shadow shirt, we're so stoked to see so many players are as excited about Fox and Shadow as we are.

Patch notes:

Adds a new set of moves for the Careless trait:

The Careless set serves as a move set where you use health and a lack of fine control to play cards instead of energy. We’re looking forward to seeing how people mess with these moves!

Bounce:
- Base: Deal 4 damage to a random enemy. Take 2 damage and draw 1 card.
- Adv.: Deal 6 damage to a random enemy. Take 2 damage and draw 1 card.
Copy Cat:
- Base: Take 2 damage, draw 2 cards and gain 2 Swarm.
- Adv.: Take 2 damage, draw 2 cards and gain 3 Swarm.
Misfire:
- Base: Deal 3 damage and Apply 2 Melt to a random enemy. Gain 2 Melt.
- Adv.: Deal 3 damage and apply 2 Melt to 2 random enemies. Gain 2 Melt.
Randomize:
- Base: Gain 2 Shields and 1 Output. Apply 1 Output to a random enemy.
- Adv.: Gain 4 Shields and 1 Output. Apply 1 Output to a random enemy.

Rebalances the existing HotShot x Swarm moves

Phalanx:
- Base: 5 -> 4 Shields gained per enemy
- Adv.: 8 -> 6 Shields gained per enemy
- Notes: Phalanx was simply too powerful in multi-enemy fights. It dwarfed the majority of the other defensive options by too large of a margin. This change tones down the effectiveness of this card, without completely crippling it.
Rollout:
- Base: Deal 6 -> 4 damage to selected enemy. Deal 4 damage to all enemies
- Adv.: Deal 8 -> 6 damage to selected enemy. Deal 6 damage to all enemies.
- Notes: Similar to Phalanx we considered Rollout to be too strong of a move. Due to the nature of the move, it would hit its primary target twice. This meant that effects like output or berserk would be applied twice, allowing players to carve through enemies like butter. We still want it to serve as an effective tool to fight multiple enemies, but not out perform every other leap move for the same cost.
Firewall:
- Base: Convert Melt to Berserk
- Adv.: Convert Melt to Berserk. Gain Shields equal to Berserk.
- Notes: After some testing we decided to replace Firewall’s with an entirely new move. Previously Firewall helped with passive generation of Berserk stats as you got hit. However this didn’t fall in line with the idea that the Hotshot is a reckless combatant, rather than a reactive fighter. The new move here gives players a viable alternative to Heatsink for managing the status debuff “Melt” and at the same time giving players the ability to hit (and get hit) harder.
Deflector: can no longer target self
Move descriptions clarified, typos removed
Fixed color tag typos in narrative dialogue & options

Rebalances shop purchasing options:

The merchant seemed a little lacklustre as a spot to visit on the map, so we added a bit of spice that brings it closer to what our intention is for the final product.

Modded cards now cost more, Virus-ridden ones tend to cost less
Added an extra pre-set purchase list to the scenario generation options (2 -> 3)

Adds new Plate Mods:

Cycling: When played, draw 1 card.
Discharging: When played, deal 1 damage to a random enemy.
Guarding: When played, gain 3 Shields
Rallying: When played, gain 1 Swarm
Rampaging: When played, gain 2 Berserk
Recharging: When played, gain 1 Energy next turn

Updates plate mods:

Sharpened: Changed name from "Sharp"
Weakening: Changed name from "Weaken"

Adds new Viruses:

Overclocked: When played, gain 1 Output and 3 Melt.
Pirating: When played, take 5 damage and deal 3 damage to all enemies
Vanishing: When played, deplete this card.

Narrative:

Fixed broken color tags in narrative dialogue & options

Tutorials:

The Combiner button must now be clicked to dismiss the Combiner tutorial, instead of just hitting accept
Addressed typos

Oct 27

Level Contest - Adventure Remixed

Zeepkist - Akane

Season 7: Theme 3

THEME: Adventure Remixed

Take one of the Official Adventure Mode levels from the A Series (A-01 through A-18 only) and put your own spin on it! Remix the layout, add decorations or tweak checkpoints — make it uniquely yours!

Looking for ideas? Roll a D20 and remix the Adventure Level it lands on! Roll again if it lands on 19/20…

If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the discussion thread of this news post! Good luck, and happy building!

DOWNLOAD ADVENTURE LEVELS

Download Levels on kDrive

Click the Download Levels on kDrive button above and extract the ZIP into your Zeepkist Levels folder:

[c]%APPDATA%\\Zeepkist\\Levels[/c]

You can then open your desired Adventure Mode level in the Level Editor.

Not sure where your Levels folder is? When loading levels in the Level Editor, click the Folder icon with the Windows logo. It will open the Levels folder in File Explorer automatically!

DEADLINE

Your track should be complete and submitted by Sunday, 16th November 2025 at 18:00 GMT
Submissions will be combined into a single workshop item after the deadline above

SUBMISSION RULES

You can only submit one level
- You can modify or replace your submission as much as you like until the deadline
Level collaborations are permitted
- Maximum of 3 players per level
- This counts as a level submission for each individual creator
- Please add collaborators in the collaborators text field of the Level Editor level settings and mention them when submitting the level
Level author name MUST contain the submitters' Steam (or Discord) username
The name of the level MUST start with "ZSL - " (e.g "ZSL - My Level")
Your submission MUST be created within the 3 week building period. Please do not re-upload older maps—even if they fit the theme!

THEME RULES

You MUST remix an Adventure Mode level from the A Series (A-01 through A-18 only)
- Remixes of A-19 through A-24, or any other Adventure Series (B-, C-, etc.), will not be accepted
Level name MUST include the original level number somewhere in the name
You may move the start, checkpoints and/or finish blocks in your remix
If the original level's length doesn't match the author time restrictions, you must adjust your remix to fit

LEVEL RULES

Scaling track pieces is permitted
Level MUST follow any theme requirements set above
Level MUST be under 3000 blocks
Level MUST have an author time above 25 seconds
Level MUST have an author time under 60 seconds
Level MUST have at least 3 checkpoints.
- Consider adding additional checkpoints for split timing or where it would prevent a cut, as cuts do not make for good tournament tracks!
Level MUST NOT have risky or hidden finishes/shortcuts
- e.g blind shortcuts or using no-collision/invisible/logic blocks to hide a secret path that is NOT the intended route. This includes hidden linked checkpoints.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR LEVEL

Join our Official Discord server
Upload the level to the Steam Workshop
Link the workshop item in the theme's thread in #level-submissions

Don't have Discord? You can submit your entry by linking your workshop item in the comments section of this announcement post!

WINNERS & PRIZES

Up to 14 levels will be featured in the monthly Zeepkist Super League tournament; picked by our judging panel

The community will vote on their favourite maps from the theme once submissions close

Creators of the 4 best decorated and 4 best track design/flow will win the Season 7 Level Contest cosmetic (two unique Soapbox cosmetics!)
- Black F-9000 Soapbox with Yellow Accent
- Yellow F-9000 Soapbox with Black Accent
Winners who are Zeepkist Discord members will additionally:
- Receive 6,000 XP on the Discord server
- Receive a role reward for the round won

WHAT MAKES A LEVEL FUN TO RACE

To give your level the best chance of being one of the up to 14 levels selected for the monthly Zeepkist Super League tournament by our panel of judges, focus on creating a track that is enjoyable to race. Keep these points in mind while building and testing your level:

Enjoyability: Is your level fun to drive? Focus on smooth, flowing racing lines that are satisfying to drive. Add interesting twists, jumps or obstacles that make the track exciting without creating frustration.
Learnability: Can players of all skill levels pick up your level and complete it in a reasonable time? The Super League is open to everyone, so try to design your level so both newcomers and experienced racers can enjoy it and have a chance to set a time.
Theme Fit: Make sure the level fits the theme requirements

Levels are judged on their own merits, not based on who built them.

BANNER CONTEST

We're also hosting a themed banner contest for our Discord server banner image where you can win the brand new Banner Contest paraglider cosmetic for Season 7!!

The theme is Adventure Remixed and ends at the same time as this level contest!! View the banner contest event details on Discord

- Akane