ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced retro shooter created by Arsi "Hakita" Patala and published by New Blood Interactive. It entered Early Access in September 2020 and has received wide acclaim for its blistering speed, inventive weapons and stylish combat. Inspired by classic 1990s shooters and character-action games, it casts you as V1, a machine powered by blood, in a world where humanity is gone.

How to Play ULTRAKILL: Rules and Objectives

Fight through levels filled with demons and machines. V1 heals by getting close to enemies and absorbing their blood, so aggressive play is rewarded. A style meter grades your combat, encouraging variety and creative combos. Each level ends with a rank based on time, kills and style.

• Movement: Dash, slide, wall-jump and slam to stay fast and hard to hit.
• Weapons: Revolvers, shotguns, nailguns and more each have alternate fire modes.
• Coin Tricks: One revolver variant lets you flip coins and shoot them to ricochet shots into enemies.
• Style Ranking: Varied, flashy combat raises your rank.

Controls and Movement Guide

• Move: W, A, S, D; jump with Spacebar.
• Dash: Shift.
• Slide / Ground Slam: Ctrl (slide on the ground, slam in the air).
• Shoot: Left-click; alternate fire with right-click.
• Switch Weapons: Number keys or the mouse wheel; punch with the punch key shown in settings.

Proven Strategies and Pro Tips

1. Stay Aggressive: Healing comes from nearby enemies, so hiding is usually worse than attacking.
2. Never Stop Moving: Dashing and sliding make you much harder to hit.
3. Switch Weapons Often: Variety boosts your style rank and keeps damage high.
4. Learn Parrying: Punching certain projectiles back at enemies is powerful and stylish.

A Modern Take on Retro Shooters

ULTRAKILL is part of a wave of "boomer shooters" that revive the speed and level design of classic 1990s games. It adds modern ideas such as style rankings and deep movement tech, creating a game that is easy to start but has a very high skill ceiling. Its soundtrack and visual style have also earned a dedicated fan base.

Cognitive and Educational Benefits

• Reaction Speed: Constant fast decisions train reflexes.
• Spatial Awareness: Tracking enemies in 3D builds orientation skills.
• Creative Problem Solving: Players invent combos and approaches.

Understanding the Style Meter

ULTRAKILL's style meter rewards variety. Repeating the same attack lowers its value, while switching weapons, using movement tricks and performing special actions like parries and coin ricochets raise your rank. Higher style ranks contribute to your final level grade. Learning to keep the meter high naturally pushes you toward faster, more creative play, which is exactly what the game is designed to encourage.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)