RETOOLED

Released: Sep 25, 2023
Platforms
Last updated: 15 Sep 2026, 08:02 GMT

Updates & announcements

20 posts

17 Apr 2025Developer post
Masters Of Destruction update is now out!
With the Masters Of Destruction update comes plenty of new stuff and improvements! It did take me longer then expected to finalize this major free update for RETOOLED and I'm quite happy with the results and I hope you will enjoy it as much as I have. GL&HF wrecking havoc in
11 Jul 2024Developer post
Update 1.1.5 is now out!
Development update: Hello everyone! I hope summer has been treating you all well, for myself, I have managed to get a week off to recover but now I'm back to work on RETOOLEDs next content update Masters Of Destruction . The goal is to have it finished and released in Q4 2024 :).
26 Feb 2024Developer post
TALES OF DESTRUCTION update is now OUT!
The TALES OF DESTRUCTION update is now out! This update brings plenty of new content, so let me highlight the major features :) A high score and rank system have been implemented on each map as well as an overall Story, rank and high score. Learn and earn the score multipliers to
29 Jan 2024Developer post
Tales Of Destruction - preview build OUT NOW, full release late february :)
Hi everyone! I hope you all had a great start to the new year, I've been productive myself :) Today I'm releasing a preview build of the upcoming update, Tales Of Destruction, Feel free to opt-in for the beta branch on steam and let me know what you think. I aim to fully release
15 Dec 2023Developer post
RETOOLED : Dev Update
Hi everyone! I wanted to give you all an update on the development of RETOOLED and what to expect for the future. First of all, today I'm releasing update 1.0.8 which contains: New melee attack, camera shake overhaul, new enemy death animations, QOL features, HUD updates, more he
Hi everyone!
I wanted to give you all an update on the development of RETOOLED and what to expect for the future.
First of all, today I'm releasing update 1.0.8 which contains: New melee attack, camera shake overhaul, new enemy death animations, QOL features, HUD updates, more help menu entries and a few bug fixes and balancing.
Work is progressing on the big 1.1 update, now called Tales Of Destruction. I'm aiming to release Tales Of Destruction early Q1 2024 and for FREE. :) I will take more about what to expect from this update early next year.
I can also announce Tales of Destruction won't be the only addition next year, the prep work has already begun on 1.2, Masters of destruction which I hope to release the first half of 2024 and for free :D
I hope to see you all in 2024 and remember, keep wrecking those bots!
/ Oliver - Swarm Creations
Patch notes for 1.0.8:

NEW - Melee attack, you can finally punch those pesky bots. Dash + melee, charges the attack dealing even more damage and pushes enemies further away!
NEW - Physics death animations for all enemy bots, punch or explode them to destruction to trigger these new animations!
NEW - Camera shake system overhaul, nothing was left untouched. Actions and movement now feel more impact full. Not a fan of camera shakes? There is an option to put them to low or turn off player induced camera shakes. - Several AI attacks can now cause smaller camera shakes.
NEW - Help menu now contains the enemy roster, read up on the foes you face.
HUD updates: - Hit indicator size and animation updated. Its opacity setting is now exposed to the user. - Critical damage post process effect added, color now fades out when approaching critical damage. Changed message's position and size. My goal is to increase the information intake in the heat of the moment. Feel free to drop suggestions for future additions.
Bug fixes: - Wasp tank direct rocket hits should now deal damage. - Parabellum arena skip fixed. - Weapons and abilities missed gets still unlocked at the end of the level.
Smaller optimizations to some of the projectiles.
Want a peak behind the curtain? Well then.. development of RETOOLEDs future content happens over on Youtube and Twitch. Feel free to follow along! :)
Original post
24 Nov 2023Developer post
Hotfix patch #2 for New Tools Of Destruction
Hello everyone! Small hotfix patch. - Fixed the equipment progression that got broken by the previous patch. - HUD changes to improve readability. I'm extremely sorry about the progression being broken, and want to apologize for any inconvenience. Know that I have now changed up
21 Nov 2023Developer post
RETOOLED IS NOW 25% OFF! :D Vote for RETOOLED in the 2023 steam awards!
The holidays are fast approaching and it's time for sharing, caring and so RETOOLED is now 25% off! 2023 Steam awards are now so why not cast your vote on any of the smaller titles releasing this year? I would greatly appreciate any votes for RETOOLED :). Development is continuin
04 Nov 2023Developer post
New Tools Of Destruction - Hotfixes
A hotfix patch just released fixing some new bugs introduced in the New Tools Of Destruction build. Level outro menu visibility bug is now fixed. (Was introduced the in latest build) Gatekeepers: Flawless challenge now correctly checks its condition. Equipment presets now have th
A hotfix patch just released fixing some new bugs introduced in the New Tools Of Destruction build.

Level outro menu visibility bug is now fixed. (Was introduced the in latest build)
Gatekeepers: Flawless challenge now correctly checks its condition.
Equipment presets now have the correct requirements for its equipment.
Cluster Grenade explosion sound distance increased.
Nano bots boost ability activation sound increased.
Omni bot, boss version got a health increase.
The development process is being streamed on Twitch and Youtube, work on the untitled 1.1 patch continues. Have a great weekend!
Original post
02 Nov 2023Developer post
New Tools Of Destruction update is now OUT!
The New Tools Of Destruction update is out now! This update massively expands the arsenal in RETOOLED with 9 new abilities and 4 new pieces of equipment . :) Your preference of destruction gets expanded by completing level challenges. But that is not all! Movement : These adjustm
The New Tools Of Destruction update is out now!
This update massively expands the arsenal in RETOOLED with 9 new abilities and 4 new pieces of equipment. :) Your preference of destruction gets expanded by completing level challenges.
But that is not all!

Movement : These adjustments are made to make you feel more in control of your movement.

Base top speed increase from 1200 - 1300
Acceleration increase from 11250 - 15750
Uniformed the air control amount, no longer varies dependent on z velocity. Slightly increased air control in relation to top speed.
Perch radius lowered from 70 - 40. This allows you to stand closer to ledges without falling off.
Travel mode now also affects your acceleration and deaceleration making you more agile than before.
Lv. Parabellum has gotten a reinforcement update.

2 arenas have been reworked
Overall art polish
Lightning update
Boosted jump mark indicators have been added to help new players identify arena pathway options.
Speedrunning stats display for each level and overall story completion time for each difficulty.
3 new achievements tied to overall story completion time.
Menu updates

Visual overhaul, backgrounds/colors.
Help menu got several new entries for new abilities and equipment along with a structural overhaul.
New loadout menu, accessible in story menu as well as between levels so you can make changes without going back to main menu.
New tooltip, visual overhaul and more expansive information display.
Weapons tutorial in Awakening got a small highlight update.
Level outro menu adjustments, stats display addition and visual update.
Objective icons in the world got several changes to their transparency calculation. They are now more visible when looked at and fades in and out more quickly.
Challenge icon updates.
Sound / Music

Jumping SFX pass, now differentiate between Jumping/Boosted Jump/Double jump/Bunny hopping and Jumppack.
Level "Cooldown" got several music changes, it is now more varied and in line with the overall tone.
Bug fixes

Disrupter bot will no longer trigger the end of the jump attack after death.
ESD Grenade now requires 2 plasma bolts to be charged. Explosion VFX will now trigger correctly once charged.
The level challenge display will now display level names correctly.
Wasp tank laser beam attack now stops correctly at death.
Wasp tank logic fixes when entering and exiting defensive mode. (Known issue, can in rare cases have it's shield active even if not in defensive mode.)
Parabellum, hidden disrupter bot trigger fixes.
Multiple grammatical errors fixed.

Developing this update has also meant doing a bunch of prep work for the upcoming 1.1 patch that will be the next larger patch coming to RETOOLED, want to follow along the development and peek behind the curtain? Join our discord or catch the live streams over on Twitch.
For now, bunny hop your way into the action a wreck some bots with your new tools! Will you manage to complete the new achievement STORY: PhD in RETOOLED?
Original post
10 Oct 2023Developer post
REINFORCEMENT update out now!
Hi everyone! The REINFORCEMENT update is now live! Changelog: - Overwatch arena A-N2 got a overhaul, several additional paths added making the arena flow better. - The MELTAGUN got a rework, its projectiles now bounce upto 5 times and increases its damage after each enemy hit by
28 Sep 2023Developer post
Hotfixes n Balance changes + Ability Notifications
Hi there! I will talk more about the future content of RETOOLED in the coming weeks but for right now I've a small patch with some fixes, balance changes and a few quality of life features. Fixes: - ICARUS top floor was missing collision near roof beams, now fixed. - ICARUS objec
25 Sep 2023Developer post
RETOOLED is now available!
The day we've all been waiting for has arrived—RETOOLED is officially out and ready to redefine your FPS experience! A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has joined us on this incredible journey. Your support, enthusiasm, and feedback have made this moment even
The day we've all been waiting for has arrived—RETOOLED is officially out and ready to redefine your FPS experience! A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of you who has joined us on this incredible journey. Your support, enthusiasm, and feedback have made this moment even more special!
I've teased you with mini-trailers that showcased the arsenal, the arenas, and heart-pounding combat. Now it's time to dive in and live the action yourself! RETOOLED promises a unique blend of momentum-based gameplay, strategic thinking, and intense combat puzzles.

Experience the rush of high-stakes combat puzzles!
Navigate through race track-like arenas designed to challenge your quick reflexes and strategic thinking.
Take on a wide roster of enemies, each playing a unique role in pushing you into the 'fun zone'.
Experience the "Arena Master" systems that adapt the gameplay based on your actions and positions.
I've poured my heart and souls into making RETOOLED not just another game, but an unforgettable experience that stands alongside its peers in the FPS genre and the best part? We're just getting started.
So, gear up, bunny hop into the action, and let's make some unforgettable gaming memories together!
Feel free to share your game experiences and feedback. I can't wait to hear what you think!

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🎮 Get RETOOLED Now! 🎮
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
20 Sep 2023Developer post
Deep dive #4 - What is easy and what is hard?
Salutations! It is time for the fourth post in the deep dives series, today we are looking into how RETOOLED is handling difficulty levels. To start off this deep dive I would like to explain my view on difficulty levels and their goal in RETOOLED as I believe the perception of w
Salutations! It is time for the fourth post in the deep dives series, today we are looking into how RETOOLED is handling difficulty levels.
To start off this deep dive I would like to explain my view on difficulty levels and their goal in RETOOLED as I believe the perception of what a certain difficulty level should be differs a lot from gamer to gamer.
It is important to me that I do not alter the core gameplay DNA when creating different difficulty levels in RETOOLED. I do not want RETOOLED to go from a momentum shooter to a cover shooter, instead the idea is to increase the pressure on the player. To achieve this:
I have created an “attack token” request system for AIs where they have to ask for permission to attack. This gives me greater control to not only make sure there aren't too uneven difficulty spikes within a map but also establish the baseline pressure for each difficulty level.
I slightly tweak AI behaviors like their reaction time to player focus, their need to avoid being targeted, defensive abilities cooldown and their charges.
Attack option selection to either slightly favor weaker or stronger attacks dependent on difficulty level.
Minor stat boosts, some % are AI dependent so not all are equal.
Normal
is the intended way for RETOOLED to be experienced. RETOOLED is meant to be challenging so the normal difficulty level can seem tough.
100% attack tokens
100% damage
100% health
Standard behavior/reactions
Starts levels with the intended amount of extra lives.
Easy
is for those struggling with normal, it’s more of cruise mode for the player but expect to die if you lose focus.
60% attack tokens
80% damage
80%(ish) health, AI dependent
Slower reaction times, slightly favors weaker attacks than baseline.
Starts levels with +1 of the intended amount of extra lives.
Hard
is for those that are looking for a challenge and It is recommened as a second playthrough. Knowledge of weapons and abilities combos as well as a few locations of extra lives throughout the levels is recommended.
140% attack tokens
120% damage
120%(ish) health, AI dependent
Quicker reaction times, slightly favors stronger attacks than baseline.
Starts levels with 0 extra lives.
Extra lives
are your limited checkpoints! Struggling with a certain section of level? Be on the lookout for extra lives throughout the level to increase your likelihood of success. If you die without any extra lives then you will have to restart the level.
I have strived to make sure each death occurring in RETOOLED feels fair and made sure you have the tools/options to avoid them.
RETOOLED is meant to be challenging and is carefully crafted to give you a power trip and a sense of accomplishment once mastered.
The wait for RETOOLED is almost over, on the 25th of september it will be in your hands!
And remember, join the Discord to discuss the game and find out about the latest updates:

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
18 Sep 2023Developer post
7 days to release!
Hey everyone, Only 7 days left to release of RETOOLED! I'm very excited and I hope you are too! I'm already working on the first content patch for RETOOLED and streaming some of the process on Twitch. If you are interest in whats being worked on and a behind the scene look at gam
Hey everyone,
Only 7 days left to release of RETOOLED! I'm very excited and I hope you are too!
I'm already working on the first content patch for RETOOLED and streaming some of the process on Twitch. If you are interest in whats being worked on and a behind the scene look at game development be sure to give me a follow. https://www.twitch.tv/swarmcreations
And remember, join the Discord to discuss the game and find out about the latest updates:

Discord
Twitter
Facebook
https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
08 Sep 2023Developer post
Deep dive #3 - The colosseums
Back again! For the third post in the deep dives series we are taking a look at the process of creating an arena you fight in. There are quite a few steps creating an arena for RETOOLED and very deceivingly time consuming. Flow structure First step is to think of a flow structure
Back again! For the third post in the deep dives series we are taking a look at the process of creating an arena you fight in.
There are quite a few steps creating an arena for RETOOLED and very deceivingly time consuming.
Flow structure
First step is to think of a flow structure that is unlike a previously created arena and then draw it on paper. This process is very iterative and works like a check gate to whether the initial idea has some flow structure problems in certain areas of the arena and if the idea is actually worth continuing working on.
With comment underneath: “This step requires a bit of imagination, if the player is at position X, what possible paths exist? From experience, a good design is having at least 3 paths available at most times.”
Blockout
Next step is creating the blockout of the arena in Unreal Engine. Testing the feeling of running around in the arena, trying the different paths, figuring out if the scale and distance of things feels right. Checking different sightlines to see if something needs adjusting.
The second pass of this blockout phase is to look at the current paths and try to add divergent paths to them. By having these divergent paths emphasizes the use of different movement abilities the arena is now starting to feel like a playground coming together.
AI prep
All this work and we haven’t even added the AIs YET !?... well it still requires a bit of prep work to get them working on new arenas and…
.
.
.
.. It’s done!
Arena Masters
For RETOOLED I have designed something called an “Arena Master”. It is essentially an object that lets me define how I want the fight to start, progress and end. There are a few arena fight “types” we can construct with this object and even mix them together.

Wave Pure wave based or alternatively we could spawn an initial wave and as you destroy some bots more gets spawn in until the wave is consumed.
Hydra Starts with a smaller initial wave and as you destroy some specific (or any) bots the amount of active bots increases. 6 turns into 12, 18 etc.
Phases Similar to wave type but instead of having waves with a clear ending they add on top of each other until a completion condition is met. Endless
Each of the previous types can be modified to be endless that will only stop as a completion condition is met. Perhaps a certain character is destroyed or an environmental puzzle is solved etc.
To retain the DNA of a specific arena fight I tell individual AIs what spawn position I would like them to favor depending on the player position. Thanks to this setup arena fights in RETOOLED very rarely have specific spawn positions for certain AIs so it becomes essential to think and react in the moment of a fight.
Stringing a few of these together in sequence or mixing them together, it can get complex quickly.
Playtest, playtest and playtest…. Ohh did I mention playtest?
Now the playtesting and adjustments begins. It is only now can you get a holistic view of the initial arena idea you had.
Environment pass
All that remains is prop creations, lightning, bug hunting, optimization etc.
That is it for this deep dive on RETOOLED but it is not all. Follow along as there is more to come and of course… Thank you for reading!
And remember, join the Discord to discuss the game and find out about the latest updates:

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
27 Aug 2023Developer post
Deep dive #2 - The anvil
Hello again! For the second post in the deep dives series I want to talk about the enemies, the anvil that you will test your metal against. I previously mentioned enemies being designed for certain roles, like different chess pieces but in a FPS format. When designing enemies th
Hello again! For the second post in the deep dives series I want to talk about the enemies, the anvil that you will test your metal against.
I previously mentioned enemies being designed for certain roles, like different chess pieces but in a FPS format. When designing enemies there are 2 vital areas I need to figure out and that is how do they fit into the “play space” and where in “screen space” do I want them.
Let's start with “play space”, the first question might be what even is it? Well.. let me show you!
With a top down overview you can see where in “play space” the enemies aspire to be positioned along with some of their characteristic elements. This “play space” chart is quite a useful tool to not only identify which “play space” areas could use more enemy types but also how to combine the different enemies to make compelling and varied arena fights.
“Screen space” is.. well.. what it sounds like, the preferred positioning on the screen from the player perspective.
Identifying an enemy's “play space”, “screen space” and some of its characteristic elements aids quite a bit when conceptualizing it and getting its basic shape blocked out and ready for prototyping.
Having an arena fight with an overcrowded “play space” or “screen space” makes it very messy and not as fun. Thanks to this process, assuming we got our enemies working like we want of course, we now have enemies that utilize varied “play spaces” and “screen spaces” in a fight.
By having AIs in different threat tiers gives us a natural target priority and thanks to some AIs abilities we can influence the target priority mid fight forcing you to reevaluate your focus, actions or weapon choice.
It has been essential to get enemies with their actions to nudge the player into the fun zone of RETOOLED. I’m quite excited to have you all wreck some of my AIs, or perhaps even have them wreck you ;)
And that is it for this deep dive, there are more deep dives to come!
And remember, join the Discord to discuss the game and find out about the latest updates:

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
18 Aug 2023Developer post
RETOOLED available September 25th
Hey everyone, RETOOLED WILL BE RELEASING SEPTEMBER 25TH 2023! With a bunch of improvements, polish and some other surprises RETOOLED is now ready for you - the fans & players. In the coming week RETOOLED will join the Dreamhack Beyond Summer Indie Showcase and then continue t
Hey everyone,
RETOOLED WILL BE RELEASING SEPTEMBER 25TH 2023!
With a bunch of improvements, polish and some other surprises RETOOLED is now ready for you - the fans & players. In the coming week RETOOLED will join the Dreamhack Beyond Summer Indie Showcase and then continue to steaming ahead towards the release on September 25th.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LDYjP3b8EKw
And remember, join the Discord to discuss the game and find out about the latest updates:

Discord
Twitter
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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
13 Aug 2023Developer post
Deep dive #1 - The vision
Hi everyone! Today is the first post in a series of deep dives on RETOOLED and we are starting it off with the vision for RETOOLED. The vision for RETOOLED is to build a momentum based FPS that emphasizes quick thinking and strategy in high stake combat puzzles fought in race tra
Hi everyone! Today is the first post in a series of deep dives on RETOOLED and we are starting it off with the vision for RETOOLED.
The vision for RETOOLED is to build a momentum based FPS that emphasizes quick thinking and strategy in high stake combat puzzles fought in race track like arenas. Each arena in the single player is designed to test and challenge you and be reactive to your actions and position to keep it dynamic each time you fight in it.
Each player action in RETOOLED is designed to interplay with others with the goal of nudging the player into using the entire assortment of weapons, abilities and movement actions without forcing a specific playstyle.
All of this while facing a wide roster of enemies, each one taking on a specific role like a chess piece.
RETOOLED isn’t an imitation of past experiences but meant to deliver something new and stand longside its peers in the arena FPS genre. What are you waiting for? Bunnyhop, dash or boost jump of enemies into the action, RETOOLED is easy to pick up but hard to master.
Follow along as I will delve deeper on each aspect leading up to the release in the very near future.
And remember, join the Discord to discuss the game and find out about the latest updates:

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https://store.steampowered.com/app/1997590/RETOOLED/
Original post
28 Jul 2023Developer post
The road ahead
Hey everyone, I'm delighted to give you the latest on RETOOLED, the fast-paced FPS that's been my labour of love. Since the last update, I've made significant progress, releasing a substantial update to the demo in May, all driven by your invaluable feedback. I've been honing the
Hey everyone,
I'm delighted to give you the latest on RETOOLED, the fast-paced FPS that's been my labour of love.
Since the last update, I've made significant progress, releasing a substantial update to the demo in May, all driven by your invaluable feedback. I've been honing the enemy mechanics, finalizing the boss battles, and enhancing the level designs to create an even more engaging gameplay experience.
Your input continues to shape RETOOLED. As we approach the release, know that I am committed to considering all your feedback and consistently refining the game.
In the coming months my plan is to shed some more light on the development side of things, and show some more in-depth about certain areas of the game.
A big thank you to everyone for your ongoing support and enthusiasm for RETOOLED!
Remember to stay connected:

Discord
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Original post
24 May 2023Developer post
Massive Demo Update
The update is now live, here are the highlights! New enemy: Wasp tank The most complex and advanced enemy I've designed so far. Beware of this mobile hover tank. Updated the new player experience - The order and locations of the abilities you unlocked has changed, improving the p

Updates & announcements

Development update:

Levels

Normal

Easy

Hard

Extra lives

The wait for RETOOLED is almost over, on the 25th of september it will be in your hands!