Reija · indie.io
Shell Runner is 65% off in the Steam Summer Sale, June 25 to July 9. Grab your copy and check out other great indie games on sale during the Summer Sale to add to your collection.
Shell Runner is 65% off in the Steam Summer Sale, June 25 to July 9.
Grab your copy and check out other great indie games on sale during the Summer Sale to add to your collection.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622280/
Greeting Shell Runners! It’s been a while. Our last big update was several months ago and since then… things went a little quiet on the surface. But behind the scenes, we’ve been pushing hard to finish what we started. After months of polishing, tweaking, and staring at way too m
It’s been a while. Our last big update was several months ago and since then… things went a little quiet on the surface. But behind the scenes, we’ve been pushing hard to finish what we started. After months of polishing, tweaking, and staring at way too many lines of code—we’re finally here.
Thank you all for your patience and support during development—it means a lot to us.
Now let’s dive into what’s new in the 1.0 update!
Let’s be honest—Early Access wasn’t always smooth sailing. One of our biggest challenges was figuring out what Shell Runner really wanted to be. Defining the core game loop took longer than expected, and that led to some major reworks along the way.
We ended up overhauling key systems like the workbench, shop, and most importantly, the mission board. The mission board went through a complete redesign to make it less random and more rewarding—while still keeping the procedural level generation that gives each mission its own twist.
We also put a ton of focus on improving the gunplay. That meant making weapons feel more distinct, tightening up feedback with better sound and visual effects, switching to a simpler ammo system, and improving aiming clarity with things like laser pointers and a more readable crosshair.
And toward the end of Early Access, we finally tackled one of the most requested features: controller support and custom keybindings, along with a big batch of QoL improvements and bugfixes to wrap it all up.
Yep, it's finally here! It took time, but you can now play Shell Runner with a controller. Plug it in, pick it up, and it just works. You’ll find all control settings in the Options menu.
We also added keyboard remapping, so whether you're left-handed, using a non-QWERTY layout, or just picky about your controls—you’re covered.
Everything took longer than expected, but we wanted to get it right.
We’ve added a brand new environment to the 3rd District: the Industrial Sector.
It’s big, it’s open, and it’s packed with enemies. More room to move, more places to get ambushed. Be careful taking on missions here—it’s one of the tougher zones. But if you survive, the loot’s worth it.
We’ve made a ton of tweaks and improvements based on your feedback. Here's a quick look at what’s been added or fixed. Some highlights:
We’re incredibly proud of how far Shell Runner has come. We hope you enjoy the update, and as always, we’d love to hear your feedback!
Thanks again for being part of this journey.
Best regards, stay safe and have fun in Shell Runner!
Hello Mercs! Another quick hotfixes to solve come critical issues. Shell Runner Team fixed mission Silicon reward fixed flying enemies in sewers level adjusted melee weapons
Hello Mercs!
Another quick hotfixes to solve come critical issues.
Shell Runner Team
Greetings Mercs! Just some quick hotfixes to solve a few issues from the last update. That's it for now. Shell Runner Team rebalanced enemies to reduce difficulty in 1* mission for new players but 2* and higher missions have still the same difficulty as previously fixed some issu
Greetings Mercs!
Just some quick hotfixes to solve a few issues from the last update. That's it for now.
Shell Runner Team
Hello Shell Runners! We’re back with an update introducing changes we’re very excited about. As we mentioned in our earlier posts, we weren’t fully satisfied with the structure of the game’s core loop and progression since launch. Thanks to your valuable feedback, we were able to
Hello Shell Runners!
We’re back with an update introducing changes we’re very excited about. As we mentioned in our earlier posts, we weren’t fully satisfied with the structure of the game’s core loop and progression since launch. Thanks to your valuable feedback, we were able to come together and get to work, which we’ve been doing for the past week. During this time, we crafted a plan to improve the overall gameplay experience and make the game even more F.U.N.! We’re thrilled to present the update we’ve dubbed “Mission Rework.” I know, I know... it’s a very exciting name!
In this overhaul, we’ve rethought some fundamental mechanics. We’ve removed several random elements, such as how missions and mission types appeared without a clear structure. This randomness felt unintuitive and didn’t contribute well to the sense of progression. Additionally, the UI previously looked too basic and simple, so we’ve added a large map to make it feel more epic and engaging (and if you’re curious, take a guess at the city that inspired it and share on Discord!).
We’ve also restructured the core loop and progression in missions. Bosses are now organized into specific districts, which you can unlock one by one by raising your Reputation Rank. The main focus in each area is to find and defeat the boss, which you can access by collecting a Keycard in normal missions. This Keycard then allows you to accept and tackle the boss mission. We’ve also ensured that all mission types are now accessible at any time, so players can choose whichever type suits their strategy or mood.
Two new mission types are now available to add more variety and depth to gameplay. The first is Sabotage, where you must locate and destroy a specific structure. The second is Holdout, in which you’re tasked with defending a structure for a set amount of time. We’ve retired the Delivery Mission, but added Extraction Missions. In these missions, you’ll need to locate special mission items in the level, which are automatically used upon return to successfully complete the mission. This functions similarly to how Shell Blueprints work.
We’ve introduced a new environment, Drain Tunnels, which follows a sewer theme. It includes an experimental mechanic with levels that feature both high and low areas, allowing you to use slopes to dodge projectiles. This setup makes the levels visually more interesting and adds more gameplay depth. We’re eager for player feedback to decide if we should continue creating levels with this mechanic or if we should reconsider. To enhance progression, each district and mission type now has a fixed environment. This is shown in the Mission Mail, making progression clearer and more rewarding. For example, if you want to explore the Velvet Lair with its underground club atmosphere, you’ll need to unlock the preceding districts.
We’ve also refined the reward system to make mission rewards feel less random. Previously, some missions would give fantastic rewards, while others offered very little. Now, rewards are balanced to better match the mission type and effort involved. To further enrich gameplay, we’ve added new mission-related items like extraction items and boss Keycards.
Due to the scale of these changes, a Save Game Wipe is necessary. While we know it’s disappointing, this will allow us to deliver a reimagined New Player Experience and prevent potential bugs that could arise from the rework’s complexity.
Finally, and fitting for this major overhaul, we’ve refreshed the soundtrack with the help of our very talented friend and musician, Jan, adding new background music and replacing older tracks to match the new vibe of the missions.
That’s all for today! We’re super excited to hear your thoughts on these changes. As always, feel free to join our Discord for feedback!
Best regards and stay safe,
The Shell Runner Team
Hello Mercs! Quick hotfix to resolve a few issues from the last update. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements! That's all for now, stay safe! Shell Runner Team added shop reroll price multiplicator limit at 3 rerolls fixed an issue in the shop that you wouldn't receive am
Hello Mercs!
Quick hotfix to resolve a few issues from the last update. Stay tuned for more updates and announcements!
That's all for now, stay safe!
Shell Runner Team
Hi Shell Runners! We have a big update for you today! We've address some of the core issues based that we've identified. Workbench Overhaul Right after our launch, one of the main issues identified was that collecting items, leveling them up, and boosting their overall power wasn
Hi Shell Runners!
We have a big update for you today! We've address some of the core issues based that we've identified.
Right after our launch, one of the main issues identified was that collecting items, leveling them up, and boosting their overall power wasn’t as enjoyable as it could be. That’s why we’ve overhauled the workbench feature.
A significant new addition to the workbench is the Augmentation system. You’ll now be able to use different Crafting Modules, earned through Recycling, to level up your gear by filling its XP bar. The amount of XP provided depends on the rarity of the Crafting Module, with higher rarity ones offering more.
We’ve revamped the Recycling system. Now, when you recycle unwanted gear, you’ll obtain Crafting Modules that are automatically accessible at the Workbench. Be aware that recycling will permanently destroy the gear.
The new Refiner lets you upgrade your gear’s rarity. Each tier requires a combination of different Crafting Modules to move up a rarity level, and there’s a guaranteed 100% success rate. For those feeling lucky, you can opt for a riskier route by using fewer resources, similar to the current system, for a chance to boost your gear.
We’ve also enhanced the Modification system. Now, in addition to rerolling modifications, you can transfer a mod from one weapon to another. Keep in mind that this process consumes the donor weapon and costs more Silicon than rerolling.
A brand new Ammo Crafting system has been introduced. You can now craft all ammo types using Crafting Modules, with each ammo type requiring different resources, expanding your crafting options.
That's for the biggest changes, you can find the rest in the changelog below.
That’s all for now! Thanks for reading, and don’t forget to join our Discord to say hello!
Best regards,
Shell Runner Team
Hey there, As we’re hard at work getting the first major update ready to go live, we wanted to take a moment to share some insights into what's coming with it. Workbench Overhaul One of the core issues that we've had identified right after out launch was that gathering Items, lev
Hey there,
As we’re hard at work getting the first major update ready to go live, we wanted to take a moment to share some insights into what's coming with it.
One of the core issues that we've had identified right after out launch was that gathering Items, levelling them up and increasing their overall power level was not as fun as it could have been. That is why we got working on overhauling the workbench feature.
One of the major additions to the workbench is the new Augmentation system. You can now use different Crafting Modules, which are obtained through Recycling, to level up your selected gear by raising its XP bar. The rarity of the Crafting Module determines the amount of XP it provides, with higher rarity modules offering more XP. As your gear levels up, it will require increasing amounts of XP, meaning it takes more to reach level 10 than level 2. While killing enemies also contributes to the XP bar, the amount gained is significantly lower than when using Crafting Modules.
The Recycling system has been revamped. You can now recycle unwanted gear to acquire Crafting Modules, which will be automatically available at the Workbench. Note that the gear will be destroyed during the recycling process.
The new Quality Forge allows you to upgrade your gear's rarity. Each rarity level requires a set number of different Crafting Modules to advance from one tier to another, with a guaranteed 100% success rate. However, if you prefer to take risks, you can still gamble by using fewer resources for a chance at a boost, similar to the current system.
The Modification system has also been updated. In addition to rerolling modifications, you can now transfer a modification from an existing weapon to your main weapon. Be aware that the fodder weapon will be consumed in this process, and transferring modifications costs more Silicon than rerolling.
A new Ammo Crafting feature has been introduced, allowing you to craft all types of ammo using Crafting Modules. Each ammo type will require different resources, adding more versatility to your crafting options.
We've also added the ability for Maneuver and Gadgets to be also leveled up to further enhance their effects.
The second major change we're working on is a complete overhaul of how the shop functions. At the moment, we’re not satisfied with how random and unpredictable the shop feels, as it doesn’t provide the experience we had envisioned. Our initial goal was for the shop to behave like a slot machine, aligning with the cyberpunk aesthetic and the theme of greedy corporations. However, we recognize that this randomness isn't delivering the desired experience.
The upcoming changes are designed to give you more control over what you can obtain from the shop, making it a more useful and practical feature. Importantly, we’re making sure that these improvements still preserve the original feel of the shop that fits within the world and theme we’ve created.
With this update we are introducing three more enemy types that you can fight off. With this change we want to increase the variety of encounters that you face while you are on a mission to make each encounter more engaging.
We are also making progress on implementing localization, with German being the first language introduced. Since it's our native language, this will allow us to effectively test the feature before expanding to additional languages.
In addition to that, items like Ammo and Crafting Modules can now be stacked, making inventory management more efficient. When you extract Crafting Modules, they will be consumed and automatically available in the Workbench, functioning the same way as the Shell Blueprints system.
To help you avoid losing any items, we've added a warning icon that will appear if you still have items left in the Workbench or Shop, serving as a reminder so you won't forget them.
One important note: We know that a lot of you have requested controller support and we want to add it as quickly as possible and we are working hard on getting everything ready for it.
Why can't we implement Controller Support right now?
We are currently facing a challenge where several key features and significant changes still need to be added to the game. Some of these involve major adjustments to the user interface and inputs, which would directly impact the implementation of controller support. If we were to add controller support at this stage, we would end up having to redo a substantial amount of work after these changes are made, leading to an extended Early Access period. The extra work involved wouldn’t just take days to complete, but potentially weeks, causing unnecessary delays. By focusing on completing the necessary feature updates first, we can ensure a smoother and more efficient development process moving forward.
That's it for this Devlog, stay tuned for more as we are getting close to this updates release. Thanks for the read and don't forget to jump on our Discord to say Hi!
Best regards
Shell Runner Team
Hello Mercs! The past few weeks have been a whirlwind, and we’re super grateful for all the love Shell Runner has been getting from our community. Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us shape the game’s future. We want to keep things transparent, so here’s a peek behind
Hello Mercs!
The past few weeks have been a whirlwind, and we’re super grateful for all the love Shell Runner has been getting from our community. Your feedback has been invaluable in helping us shape the game’s future.
We want to keep things transparent, so here’s a peek behind the curtain at what’s happening in our development process. In the first week after launch, we identified some core issues. Some of these we can fix right away, while others will take a bit more time and will be included in bigger updates down the road.
Today’s update includes some quick fixes and additions that we felt were urgent and relatively easy to implement. These needed to be addressed before we dive into the first big update, which will take longer than the smaller patches we’ve done recently. We’ll share more info about this major update in our upcoming roadmap, which will be out sometime next week.
In this update, we’ve tackled some annoying issues, like enemies hitting you from way off-screen. We’ve also worked on improving weapon feel and gunplay. This includes adding more sounds to weapons, introducing hitmarkers, and making some ammo balance tweaks to enhance the moment-to-moment gameplay.
Thanks for sticking with us and being such an awesome community. We’re excited to keep improving Shell Runner together!
Stay safe!
Shell Runner Team
Hello Mercs! just a quick hotfix for some issues that have been reported over on our Discord . Stay tuned for more posts and updates for some upcoming stuff we've planned! That's all for now, stay safe! Shell Runner Team fixed a coop client issue that caused no result screen &
Hello Mercs!
just a quick hotfix for some issues that have been reported over on our Discord. Stay tuned for more posts and updates for some upcoming stuff we've planned!
That's all for now, stay safe!
Shell Runner Team
Shell Runner is now available in Early Access! First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who Wishlisted, played and tested the game prior to launch, helping us get the game to this exciting milestone. Without your help, this journey would have been much harder!👏🏻 INSE
First and foremost, we would like to thank everyone who Wishlisted, played and tested the game prior to launch, helping us get the game to this exciting milestone. Without your help, this journey would have been much harder!👏🏻
Shell Runner is a top-down tactical shooter hybridized with looter shooter and extraction games. Every run can make you rich - but lose your Shell and you lose all that. Experience high-risk runs as a solo merc - or find allies and face the seedy underbelly of a dystopian future in cooperative mode.
Life's cheap and brutal in the sprawl. You're always outnumbered and outgunned and even a lowly thug can flatline your Shell in seconds if you don't play it smart. Plan ahead and outfit your Shell with an arsenal of melee weapons, firearms, and explosives. Fine-tune stats thanks to a multitude of modifiers. Then head in to complete your contract. Stay on your toes, plan your attack, and hit your targets where they least expect it.
No two runs are the same. Every mission is a procedurally-generated map, combining hand-crafted boss encounters with unpredictable randomness, ensuring no two runs are the same. Every Shell and item comes with random modifiers, meaning every contract is a risk - but also an opportunity. One job in the slums might leave you barely breaking even - the next one might make you break the bank. So get to work, Shell Runner, Silicon won’t earn itself!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622280/Shell_Runner/
To celebrate our launch, Shell Runner is available at a 10% discount.
As a small indie team, there are so many ways you can help support us and the game.
We are committed to adding new content at regular intervals. Looking ahead, you can look forward to new bosses, weapons, gadgets, maneuvers, levels, enemies, mission types and more Shells. We're also planning to improve existing gameplay systems and introduce exciting new features.
This launch is a huge milestone for us, and we can't wait to involve our community in further developing the game. Your feedback will be crucial in helping us refine and shape Shell Runner into something special.
In the coming weeks, we will be working on a roadmap that will provide more precise details on what’s to come beyond the few things mentioned here, with players' feedback!
So get to work, Shell Runner, Silicon won’t earn itself!
Shell Runner Team
Hey Mercs, It's often said that the final 20% of game development requires the most effort, and this has certainly been the case for Shell Runner. However, with your support and the valuable feedback from our community, we've persevered. We're thrilled to announce that we now hav
Hey Mercs,
It's often said that the final 20% of game development requires the most effort, and this has certainly been the case for Shell Runner. However, with your support and the valuable feedback from our community, we've persevered. We're thrilled to announce that we now have an official release date! 🎉🎉
Shell Runner is a top-down tactical shooter hybridized with looter shooter and extraction games. Every run can make you rich - but lose your Shell and you lose all that. Experience high-risk runs as a solo merc - or find allies and face the seedy underbelly of a dystopian future in cooperative mode.
Life's cheap and brutal in the sprawl. You're always outnumbered and outgunned and even a lowly thug can flatline your Shell in seconds if you don't play it smart. Plan ahead and outfit your Shell with an arsenal of melee weapons, firearms, and explosives. Fine-tune stats thanks to a multitude of modifiers. Then head in to complete your contract. Stay on your toes, plan your attack, and hit your targets where they least expect it.
No two runs are the same. Every mission is a procedurally-generated map, combining hand-crafted boss encounters with unpredictable randomness, ensuring no two runs are the same. Every Shell and item comes with random modifiers, meaning every contract is a risk - but also an opportunity. One job in the slums might leave you barely breaking even - the next one might make you break the bank. So get to work, Shell Runner, Silicon won’t earn itself!
Thank you all for your continuous support and don’t forget to Wishlist the game and join our Discord community to be notified the moment the game is released!
See you at launch!
Shell Runner Team
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622280/Shell_Runner/
Hi everyone! The second broadcast is currently being featured! You can watch the stream on the Steam Next Fest page to see it featured or catch it throughout the duration of the event as it is pre-recorded and will be looped on our store page. If you haven’t had a chance yet, mak
Hi everyone!
The second broadcast is currently being featured!
You can watch the stream on the Steam Next Fest page to see it featured or catch it throughout the duration of the event as it is pre-recorded and will be looped on our store page.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, make sure to play our free demo! It will be up for a limited time so check it out before it comes down on July 8th.
Don’t forget to wishlist the game and share your feedback and thoughts with us either through Steam Discussions or our Discord!
Thank you so much for your support.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622280/Shell_Runner/
Hi everyone! The first broadcast is currently being featured! You can watch the stream on the Steam Next Fest page to see it featured or catch it throughout the duration of the event as it is pre-recorded and will be looped on our store page. If you haven’t had a chance yet, make
Hi everyone!
The first broadcast is currently being featured!
You can watch the stream on the Steam Next Fest page to see it featured or catch it throughout the duration of the event as it is pre-recorded and will be looped on our store page.
If you haven’t had a chance yet, make sure to play our free demo! It will be up for a limited time so check it out before it comes down on July 8th.
Don’t forget to wishlist the game and share your feedback and thoughts with us either through Steam Discussions or our Discord!
Thank you so much for your support.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622280/Shell_Runner/
Hi everyone! We’re excited to announce that we are participating in Steam Next Fest from June 10th until June 17th! As part of our participation, there is a free demo available for everyone to give the game a try during the event and we’d love to read your feedback on it through
Hi everyone!
We’re excited to announce that we are participating in Steam Next Fest from June 10th until June 17th!
As part of our participation, there is a free demo available for everyone to give the game a try during the event and we’d love to read your feedback on it through Steam Discussions or our Discord!
Keep in mind the demo will be available for a limited time and will come down on July 8th.
During the event, we will have two broadcasts where you can see the game being played by our team. Both of these broadcasts are pre-recorded and will be looped throughout the duration of Next Fest. You can also catch them while they are featured at the below times:
Next Fest Broadcast #1
Wednesday, June 12th at 7:00 AM PT
Next Fest Broadcast #2
Sunday, June 16th at 1:00 PM PT
Don’t forget to wishlist the game so you don’t miss out on any news and thank you for all of your support so far!
https://store.steampowered.com/app/2622280/Shell_Runner/
Showcased today at the PC Gaming Show, Shell Runner is an isometric PvE tactical extraction shooter set in a world where corporations have taken total control, opening the door to a thriving but brutal underworld where making a buck is as easy as pulling a trigger... Read more.
Showcased today at the PC Gaming Show, Shell Runner is an isometric PvE tactical extraction shooter set in a world where corporations have taken total control, opening the door to a thriving but brutal underworld where making a buck is as easy as pulling a trigger...
Read more.
Hi Shell Runners! Today we have exciting news to share: Shell Runner is officially joining forces with Freedom Games! This is a big step for us and will help us focus on making Shell Runner the best game possible. As a small studio of five developers, it is very difficult to bala
Hi Shell Runners!
Today we have exciting news to share: Shell Runner is officially joining forces with Freedom Games!
This is a big step for us and will help us focus on making Shell Runner the best game possible. As a small studio of five developers, it is very difficult to balance all the necessary factors to reach as many people as possible with the game. That is why we started looking for a publisher. With Freedom Games, we have found a partner that works eye to eye with us and has an amazing track record of helping other indie games reach more players. You can find all their other games on their Publisher Page.
For those of you who may not know, having a game publisher like Freedom Games greatly helps indie developers focus on game development while they handle all the behind-the-scenes magic. From helping manage store pages to crafting marketing campaigns and even helping the game shine at both digital and live events, publishers help in all the aspects that indie developers often struggle with.
We are very excited for this new chapter in Shell Runner's story and everything that is still to come.
That’s it for today, don’t forget to Wishlist the game and join our Discord community to be notified of future announcements!
Best regards and stay safe!
The Shell Runner Team