Black Future '88
Released Nov 2019
Black Future ’88 is a Synth-Punk roguelike 2D action Shooter. Vertically climb an always evolving procedural tower to reach the top and kill its insane owner…before your heart explodes. Shoot, slash, dash and upgrade yourself to survive the endless waves of Homicidal AI, Traps & Colossal Wardens.
71% positive · 751 reviews
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Done
All announced content has been released
Medium confidence
Where to buy
Steam $19.99
Can't confirm — worth a look
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Evaluation
Black Future '88 launched on November 21, 2019 and received post-launch content updates in early 2020. The first update (January 31, 2020) added new mechanics, weapons, buffs, and music tracks. A second update followed on March 30, 2020 with additional weapons and balance changes. The last official communication from the developer was on October 27, 2020, when they updated the standalone soundtrack to include two new music tracks added during those content updates and unveiled new cover art. That post noted these were "small sparks" and encouraged players to "keep an eye out for future announcements," but no specific content was ever announced or delivered after that date. As of June 27, 2026 — over five and a half years since that final post — there has been no further communication, no announced DLC, and no roadmap. The only DLC on the store is the soundtrack, which was released at launch and has since been updated. The game appears to have concluded its post-launch content cycle as of October 2020, with no outstanding commitments or future content communicated by the developer.
Evidence
First post-launch content update ('Heavy Culture Update') added new mechanics, weapons, buffs, rooms, and music tracks.
Black Future '88 officially launched on Steam and Nintendo Switch.
Content
1 of 1 released · no outstanding content
Media
Details
Developer
Publisher
Good Shepherd Entertainment
Achievements
29
Platform
Windows
Controller
full support
Steam Deck
Verified
Players
Single-player · Multiplayer · Co-op · Local/Split Screen
About this game
Black Future ’88 is a Synth-Punk roguelike 2D action Shooter. Vertically climb an always evolving procedural tower to reach the top and kill its insane owner…before your heart explodes. Shoot, slash, dash and upgrade yourself to survive the endless waves of deadly traps, homicidal AI, crazed junkies and colossal Wardens standing in your way in a stylish alternative version of 1988.
The world is reeling from a nuclear cataclysm, created by Duncan, the tower architect. The First of his bombs fell in the summer of 1988, and by December they had blacked-out the sun with endless rain. We decided to stop keeping time after this, and it’s been 1988 ever since. Everything that lived through the initial attack will die in the extreme floods that followed. These are the times after, where there are no more months, or even weeks…everything is measured in minutes left to live.
Take on the mantle of one of the last remaining misfit survivors, and fight your way to the top of the tower to kill the architect and stop the endless nuclear rain. Ascend to die, and die to survive.
Game Features
- Death Ascendant: Climb an always evolving procedural tower and fight for survival through a constant onslaught of death by fire, lasers, and slashes.
- Unique Synth-Punk World: Play through a unique take on a retro cyberpunk dystopia, and fight to survive through 5 distinct zones each with their own challenges.
- Pick Your Poison: Play as one of 5 playable characters, each with their own unique buffs- and weaknesses.
- Ruin Friendships: Test your wits and reflexes with a friend in couch co-op, and experience a completely unique take on the co-op roguelike.
- Kill the Wardens: Fight for survival by challenging the numerous unique bosses that guard each one of the game’s zones.
- Fog Machines and Laser Beams: Bring a gun and laser sword to a fire fight by arming yourself with a selection of the 50 unique weapons available in the game, each with their own unique effects.
- Evolve to Survive: The only way to survive when everything, including your own heart, is trying to kill you is to carefully boost or curse yourself by strategically choosing- and combining from 30 distinct buffs and curses.
- Dailies: Every day, a new challenge is generated with unique attributes that will test your mettle and allow you to see how your skills compare against other players in a global Leaderboard. Fight for not just survival, but supremacy!
- Ear Candy: Death never sounded so good thanks to an all killer original analog-synth soundtrack.
Are these done yet?
Last evaluated Jun 27, 2026
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