First Public Playtest starting soon!

A week today, the first official playtest of NINE ROUNDS RAPID will kick off, and with it, the start of a community, a journey, and a shared mission. For the first time, Fugitives like you are stepping aboard the Station to experience the chaos, challenge, and thrill of NINE ROUNDS RAPID firsthand.

This is Only the Beginning

This early playtest focuses on the core gameplay mechanics: movement, shooting, dodging, and survival in intense combat scenarios, as well as the hand-painted aesthetic that gives NINE ROUNDS RAPID its unique look and feel. Fugitives who want to help shape the game are encouraged to join our Discord server via the game’s menu, where feedback can be shared in dedicated channels or submitted through a Google form. Your input will directly influence future builds and the ongoing evolution of the game.

Steam post image What’s Included in This Playtest

• Two of nine levels, each with its own enemies and a unique boss fight.

• A full range of weapons, all upgradeable in the Shop. Fully upgraded weapons will be dotted around levels as players may not be able to acquire credits to upgrade them.

• Our new Upgradeable Ability System, allowing you to evolve your abilities and alter your combat style.

• The first implementation of our Time Manipulation System, giving you tactical ways to control the battlefield.

• Basic Hub access, which will expand in future builds with permanent upgrades / progression systems, character quests and world building narrative.

Even in this first build, you’ll notice the heartbeat of NINE ROUNDS RAPID: risk versus reward, emergent combat, and player choice. But this is just the foundation.

What’s Coming in Future Playtests

NINE ROUNDS RAPID will evolve through multiple playtests, each adding layers of depth, variety, and story. Future builds will expand the game with:

• Meta Progression & Hub: A fully realized central hub, where Fugitives can upgrade gear, plan runs, and unlock permanent upgrades.

• Narrative & Quests: More NPCs, branching storylines, and missions that reveal the secrets of the Station.

• Mechanical Loot & Boons: Transformative upgrades like drones, homing rockets, and cursed items that dramatically change gameplay.

• Special Rooms & Hazards: Hidden challenges and environmental risks that reward clever decision-making.

• Expanded Enemy Design: More enemies with varied attack patterns, creating deeper bullet hell combat,

• More levels for players to prove their ability.

• AddedProcedural Level VarietyNew environmental hazards, visual diversity, and randomized layouts to keep every run feeling fresh.

• Improved UI and art.

• CO-OP modes.

• Gameplay and other various settings.

Each playtest is designed to build on the last - a continuous collaboration with the community. Your experiences, feedback, and insights will shape the future of NINE ROUNDS RAPID.

The Launch of the Fugitives Community

This is more than a group of testers - it’s a network of players, collaborators, and storytellers helping us co-develop NINE ROUNDS RAPID. We’ll be running polls, discussions, and events that let you help decide which systems, items, and challenges we explore next.

We don’t just want feedback - we want you to help define the evolution of the game, from the first weapon you upgrade to the epic boss battles you’ll face in later levels.

Join the Mission

This is the beginning of the NINE ROUNDS RAPID journey. Every run, every choice, and every shot you fire is part of a larger experiment in roguelite design and community-driven development.

Suit up, Fugitives. The Station awaits, and the first step of the NINE ROUNDS RAPID odyssey starts now.

Let’s see how long you last.