Steam News9 June 202626d ago

Endless Mode and Free Reign in the Shifting Sands Update

Noble Kings, The hour draws near — only two days remain until we march for the Shifting Sands.

In this update1

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Full The King is Watching update

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What changed

0 fixes1 addition9 changes0 removals

Gameplay
Events
Balance
Performance
Maps

changedNoble Kings,The hour draws near — only two days remain until we march for the Shifting Sands . Today, our royal scribes bring tidings concerning the improvements coming to Endless Mode and, at long last, the long-awaited introduction of Free Reign Mode .

changedEndless ModeWhile it is not a mode every player enjoys, those who do often create builds so absurd and powerful that even we never expected them. However, Endless Mode did not fully function as a complete gameplay experience. Rewards stopped once the mode began, and enemy scaling eventually failed to keep pace with player power.

changedEndless ModeFirst, you will now continue receiving rewards for clearing waves , just as you do during the rest of a run.

changedEndless ModeSecond, we reworked how difficulty scaling functions :

changedEndless ModeEach wave now applies HP and Damage modifiers to enemies — these modifiers increase every wave and their growth speed increases further every 20 waves

changedEndless ModeEnemy numbers and base troop strength will continue scaling, but only up to a certain limit — after that point, waves will contain no more than 60 enemies using the strongest available enemy types

The King is Watching changes

changedThe hour draws near — only two days remain until we march for the Shifting Sands . Today, our royal scribes bring tidings concerning the improvements coming to Endless Mode and, at long last, the long-awaited introduction of Free Reign Mode .

changedWhile it is not a mode every player enjoys, those who do often create builds so absurd and powerful that even we never expected them. However, Endless Mode did not fully function as a complete gameplay experience. Rewards stopped once the mode began, and enemy scaling eventually failed to keep pace with player power.

changedFirst, you will now continue receiving rewards for clearing waves , just as you do during the rest of a run.

changedSecond, we reworked how difficulty scaling functions :

changedEach wave now applies HP and Damage modifiers to enemies — these modifiers increase every wave and their growth speed increases further every 20 waves

Noble Kings,

The hour draws near — only two days remain until we march for the Shifting Sands. Today, our royal scribes bring tidings concerning the improvements coming to Endless Mode and, at long last, the long-awaited introduction of Free Reign Mode.

Seek the chronicles of former tidings through the royal passages provided below:

view view view view

Endless Mode

Endless Mode holds a special place in our hearts.

While it is not a mode every player enjoys, those who do often create builds so absurd and powerful that even we never expected them. However, Endless Mode did not fully function as a complete gameplay experience. Rewards stopped once the mode began, and enemy scaling eventually failed to keep pace with player power.

So, we decided to improve it.

First, you will now continue receiving rewards for clearing waves, just as you do during the rest of a run.

Second, we reworked how difficulty scaling functions:

Each wave now applies HP and Damage modifiers to enemies — these modifiers increase every wave and their growth speed increases further every 20 waves
Enemy numbers and base troop strength will continue scaling, but only up to a certain limit — after that point, waves will contain no more than 60 enemies using the strongest available enemy types

As a result, later waves will scale through enemy quality rather than sheer quantity. Battles should remain challenging without causing performance issues from overwhelming unit counts.

Free Reign Mode

Alongside the update, we are also introducing Free Reign Mode.

If you are tired of standard Threat Tiers, or simply wish to create a more relaxed experience, Free Mode will allow you to use Danger Modifiers on any map.

We hope this mode gives players more freedom to experiment, customize their runs, and discover new ways to play. Even experienced Kings may find fresh challenges while revisiting maps such as the Village or the Graveyard.

That is all for today, Noble Kings.

Tomorrow, the royal court shall unveil the release time map, allowing rulers across the realm to learn the exact hour at which their journey to the Shifting Sands may begin.

— Hypnohead Team

Source

Steam News / 9 June 2026

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