About Underrun
Underrun opens at a terminal before sending you into a facility where something has gone badly wrong. The camera looks down into dim rooms, your shots throw light across the floor and small creatures close in while you look for the next objective. The chunky pixels are part of the look; this is a tiny 3D game built for the 2018 js13k competition.
Dominic Szablewski made the game, with music by Andreas Loesch. Its short format suits a careful run through the rooms rather than a long equipment grind. You move with the keyboard and aim separately with the mouse, which lets you retreat from an enemy without turning your weapon away.
How to play Underrun
Work through the facility and restore its systems. Read the terminal messages, find the required computer equipment and survive the creatures between you and it.
- Let the opening terminal sequence finish, then click to begin when prompted.
- Use WASD or the arrow keys to move. Point into the room with the mouse and hold the left button to fire.
- Clear some space around yourself before looking for the next route or objective. Check corners before walking into a narrow passage.
- Approach the terminals and follow the messages that explain your next job. Keep watching your remaining health while you explore.
Controls
| Input | Action |
|---|---|
| WASD / Arrow keys | Move through the facility. |
| Mouse | Aim independently of your movement. |
| Left mouse button | Fire the plasma weapon; hold for repeated shots. |
| PlayFG restart button | Reload the game when you want a fresh start. |
Click or tap inside the game before using the keyboard. The fullscreen button below the player gives you more room; the restart button reloads the game.
Tips for a better round
- Fire while backing into space you have already checked. Retreating blindly into a new room can bring more enemies into the same fight.
- The weapon lights up the direction you are shooting. Use those moments to read the room, but do not stand still just to enjoy the effect.
Questions about Underrun
Why is the game starting with text instead of a play button?
The terminal sequence is the introduction. Wait for its prompt and click to continue; it is part of the game.
Is this a phone shooter?
This build needs keyboard movement and mouse aiming. Use a desktop browser for the intended controls.
