- Time Trials DLC out now! - 14 September 2026
There is no "blue scent trail" here. ːsteammockingːNo hand-holding. No upgrade trees, loot boxes, or crafting tables.It's just You, Your brass balls, And the ChainStaff! ːsteamhappyːThe "Time Trials" DLC is 50 hand-made challenge levels, all unlocked at the start. Jump in to them in any order, and starting swinging!Each level is focused, nice and short with a cool concept in mind (most only 10 to 20 seconds long).You get to figure out your route each time, refining a faster and faster way to the finish.All levels award you a Bronze, Silver, or Gold medal based on your finish time (offline mode). And the game is approved for Steam Deck so it's fun to take it on the go. And every level has its own dedicated Leaderboard to compare your best score the best players in the world!Time to get into the swing of the things!
- ChainStaff DLC Reveal - 5 August 2026
I have awesome news! We are putting the finishing touches on some big DLC for ChainStaff. It's called the "ChainStaff Time Trials". Fifty super-fast challenge levels complete with online leaderboards.In the main game, you get 10 HUGE levels to take your time to explore. I thought a great complement to this action would be a set of challenge levels. Personally I loved the old game "Bionic Commando Rearmed" on the Xbox 360 (the sequel kinda stunk, don't get me started). In Bionic Commando Rearmed you got the single-player campaign to take your time to explore, get upgrades, and complete the story. But along the way you also unlocked dozens of really tricky challenge levels. And what I liked about those levels is how they each were a tiny gameplay challenge. Each level had a focus on how to do a new, tricky swing or platforming move.And I'm doing something similar here! Each of the 50 leve…
- Free Hard Mode Update! - 1 June 2026
Ready to kick some alien butt? The Hard mode update is here!Already beaten Normal mode? Start a New Game+ and pick Hard mode! You'll take all your gun and shield upgrades into the Hard mode version of the game. Ready for a REAL CHALLENGE? Start Hard mode from scratch! One shield, one gun, and your ChainStaff! It's pretty tough but very satisfying to beat. What's in the free Hard Mode update? Hard mode detailsNew Enemy Attacks: All 10 levels have new enemy attacks to further challenge you. Previously simple flying enemies now shoot multiple shots in a spread. Rolling worms now stack on top of each other for a double-sized obstacle.New Level Sections: Levels feature special hard mode sections: Test your swinging abilities to the max with new “all flying enemy” segments. Tougher mid-sized enemies now show up to attack in surprise areas. All soldiers and major upgrades are in the same locat…
- Patch 2 - 27 April 2026
Patch 2 fixes-fixed camera in level 2 cave.-level 10 balance for easy, more shields.-properly clears soldiers killed (soldiers don't attack you on new-game+ now)made controller disconnect message not say "player", instead says "controller" to not imply that there is a two-player option.SPOILERS: There are spoilers in this bug list regarding bosses......SPOILERS: -alien alaric boss now has weak-point-cover damage stages.-far right collision on alien alaric adjusted to not stop player shots against boss.-trying to fix acid drips from alien alaric.-bounce shots from alien alaric tail now drive along the ground like saw blades.END SPOILERS
- Soundtrack is Out Now, "The Ultimate Weapon" Music Video - 22 April 2026
Are you ready to rock?I said...Are you ready to rock?People, we have a full-on music video!Check out "The Ultimate Weapon", the theme song for ChainStaff created by the brilliant Deon van Heerden (composer on Broforce). CAREFUL: Listening to this may cause loud outbursts of singing and pumping of fists in the air! :DGuaranteed the catchiest video game song you'll hear all year!The official ChainStaff soundtrack is out now (all files are released if you've already purchased it--just restart Steam), Volume 1 is on Steam, complete with The Ultimate Weapon song. Enjoy!
- Accolades, a Thank You, and Heavy Metal - 17 April 2026
Thank You!We made it to 50 Steam reviews! Let's keep going! Thank you for leaving your thoughts on the game. Every review helps, good or bad, big or small. If you've not already left a review on Steam or on console, please do! It helps bring in more gamers to find the game. Accolades TrailerThe critics have been enjoying the game too! Here is a snazzy accolades trailer. More Choice Quotes"a wildly inventive run n gun adventure" Kimimi the Game-Eating She-Monster"ChainStaff is a clever, focused run n gun that turns one multi functional ChainStaff into an endlessly entertaining toolkit. " Absolute Geeks"The game lasts a pretty good while for its $15 asking price" Gamer HubSoundtrack is Releasing SoonHere is the ChainStaff composer Deon van Heerden absolutely shredding! The soundtrack will be releasing soon, we are working on it. Again, thank you for an awesome launch week! Even though it'…
- Patch 1 - 14 April 2026
Version 1.0.49, Updated to Steam, consoles to follow.-New music track for level 5 mid-boss Jellymander-Added cheat "change difficulty" to modify game difficulty mid-game.-Fixed "floating HUD crystal" animation-Improved Russian translations (Thank you "Solo" for the translation)-Fixed the ChainStaff Upgrade menu that would hang the game if you had maxed out everything.-Fixed the "Skewered" Achievement, and a few others.-Improved the camera in level 8.-Fixed level 5 boss beacon
- ChainStaff is Out Now on All Platforms - 11 April 2026
ChainStaff is out now on Steam! And Switch and Playstation and Xbox. But you should play it here. Then probably buy a copy on a console too. Just for safe keeping. If you enjoyed the demo there's 9 more giant levels, weird-ass parasite upgrades, over a dozen giant bosses some of which are hard to figure out! And plenty of weapons too shoot at dozens of completely bonkers monsters while you go for the 6 different endings. Stop Reading, go get the game! My publisher went out of business and I did not have marketing support from a big company. Instead of waiting to get the game 2 years from now, if you get the game at launch and leave a review, it helps sooooooo much more than getting it in the future. Plus you get to join in talking to other people on the discord about it while everyone's playing it together https://discord.gg/8PYEmJWxATThis will help ensure I get to make extra content fo…
- ChainStaff Tips and Tricks - 25 March 2026
ChainStaff Coming April 8th Release date: April 8th. Coming to Switch 1/2, Xbox One/Series, Playstation 4/5, Steam Oh crap the game comes out in 2 weeks! I'm kind of freaking out, but also feeling good since the testing and bug fixing has been going well. I made a cool new, kinda silly, but very helpful video on stuff you can do with the ChainStaff. Check it out!I am hanging out on Discord, and sharing tips, tricks, and even new cheats! If you wanna talk about the game, cool stuff to do, or other games, come on over to the Discord! https://discord.gg/8PYEmJWxAT Oh and you can pre-order the game too, check it out. https://chainstaffgame.com/Is your favorite console the Switch 1 or 2? Good news, the game runs great on it (we are optimizing it right now) and ready for pre-order! https://www.nintendo.com/us/store/products/chainstaff-switch...What about the Xbox systems? Yes! The pre-order i…
- New "Vault" Ability Added! - 4 March 2026
As we continue to polish ChainStaff for the April 8th release date, I've got cool news. After loads of playtesting I realized we needed just a little bit of extra polish. Behold--the "Vault Ability"!This is a new, automatic move that happens to the player in the game. Any time you are next to a ledge, and you press towards it (left/right), you will automatically try to climb it just a little bit. You don't climb all the way up walls. But you do kick off of them twice, giving you a tiny boost. You do not do a full ledge grab. That I feel would slow down the pace of the game. But you quickly do a small wall-hop and it lets you over loads of tiny spots you'd fall normally. Want to try it out? It's in the free demo on Steam right now! Is it better than a ledge-grab?Let me know what you think.
- Launch Date Revealed - 4 February 2026
Launch DateI have cool news! We finally have a release date for ChainStaff. Steam, Switch, Playstation, Xbox, everything...the game is coming out April 8th. Check out the trailer for new monsters, weapons, and levels. Pre-OrderAlso big news--we have a price, $14.99, and pre-order options are available! We worked really hard to get the game through all the annoying systems for Nintendo and Microsoft. (Sadly Sony doesn't let smaller games like mine get a pre-order. I did try though! )You can pre-order on Switch 1/2 and Xbox.Please wishlist it or pre-order it. It's a big help! This page has all the store links: https://chainstaffgame.com/Cheat Codes Now in the Demo I just updated the demo here on Steam. It is still the tutorial training level and level 1, but there is now also a Cheat Menu. How's it work? Well it takes simple words. But you have to *know* the words. And I put all kinds of…
- I Built a Life-Sized ChainStaff; Hold it at MAGFest - 7 January 2026
I will be at MAGFest this weekend in Washington DC! It's June 8th to 11th. It's absolutely packed with awesome indie games, arcade games, and lots of amazing game music. Come out to the show and tell your friends about it!ChainStaff was accepted to be shown in the "MIVS" division of the show. It's an indie-only section where cool indie games are previewed for the gaming public. You get a 10x10ft booth and you design it all yourself. My first idea was... what if you could hold a real ChainStaff?!? What would it be like? Check out this video as I detail the construction of it. It ended up being over 7 feet long, but thankfully only weighs about 5 pounds so anyone can wield it.I also printed a backdrop of the main game box art, and you'll get to pose in front of it with the ChainStaff! This is inside my office; it barely fits! I'll do a new blog post when we get the real booth set up at MA…
- New Demo Update - Difficulty Modes - 30 September 2025
Updated DemoGet a taste of the story in ChainStaff! There are now two new story cutscenes at the beginning of the demo, where you can see the origins of the Star Spore invasion. The demo update also has the ability to pick between Easy and Normal difficulty modes. The difficulty is hand-tuned for each level. There will be new attacks and more enemies in Normal difficulty. Easy mode might have more platforms to land on, plus you start with more player shields.Here's the list of demo changesCutscenes addedDifficulty modes addedNow has 3 Save SlotsDual Stick controls fully supportedBetter button remappingGame balance changes: Players don't retract ChainStaff on Damage. You now need a full heart to take an extra hit (not just a subheart).Many more balances and game polish.Want to join the Beta Playtest?Come help steer the direction of the game balancing! I'm slowly finishing up the rest of…
- My publisher went out of business, but I'm still finishing ChainStaff. - 16 July 2025
I wish I had great news, but I have a bit of ... not great but not terrible news. I lost my publisher, Null games. Well, I didn't LOSE them, they dissolved (I don't know why).What does this mean for ChainStaff? It means I have to do all the marketing, promotion, and community building myself, in addition to making and producing the game. That's is a lot work! But don't worry, I've done it before with my past games. Why is it not TERRIBLE news? Because I can spend a little more time balancing the game and not rushing to release it this Fall (to fit the publisher's schedule). I absolutely LOVE ChainStaff and excited to make it the best game I can.The game was scheduled for release in Fall 2025. That's not going to happen any more, BUT don't worry, I don't plan on taking another year to finish the game or anything like that. The game is probably 85% complete, so that's great! My current "r…
- ChainStaff Blasts to PC, Xbox, and PS Soon - 17 April 2025
FALL IN HERE, MAGGOTS! ChainStaff is confirmed to release on PC, Mac, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S. Prepare yourselves for heart-pounding heavy metal tracks and fast-paced, slippery combat against some of the weirdest half-alien, half-animal hybrids out there. Maybe even consider eating some brains, as a treat.
- Incoming Transmission, Soldier! - 8 April 2025
Are you ready, grunt? ChainStaff is traveling at the speed of light to deliver some heavy metal mayhem to the first-ever Galaxies Showcase streaming exclusively on Twitch. Expect some big news with a planet-sized serving of blood, guts, and carnage. Synchronize your watches - the briefing starts April 17th (12 PM PT / 3 PM ET / 9PM CEST), so tune in for the latest updates on your mission to bring the pain to the Star Spores. See you all at twitch.tv/galaxiesshow!
- Play the Demo Now - 14 February 2025
It’s here! The ChainStaff demo has landed, but so did the giant aliens and their brutish minions. Spear, swing, and shoot your way through a transformed version of Earth to save mankind. The demo will be live through Steam Next Fest, so get in your run’n’gun time. Here’s what you can expect from the demo: Get to grips Learn to harness the ChainStaff’s murderous and varied powers in the Tutorial training grounds before taking the fight back to the invading alien scum Beautiful devastation Explore ChainStaff’s first level, Sand Spires, and gawk in awe and horror at once scenic views turned to surreal and otherworldly landscapes Dangerous species Shoot, stab and spear your way through several types of mutant fiends and catch a glimpse of what to expect from the many enemy variants the Star Spores will bring to the battlefield at full release Bring your best Deploy your flesh-ripping arsena…
- Gamedev Update 4: Getting a 3D Look out of 2D - 5 December 2024
Howdy everyone! I've been hard at work on making lots of cool monster animations. I like seeing all the texture in a hand-painted HD game. I want to give ChainStaff an extra bit of polish so I've been using Spine Animation to make the game look slightly 3D. Hey, let me know what are some High-definition, painted-looking 2D games that have a cool 3D look, and/or great animation? I'd love to check them out. Thanks!
- Gamedev Update 3: Making the Camera Work Right! - 14 October 2024
Hey all, Check out how I'm making the camera work for platforming, swinging and more! Got any examples of 2D games with good cameras that I should check out?
- ChainStaff is coming to SXSW Sydney! - 8 October 2024
Null is heading down under! We’re bringing ChainStaff to sunny Australia, and will be in attendance at SXSW Sydney from October 16th to the 20th. If you’re interested in catching some ChainStaff and live nearby, feel free to swing by the Games Showcase and find our booth to get your hands on what The Gamer is calling “the most hilariously brutal shoot ‘em up ever!” If you missed it, check out this interview from PAX West: Here is the current schedule for the game’s public availability: ChainStaff - Booth #29 - Thursday 17th - 10am-2pm - Thursday 17th - 4pm-8pm - Sunday 20th - 11pm-5pm We hope to see you there!
