198X cover

198X

Critic score2 critics
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First release
Jun 20, 2019
Engine
Unity
Genres
Role-playing (RPG), Hack and slash/Beat 'em up, Indie, Adventure, Shooter, Arcade, Racing · Action, Fantasy, Science fiction
Platforms
PC (Microsoft Windows), PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch

198X is not just a beat ’em up, a shoot ’em up, a racing game, a ninja game and an RPG. This is a love letter to the golden age of arcade games – yet with a scope that was never possible in the actual 1980s. It’s a story about finding yourself – and your self-confidence – in the world of video games. A coming-of-age story told through multiple game genres, worlds and characters. Feel the sensation of fighting, shooting, driving, jumping and role-playing – combined with emotional, cinematic storytelling. And what happens when the line between reality and game starts to blur…?

Also known as 198X.exe

Attributes

No Attributes added.

Details

Storyline, release dates, time to beat, age ratings, modes, links, keywords

Storyline
"The game is set in Suburbia, just outside the City, sometime in 198X. It follows the journey of Kid, a teenager stuck between the limitations of innocent youth and the obligations of inevitable adulthood. The story unfolds when Kid discovers the local arcade – finding new worlds, and new meaning, in video games. For every visit to the arcade – every game uncovered, every move mastered, every demon defeated – Kid grows stronger. And the lines between game and reality starts to blur…"Read more

"The game is set in Suburbia, just outside the City, sometime in 198X. It follows the journey of Kid, a teenager stuck between the limitations of innocent youth and the obligations of inevitable adulthood. The story unfolds when Kid discovers the local arcade – finding new worlds, and new meaning, in video games. For every visit to the arcade – every game uncovered, every move mastered, every demon defeated – Kid grows stronger. And the lines between game and reality starts to blur…"

Release dates
PC (Microsoft Windows)
Jun 20, 2019
PlayStation 4
Jun 20, 2019
Xbox One
Jun 20, 2019
All 5 release dates
Nintendo Switch
Jan 22, 2020
Nintendo Switch
Jan 23, 2020
Time to beatIGDB · recorded
Main Story
1h
Main + Extras
2h
Completionist
5h
Game modes
Single player
Perspective
Side view, First person, Bird view / Isometric
Keywords
ninja, shoot 'em up, dungeon crawler, crowdfunding - kickstarter

At a Glance

Critic Score
70
Main Story (IGDB)
1h
Main + Extras (IGDB)
2h
Completionist (IGDB)
5h
OverviewHow it playsMediaCommunityBehind the gameRelated

Overview

Steam review summary

Steam users rate this Very Positive, 607 reviews in all languages, recorded 16 October 2026

Valve's summary of Steam user reviews. Valve counts only reviews from purchases on Steam, not key activations, and leaves out review periods it has marked as off-topic. It isn't part of the CritScore score.

Review summary: SteamSteam data provided via the Steam Web API (opens in a new tab)Not affiliated with Valve →

About storefront and compatibility information

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