- Nova Drift 1.2.38.2: A Bad Day To Be A Bug - 28 September 2026
Hello Drifters,We just launched an update that contains almost 200 changes: Bug fixes, gameplay tweaks, enemy tweaks, quality of life additions, aesthetic adjustments, and optimizations. See the impressively large changelog here.That's all, really. Enjoy your slightly shinier Nova Drift :)
- June Developer Update - 4 June 2026
Hey, all! I've got a few updates for you. Games For Waves First, the WDC's World Ocean Day Steam Sale just hit and runs for a week from today. There are a lot of games, including Nova Drift, running deep sales, and a % of the profits from each title goes to whale and dolphin conservation! You can view the Steam Sale here: https://store.steampowered.com/curator/41670686-Whale-and-Dolphin-Conservation/ Buy a great game, tell your friends, help a cetacean. Everyone wins! If you'd like to read more about WDC, and the good work they do, you can do so here: https://uk.whales.org/ Utopia Must Fall ESCALATION Update Nova Drift's cousin-in-law Utopia Must Fall (originally designed by ND's musician Miles Tilmann) just got its biggest update ever, titled the Escalation Update. They just added a new meta-progression, new enemies & bosses, and a lot of other new's that we don't need to get into here…
- - Save And Quit Feature is Live - // - Many Tweaks + Balance Pass + Bug Fixes - - 27 March 2026
Hello all,Today we are launching not one but TWO major versions that have been brewing in the beta branches for months: 1.2.37 : Save and Quit Feature + minor fixes 1.2.35 : A huge amount of fixes, tweaks, and a balance pass But of course this is all rolled into 1.2.37, which you should now have access to in the default branch. Read the entire patch notes here.Here are the highlights:- Added a Save and Quit feature: Resume your game-in-progress anytime!Note that when using Resume, your score will not be submitted to online leaderboards.Added settings for the Save and Quit / Resume run feature which allows you to toggle when your run should be auto-saved. Note: In resumed runs, your final score won't be shared to online leaderboards- A slew of bug fixes- Major balance changes touching but not limited to:Saturation FireBastion ShieldConstructsAlso a reminder that these changes are reflect…
- - Nova Drift Mobile Out Now // Upcoming Features & DLC - - 10 March 2026
Hello all, It's been a while since we dropped any news, and as usual there is a lot going on: Nova Drift Mobile - Now AvailableThe mobile version features a highly customizable touch-control scheme, mobile gamepad support, optimized performance, and all features from the PC version.You can buy the Premium version or try out the free, but limited Lite version. The Premium version is the full game, and the Lite version is a free demo that lets you play until wave 60 and limits unlocks.Neither have any ads or IAP. There's even itch.io build for Android if you don't use the Play store.🔹iOS Premium: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nova-drift/id6744329971🔹iOS Lite: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nova-drift-lite/id6746450915🔹Android Premium: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chimeric.novadrift🔹Android Lite: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.chimeric.novadriftde…
- Nova Drift news, Chimeric's next game, and Pixeljam's DINO RUN 2! - 8 September 2025
Dear Drifters, I know I've been pretty quiet lately, but there's been a lot going on behind the scenes. I'll catch you up, and then I'd like to tell you about the next Pixeljam game, Dino Run 2, which I was a big part of way back before Nova Drift!Chimeric News:If you're not already aware, Nova Drift was built in GameMaker. This often surprises people. I think this is partially because of how far we've pushed its capabilities, but also because people don't realize how far GameMaker has come since its early days when it was known as more of a hobbyist's tool. It's powerful now! Still, as we work on porting for mobile and consoles, we're starting to see its limitations, and as my next project approaches, I'm thinking it's time for a change. I continue to believe it is the best tool for rapid prototyping, and perhaps the easiest engine to pick up, especially for people with a more creative…
- Nova Drift 1.2 Is Out: Daily Challenge Mode // World Ocean Day Charity Event - 5 June 2025
Nova Drift's new game mode, Daily Challenge is now included as a free update! But before I get into the details, I'd like to remind everyone that the World Ocean Day Steam Sale is live now. 100+ other games are participating, and any of your purchases will support vital conservation work to create safer seas for whales and dolphins, as well as fund a brand-new project to retrieve lost ocean fishing gear. Also, there are some amazing titles in the mix! See what's for sale: World Ocean Day Steam Sale 2025 One week left to claim your Nova Drift OST on Vinyl! Also, our Campaign to bring the Nova Original Soundtrack to Vinyl is more than halfway over but only just barely halfway to it's funding goal. Even if you don't want a record, there are a lot of digital-only rewards for those that just want to support the project, including steam keys for the game (that one could give to friends) at al…
- Shooter dev "gaslights" players about fake Space Whales for seven years, then sneaks them into the game - 3 June 2025
Every few moments in the current build of arcade space shooter Nova Drift there's a chance the game will spawn a Cargo Train. Whenever the game decides to spawn a Cargo Train, there's a 1/7777 chance it will spawn a Space Whale instead. "Nonsense," you bellow. "Space Whales are a myth. Designer Jeffrey Nielson has been telling us they're not real ever since the original Kickstarter in 2017." Ah, you poor, unsuspecting mooncalf. You chirpy little starfish. Consider the subtleness of the sea; how its most dreaded creatures glide treacherously hidden inside downloadable software packages. Nielson has been telling you porkies. He did, in fact, surreptitiously add a Space Whale to the game shortly before Nova Drift's 1.0 release back in August 2024 , after years of conspiracy theories. This, friends, is the good kind of lie, the kind of lie that makes combing through a million changelogs for…
- On the Virtues of Gaslighting Your Community - 1 June 2025
I have a confession to make. I have been living a lie for far too long, and the guilt weighs on my conscience like a great, barnacled, blubbery mass. Lately, it's taken all my energy to keep my head above water, so I'm just going to spout it out: It exists. There is a Space Whale. Whew... That's a relief. I feel like I can breathe again. So... context. If you're not already a member of our Discord community, this statement makes no sense. You see, I have been denying its existence for more than 7 years. It does exist, though it hasn't always, and it is very, very rare. What started as a running in-joke got carried away, and today I will tell you that story, but first... My inky-black deception shall not go unanswered. I must begin the long journey of my penance! To begin, I pledge this to you: When Nova Drift's 1.2 update launches, for the period of June 5th-12th, I will donate 20% of t…
- Major Update On June 5th / OST Vinyl Crowdfunding / Streaming Starts ASAP! - 28 May 2025
Hello all, If you didn't already know, the Daily Challenge Update will launch on June 5th. It's stable and ready for you to preview in the BETA branch if you want to check it out early. Thanks to everyone that helped us shape it up over the last few months. Also, Pixeljam is going to start streaming again to support the Kickstarter Campaign to get the Nova Drift soundtrack on vinyl and CD. The campaign is 40% funded with only 2 weeks left, so we really need your support to make it happen! Even if you don't want vinyl or CDs, there are plenty of digital-only rewards for those that pledge. Click here to visit the campaign. I'm going to start streaming again as well, please subscribe to Pixeljam's Twitch Channel to get notified when we go live. Here is the planned schedule. All streams start at 3 PM EST: Friday May 30 Tuesday June 3 Friday June 6 Tues June 10 Thursday June 12 (last day of…
- - The Nova Drift Soundtrack on Vinyl and CD Kickstarter Is Live - - 20 May 2025
The Kickstarter Campaign to bring the Nova Drift Soundtrack to Vinyl and Compact Disc has launched! Check it out: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/milestilmann/nova-drift-soundtrack-on-vinyl-and-cd Printed on BioVinyl, no toxic dino-sludge involved. Compact disc options for those that could give 2 craps about vinyl. Digital-only rewards for those that could give 3 craps about physical rewards. Grab some extra discounted Steam keys for your buddies! No-reward option for those that like to put money into creative projects and receive nothing in return (wow!) Shipping to 6 different countries supported now, but if we get enough requests for certain countries I will add them to the campaign. Drop a comment here if you want to buy Vinyl but your country is not supported. Please spread the word as well to all Nova Drift fans! We’ll need a lot of support on this if we’re going to meet our…
- -Daily Challenge Beta Test Is Live / Soundtrack Vinyl & CD Details- - 2 May 2025
Hello Drifters, After much blood, sweat, and a few minor electrocutions, the Daily Challenge Update is ready for beta testing! Switch to the BETA branch on Steam to check it out. Here are the details: Take on a new seeded challenge each day. Here are 3 examples: Boss Rush: Face a gauntlet of every boss. Bosses are faster and much tougher. You earn massively increased score and experience. Serpentine Drift: Begin your journey as a Leviathan and munch orbs to increase your size. Protect your head, and don't chomp your own tail! Your only threats are cosmic hazards and yourself. Super Nova Brothers: Begin your journey alongside a unique and powerful Ally construct. You and the Ally share a portion of damage taken. Other modes include: 20-Point Draft, 45-Point Draft, Cosmic Egg, Purity, Turbo, Turbo Endless, and Way Of The Sword. Also, we have more information on the Soundtrack Kickstarter…
- Poll: Should We Release The Nova Drift OST on Vinyl? - 8 April 2025
Hello all, I'm considering pressing up vinyl for the Nova Drift Soundtrack, but I only want to move forward on it if there is enough interest. It would not be the entire soundtrack (since it's almost 3 hours long), but probably 2 discs (4 sides, about 15-20 mins each side) of select tracks from the OST, with some player input about what's included as well. So... drop any comment here (doesn't matter what the comment says, "+1" is good enough) if you would actually be interested in purchasing it on release. Price would probably be around 30 dollars for a double disc set or 20 dollars for a single disc, depending on how many we made and the production cost of each. Thanks! - Miles @ Pixeljam
- Popular rogue-lite space shooter Nova Drift gets updated for Steam Deck verification - 28 January 2025
Nova Drift from developer Chimeric is a very well-received rogue-lite space shooter that released back in 2024, and the dev continues working on it. The latest update includes some changes to improve it on Steam Deck. Read the full article here: https://www.gamingonlinux.com/2025/01/popular-rogue-lite-space-shooter-nova-drift-gets-updated-for-steam-deck-verification/
- Steam Deck Hotfix - V. 1.1.12 - 27 January 2025
Made a few changes to comply with Steam Deck verification requirements: Fixed non-value settings items getting greyed out incorrectly on Steam Deck Fixed Window Size setting being selectable on Steam Deck Fixed loading and saving settings that are disabled on Steam Deck Fixed Custom Skin sprite overlapping the score on the End Score screen Upgrade screen descriptions now use the standard-scaling small font to comply with Steam Deck text size requirements We now hide key indicators in construct UI when using gamepad controls We now don't grey out the Online Leaderboard setting item on Steam Deck Fixed line wrapping length in end game unlock messages
- - Nova Drift x Genome Guardian Bundle Launched - - 14 January 2025
Announcing our latest Steam Bundle: Genome Guardian is a criminally underexposed game and I aim to do something about it. It's a perfect fit alongside Nova Drift, so we are bundling UP. Genome Guardian is a turret roguelite survival game. There's a lot I like about it. It's well presented, creative, funny, and inventive. There is also a huge amount of content to unlock. I particularly like the weapon combination system which is a blast to experiment with. Any combination of Pistol, Shotgun, SMG, or Bomb results in a unique weapon type, for a total of 70 weapons. Just as you starting to master it, it'll surprise you with entirely new game modes, like one that transforms the game from a central turret config to a vertical shooter. Complete the bundle by clicking here, as HARD as you can. Cell Command! Alpherior's next game, Cell Command, is also shaping up to be very interesting. I'm pret…
- Nova Drift 1.1 is now live: Steam Deck Shine-Up - 13 January 2025
Hello Drifters, This update focuses on achieving two main goals: Offering an even smoother experience on Steam Deck than we already do, and preparing the game for porting. While there are many optimization challenges associated with porting (the focus of the next update), I'm particularly excited to share the game experience with mobile and Switch players. A few highlights from 1.1: Reworked the Settings menus: Each category section is now a tabbed page Fonts are crisper & more readable, especially at non-native / small resolutions Ensured all controller glyphs, tutorials, and messages are accurate, large, and clear for Steam Deck and future consoles and mobile devices Reworked unlock progression, improving the pacing for players of varying skill levels Support for virtual keyboard high score entry on Steam Deck Many bug fixes Here's the full change log. New Content For Nova Drift? Now…
- If you can put Balatro down for half a second, the lead dev behind it has recommended some other stunning indies with a very low-key awards ceremony of their own - 5 January 2025
Balatro is obviously one of the best games from 2024, and now the dev behind it has shared what they think are the top titles from last year. Read more
- Highly rated space roguelike Nova Drift launches new Steam demo - 25 October 2024
When I think of the best space games, I imagine fast, frantic combat with missiles and lasers flying across the stars - I'll always be more enamored by the speed of Everspace 2's action than the lumbering weight of Starfield ships. Further distilling that essence down, Nova Drift is a high-octane roguelike that finally launched out of early access in 2024 after five years. It's bright, snappy, and beautiful, and has earned itself the elusive 'overwhelmingly positive' Steam rating, with 95% of its 11,000 reviews recommending it. Now you can try before you buy, as developer Chimeric launches a free demo. Read the rest of the story... RELATED LINKS: Space ARPG Nova Drift leaves early access with rave reviews and a sale
- Nova Drift's Demo is OUT! // Console progress & what we're working on - 24 October 2024
Nova Drift's Free Demo Is Now Available! If you're one of the many people who have wishlisted Nova Drift, but haven't pulled the trigger, the demo is HERE. Tell your friends. They must know the exaltation of biomechanical wings cutting graceful arcs through luminiferous aether. You can show them. The Demo Version allows you to reach wave 60, and rank your account up to 15. We even snuck in some Super Mods so players can learn how they work earlier than you'd normally access them. Check it, here. Porting Prep Even though we've been pretty quiet, we've been busy: Steam Deck Verification Nova Drift is already perfectly playable on Steam Deck, but it isn't listed as "Verified" for a few trivial reasons, which we're solving. Getting verified means players can easily find it while shopping on their Steam Deck. Switch & Mobile Needs: GUI Improvements We've started working on the many obstacles…
- We've launched Steam Bundles! Complete your collections. - 27 September 2024
DRIFT AND DRAFT Bundle I'm excited to announce the Nova Drift + Slay The Spire bundle is now available on Steam! You can get both, or you can complete the set, with a 10% Discount. Slay the Spire is one of those games that left a permanent mark on the game industry, and I think I speak for a lot of devs when I say that playing it changed the way that I design forever. There's a reason it's still going strong 7 years after release, and why it's so hard to exceed despite countless iterations on the formula. It gets a huge endorsement from me. More importantly, Snecko says BUY NOW @_@ https://store.steampowered.com/bundle/45418/Nova_Drift__Slay_The_Spire/ NOVA DRIFT + BROTATO Bundle We're also bundled up with Brotato like somekinda incandescent potato wrap. "Brotato is a top-down arena shooter roguelite where you play a potato wielding up to 6 weapons at a time to fight off hordes of alien…
