'Hunt, die, upgrade, repeat' is the motto of Huntdown: Overtime, the prequel to the excellent Huntdown (2020). Once again, Easy Trigger Games and Coffee Stain are unleashing a treat for fans of retro run-and-gun games, even in Early Access.
Hunt Overtime is a side-scrolling action shooter and run-and-gun roguelite inspired by the greatest action movie classics of the '80s. It's also the prequel to Huntdown (2020), in which players take on the role of one of three bounty hunters in a retro-futuristic world, fighting against the criminal underworld — including the cyborg John Sawyer. Set in 2084, Hunt Overtime sees players take on the role of John Sawyer, a freelance bounty hunter working for mega corporations in a future where crime rules the streets — and players experience Sawyer's transformation into a cyborg first-hand. Players track down bounties from different gangs across multiple areas, including gang-controlled zones, wastelands, and hostile territories. Before starting a bounty hunt, players can choose which opponent to tackle on branching paths. Along the way, players collect currency and decide how to spend it. However, while bounty hunting can be profitable, it also comes with risks. Following a failed hunt, John Sawyer wakes up at Tony's surgery and repair shop. This is where the major innovation compared to Huntdown comes in: the roguelite progression of hunt, die, upgrade and repeat.
In the workshop, players can select permanent cybernetic upgrades; however, the roguelite systems are more straightforward than those in other titles. There is an in-run currency for purchasing new weapons and other items, as well as currencies for buying permanent body and gameplay upgrades at the base. New weapons can also be unlocked, and every death fuels the evolution from flesh to steel. While some elements are repetitive, the game compensates for this with a fantastic, detailed and creative scenario featuring enemies, bosses and environments.
Huntdown: Overtime © Easy Trigger Games and Coffee Stain
The classic gameplay of Huntdown: Overtime is just as convincing as in the original game. It still relies on forward momentum, but this time there is a better balance between ranged and melee weapons as viable options during encounters. Players can equip whatever combination of weapons they want in the two primary weapon slots, such as a whip and a katana, or a sniper rifle and a rocket launcher. During missions, players can switch weapons depending on what they find. The tactical secondary weapon slots also play a big part in combat scenarios. For instance, players can deploy an airbag to propel enemies into the air, release flying drones to fire at enemies from above, or throw a boomerang. As players progress, they unlock more weapons and new ways to upgrade them with a wide variety of modifications, such as explosive bullets or fire-imbued melee weapons. With dozens of weapons, augments, and throwables to pick up, every run offers a chance to try out a different combat style. However, the beginning of the run can sometimes be easier or harder depending on the first weapon obtained. The environment can also be used to advantage. There are (automatically usable) covers, objects that can be thrown or overturned, and places to hide behind.
Huntdown: Overtime © Easy Trigger Games and Coffee Stain
The shooting mechanics are satisfying, the gunplay is precise, the movement is smooth, and the overall style is excellent. Huntdown: Overtime features handcrafted retro 16-bit pixel art fused with modern lighting effects, capturing the aesthetic of early-80s B-movies. As the developers call it, it's "no pretty neon nostalgia, just VHS-era swagger".
The Early Access launch is just the beginning. Easy Trigger Games will collaborate with the community to refine the balance, expand the content, and evolve Sawyer's arsenal. While they did not want to set a target date before the Early Access launch, they now estimate that the journey to Version 1.0 will take between six and twelve months, depending on the feedback received. "Content such as weapons, character upgrades, and much of the gameplay systems are in a near-final state", they say. This means that they have no intention of making drastic changes to the gameplay. "What we envision is a richer world with more content and polish so that no two runs feel the same. We do not plan for substantial changes in the core systems or to overhaul what is already built, but that is of course dependent on player feedback."
Easy Trigger Games was founded in late 2016 by Tommy Gustafsson and Andreas Rehnberg. Both founders grew up in the era of Commodore computers. The studio is based in Trollhättan, Sweden. "We leave nothing to chance. When thinking outside the box is becoming the norm, our model is to combine proven gameplay elements that we know make a magnificent experience. The inside of the box is rich and filled with treasures," say the developers. Their first game was Huntdown (2020). In 2021, the studio was acquired by Embracer and integrated into Coffee Stain. At the time, it had five employees. The studio now has nine employees.
Coffee Stain is a game developer, publisher and investor with offices in Skövde, Stockholm, Malmö, Trollhättan and Gothenburg. Since its foundation in 2010, Coffee Stain has been responsible for Goat Simulator, Sanctum Games, A Story About My Uncle, Huntdown and Satisfactory. The company is also the publisher of popular games such as Deep Rock Galactic (Ghost Ship Games), Valheim (Iron Gate), Songs of Conquest (Lava Potion) and Midnight Ghost Hunt (Vaulted Sky Games), which were developed by external teams. Coffee Stain was part of the Embracer Group for a long time, but in December 2025, as part of the company's restructuring, the Coffee Stain Group was listed on the First North Premier – Nasdaq Stockholm.
Huntdown: Overtime was released on Steam Early Access on 7 May 2026 for $16.99/€16.99. The game will be available at a reduced price during the Early Access period.
Huntdown: Overtime is an excellent run-and-gun shooter with tight shooting mechanics, great gameplay, and a distinctive style. More variations and levels are expected to be added during the Early Access period, which should enhance the game even further. However, the core gameplay is already highly enjoyable.
