We asked Merge games whether co-op would be added to DeathRun TV in a future update, and we were told: The hostage-rescuing mechanic add a frustrating but fun element to the game, and I don't just say that as a fan of Shinobi and Moonwalker! Easier said than done, though enemies will make quick work of any civilian they come across. The goal is to safely lead the hostage(s) to a drop-off point.

Touching a hostage will get him or her to follow your character. In the final game, blindfolded hostages roam around most of DeathRun's levels. One new element that we didn't notice in last year's demo is that of rescuing hostages. If you die, you'll just be resurrected for another round on the show. Specifically, fame can be spent on the player's choice of mutations, boosting movement speed, fame gain, and more. The more popular they get, the more powerful they become. Play as a contestant in a deadly game show, causing as much mayhem as possible in front of a live studio audience. Contestants' primary goal is to receive as many likes as possible. Still, even as a single-player-only game, DeathRun TV is pretty solid and compelling. Fast-forwarding to now, DeathRun TV has finally launched on Steam and Switch, but there's a catch: the co-op mode that was initially announced is nowhere to be found. DeathRun is a twin-stick shooter/Roguelike that takes obvious inspiration from The Running Man and, just maybe, Smash TV. Almost exactly a year ago, we wrote about an in-development game called DeathRun TV from Laser Dog and Merge Games.

Download the new DEATHRUN TV