Screenshots
Watch trailer on Steam ↗XeGrader plus
Tokihiro NAITO · Published by Tokihiro NAITO
Positive — 94% positive (18 reviews) · 40 achievements
Last updated 28 Sept 2026
A fantasy shooter where exploration and gimmicks are keys to victory. In a world of meticulous pixel art, uncover secrets hidden in every stage. Collect powerful upgrades, defeat fantasy monsters with precise shooting, and forge the world's fate!
£17.75
Lowest price we've ever recorded
View on SteamPrices can lag the live Steam store — always confirm before buying.
Price history
Action, Adventure, Indie · 2026 · More £15 - £30 games
Explore a world of meticulous pixel art in XeGrader plus, where each stage hides secrets waiting to be uncovered. Forge your path with powerful upgrades and precise shooting against fantasy monsters.
About this game
Featured in major media:
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GEMATSU / Time Extension / Final Weapon / NicheGamer / Filmogaz / Jogos Matsuri / Foro 3D
"Discovery" through "Adventure": Save the World!
This game is a "Gimmick-Driven Action Shooter" that blends the excitement of classic retro shooters with deep mystery-solving. Blast your way through hordes of monsters, but remember: brute force alone will not save this world. Hidden mysteries, ancient mechanisms, and secret pathways lie waiting in every stage. Only players with sharp eyes and daring hearts will awaken the lost order and restore balance to a fallen realm.
World: A High Fantasy Shrouded in Darkness
A once-prosperous high fantasy realm has been swallowed by darkness. Monstrous legions now roam freely — from classic fantasy foes like Slimes and Kobolds to terrifying creatures of the night such as Zombies and Vampires.
Choose your hero:
Male Warrior or Female Warrior — your choice of legend.
Then step into a beautifully crafted world filled with danger, secrets, and wonder.
Grow stronger by solving mysteries!
In Xegrader, power does not come from grinding alone.
Your character becomes stronger only by uncovering hidden mysteries in each level. Solve puzzles, experiment with the environment, and search every corner of the stage.
Remember that magical feeling in classic games when you discovered a secret by accident — like flying into a hidden volcanic crater and finding a rare upgrade? That same thrill of discovery is at the heart of Xegrader. Observe. Experiment. Discover. Become unstoppable.
Retro Soul — Modern Presentation
Golden Age Pixel Art: Gorgeous pixel art by Skipmore, capturing the charm of classic 8-bit and 16-bit adventures.
Modern Atmosphere: Dynamic lighting and shadow effects bring depth to the retro world, making it feel alive and immersive.
Epic Soundtrack: Music by Tadahiro Nitta blends emotional melodies with FM-style chiptune textures — perfectly matching the tension and excitement of your quest.
DLC — Classic Hardware Reborn
Experience two authentic retro versions of Xegrader, recreated faithfully on Steam:
MSX2 Version (2025)
Originally released as a physical package.
Distinctive MSX2 color palette
Classic PSG-style sound
A nostalgic yet visually rich presentation
ORIGIN — PC-8001mkII Version (2024)
A minimalist, hardware-accurate tribute:
Only 4 colors
Raw BEEP speaker sound
A pure, vintage computing experience
Each version offers a different aesthetic, sound, and feel — choose your favorite flavor of retro.
Steam Deck Ready
Play Xegrader anywhere.
Fully optimized for Steam Deck
Touch support for name entry
Custom UI for handheld play
Enjoy deep Gimmick-driven action whether you’re on the couch, on a train, or on an epic quest from your bed.
Created by Retro Legends
Planning & Production: Toshihiro Naito (Hydlide series)
Pixel Art: Skipmore (Kamiko, Fairune)
Music & Sound: Tadahiro Nitta (Xak, Illusion City)
System Requirements
Will my PC run this? →Minimum
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 11 compatible
- Processor: Intel Core i3-2100 / AMD Ryzen 3 1200
- Memory: 8 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 2000
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 500 MB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card
- Additional Notes: A network is required for leaderboards and Steam Cloud.
Recommended
- Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system
- OS: Windows 11 compatible
- Processor: Intel Core i5-4590 / AMD Ryzen 5 1400
- Memory: 16 GB RAM
- Graphics: Intel HD Graphics 4600
- DirectX: Version 11
- Storage: 500 MB available space
- Sound Card: DirectX compatible sound card
- Additional Notes: A network is required for leaderboards and Steam Cloud.
Supported Languages
Latest news
AnnouncementsOfficial
XeGrader plus MIDWEEK DEAL
XeGrader plus is on MIDWEEK DEAL for five days starting today. On Steam the base game is 28% off, and the DLC and the Complete Bundle are 32% off. The offer ends on September 4.Precise shooting is only half of it: the gimmicks and puzzles hidden in each stage are the real key to clearing them. Pixel art by Skipmore, music by Tadahiro Nitta. A demo is available and the game is Steam Deck compatible. The MSX2 Mode and Origin (PC-8001mkII) Mode DLC are also included in the sale. If you like retro shooters with a bit of exploration, now is a good time to take a look.Read full article on Community Announcements (NAITO Tokihiro)Patch NotesOfficial
v1.2.0 Update Notes
XeGrader plus has been updated to version v1.2.0. As previously requested by our users, you can now switch the player at the start of a game. In addition, the game modes added by the DLC can now also be selected as needed when starting a game.Read full article on Community Announcements (NAITO Tokihiro)Patch NotesOfficial
Demo Updated: Playable Character Changed to an Elf
The demo has been updated. Until now, the demo featured the lower-performance human protagonist, but starting with this update, a slightly more capable female elf has been introduced as the playable character in the demo. This character has faster movement and attack speeds than the human. The game's speed also changes depending on the game mode. PRACTICE is almost too slow, AVERAGE runs at normal speed, and EXPERT runs at high speed.We are also planning to update the full game soon. In the next version, switching characters will be easier. Stay tuned.Enjoy the game with the faster-moving elf.Read full article on Community Announcements (NAITO Tokihiro)Patch NotesOfficial
v1.1.0 Update Now Available – New Retro Mode Added
XeGrader plus has been updated to v1.1.0. This update introduces the new Retro mode, which recreates the experience of XeGrader as it appeared on the NEC PC-6001mkII, a Japanese retro computer. For an overview of Retro mode and its features, please watch the video below. To access Retro mode, ownership of both the Origin mode DLC and the MSX2 mode DLC is required. To make it easier to obtain all available content, we have also prepared a bundle that includes the base game and all DLC in a single package. Players who already own both DLCs will automatically gain access to Retro mode after updating to v1.1.0. No additional purchase is required. In addition, the “XeGrader plus Complete Bundle,” which combines the base game with all DLC, goes on sale today at 12% off compared to buying each item separately. If you have not yet purchased the DLCs, we encourage you to consider this option.Read full article on Community Announcements (NAITO Tokihiro)Patch NotesOfficial
v1.0.8 Update
XeGrader plus has been updated to v1.0.8. While this is a minor version update, many internal systems have been significantly revised. ChangesSignificantly reduced memory usageAdded new launch optionsChanged the Windows rendering driver to Direct3D 12Updated the behavior of the POD itemFixed numerous bugs New Launch Options--vsync=on--vsync=offEnables or disables vertical synchronization. The default is --vsync=on. --rendering-driver d3d12--rendering-driver vulkanSelects the rendering driver. The default is d3d12. With these changes, the issue where the player and enemy sprites could appear slightly shifted horizontally during gameplay appears to have been resolved. I have not been able to reproduce this issue in my own environment, so I have not been able to verify the fix directly. Please keep this in mind.Also, due to the changes to the POD item's behavior, EXPERT difficulty may now be slightly easier than before.Thank you for your continued support of XeGrader plus.Read full article on Community Announcements (NAITO Tokihiro)
