BioCreeps, a retro‑styled sci‑fi action arcade platformer developed for the NES, has successfully reached its Kickstarter funding goal with 18 days remaining in the campaign.
The project is led by pixel artist Nate Ehlers, who co‑designs the game alongside veteran NES programmer Łukasz Kur, credited for projects including Gruniożerca Trilogy, The Cowlitz Gamers Adventure, and Mystery World Dizzy.
Set in 1992, BioCreeps casts players as government‑hired mercenaries Rod and Todd on a mission to infiltrate an alien base and expel invading “creeps.” The title supports one to two players and is built around five distinct zones containing a total of 80 levels.
Each level is described by the team as featuring its own set of enemies, obstacles, and at least one boss encounter.
The game differentiates itself from conventional NES platformers with a core combat and movement loop that prioritizes aerial combat.
Rather than relying on ground‑based jumping to dispatch foes, players use shotgun shots to propel themselves into the air and engage enemies from above; ground contact primarily stuns opponents.
According to the project page, players will collect in‑level cash to buy end‑of‑zone upgrades and special moves, and the experience is intended to be cooperative for two players.
Ehlers originally developed BioCreeps as a solo entry for the NESMaker Byte‑Off II game jam.
Over several years the project expanded in scope, prompting the team to bring Kur on board for programming and larger production goals.
Composer credits include David Ehlers—Nate’s father—who learned FamiStudio specifically to produce the game’s soundtrack.
The Kickstarter notes the project is at roughly 95 percent completion, with remaining work focused on final beta testing, visual polish, and level tuning.
Manufacturing is scheduled to begin once those steps are finished, and the current target release window is January 2027.
Backer tiers listed on the campaign include a $10 digital ROM edition, a $45 cartridge‑only option, and a $65 complete‑in‑box (CIB) edition.
For developers and retro gaming enthusiasts, BioCreeps represents a notable example of contemporary NES homebrew that combines modern design ideas with authentic cartridge production and tools such as NESMaker and FamiStudio.
The project is led by pixel artist Nate Ehlers, who co‑designs the game alongside veteran NES programmer Łukasz Kur, credited for projects including Gruniożerca Trilogy, The Cowlitz Gamers Adventure, and Mystery World Dizzy.
Set in 1992, BioCreeps casts players as government‑hired mercenaries Rod and Todd on a mission to infiltrate an alien base and expel invading “creeps.” The title supports one to two players and is built around five distinct zones containing a total of 80 levels.
Each level is described by the team as featuring its own set of enemies, obstacles, and at least one boss encounter.
The game differentiates itself from conventional NES platformers with a core combat and movement loop that prioritizes aerial combat.
Rather than relying on ground‑based jumping to dispatch foes, players use shotgun shots to propel themselves into the air and engage enemies from above; ground contact primarily stuns opponents.
According to the project page, players will collect in‑level cash to buy end‑of‑zone upgrades and special moves, and the experience is intended to be cooperative for two players.
Ehlers originally developed BioCreeps as a solo entry for the NESMaker Byte‑Off II game jam.
Over several years the project expanded in scope, prompting the team to bring Kur on board for programming and larger production goals.
Composer credits include David Ehlers—Nate’s father—who learned FamiStudio specifically to produce the game’s soundtrack.
The Kickstarter notes the project is at roughly 95 percent completion, with remaining work focused on final beta testing, visual polish, and level tuning.
Manufacturing is scheduled to begin once those steps are finished, and the current target release window is January 2027.
Backer tiers listed on the campaign include a $10 digital ROM edition, a $45 cartridge‑only option, and a $65 complete‑in‑box (CIB) edition.
For developers and retro gaming enthusiasts, BioCreeps represents a notable example of contemporary NES homebrew that combines modern design ideas with authentic cartridge production and tools such as NESMaker and FamiStudio.