Shell Runner Exits Early Access and Launches 1.0 on Steam
- Christopher Fries
- Apr 11
- 3 min read
Survive the Run or Lose Everything in This Tactical PvE Extraction Shooter Set in a Cyberpunk Future
[Karlsruhe, Germany] April 11, 2025 — Shell Runner, the adrenaline-fueled PvE looter shooter from German indie studio Reija, has officially launched into 1.0 on Steam. Developed in partnership with independent publishing platform indie.io, this full release marks a major milestone in a development journey shaped by a passionate indie team and player feedback. After months of content updates and community collaboration during Early Access, Shell Runner enters 1.0 as a refined, high-stakes experience built around risk, reward, and ruthless decision-making. The launch coincides with the indie.io Publisher Sale, offering new players the perfect moment to dive in.
A Tactical Extraction Shooter Without PvP
Combining the high-stakes tension of extraction shooters with the strategic depth of looter shooter progression and procedural mission design, Shell Runner offers a fresh alternative to the PvP-dominated genre. Built by a small team and designed for solo players and co-op squads alike, Shell Runner ditches PvP in favor of handcrafted PvE challenges, intense boss encounters, and tactical decision-making. Every choice matters. Stay too long? Lose everything.
Procedural Maps, Permadeath Stakes
Each mission unfolds on procedurally generated maps, keeping every run fresh and unpredictable. Dynamic enemy placement, randomized objectives, and brutal permadeath ensure players are constantly adapting. Whether tackling Elimination, Holdout, Sabotage, or Boss Hunts, no two runs are the same, and only the prepared make it out alive.
Build, Upgrade, and Optimize
Throughout Early Access, Shell Runner introduced deep looter shooter systems designed to reward careful planning. Gear can be upgraded using salvaged materials, modified with reroll systems, or completely rebuilt using unwanted weapons as crafting fodder. A reworked shop system helps players target specific gear categories, reducing randomness and empowering smart builds. With gear rarity, ammo crafting, and level-based enhancements, every loadout becomes a tactical expression.
The game has grown dramatically since its debut, with new enemy types, environments, and a sprawling city map divided into boss-specific districts. The mission system has been completely overhauled, and polish updates—including controller support and remappable controls—ensure players can tackle missions on their own terms.
“During Early Access, we put a lot of work into QA, bug fixes, and quality-of-life improvements. We also added a ton of new content and more ways for players to customize their builds and playstyles,” said Christos Doukas, lead developer at Reija. “But the biggest change by far was the complete overhaul of Shell Runner’s core gameplay loop. It’s now faster, more intense, and a lot more fun to play. That shift came straight from the feedback we got during Early Access—and it’s the part we’re most excited for players to experience”.
Shell Runner 1.0 is available now on Steam for USD 14.99, with a 45% off limited-time discount during the indie.io Franchise Sale. Join the Shell Runner community on Discord for updates and support.
Gear up. Drop in. Extract or perish.
ABOUT REIJA
Reija is a small indie game development studio founded in 2018 by graduates of the Games Academy Berlin and Frankfurt. Focused on reimagining popular indie genres with their own unique spin, the team combines technical expertise with a passion for systems-driven design to deliver tightly crafted, genre-inspired experiences.
ABOUT INDIE.IO
indie.io is home to hundreds of the world’s most innovative independent video games and developers. Founded in 2020 by Donovan Duncan and Ben Robinson - industry veterans with a collective 40 years of experience across the video game landscape - our mission is to provide support to independent developers and set the standard for gaming creation, management, and promotion. Our tools and services include marketing, QA, playtesting, partnership deals, and distribution to all major platforms to maximize your visibility, revenue, and engagement to ensure long-term success – with no upfront costs. You may know us from Echoes of the Plum Grove, HumanitZ, the Dark Deity franchise, and Coromon!
We’re powered by a worldwide team of 35 remote employees; a mix of semi-professional esports players, developers, and gaming enthusiasts whose passion and technical know-how fuel the company’s mission. As industry experts, we dedicate ourselves to providing innovative marketing support services and integrations; as players, we want to discover and elevate the creators of exceptional, inspiring, and unexpected games of every genre. Join us on our quest to cultivate a vibrant global community of players and creators alike!
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