NERMIUS - Corporate Bullet Hell Meets Idle Progression
Saturn Acme Corp needs you operational. NERMIUS drops you into a brutal corporate sci-fi loop where you pilot a Shell - a consciousness-integrated combat unit deployed by SAC to clear hostile planets of anomalous biomass, alien fauna, and classified threats. Each run is fast, lethal, and hilariously corporate: survive escalating waves, reach the boss, die, spend credits, then deploy again stronger.
Choose Your Shells
There are six distinct Shell options, each with its own playstyle and signature weapon. The roster includes:
- KI-17 "Red Samurai" - a close-range slasher built for in-your-face melee aggression.
- MOJO "Heavy Striker" - trades speed for armor and lightning power, designed to soak and strike.
- SAA-05 "Float Drone" - levitates and relies on auto-targeting orbs to do the heavy lifting.
- OMICRON, ENTEROCTOPUS, and INAZUMA - unlockable as you progress, each offering unique combat signatures.
Shell builds change how a run feels. Weapons and passives stack mid-run, and dozens of options mean no two clears should play the same.
Two Ways to Fight - Active Runs and Idle Protocols
NERMIUS splits its systems between high-adrenaline survival and slower, persistent progression.
Active runs - The core experience is roguelite bullet hell survival. Level up during a run, pick from 13 in-run upgrades per level, and chase rarities from Common to Quasar. Find chest items, including Jackpot rolls and potential run-defining Quasar weapons. When the lead Shell falls, command transfers to a surviving squad member, and SAC records who carried the run.
Auto-Protocol - Idle mode lets you assemble a squad of up to four Shells, fit them with perks, and send them out under SAC directives. They fight, loot, level up, and you read the mission log as things unfold. It's a slick way to keep progression moving without demanding constant twitch input.
Protocol 105 - incremental clicker mode - This separate mode lets you mine ore, trade it, and blockade planets for profit. It ties into the larger loop so that even idle efforts feed back into your combat capabilities.
Deployment Zones and the Augmentation Bay
NERMIUS ships a handful of handcrafted hostile worlds, each with its own rules and threats:
- X-01-ETHA - wave-based clearance against anomalous biomass, your first deployment with Threat Class BETA.
- KEPLER-63F - dynamic weather influences each cycle. Storms reduce visibility and drop temperatures; reach a heater or your Shell risks freezing solid.
- DR-COR8 - a quantum rift anomaly spawned by [DATA DELETED]. Exploration here hints at SAC secrets.
The Augmentation Bay is where meta-progression lives. You can:
- Pick from 13 in-run upgrades per level and 22+ chest items.
- Spend credits on 10 meta-progression modules between runs: damage, HP, speed, crit, XP, revive, and more.
- Use the Neural Expansion Matrix to alter passage in unusual ways.
- Refund any meta upgrade for free, encouraging experimentation and wild builds.
The game leans into its setting with lines like "Consciousness and Shells are one - SAC Doctrine 7," reminding you that the corporate hand is always watching.
Early Access and What's Next
NERMIUS is in Early Access. The roadmap calls for additional planets, a story mode, classified deployment zones, and more systems to deepen both the frantic runs and the idle progression. For players who like their sci-fi served cold with fast bullets, heavy upgrades, and a side of incremental comfort, NERMIUS aims to be both a challenge and a long-term addiction.
➡️ Check out NERMIUS now on Steam
