Flyway Games has officially launched Ascend to ZERO worldwide, giving roguelike fans another fast new game to try this week. The game is out now on Steam and Xbox, with Xbox Game Pass support making it easier for many players to jump in without buying it first.
The game is built around one clear idea: time is always running out, but players can bend it in their favor. Every run pushes players to fight quickly, stop time at the right moment, and build enough power to survive the climb.
For Flyway Games, this is an important global release. Ascend to ZERO has already been through demos and public testing, so the launch is where the studio now has to prove the full version can hold players beyond the first few runs.
Time control is the main idea
Ascend to ZERO is a time-bending action roguelike where players use time-freezing to survive crowded fights. The ability is not just a flashy power. It helps players avoid damage, stop enemy pressure, and create room when a run starts to get out of control.
That gives the game a better hook than many other fast roguelikes. Players are not only dodging attacks and collecting upgrades. They are learning when to pause the action, when to push forward, and when to use time control to save a bad moment.
The idea is simple, but the gameplay needs to stay fun and enjoyable every time players pick it up. If stopping time becomes useful without slowing the pace too much, Ascend to ZERO has the kind of core mechanic that can carry repeated runs.
The game is also designed to help players make progress quickly. Players collect weapons, gear, skills, chips, and upgrades as they fight toward the summit, so each run can change quickly once the right pieces start coming together.
Players need to feel stronger often enough to keep trying, but not so quickly that every run feels the same. Ascend to ZERO is trying to find that balance by giving players several ways to shape their style.
The best runs should be the ones where a rough start suddenly turns around. A new upgrade, a better weapon, or a smart use of time control can make one attempt feel different from the last.
Ascend to ZERO includes six playable Avatars, each with their own skills and growth style. That should help the game avoid feeling like one character with a few different weapons attached.
Different Avatars encourage players to try new playstyles and explore different options. Some runs may reward safer movement and careful timing, while others may push players toward risky damage builds or faster attacks. That variety matters in a game built around repetition.
The biggest challenge is making every Avatar feel valuable and worth using. Roguelike players usually find the strongest option quickly, so Flyway Games needs enough balance and depth to keep the full roster worth playing.
Launching with Xbox Game Pass support gives Ascend to ZERO a useful start. Smaller roguelikes can get buried fast, especially when Steam and Xbox already have so many action games fighting for attention.
Players who are curious about the time-freezing hook can try the game without making a separate purchase, which gives Flyway Games a better chance to reach people outside the usual roguelike crowd.
Steam still is important too, because PC players often decide how far games like this travel through reviews, clips, and word of mouth. A strong early response there could help Ascend to ZERO stay visible after launch week.
The full release is only the start for Ascend to ZERO. Roguelike players usually know quickly whether a game has enough variety, challenge, and reward to keep them playing after the first few sessions.
Flyway Games has a strong base with time control, fast progression, multiple Avatars, and a Game Pass launch. The next job is keeping the runs fresh through balance updates, bug fixes, and enough reasons for players to try one more climb.
That is what players will be looking at the most when they judge Ascend to ZERO. The global launch gives players around the world a chance to try the game, but the time-freezing idea has to stay fun once the first rush is over.
