99 Fails

About 99 Fails

99 Fails is a brutal platformer developed by Frying Jelly and set to release December 31 2026. You play as Zeebo trapped in a glitchy nightmare filled with jagged geometry and Lovecraftian horrors. The game blends retro 16-bit visuals with modern precision controls. Each level is a gauntlet of impossible jumps and lethal traps. David Wise’s synth-heavy soundtrack pulses through every death spiral. Available on PC Switch and Xbox. Single player dominates but local co-op adds chaotic fun. This isn’t a game you beat, you grind through it.

Gameplay

You control Zeebo with tight but twitchy movements. Levels force you to memorize patterns of floating platforms and spiky enemies. Every death resets the screen but not your progress, collectibles unlock post-death bonuses. The real twist: some levels require you to survive 99 consecutive deaths before escaping. Multiplayer has two players fighting over limited checkpoints. Controls are responsive but punishing. Sessions average 30 minutes to an hour before burnout. The surreal art style clashes with the retro chiptune music in a way that’s both disorienting and oddly soothing.

What Players Think

Critic score 8.7/10. Community rating 4.3/5. 68% completion rate. Average playtime 6.2 hours. 85% of players earn achievements. Top moods: Frustrated (32%) Amused (28%) Determined (24%). One user wrote “This isn’t a nightmare, it’s my life.” Another: “David Wise’s music makes dying feel like a concert.” 34% of players abandon the game after 2 hours. Achievement hunters flock to it for the 100+ hidden collectibles. Critics praise the “sadistic yet fair design” but warn it’s not for casual players.

PlayPile's Take

At $19.99 99 Fails is a niche pick for masochistic platformer fans. The $5 discount on Switch makes it a risky buy for completionists. Achievements are dense but grind-heavy. Skip this if you hate permadeath or need story substance. Ideal for those who loved Celeste’s difficulty with a side of cosmic horror. Expect to rage-quit but eventually unlock the final level’s absurd boss fight. Not essential but brutally satisfying.

Storyline

Zeebo is having a terrible nightmare. But why?