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| A screengrab from Devil Daggers on PC |
If you’ve never played Devil Daggers, you might not understand why the mere mention of a sequel is sending shivers down the spines of hardcore gamers everywhere. For the uninitiated, it is a digital crucible—a low-poly, hellish arena where most players don't survive long enough to blink twice.
But for the 1,472 elite players who have managed to conquer its relentless onslaught, today is a day of reckoning.
On 18 February 2016, a tiny arena shooter named Devil Daggers crawled out of the digital abyss and onto Steam. Ten years later, to the day, its creator has broken a decade of silence regarding its future. In the most understated way possible, developer Sorath announced that a sequel is officially in the works.
The 10-Year Anniversary Drop
In a Steam post simply titled “Celebrating 10 years!”, the studio reflected on the legacy of the game that defined a generation of skill-based shooters. The message was short, sweet, and packed a punch that the community wasn't expecting:
*"A huge thank you to the 350,000 people who played Devil Daggers over the last 10 years! And a special shout-out to the 1,472 who reached 500 seconds. Today seems like a good day to announce that we are working hard on Devil Daggers II. Stay tuned."*
That’s it. No fanfare. No flashy trailer. Just a confirmation that the nightmare is far from over.
For those looking to revisit (or experience for the first time) the game that started it all, you can find the original Devil Daggers on Steam here.
What is Devil Daggers?
To understand the hype surrounding Devil Daggers II, you have to understand the brutal, unforgiving nature of the original.
Devil Daggers is not a game you "win." It is a game you survive. Players awaken in a void—a pitch-black, geometric arena with no walls and no mercy. Your hand is fused with a magical gauntlet that allows you to hurl an infinite stream of crystalline daggers.
As soon as the match begins, the abyss spawns. Flying skulls screech toward you, followed by centipedes made of bone, giant worms bursting from the ground, and pulsating orbs of energy. The difficulty curve isn't a slope; it's a cliff face. The screen quickly fills with swarming enemies, and a taunting timer in the top right corner reminds you exactly how long you've managed to cheat death.
Most runs end in a humiliating two minutes.
The Elite 1,472
According to Sorath’s anniversary post, out of 350,000 players, only 1,472 have ever reached the 500-second mark—just over eight minutes of gameplay. To put that in perspective, that is a success rate of roughly 0.4%.
Those who achieve this milestone often immortalize their runs on YouTube, showcasing the kind of hyper-focused, twitch-reflex gameplay that defines the genre. However, the gap between "elite" and "god-tier" is vast.
The 21-Minute Marathon
The Devil Daggers world record is a testament to human endurance and dedication. On 21 July 2025, a player known as whysotp uploaded a run that shattered previous expectations. The video, which you can watch below, documents a staggering run of 1272.0891 seconds—that is just over 21 minutes of continuous, high-stakes combat.
Watch the world record Devil Daggers run here
This wasn't a lucky break. whysotp has invested over 2,000 hours into mastering the game's patterns, hitboxes, and enemy spawns. This level of dedication is what has kept the community alive, constantly pushing the limits of what is possible in Sorath’s digital hellscape.
What We Know About Devil Daggers II
Despite the announcement, Sorath is keeping their cards incredibly close to their chest. As of now, the developer has released zero screenshots, zero feature lists, and zero indication of a release window.
The only confirmation is that the original "nightmarish shooter" is coming back. While this lack of information might frustrate some, it aligns perfectly with the developer's minimalist and mysterious brand.
Keeping the Flame Alive: Hyper Demon and Beyond
While waiting for Devil Daggers II, fans haven't been left completely in the dark. In 2022, Sorath released a spiritual successor titled Hyper Demon. It retains the core philosophy of speed, aggression, and score-chasing but distorts it into a new, even more abstract form.
For players wanting to practice their skills on the go, both Devil Daggers and Hyper Demon carry the 'Playable' tag on Valve's Steam Deck, ensuring a smooth handheld experience.
If you're looking to upgrade your rig or jump into the arena on a new device, you can Buy a Steam Deck OLED on Amazon here.
The Future of the Arena
It has been a decade since players first woke up in that dark arena. The fact that Sorath chose the 10th anniversary to break the silence suggests that Devil Daggers II might be further along than they are letting on.
For the 1,472 who have seen the 500-second mark, and the thousands more who have tried and failed, the wait for a return to the abyss is finally over.
Devil Daggers II is now in development. Stay tuned.