Always Surrender for Windows

A game that encourages surrendering

Developed by The Covert Sheep Example, Always Surrender is a premium vertical scroller title where you defeat an endless stream of enemies and get rewarded for surrendering. It features six engaging game modes: Normal, Novice, Timed, Classic, Expert, and Pacifist.

The pixel graphics are reminiscent of classic 8-bit games, whereas the arcade-style gameplay makes it easy for players to pick up and quickly learn the mechanics. Plus, in Always Surrender, there’s support for Xbox controllers and tate orientation. With a recommended RAM of 1GB, this single-player game is not resource-intensive.

Control a space battleship

As mentioned, Always Surrender comes with six game modes. In Normal mode, you only have one life. Defeat as many enemies as you can and earn medals for each foe you fell. These medals serve as score multipliers, so it’s best to surrender if you’re satisfied with your bonus points. Although Novice shares similar mechanics to Normal, the former mode is easier and ideal for beginners.

Timed mode lets you annihilate enemy hordes and earn the highest score possible within three minutes. Despite the infinite bombs and lives, take note that the bonus resets every time you die or use a bomb. Surrender is an option in this mode, too. In Classic, however, you can’t surrender — so you’re left to fight until you’re out of three lives. Not to mention, you only have three bombs.

Expert mode, though, is for the most hardcore of players as they are only granted one life. With tougher enemies on the loose, you will have to surrender lest you die and not earn a single score. Alternatively, you can’t shoot in Pacifist; you just need to survive and earn multipliers by grazing your foes and their bullets. Despite these engaging game modes, they do get repetitive and boring.

A stress-free space game

If you’re on the lookout for a beginner-friendly title, Always Surrender is an excellent choice due to its diverse game modes that appeal to different player preferences and skills. The graphics are a plus for those who grew up playing 8-bit titles. Overall, the game is easy to play, but the repetitiveness inherent in its gameplay and mechanics will make players slowly lose interest.