The building is counting down. You are descending from Floor 20 toward Elevator Zero, stopping at each level for only a few seconds. 

The timer starts.

You leave the safety of the elevator, search the floor for valuable cargo and try to return before the doors close. Every item increases your score. 

The elevator will not wait for you.

DESCEND.

SCAVENGE.

RETURN.

Each floor presents a short risk-reward challenge. You must quickly read the room, decide which cargo is worth taking and calculate whether you still have enough time to return.

Some items are light but cheap.

Some are heavy and extremely valuable. Some are close to the elevator. Others are placed deep inside the floor, forcing you to risk valuable seconds. 

Your goal is not simply to collect everything.

Your goal is to take the highest profitable stuff, sell it and make money.

EVERY FLOOR IS A COUNTDOWN: The timer begins as soon as the elevator doors open. You have only a limited window to: enter the floor locate cargo carry it back deposit it inside the elevator return before departure When the countdown reaches zero, the elevator leaves. It does not matter how close you are.

It does not matter how valuable your cargo is. If you are still outside, the run is over.

Every five floors, you choose one upgrade. Your decisions shape how aggressively you can play during the rest of the descent. 

 

A speed-focused build lets you reach distant cargo.

A weight-focused build allows you to carry more. A time-focused build gives you greater freedom, but may produce a lower scoring build than upgrades focused on value. There is no perfect choice.  - (not all included)

CASH OUT EVERY 10 FLOORS: Every ten floors, you are offered a decision. CASH OUT Secure your current earnings. Bank the score you have collected. Begin another descent from Floor 100.

Cashing out early is safe. Continuing creates better leaderboard opportunities. The strongest run is not always the deepest run.

After a successful cash-out, the elevator returns to Floor 20 and a new descent begins. Your secured credits remain banked. The building resets. The pressure begins again.

GLOBAL LEADERBOARD Your secured results can be compared through the global leaderboard. 

Last Stop: Elevator Zero was created for the GMTK Game Jam theme: COUNT DOWN The theme is present throughout the entire game: the elevator counts down from Floor 100 toward Floor Zero every floor begins a visible time countdown every five floors counts toward an upgrade every ten floors counts toward a cash-out decision every run is a descent toward a final destination 

MULTIPLAYER The current release is designed as a focused single-player experience. Multiplayer was considered in the architecture from the beginning of development. If Last Stop: Elevator Zero receives a strong response, a post-jam multiplayer patch may be developed. Possible multiplayer directions include: cooperative cargo runs.  Multiplayer is not included in the current jam release and is not guaranteed.

The decision will depend on player interest, feedback and the technical scope of a post-jam update. 

Feedback is especially useful in these areas: Does the countdown feel fair?

Is cargo weight clearly noticeable?

Are the upgrades interesting?

Does the cash-out decision create enough tension?

Are the floors easy to read while moving quickly?

Does the leaderboard make you want to try another run?

You can leave a comment below with your score.

 CREDITS 

Game Design Programming Level Design UI Implementation one man,  Created with Unity Additional tools and assets: 

Easy Character Movement 2 FEEL by More Mountains 

POLYGON asset packs by Synty Studios Music: https://pixabay.com/users/watermello-54449748/ Sound  

Additional Assets: Free Outline

Grab the cargo. Beat the countdown. Return before the doors close.

THE ELEVATOR DOES NOT WAIT.