Developer Pixadome and publisher Zordix released Hayfever, their new precision platformer, on February 25th on Steam, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. Since launch it has racked up some glowing reviews (9/10 from The Digital Fix, 8/10 from Gamezebo) and caught the eye of the speedrunning community, enticed by its high-skill movement and charming, streaming-friendly aesthetic, and there’s plenty more planned for its future.
If you’ve not yet seen Hayfever in action, check out the trailer below, or see the game pushed to its limits by YouTuber Horheristo as they fly through its brutally tough secret levels.
Hayfever is now on sale for $14.99/€14.99/£11.99. Review keys are still available on all platforms, and developers Pixadome are available for interviews. Since launch, they are hard at work tweaking and tuning the game with difficulty tweaks made on some levels, controller response improved and bugs squashed. In the coming days they plan on adding rebindable controls (on the Steam version) as well as several quality of life features, such as a toggle for controller rumble. Also on the cards is a built-in speedrun timer to help players track their best runs down to the millisecond.
While tricky, players are now mastering Hayfever’s 140 intense levels, and soon there’ll be a chance for the best of the best pixelated postal workers to deliver in style. Beginning with a sponsored exhibition match on March 14th, 11 p.m. GMT/3 p.m. PST, four veteran speedrunners will be diving into Hayfever completely blind, putting a lifetime of general platforming theory into practice as they try to clear as many levels as possible before the clock runs out. This event will be hosted by Brossentia, a regular at the Games Done Quick charity speedrunning events, and organizer of Kusogrande: The Bad Video Game Tournament.
You can tune in and watch the race on Twitch. After the exhibition, sign-ups will open for a streamed Twitch race tournament running through late March and early April. Think you’re good at Hayfever? Practice your perfect mail routes and throw your postman’s hat into the ring, because there’s a total $2000 prize pot to share between the competitors, and a priceless degree of bragging rights.
About Hayfever
- A fast-paced, challenging platformer with cute and squishy pixel art.
- Who needs double-jumping? Touch pollen to sneeze through the air.
- Gain even stranger powers from smog, peanuts, and other allergens.
- 140 levels spread across four seasons, and 240 optional collectibles to track down.
- Designed for speed – master its challenging movement and fly through the levels.
- A hummably catchy, whimsical soundtrack by Knasibas.
Hayfever is out now for $14.99/€14.99/£11.99 on PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and Steam.
