Helix vs Tension Head

A frantic arcade game from the creator of 868-HACK, Corrypt and Glitch Tank. An "anti-shmup". Precise touchscreen controls to avoid and encircle enemies. Some twists. Honourable mention for IGF Design award 2013/2015.

Tension Head is a merging roguelite where every run is a fight against the walls closing in on you. Stack shapes, trigger chain reactions, and score big before the pressure destroys you. MERGE & SURVIVE Drop shapes into the arena and merge matching tiers to score. But the walls never stop closing. Every merge pushes them back — just enough to breathe. BUILD YOUR COMBO Chain merges to multiply your score. The longer your streak, the higher the multiplier. Think less puzzle game, more trick run. ROGUELITE DEPTH Between runs, spend Crowns on permanent upgrades that carry across every run. Each run offers power-ups with unique evolutions and wild synergies — combine them right and watch everything break open. CURSES & CONSEQUENCES Every run comes with a cost. Curses stack. Walls shrink faster. The danger line rises. Learn to work with what you're dealt or get crushed. ASCENSION MODE Beat the game? Good. Now do it with the walls shrinking 30% faster. Now do it with one life. Now do it with radioactive junk dropping into your arena. Ten escalating modifiers. Each one a new way to suffer. VISUAL THEMES Unlock a collection of visual filters that transform the entire look of the game. Each one earned through play — or unlocked instantly with Premium. SOMETHING ELSE IS HERE Pay attention. Not everything is what it seems. Some testers have found things that weren't meant to be found. A ghost in the code. PREMIUM — $3.99 One purchase. No subscription. Removes all ads and unlocks every visual theme instantly. 100% indie — your support means a lot. merge. survive. destroy. ascend.