ULTRAKILL is a fast-paced retro shooter set in a futuristic, post-apocalyptic version of Hell based on Dante's Divine Comedy. Its levels are the stages you fight through, and they come in a few kinds: a short prelude, the main campaign of three acts, hidden secret levels, Encore remixes and boss-focused Prime Sanctums.
Layer
Prelude
0-1: Into the Fire
The Prelude opener follows a route through the facility and introduces its combat spaces.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Available from the level select at the start of a new campaign.
- Challenge
- Get 5 kills with a single glass panel
0-2: The Meatgrinder
A Prelude combat stage with a secret encounter and a hidden exit.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 0-1: Into the Fire to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Beat the secret encounter
0-S: Something Wicked
A dark horror-style maze navigated with light from skull keys.
- Level Type
- Secret
- Entry Route
- Use the secret exit in 0-2: The Meatgrinder.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
0-3: Double Down
A Prelude combat stage whose challenge asks for a one-kill run.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 0-2: The Meatgrinder to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Kill only 1 enemy
0-4: A One-Machine Army
A movement-focused Prelude stage with a long-slide challenge.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 0-3: Double Down to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Slide uninterrupted for 17 seconds
0-5: Cerberus
The short Prelude finale asks you to leave every enemy alive.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 0-4: A One-Machine Army to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t inflict fatal damage to any enemy
Layer
Limbo
1-1: Heart of the Sunrise
The first Limbo stage has broad temple routes and a hidden secret exit.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 0-5: Cerberus to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Complete the level in under 10 seconds
1-S: The Witless
A puzzle level built around tracing paths across panels.
- Level Type
- Secret
- Entry Route
- Use the secret exit in 1-1: Heart of the Sunrise.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
1-2: The Burning World
A Limbo stage where skull keys open routes through the level.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 1-1: Heart of the Sunrise to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Do not pick up any skulls
1-3: Halls of Sacred Remains
A larger Limbo combat stage with a hidden encounter.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 1-2: The Burning World to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Beat the secret encounter
1-4: Clair de Lune
A compact Limbo finale built around a boss fight.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 1-3: Halls of Sacred Remains to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Do not pick up any skulls
Layer
Lust
2-1: Bridgeburner
A Lust stage whose challenge rewards finding routes around normal doors.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 1-4: Clair de Lune to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t open any normal doors
2-2: Death at 20,000 Volts
A city stage built around electrical hazards and a short-time challenge.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 2-1: Bridgeburner to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Beat the level in under 60 seconds
2-3: Sheer Heart Attack
A Lust stage with flooded routes and a hidden secret exit.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 2-2: Death at 20,000 Volts to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t touch any water
2-S: All-Imperfect Love Song
A visual-novel-style detour built around a conversation and choices.
- Level Type
- Secret
- Entry Route
- Use the secret exit in 2-3: Sheer Heart Attack.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
2-4: Court of the Corpse King
The Lust finale is a short arena stage with a punch-parry challenge.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 2-3: Sheer Heart Attack to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Parry a punch
Layer
Gluttony
3-1: Belly of the Beast
A Gluttony combat stage with a secret exit to the first Prime Sanctum.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 2-4: Court of the Corpse King to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Kill a Mindflayer with acid
3-2: In the Flesh
The Gluttony finale is a compact arena stage with a fall-based challenge.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 3-1: Belly of the Beast to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Drop Gabriel in a pit
Layer
Greed
4-1: Slaves to Power
A Greed stage whose challenge asks you to leave enemies undisturbed.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 3-2: In the Flesh to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t activate any enemies
4-2: God Damn the Sun
A desert route with a timed challenge and a hidden secret exit.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 4-1: Slaves to Power to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Kill the Insurrectionist in under 10 seconds
4-S: Clash of the Brandicoot
A platforming detour with crate-breaking, jumps, and collectible coins.
- Level Type
- Secret
- Entry Route
- Use the secret exit in 4-2: God Damn the Sun.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
4-3: A Shot in the Dark
A dark Greed stage where carrying the torch is optional.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 4-2: God Damn the Sun to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t pick up the torch
4-4: Clair de Soleil
A short Greed finale with a challenge to reach the final gate quickly.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 4-3: A Shot in the Dark to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Reach the boss gate in under 18 seconds
Layer
Wrath
5-1: In the Wake of Poseidon
A Wrath stage with a water-avoidance challenge and a hidden secret exit.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 4-4: Clair de Soleil to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t touch any water
5-S: I Only Say Morning
A fishing-focused stage where bait opens access to different catches.
- Level Type
- Secret
- Entry Route
- Use the secret exit in 5-1: In the Wake of Poseidon.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
5-2: Waves of the Starless Sea
A sea route built around a ferry crossing and a no-fight challenge.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 5-1: In the Wake of Poseidon to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t fight the Ferryman
5-3: Ship of Fools
A shipboard combat stage with a water-avoidance challenge.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 5-2: Waves of the Starless Sea to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t touch any water
5-4: Leviathan
A short Wrath finale with a timed route back to the surface.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 5-3: Ship of Fools to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Reach the surface in under 10 seconds
Layer
Heresy
6-1: Cry for the Weeper
A long Heresy combat stage with an optional secret encounter.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 5-4: Leviathan to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Beat the secret encounter
6-2: Aesthetics of Hate
A short Heresy finale with a hidden Prime Sanctum route.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 6-1: Cry for the Weeper to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Hit Gabriel into the ceiling
Layer
Violence
7-1: Garden of Forking Paths
A branching Violence stage with a hidden encounter.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 6-2: Aesthetics of Hate to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Beat the secret encounter
7-2: Light Up the Night
A Violence route whose challenge is to defeat no enemies.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 7-1: Garden of Forking Paths to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t kill any enemies
7-3: No Sound, No Memory
A Violence stage whose challenge asks you to get marked for death.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 7-2: Light Up the Night to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Become marked for death
7-S: Hell Bath No Fury
A cleaning-focused secret stage with vacuum and washing tools.
- Level Type
- Secret
- Entry Route
- Use the secret exit in 7-3: No Sound, No Memory.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
7-4: ...Like Antennas to Heaven
The Violence finale has a long approach before its final encounter.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 7-3: No Sound, No Memory to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Don’t fight the security system
Layer
Fraud
8-1: Hurtbreak Wonderland
A Fraud stage with a challenge built around parrying an attack.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 7-4: ...Like Antennas to Heaven to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Parry a Providence
8-2: Through the Mirror
A shifting Fraud stage with a challenge to finish upside down.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 8-1: Hurtbreak Wonderland to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Finish the level upside down
8-3: Disintegration Loop
A long Fraud stage with a challenge that rewards a fast falling hit.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 8-2: Through the Mirror to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Kill a Power with terminal velocity
8-4: Final Flight
A short Fraud finale with a challenge to leave skulls untouched.
- Level Type
- Main
- Entry Route
- Complete 8-3: Disintegration Loop to unlock it in the level select.
- Challenge
- Do not pick up any skulls
Layer
Encore
0-E: This Heat, An Evil Heat
A remixed Prelude route with a frozen setting and added encounters.
- Level Type
- Encore
- Entry Route
- Complete the main campaign to unlock the Encore levels.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
1-E: ...Then Fell the Ashes
A remixed Limbo route with new paths and larger combat encounters.
- Level Type
- Encore
- Entry Route
- Complete the main campaign to unlock the Encore levels.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
Layer
Prime Sanctums
P-1: Soul Survivor
A high-difficulty secret arena reached through a hidden exit in Gluttony.
- Level Type
- Prime Sanctum
- Entry Route
- P-rank every level in the Prelude and Act I, then use the secret exit in 3-1: Belly of the Beast.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
P-2: Wait of the World
A high-difficulty secret arena reached through Heresy’s final stage.
- Level Type
- Prime Sanctum
- Entry Route
- P-rank every level in Act II, complete P-1: Soul Survivor, then use the secret exit in 6-2: Aesthetics of Hate.
- Challenge
- No level challenge
How the ULTRAKILL Campaign Is Organized
The campaign opens with a prelude, which stands apart from the three acts that follow. Each act is split into three layers, and every layer is named after a circle of Hell from Dante's poem, such as Limbo, Lust or Gluttony. Act I covers Limbo, Lust and Gluttony, Act II covers Greed, Wrath and Heresy, and Act III starts with Violence and Fraud.
Level numbers begin with the layer they belong to, and the prelude uses 0. That means 4-2 is the second level of Greed, so you can tell where any level sits in the campaign just by reading its number. The last layer of each act is the shortest of the three. Cyber Grind and Sandbox are separate modes rather than levels, so they sit outside the campaign.
How ULTRAKILL Level Ranks and P Rank Work
Main and Encore levels give you a rank when you finish them. The game grades your time, your kills and your style, which rewards varied and flashy fighting, on a scale from D up to S. It then averages those three grades into one final rank. Each death or checkpoint restart drops that rank by a third of a letter, so runs with no restarts score highest.
P is the top rank and sits above S. To earn it, you need S in time, kills and style with no deaths, no respawns and no Major Assists, which are the game's optional help settings. That makes P a mark of a flawless run rather than a good one.
How to Find ULTRAKILL Secret Levels
Secret levels are extra stages hidden inside the layers. Each one is tucked into a main level in its layer, and the entrance is easy to miss. Some sit in side areas that are easy to walk past, while others only open after you do something specific in the level. It pays to look closely at the odd corners of every level.
Secret levels don't receive a rank, so there's no grade to chase inside them. Most hold a terminal with a Testament, a piece of writing that expands on the game's lore.
How to Unlock Encore and Prime Sanctum Levels
Encore levels open once you finish the main campaign, so finishing the story is what unlocks them.
Prime Sanctums are reached through a secret exit in the last layer of each act. The first Sanctum needs a P rank on every level of the prelude and Act I, and the second needs a P rank on every level of Act II. Each Sanctum after the first also requires you to have finished the one before it, so the chain builds one step at a time.
Which ULTRAKILL Levels Matter Most
The last level of each layer is its climax, and it ends with a boss fight that closes out that part of the campaign. Knowing that each layer builds to one of these fights makes the campaign easier to follow.
Encore levels are the harder follow-up to the campaign. They are remixes of the prelude and each layer, designed to be significantly more complex and difficult than the levels they come from.
Prime Sanctums are built around very tough boss fights, so they're the challenge for players who have already mastered the rest of the game.
FAQ
What do you get for finishing a level cleanly?
The grades you earn for time, kills and style turn into points, which you spend at the Terminal. Finishing with no restarts adds a 500-point bonus, and finishing without taking any damage adds 5,000.
Do cheats affect a level's rank?
Yes. If cheats are turned on at any point during a level, its final rank isn't saved. Major Assists are different: they don't block the rank itself, but they do rule out a P rank.
Do level challenges unlock anything?
Yes. Each main level has a challenge, and finishing it unlocks that level's tracks in The Cyber Grind, the endless wave mode. Secret levels, Encore levels and Prime Sanctums have no challenge, so simply finishing one unlocks its tracks. Once a challenge is done, it stays completed on every difficulty in your save.