Vex 8 is the eighth installment of the popular Vex series of labyrinth-style side-scrolling platform games. The player helps a stickman make his way through a variety of complex mazes across standard or hardcore levels and infinite play.
No matter the mode, the player must solve challenges and bypass threats that can buzz, compress, cut, dice, pop, rip, shred, slice or spike the stickman. These dangers include rotating and bouncing round serrated blades, stationary and falling spikes, motion-targeting laser guns, swinging maces, collapsing purple blocks and invisible pink blocks.
The player can direct the stickman to walk, run, slide, climb, bounce, swim or fly to safety while navigating a maze. For example, they might direct him to slide through a gap under a wall, bounce off the tops of orange blocks, or fly past threats via a fan or hang glider. Their goal is to reach a red checkpoint flag and then use boxes and green-striped portals to access new areas.
Vex 8 offers a lot of customization options. Via the menu gear icon, the player can turn off the blood or auto-restart the game upon failure or passing the best time. If they earn enough gold coins, which they collect in the mazes, or silver or gold V points, they can upgrade the stickman's appearance with 84 skin options that include solid colors, an alien, a pirate, a man-eating plant person, an invisible man and a pumpkin head person.
The player wins medals for their achievements, such as completing both standard and hardcore levels, failing more than 100 times, completing vexation and playing the game for more than an hour. If they need a powerup or revive, they must watch an advertisement.
