If you are just starting out in Tape to Tape, there is a lot to discover in the game’s full 1.0 release. It combines fast-paced arcade hockey with roguelite progression, letting you build a team, choose your route, unlock new content, and face increasingly ridiculous opponents on your quest to save hockey.
The 1.0 update brings a completely remade roguelite campaign, 19 playable squads, a new unlock system, and plenty of relics and power-ups to discover. The developers have also improved the AI, reworked goalies, updated hockey mechanics, and introduced Nightmare difficulty for players looking for a bigger challenge.
In this beginner’s guide, we will explain how to get started, understand the campaign, manage your players, and make sense of the new progression systems. Whether you are playing Tape to Tape for the first time or returning after Early Access, here is what you should know about version 1.0.
Tape to Tape 1.0 Beginner Guide – Relics and Power-Ups
Tape to Tape is an arcade hockey game that combines hockey matches with roguelite progression. You do more than simply play one match after another: you build a team, choose your path through a campaign, and discover upgrades that can change how your run develops.
The 1.0 release introduces a completely remade roguelite campaign. Your goal is to progress through increasingly ridiculous opponents while developing your squad along the way.
The game also includes different playable squads, each with its own rules, mechanics, and playstyle. This gives you different ways to approach the campaign rather than making every run feel exactly the same.
How to Start Your First Campaign
The campaign is one of the main features of Tape to Tape 1.0. As you progress, you will make decisions about your route, develop your team, and discover items that can help you during your run.
Build Your Team as You Progress
You can hire new players along the way to develop your squad. Depending on the squad you are playing, you may also have bench space available to bring extra players along.
As a beginner, pay attention to the players you have and the team-management options available to you. Your roster is an important part of your campaign, so take time to understand how your squad works before making decisions.
Choose Your Path
The campaign lets you choose your path as you advance. These decisions are part of the roguelite experience and determine how you move through the run.
Take a moment to review your available choices rather than rushing through them. As you become more familiar with the game, you will get a better understanding of how your decisions fit into your overall campaign.
Face Increasingly Challenging Opponents
The campaign features increasingly ridiculous opponents, giving you new challenges as you progress. Your team and the upgrades you discover are important parts of this journey.
The developers have also improved the game’s AI, including offensive and defensive behavior, positioning, and decision-making. Teammates should be more reliable, while opponents provide a more challenging experience.
Learn About the 19 Playable Squads
One of the major additions in the 1.0 update is the introduction of 19 playable squads.
Each squad brings its own rules, mechanics, and playstyle. This means that choosing a squad is not simply a cosmetic decision; it changes the way you approach the campaign.
Choose a Squad That Fits Your Playstyle
If you are new to Tape to Tape, take time to learn the squad you are using. Different mechanics can change how you approach matches and manage your team.
Not every squad provides the same experience, so it is worth experimenting with different options as you unlock them.
Understand Squad-Specific Rules
Some squads have their own mechanics and restrictions. The developers also explain that bench space depends on the squad you are playing.
Before planning your team, check the rules and options available for your current squad. This will help you understand which team-management features are available during that run.
How the New Unlock System Works
Tape to Tape 1.0 introduces a new unlock system. You can complete challenges throughout your runs to unlock additional content.
The unlock system gives you more reasons to keep playing and exploring the different campaign options.
What Can You Unlock?
According to the official 1.0 announcement, completing challenges can unlock:
- New players
- Power-ups
- Relics
- Playable squads
- Additional content
These unlocks expand the options available to you as you continue playing.
Make Progress by Completing Challenges
Pay attention to the challenges available during your runs. Completing them is how you unlock more players, upgrades, and squads.
If you want to explore everything Tape to Tape offers, keep progressing through the campaign and look for opportunities to complete these challenges.
Understand Relics and Power-Ups
Relics and power-ups are important parts of the campaign’s progression system. The 1.0 release includes a large selection of these items, giving you more ways to develop your team during a run.
The developers describe them as tools for discovering powerful abilities, stacking effects, and creating combinations that can change how a run plays out.
Experiment With Different Combinations
One of the interesting parts of the system is that you can stack effects and create combinations. Rather than focusing on only one upgrade, pay attention to how your available options work together.
As you discover more relics and power-ups, you will have additional opportunities to experiment with different approaches.
Unlock More Options Over Time
Relics and power-ups are also part of the new unlock system. Completing challenges throughout your runs can give you access to more options.
You do not need to understand every item immediately. Learn the effects of the upgrades you encounter and gradually become familiar with the combinations available to you.
Manage Your Team and Bench
Team management is another important part of Tape to Tape. You can hire new players during the campaign, and certain squads allow you to bring extra benchwarmers along.
Your available team-management options depend on the squad you choose, so make sure you understand its rules before planning your roster.
Hire Players Along the Way
The campaign gives you opportunities to hire players as you progress. These additions let you develop your team throughout the run.
When managing your roster, consider the players you currently have and the options available to you. Understanding your team is an important step toward making better decisions during the campaign.
Use Bench Space When Available
Some squads allow you to use bench space for additional players. This feature is not necessarily available in the same way for every squad.
Check whether your current squad allows extra benchwarmers and learn how that option fits into your team’s management.
Learn the Improved Hockey Gameplay
The 1.0 update includes several improvements to the core hockey experience. The developers have made major changes to physics, puck behavior, controls, and the overall feel of the gameplay.
These changes are intended to make hockey feel better to play, so returning players may notice differences compared with earlier versions.
Smarter AI and Better Positioning
The developers have improved offensive and defensive AI, positioning, and decision-making.
Your teammates should behave more reliably, while opposing teams offer a more challenging experience. As a beginner, take time to understand how players behave on the ice rather than assuming every situation will work the same way.
Reworked Goalies
Goalies have also received significant improvements in version 1.0.
The update includes changes to:
- Saves
- Movement
- Positioning
- Rebounds
- Puck interactions
These changes make battles around the net more involved. If you are returning from Early Access, expect the goalkeeping experience to feel different.
Improved Physics and Puck Behavior
The developers have also improved physics and puck behavior, alongside changes to the controls.
These updates affect the overall feel of hockey, so give yourself time to become familiar with the gameplay in version 1.0.
Try Different Playstyles as You Progress
Because Tape to Tape includes 19 squads and a wide selection of relics and power-ups, there are plenty of options to explore.
Your squad determines some of the rules and mechanics you play with, while your available upgrades provide additional ways to develop your run.
Rather than sticking to the same approach every time, try different squads and experiment with the options you unlock. This will help you understand the variety of experiences offered by the campaign.
What Is Nightmare Difficulty?
Nightmare difficulty is another major feature of Tape to Tape 1.0. The developers describe it as the toughest difficulty available for players who believe they have mastered the game.
If you are new to Tape to Tape, focus on learning the basic gameplay and campaign systems before taking on the hardest challenge.
Once you are comfortable with the hockey mechanics, team management, and roguelite progression, you can consider trying Nightmare difficulty for a more demanding experience.
Other Improvements in the 1.0 Update
The full release includes several improvements beyond the campaign and progression systems.
Updated UI and Menus
The developers have overhauled the user interface and user experience. This includes new menus, screens, transitions, notifications, icons, and other interface improvements.
The updated interface is part of the broader effort to polish the game for its full release.
Improved Visuals
The update brings improved arenas, rendering, and a new set of visual effects.
These changes add more detail and atmosphere to the matches.
Upgraded Audio
Tape to Tape 1.0 also features new music, sound effects, and crowd audio throughout the game.
Together with the visual improvements, these changes help refresh the overall experience.
Multiple Language Options
The 1.0 release adds support for several languages:
- Chinese (Simplified)
- Czech
- Finnish
- German
- Japanese
- Portuguese (Brazil)
- Romanian
- Russian
- Ukrainian
The developers have also indicated that more languages may be added in the future.
Tape to Tape 1.0 is a major step forward for the game, bringing a completely remade roguelite campaign, 19 playable squads, a new unlock system, and a wide range of relics and power-ups. Improvements to AI, goalies, physics, controls, visuals, and audio also make the full release different from the earlier Early Access experience.
If you are a beginner, start by learning your squad, understanding how the campaign works, and paying attention to the challenges that unlock new content. Experiment with relics and power-ups, manage your roster, and gradually explore the other squads.
You do not need to master every system in your first run. Take your time, learn how the different mechanics work together, and enjoy discovering what Tape to Tape 1.0 has to offer.
