A console and handheld platform game based on Metanet Software's Adobe Flash game N.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
N+ is the console and handheld adaptation of N, the minimalist platform game developed by Metanet Software. The game retains the original's central concept: players control a small black ninja through compact, highly demanding obstacle courses while collecting gold and reaching an exit before a countdown expires. Its controls are deliberately limited to directional movement and a small number of buttons, placing emphasis on momentum, timing, wall-jumping, route planning, and repeated attempts rather than on complex character abilities. Metanet Software licensed its N intellectual property for the project and remained closely involved. It provided the single-player level design for the console and handheld editions and consulted on development. The Xbox Live Arcade version was developed through a collaboration involving Klei Entertainment and Slick Entertainment, published by Metanet Software, and released for Xbox 360 on February 20, 2008. Separate versions were produced for Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable, with SilverBirch Studios handling development and Atari involved in publishing and platform support. The handheld editions launched on August 26, 2008. N+ expanded the original browser game's scope with console-oriented presentation, multiplayer, user-created or shared map functionality, and platform-specific modes. The Xbox 360 edition supported two to four players locally, over System Link, or through Xbox Live. The DS and PSP editions added multiplayer and map-sharing features, although their online community servers were later shut down. Gameplay hazards include missiles, mines, laser systems, turrets, pursuing and flying droids, falling blocks, dangerous drops, and other mechanisms that kill the ninja instantly. Gold is both a collectible and a time-extending resource, reinforcing the game's risk-and-reward structure. The Xbox Live Arcade release received three downloadable expansion packs in 2008. Together they added hundreds of single-player stages, cooperative and race-oriented multiplayer levels, survival content, alternative ninja colors or costumes, and a Halloween-themed visual set. Critics generally praised the controls, level quantity, challenge, multiplayer, and suitability for digital distribution. N+ received the 2008 Popvox Award for Best Console/PC Game and appeared in later retrospective lists of notable video games. It was also nominated in several GameSpot and IGN award categories. The handheld online component had a shorter life. SilverBirch Studios closed after losing funding, and the Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable servers were permanently shut down on October 2, 2009. N+ was followed by N++, released in 2015, which continued the series' precision-platforming design on newer platforms.
History
N+ originated as a commercial adaptation of N, Metanet Software's Adobe Flash platform game. The original game's identity came from its restrained controls, geometric level design, black-ninja protagonist, and strict emphasis on physics and timing. Rather than adding a conventional combat system or a large narrative framework, N+ transferred those principles to dedicated game consoles and handheld systems while expanding the amount of content and introducing multiplayer-oriented features. For the Xbox Live Arcade edition, Metanet Software worked with Klei Entertainment and Slick Entertainment. Development responsibilities shifted toward Slick Entertainment, while Metanet retained an active creative role: it published the title, supplied the single-player level design, and provided extensive consultation. This arrangement allowed the console version to preserve the feel of the original browser game while adapting it for Xbox 360 controls, digital distribution, and network play. The Xbox Live Arcade release arrived on February 20, 2008. It included a large collection of platforming stages and multiplayer support for two to four players. Players could compete or cooperate on the same console, through System Link, or over Xbox Live. The version also included map-editing functionality, broadening the game's replay value beyond its professionally designed stages. Its core gameplay remained intentionally severe: the ninja could die instantly from contact with enemies, projectiles, mines, lasers, falls, or environmental hazards, but players received unlimited attempts and could use gold to extend the countdown. N+ was also adapted separately for Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable. SilverBirch Studios developed the handheld editions, with Atari involved in their publishing and support arrangements. These versions were released on August 26, 2008, and added map-sharing and platform-specific multiplayer modes. The handheld releases demonstrated the portability of the game's short, repeatable stages, but their online features were not sustained. SilverBirch Studios closed on January 1, 2009, after losing funding. Attempts to preserve or relocate the community-server data were unsuccessful, and the DS and PSP multiplayer servers were shut down permanently on October 2, 2009. The Xbox 360 edition received three expansion packs during 2008. The first, released in July, added 150 single-player levels, 50 cooperative multiplayer levels, and additional ninja colors. The second, released in September, contributed 150 more difficult single-player levels, 50 multiplayer race levels, 25 survival levels, and further costumes. The third, released in October, restyled content from the original N with 150 hard single-player levels, 50 cooperative levels, and 50 race levels, alongside Halloween-themed costumes. These expansions reinforced the game's positioning as a content-rich platformer designed for repeated practice and competitive or cooperative play. Critical reception was favorable. Reviewers commonly highlighted the precision of the controls, the creativity and quantity of the levels, the game's addictive difficulty, and its suitability for multiplayer. The Xbox Live Arcade edition received particularly strong reviews, including perfect scores from GamePro and Official Xbox Magazine UK. The game won the 2008 Popvox Award for Best Console/PC Game. The Nintendo DS and PSP versions received 8.0/10 scores from GameSpot, while N+ was nominated in multiple 2008 award categories and was later included in the reference book 1001 Video Games You Must Play Before You Die. The series continued with N++ in 2015. N+ itself remains historically significant as an early example of an independent browser-game concept expanded into a substantial multi-platform console release, although the status of current commercial availability and any remaining online functionality is not established by the cited material.
- 2015
N++ released
[1]N++ followed N+ as the next major entry in the series.
- 2009
Handheld servers discontinued
[1]Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable multiplayer servers were shut down on October 2.
- 2008
Xbox Live Arcade release
[1]The Xbox 360 version of N+ was released on February 20, bringing the browser game's precision-platforming formula to a console digital marketplace with multiplayer and map-editing features.
- 2008
First expansion pack
[1]The first expansion added 150 single-player levels, 50 cooperative multiplayer levels, and additional ninja colors.
- 2008
Second expansion pack
[1]The second expansion added harder single-player stages, race and survival multiplayer content, and new costumes.
- 2008
Handheld editions released
[1]Nintendo DS and PlayStation Portable versions launched on August 26 with handheld-specific multiplayer and map-sharing functionality.
- 2008
Third expansion pack
[1]The third expansion added restyled N levels, cooperative and race stages, and Halloween-themed costumes.
Products and positioning
A minimalist, highly challenging precision-platformer built around momentum-based movement, compact levels, instant-death hazards, extensive replayability, and multiplayer.
Console digital platform game · 2008
N+ for Xbox Live Arcade
The Xbox 360 edition expanded N's browser-game foundation into a large console package. It features precision platforming, hundreds of stages, multiplayer for two to four players, network play, and map-editing functionality. Players guide a black ninja through hazards such as droids, missiles, mines, lasers, turrets, and dangerous falls while collecting gold to extend the stage timer. Three 2008 expansion packs added further single-player and multiplayer content.
Handheld platform game · 2008
N+ for Nintendo DS
The Nintendo DS adaptation preserves the series' momentum-based platforming and instant-death challenge while adding handheld multiplayer and map-sharing features. It was developed separately from the Xbox 360 edition and launched alongside the PSP version in August 2008. Its online multiplayer servers were later discontinued in October 2009.
Handheld platform game · 2008
N+ for PlayStation Portable
The PSP version is a portable adaptation of N+ with the series' compact obstacle courses, time-based gold collection, lethal hazards, multiplayer, and map-sharing functionality. SilverBirch Studios developed the version, which was released in August 2008. Its community multiplayer servers were shut down in October 2009.
Controversies
Brand decisions
2009
Handheld online services abandonedOtherBackground
SilverBirch Studios closed after losing funding, creating uncertainty around the servers supporting the DS and PSP versions.
Action taken
Efforts to recover or relocate the multiplayer server data failed, and the handheld community servers were abandoned and shut down.
Aftermath
Online multiplayer for the handheld editions ended permanently on October 2, 2009.
2008
Metanet licenses N for multi-platform adaptationStrategyBackground
Metanet Software sought to extend the N concept beyond its original Adobe Flash format to consoles and handheld systems.
Action taken
The studio licensed its intellectual property, retained responsibility for single-player level design, and consulted on the adaptations while external teams handled platform development.
Aftermath
The arrangement produced Xbox 360, Nintendo DS, and PlayStation Portable editions in 2008 and broadened the series' audience.
Recent events
Reported
NAB announces planned job cuts[3]
National Australia Bank announced plans to cut 1,500 jobs before the end of 2026, with a total of 2,500 staff set to go over the full financial year. The bank said the changes were designed to make it more efficient.
Reported
NAB appoints a non-executive director[4]
NAB appointed the former chief executive and founder of Vocus Communications as a non-executive director.
- Unconfirmed
NAB and Avant Mutual announce ten-year partnership[5]
NAB announced a ten-year strategic partnership agreement with Avant Mutual and its lending subsidiary, Kooyong Group, to extend business finance solutions to doctors and health care professionals. The partnership includes offering Medfin products through Kooyong Group to Avant members.
- Unconfirmed
NAB and Australia Post renew 10-year banking partnership[6]
NAB announced it would renew its partnership with Australia Post for 10 years, providing face-to-face banking services to NAB customers at more than 3,500 Australia Post locations.
- Unconfirmed
ASIC sues NAB over periodic payment fees[2]
ASIC commenced Federal Court proceedings against NAB, alleging that the bank charged periodic payment fees when it was not contractually entitled to do so and made false or misleading representations to customers.
Reported
NAB plans to acquire 86 400[7]
NAB said it planned to acquire the remaining shares in neobank 86 400 for approximately $220 million. The deal remained subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.
- Unconfirmed
NAB launches Slyp Smart Receipts in its mobile app[8]
NAB launched Slyp Smart Receipts in the NAB Mobile app. Customers can receive itemised receipts from participating retailers in the app after making a purchase.
Reported
SocietyOne establishes NAB-arranged warehouse facility[9]
SocietyOne announced that it had established a warehouse facility arranged by NAB to support growth and diversify its funding.
Reported
NAB announces Small Business Broker Connect[10]
NAB announced the launch of Small Business Broker Connect, a service designed to facilitate access to a specialist team for broker-introduced small and medium-sized business customers.
Reported
NAB waived selected home-loan fees[11]
NAB waived the application fee for new base variable home-loan applications and removed the progressive drawdown fee for building and construction home loans, effective 1 November.
Sources13 sources
- 1N+en.wikipedia.org
- 2ASIC sues NAB over periodic payment feesmiragenews.com
- 3NAB宣布计划裁员bunburymail.com.au
- 4NAB任命非执行董事financialstandard.com.au
- 5NAB 与 Avant Mutual 宣布为期十年的合作miragenews.com
- 6NAB与澳大利亚邮政续签为期10年的银行服务合作miragenews.com
- 7NAB计划收购86 400smartcompany.com.au
- 8NAB在其移动应用中推出Slyp智能收据miragenews.com
- 9SocietyOne设立由NAB安排的仓储融资额度crowdfundinsider.com
- 10NAB宣布推出Small Business Broker Connecttheadviser.com.au
- 11NAB豁免部分住房贷款费用theadviser.com.au
- 12Bank customers face shut doors and long queues amid massive lender job cuts - realestate.com.aurealestate.com.au
- 13NAB Acquires Neobank 86400 in $220M Dealtheepochtimes.com
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