Before jumping into the guide proper, there is one person who needs particular credit for most of the content of this guide.


Eddy (EddyMataGallos on the leaderboards - you'll see him at/near the top of almost every level) has been fundamental in decoding the game's content, writing guides on how to access/change elements, and designing tools to support the community's creativity.

Whilst there is a bunch of knowledge that he's built off of, and many others who have assisted documenting/developing our collective understanding, he has been the driving force behind things like palette creation, custom leaderboards, and general game modding.

Will credit others as I go, as best as I can.

psenough has done amazing work in simplifying most of the modding work down to a few button clicks, with a simple GUI interface (yes, 'ATM machine' and all that...) that I'd be remiss to exclude.

For those without the means / knowhow / desire to manage files yourself, this is the program for you.
Enables a means to simplify backing up saves, installing new palettes, sound packs and map packs.

Check out the readme, and/or download it here:
https://github.com/psenough/NPlusPlusAssistant

In-game you unlock palettes one at a time by completing 5 episodes, or for a few specific additional unlock criteria (eg: All Gold on 2x episodes unlocks dorado, or dying 2,500 times unlocks pumpkin).

A full list of unlockable palettes can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1VLvzc-cad8keQdxmIhzltNSgjcXGTble9glEjqqbdrI/

Custom palettes can be created in addition to these default ones prepared by Metanet, which will exist in the 'bottom left' menu:



This shows my favourite palette, supernavy2 - which is exactly* the same as the in-game palette 'supernavy', but available from a fresh save file.




Palettes are located in the below locations by default:

Windows:
eg: C:\Program Files (x86)\Steam\steamapps\common\N++\NPP\Palettes

Linux:

Mac:

This is not a folder that usually exists (the 'Palettes' folder, specifically), so you will need to create it.


Within that folder, each palette that you choose to add will be a folder:


Within each palette's folder will be a list of files that represent the colours for the palette (more on this later).




CMYK
Based on printer colours


Matrix
Inspired by everyone's favourite 1999 film


VBoy
Ever thought to yourself "i wish i was using bloodmoon {the palette} but worse and based on the colors of one of the most unsuccessful game consoles of all time?" no? here it is anyway


Sublime
For a chill gaming session


Electron (altered)
Guaranteed to improve your chances of completing a level in the Hardest tab





Historically, making your own palette required a decent understanding of image editing programs - this can still be done, by copying/editing the .tga files in the Palettes directory.

Eddy (bless) has created an N++ Palette Creator tool though, hosted on github, that simplifies the process greatly.

NPC - N++ Palette Creator
https://edelkas.github.io/npc-web/



The general process to creating your own dream palette is as follows:

• Click the 'Import' tab and choose your favourite Metanet palette as a base (clicking 'Load Metanet Palette').
  
• Click any of the tabs at the bottom ('Objects', 'Menu', 'Editor' etc) to access the relevant objects whose colours you want to change.
  
• Choose the object you want to change; click the colour and either enter a hex code of your choice, or use the colour selector. You will see the colours change in real time in the preview window on the side.
  
• Once you've created your masterpiece, click 'Export' at the top - this will provide you with a zip file with all the files you need to bring your palette into the game.
  
• Create a folder in the Palette directory, with the name you want it to have in-game (eg: 'supernavy2', or whatever else you'd like), and put all the zipped files into that folder

If you struggle with creativity, or just want to see some of what the N++ community has created, the community on discord have a record of the various palettes that people have created to date in a Google Sheets document.

At the time of writing, there are 251 palettes that people have created & documented:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1I2f87Qhfs6rxzZq5dQRDbLKYyaGLqTdCkLqfNfrw1Mk/

The sheet unfortunately does not show what each of the palettes look like, so you'd need to access the #palette-creation channel in the N++ discord server to more easily see how they appear in-game.

Sound pack downloads are available from:
https://github.com/psenough/NPlusPlusAssistant/tree/soundpacks

These replace the following files:
Windows -- [SteamLibrary]/steamapps/common/N++/NPP/Sounds
Linux -- home/[user]/.steam/steam/steamapps/common/N++/NPP/Sounds
Mac -- home/[user]/Library/ ... /steamapps/common/N++/NPP/Sounds


The following sections are my personal categorisation of the sounds - this order aligns with that of the above video.

Original sounds
Per the title. Install the game and you'll get these gorgeous meatnut Metanet sounds.

Beta Sounds
Per the title. Missing some sounds (deathballs colliding, evil ninjas, menu interactions)

Beta PS4 Sounds
Per the title. Missing some sounds (deathballs colliding, evil ninjas, menu interactions).

N+ XLBA
Per the title. Missing some sounds (thwumps), but otherwise complete. For entities that were not present in the XBLA version, the N++ default sounds were used.

Nv2
Per the title. Missing some sounds (menu interactions, evil ninjas), but does have deathball collisions, as opposed to the beta sounds.

OOF++
Adds some "oof" when you die.

sdnuoS
Made by Achrotone.
Every original sound in reverse!

RandomSounds
Ever thought to yourself, "damn, I love the default sounds, but I wish they were all jumbled up"?
If so, do I have the sound pack for you...

Plazma
Made by chai & eboshidori.
"The name "Plazma" comes from that the sounds are from a flash game called PlazmaBurst 2"

Sclews Soundpack
Made by sclews.
Subdued sounds - give it a listen.

8Bit
Made by Megajumpr.
A selection of 8-bit goodness.

Super Ninja 64
Made by Megajumpr.
The greatest crossover with a 1996 console game.
Feels good to hear those Mario jump noises.

Ndertale
Made by Arlan64.
"I tried to replace N++ sounds with Undertale ones while being serious about the context of each sound, I really analyzed and studied each Undertale and N++ sound (the ones used) to think about which sound would fit best and which one would be better than another. I didn't replace everything, I left the ninja sounds (jumps, landings, slides, falls...) and I also left all the zap noises (with the deathball noises because I didn't know by what sound to replace them)"

Hamateur Hour
Made by HamSandwich/Hamwich. Collection of sounds from all over the place. Highlights:
- Laser drone's "YEAHHHH BOIIIIIIII"
- Rocket's "Gangster's Paradise" when in-the air
- Gauss targeting's "Hamster Dance"

Totally deranged to actually use, yet one of our most talented masochists mains this sound pack.

YAMAHA DJ
Made by big_blargh.
Based on a classic keyboard's DJ Mode. See the following video for the source (6:12 in the vid):
https://youtu.be/qMXlYhtpEFU?t=372

Acapella (Toaster) sound pack:
Made by XandoToaster.
All sounds made and recorded by XandoToaster. My personal favourite sound pack.
I've been using it for over 1,000 hours.
Nothing compares.

Map packs have evolved over time since the first map pack's release in May 2021.
These were originally a set of files that required manually replacement, but now come with installers and custom leaderboards built in-game.

Whilst I'll list out all map packs for completeness, the scope of this guide will include only those that have installers/custom leaderboards.
All map packs are expected to be converted to installers, and I'll update the guide over time as required.




Modern map packs are provided as an executable installer (eg: "npp_eon.exe") designed for Windows. If you are looking to play the map packs on a non-Windows machine, please join the Discord and reach out to Eddy.



As the zip files hosted on Eddy's github contain executables, and depending on the sensitivity of your anti-virus software of choice, you may need to temporarily disable antivirus protection to download or run the executable, or allow Microsoft Defender to run it.



The reason is due to the executable being un-signed; the file runs a script written in Ruby to replace the necessary files, and backup your save file.
Please satisfy yourself via VirusTotal, or similar service, if unsure/unconvinced.

Once downloaded, extract the .exe file to wherever you'd like, and run it - this will:

• Make a backup of your nprofile file (your save file), set aside in a zip file created in the same location as your save file (nprofile_original.zip)
  
  After you revert to the base game, a backup of your map pack save is also made, with a suffix based on the map pack (see above).
  
• Install all map pack levels, any palettes included with its release, and any other required files (only the Duality map pack has additional changes; noted later).
  
• A blank profile with level score submission on by default is provided on first installation
  
• Enable full, native leaderboard support, including speedrun mode leaderboards (fastest time to the finish - not dependent on gold collected)

The installation looks a little something like this:


If at any point you wish to revert to the base game, run the executable file a second time - all files will be reverted to the base game, your map pack save file backed up, and your original game save backup restored.





This following sections will list out each map pack that has been released, including pertinent information for each.

Release date:
2021/05/29

Author(s):
HamSandwich, lord_day, RandomDigits and yahoozy. Also featuring levels from donfuy, PALEMOON, sept and spiltmilk!

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/blob/master/HaxPack.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1081321641314893854

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Hi everyone. I'd like to announce the Hax Pack, created by HamSandwich, lord_day, RandomDigits and yahoozy! Also featuring levels from donfuy, PALEMOON, sept and spiltmilk! This pack gives you 125 new levels, taking the place of the in game Intro tab. A special thanks to Eddy for creating the technology to make this possible, and also donfuy and Kostucha for extended playtesting.

Schmole's comments:
The very first map pack! Holds a special place in the hearts of many, as it was a co-ordinated effort from several different prolific mappers. Despite being the first pack, they managed to do many things right; pacing within episodes, differentiation of all gold vs base completion, difficulty scaling across the pack.

Highly recommended.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2021/11/24

Author(s):
abho

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
100 // N++ tab

Link to installer:
Not available

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1081318537727053854

Release notes from the mapper(s):
After all this time, it's finally here.
The NEOMETA custom tab, with 100 levels made by me replacing the N++ tab.

Schmole's comments:
First map pack by a solo creator (expect to see abho's name a bunch more...), and the first that incorporates challenges too - 172 challenges to seek out, beyond the 100 levels' completions / all golds.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:
No video of playthrough; only of the challenges.
Column 00, as an example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p2OYP_QnVuI

Release date:
2022/03/26

Author(s):
abho

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125+15 // Intro & N++ tabs

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/blob/master/NITRO.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1081319078825820271

Release notes from the mapper(s):
another abho tab dropping °-°

The NITRO custom tab, with 140 levels. Made in a span of about 3 weeks.
Contains several guest appearances, check it out!

I put in more effort and stepped up the quality a bit from NEOMETA, so I hope you enjoy.
🐢

Schmole's comments:
A really amazing set of levels - a mix of great level design, and also humour / theming between episodes.
In addition, there are 15 additional levels in the N++ tab that are locked behind a set of secrets well-worth checking out too.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/01/06

Author(s):
abho, xetto, Sky, nexter, aloading, Natey

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
Not available

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1081319402001158205

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Time for another userlevel campaign 😎

The CLEVER custom tab, with 125 levels. The levels for this tab were made in about 5 days from various mappers.

This was a somewhat spontaneous project, but it has gone through some post-mapping revision to make the experience smoother. I hope you enjoy!

Schmole's comments:
The levels for this tab were made in a short span of time as part of a speed mapping effort. If I'm honest though? It shows.
Whilst the levels are individually fine, the way they have been packaged together doesn't feel too cohesive, resulting in some really LONG episodes, and really sharp difficulty spikes at odd places.

Not a bad tab by any stretch, but would only recommend it to a player that has played various other map packs first.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/01/19

Author(s):
abho, Natey

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/blob/master/NOVA.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1081319645228843068

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Here we go again. :moleSwole:

The NOVA custom tab, with 125 levels. Brought to you by me and NateyPooPoo.
This project features maps that conform to a high quality standard. They also have thematic resemblance throughout.

Levels are intended to be played by column.

This tab is bundled with two new custom palettes as well, with help from Emmoji!

Schmole's comments:
The maps are of high quality - there are a number of great art-based levels, and also one of the busiest-looking maps that's still a joy to play through (novacapacitator - C-04-04).

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/03/01

Author(s):
NateyPooPoo.
Features guest maps from abho, audrey, frankytrees, HamSandwich, leachy jr., and yahoozy!

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 + 50 // Intro + N++ tabs

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/50a133f/ION.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1081317075827564564

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Leave the ninja home planet and embark on a 125 level journey set in space!

These levels are mostly of easier to moderate difficulty, designed to be digestible by players of a wide range of skill levels.

If you are an advanced ninja and find yourself wanting a greater challenge, then ION includes an optional B-side tab featuring 50 additional levels. Here the levels become more abstract, and the gold becomes more scarce. Your skills will be tested.

ION also includes three new custom palettes designed specifically for the tab.

Many thanks to the guest mappers and abho for the trailer!

Schmole's comments:
One of my favourite packs at time of release - the theme is cohesive throughout, and the maps really well designed. Had several moments where I found myself laughing out loud at something (with 'identify' being a personal favourite), or really enjoying the flow of a level.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/05/03 & 2024/09/27

Author(s):
Slomac

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
375 // Intro & N++ & Legacy

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/blob/master/SlomacMEGAPack.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1288910945040728166

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Original release text*:
125 levels (Intro tab) showcasing the breadth of possibilities within N++.

It contains a mix of old and new mechanics and oddities; many of which have never been experienced before.

Due to the nature of this pack, it is intended for an expert audience who has seen it all.
However, base completions shouldn't be out of reach for less experienced players.

MEGA pack release text:
Three tabs, 125 levels each, adding up to a massive 375 levels! This pack showcases a variety of unique mechanics and utilizes numerous glitches and interactions possible within N++.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Intro – Original Slomac Pack
Since it never had an installer, I have included the original here. If you've played it before, start with the next tab.

N++ – Slomac Pack 2
125 brand new levels packed with fresh ideas and creativity.

Legacy – Slomac Legacy
125 of my best userlevels, refined for a smoother experience. Most levels have been tweaked for better quality of life, and some have even had complete gameplay overhauls.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

This is a medium difficulty pack — not designed to be brutal, but not a walk in the park either. Compared to the original Slomac Pack, I would estimate that Slomac Pack 2 is roughly 10% harder, while Slomac Legacy is about 10% easier. Base completion has been kept fairly easy for the most part.

A big thank you to:
Testers - Doomscroller and Skylighter
Modding - Eddy


Schmole's comments:
One of the greatest to ever do it - the first N++ 100%er, Slomac, has created a truly insane set of levels that show off feature the vanilla game never gets close to touching.
Highlighting glitches, enemies only available through hex-editing, and a great understanding of the game's movement system, this pack is not one to be missed.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/05/11

Author(s):
NateyPooPoo

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/blob/master/CLASSIC.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1106271731062153347

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Introducing CLASSIC tab
A new intro-sized userlevel tab that answers the question: “What would happen if Natey tried to make a tab while role-playing as Metanet?”

The levels feature aesthetic minimalism with a pure focus on gameplay. In addition, the levels have been tuned for speed.

Overall the tab is of medium difficulty, and even if you aren’t a flawless high-speeder you will still be able to enjoy the tab at any pace.

🎨 Also included are two palettes: an improved version of ‘classic’ and a classic dark mode.

🤝 Special thank you to abho, Amibe, audrey, DarkStuff, kkstrong, MaelstroM, Omega, sclews, Skylighter, Slomac, SV, vcm, Haah, and w95559w for all contributing guest maps!

Schmole's comments:
The first map pack with built-in leaderboards, and a focus on highscoring, or levels designed to be highscored.
An overall simple to understand set of levels that imitate the style of Metanet, but each level feels great to go fast in. So many times you think to yourself "oh, if I got here a little sooner I could beat that drone" (or similar), and you're thoroughly rewarded for pushing harder.

These are the most competitive of the custom map pack leaderboards, so if you're at all highscoring-inclined, I'd recommend this pack.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/05/24

Author(s):
w95559w

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
75+5 // Co-op N++

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/blob/master/DUALITY.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1110998853634773073

Release notes from the mapper(s):
A new tab is coming...

A new co-op tab is coming...

A new solo co-op tab is coming...

But most importantly...

A new same control solo co-op tab is coming!

Welcome to DUALITY tab! 🔀
This new custom userlevel tab features a solo co-op gimmick involving controlling two players at once, and all of its levels serve to demonstrate the many possibilities with this mechanic! With 75 main levels and 5 bonus levels, this tab replaces the co-op N++ tab in the game with mind-bending puzzles that force you to think outside the box.

🤝 Special thanks:
Doomscroller - Playtesting
Logging in... - Playtesting
NateyPooPoo - Additional Playtesting
Eddy - Modding
abho - Playtesting / Publishing

Schmole's comments:
Possibly the most innovative of the packs released to date, and one of the packs I'd most highly recommend to anyone with even the slightest inkling of a passing interest.
You'll scratch your head, you'll have questions as to the sanity of the mapper, and you'll have the most euphoric "A-HA!" as you figure the levels out.

Further, there's an added challenge specifically designed for within each level. Beyond the challenge of trying to get all the gold on each level, a "no gold" objective is available for players looking to stretch themselves.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/07/09

Author(s):
WheatyTruffles and DarkStuff

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
150 // N++
(this is a "first release", with additional episodes planned for the future)

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/master/REDUX_v1.1.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1127656056877760552

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Drawn forward by the past — welcome to REDUX Tab!

REDUX is a challenge-focused reimagining of the Legacy Tab. This pack builds upon and alters the first 150 Legacy levels to include challenges in the GTOCE format. From mind-bending puzzles to trials of precision and endurance, this tab invites you to look at the levels of the past in a brand-new way.

This tab comes with a custom profile that grants access to the X-row and allows players to view challenges after earning all-gold in 25 episodes!

Furthermore, you can carry your save across future installments of this tab. REDUX is a project in progress, created with one goal in mind: add challenges to every single level in the Solo Legacy Tab!

Credits and special thanks:
WheatyTruffles — level creation, playtesting
DarkStuff — level creation, playtesting
w95559w — playtesting
Blizzy — playtesting
abho — publishing
Eddy — game modding

Schmole's comments:
An ambitious project - has only had the first 5 columns fleshed out so far, but there's a lot to like. Equally, there's a lot of the (imo, outdated) design decisions from the original level sets still present, which can make some levels a bit of a chore.
However, there are a number of interesting and transformative challenges that are well worth a play through, even if full completion isn't something you're after.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2023/08/10

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
845 // Intro & N++ & ? tabs

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/b4c9d55/CTP_v1.1.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1137793981745475654

ababab777 // abho // AlphaEspy // Antonio // Arlan64 // audrey // Bakeryphresh // Banjo // cLOUDDEAD // D. Seitaro // DarkStuff // dcl00713 // docq // DrAnvil // ekisacik // Emma-Frank // frankytrees // Galva // Gealx3 // Georgia_O_Kief // Hamwich // Jayde // khan // kkstrong // Leachy_Jr // Logging in // Lugunium // Melancholy // Mr. Mrow // NateyPooPoo // nexter // Nimu // paulqlight // psenough // r10pez10 // redacted // Schmole // sclews // scottm // SimVYo // Skylighter // Slomac // southpaw // spiltmilk // SuperVolcano // tekit // vanquish // vcm // Velocity // VR456 // w95559w // Wert99 // Xavier // xetto // Zarah

abho // audrey // Bakeryphresh // cLOUDDEAD // D. Seitaro // DarkStuff // Hamwich // Jayde // kkstrong // koolboom // Kostucha // NateyPooPoo // paulqlight // Schmole // scottm // SimVYo // Skylighter // Slomac // Soh // VR456 // Wert99 // xetto

audrey // kkstrong // Kostucha // NateyPooPoo // Schmole // SimVYo // Skylighter // Slomac // w95559w

ScottM - Idea originator and organiser
Skylighter - CTP server creator and organiser
D. Seitaro - Organiser, god-like database creator & maintainer
Schmole - Organiser, contest host, general grunt worker
Natey - Organiser, overarching level allocation and refinement
Audrey - Assigning complexity ratings to all maps to assist allocation
w95559w - Our dedicated guinea pig playtester; testing beta versions of the tab, and all of the hardest challenges
Abho - Video mastermind
Eddy - Providing the tools that have enabled the project to exist, hosting/maintaining the custom leaderboards

It is with the utmost pleasure that I announce the public release of the Community Tab Project, or CTP for short; a massive community effort that redefines what can be accomplished within N++.

The CTP organising team are proud to present:

• The culmination of over 3 years of behind-the-scenes mapping, playtesting, and co-ordination efforts of the community

• The prowess of 55 of our amazing community’s mappers, resulting in 845 hand-crafted and original solo maps to replace the Intro, N++ and ? tabs

• Episode and column composition considerations for casual players, veterans of the game, and the hardcore no-death enjoyer alike (oh yeah, and hardcore mode is canon :moleSmile:)

• 720 levels designed with a total of 1,340 purpose-built challenges

The project team are truly excited to finally see the fruits of our efforts released, and hope you enjoy it.

Oh… and….… there’s no way anyone 100%s it =)

!!! PLAY THIS PACK !!!

Shameless plug of my playthrough:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhodSO-wKWI1fXCEEPcscVQ7KBvJsfwkx

Release date:
2023/11/29

Author(s):
kkstrong

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/master/ASCEND.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1178839277933699172

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Introducing ASCEND

ASCEND is aesthetics. ASCEND is gameplay. Is it art? Is it art in vasquez? Only you can decide.

125 levels of easy to medium difficulty, for ninjas ready to take a quick breather from CTP. Levels ready to be puff puff'd.

ASCEND features guest maps from abho, audrey, SV, Natey, DS, Kostucha, and w95559w

ASCEND features two custom palettes: ascend summit made by Emmoji ❤️ and ascend zenith made by me

Schmole's comments:
Super fun pack with a more 'chill' level of difficulty, but some good execution required to hit some of the speed strats built into a number of the levels.
Expect some inside joke level references, edgy map names/themes, and plenty of doritos!

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2024/01/04

Author(s):
MegalordX8 & abho

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/b913060/SPECTRA.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1192302293253627904

Release notes from the mapper(s):
》》》Introducing: SPECTRA TAB《《《
:goldheart: Another new year and another new custom tab for N++, replacing the solo introduction with slightly-above-average difficulty. Presented to you by myself and abho As someone who is new to the N++ mapping world I am proud to release this level campaign to the community. Let the games begin...

🫂 Featuring guest appearances from NateyPooPoo and frost

🎨 Bundled with two custom palettes: cyberware and ultraviolet

Schmole's comments:
Fun pack - a first look at the mapping prowess of Megalord
I enjoyed quite a lot of the levels. Levels where freeform movement options, or interesting movement in general, were possible were my favs.
Some of those were super short and quick levels. Some of those were a bit longer.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2024/05/29

Author(s):
MegalordX8

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/20f5cb9/ALKALINE.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1245259064666230816

Release notes from the mapper(s):
=== Introducing ALKALINE ===

:goldheart: It is that time again everyone, its the release of another custom tab. Presented to you by myself MegalordX8. Embark on another 125 level journey that replaces the intro tab from the solo campaign. Difficulty is easy to medium throughout. This tab is designed to be a chill experience for anyone who needs a break from CTP, and a creative collection of my thoughts. I hope you all enjoy,

Special thanks to:

Eddy - Game modding
Doomscroller - Playtesting
Emmoji - Playtesting
klim - Playtesting

🎨 Bundled with one custom palette: parametric with 9 different accent colour variations

Schmole's comments:
Positives:
* loved the tile art
* loved the more chill atmosphere to the levels
* several levels in particular were fun to move through (E-00-02 was my favourite level)

Not so positives:
* many long and tedious levels
* many levels where it's a 'there and back', where a 'there' would have sufficed

Overall, a good pack - reasonably short too, compared to other similarly-sized tabs.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2024/08/07

Author(s):
nexter

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
250 // N++ tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/cb7b5f1/DESTAB.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1259836732485140562

Release notes from the mapper(s):
DESTAB, HOME OF 250 LEVELS
After months of continuous work, I proudly present you the newest tab release - DESTAB. 250 unique levels that are also bundled with... 300+ challenges! G++ is not enough to fully complete this tab. Only REAL ninjas are able to withstand this task. Do you have what it takes? The base clear itself is not as hard, so players who want a chill experience won't suffer... as much. :trold: This is definitely my level creating magnum opus and I poured all my creative wisdom and love into this, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did making this. :Ninja:

❤️ Special thanks go to:

✅ Level contributors:
abho (3 levels)
docq (1 level)
Johnes (1 level)
sclews (1 level)
Skylighter (1 level)
xetto (1 level)

🗒️ Level testers:
Logging in...
redacted
Skylighter
Slomac
Emmoji

🎨 Palette contributor:
Emmoji

🎮 Game modding:
Eddy

This tab also comes in with two cool and stylish palettes, first being aced which is made by Emmoji, and the second one being aroma which is made by me!

Schmole's comments:
A series of very well-designed levels, with nexter's patented design flair sprinkled in throughout. A mix of fun movement, challenging movement, and really pretty art work.
Challenges are very hit or miss - some are excellent, some feel tacked on.
Notwithstanding, another pack well worth a playthrough of.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2024/08/05

Author(s):
abho

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 + 25 // Intro & N++ tabs

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/346d11f/APEX.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1269777364058112000

Release notes from the mapper(s):
A custom tab to celebrate my 100% and my history with N++.
A journey about difficulty, adaptability, beauty, space, and time.

125 levels. 15 bonus levels.
A very challenging custom tab. Intended for 100%ers, but all players are welcome to see how far you can get.
Play by column.

Thanks to ekisacik for playtesting.

Schmole's comments:
A bloody brilliant tab, with some of the hardest content prepared in a map pack to date (outside of some CTP levels/challenges).
Was an absolute joy to play through - highly recommended.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2024/11/31

Author(s):
NateyPooPoo

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
600 // N++ tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/2cfd7ee/EON.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1312447806480453715

Release notes from the mapper(s):
A full-size N++ tab replacement in the style of a sidescroller

Discover a world of action and adventure, all connected edge to edge in one 500 level journey. Plus 100 B-sides!

//

Base completion has been designed to be a comfortable easy-moderate difficulty.
Completionists can expect a worthy challenge.

//

In addition to the standard completion points, EON also officially includes base hardcore mode

The levels of the main tab have been intentionally designed to provide a unique hardcore experience. No deathless point here, getting to the end alive by any method means victory.

//

There are also 10 new palettes included with the installer, with an option to install 6 more for those who really like colors!

Huge shoutout to Eddy for assisting in the creation of this tab through his godlike script making prowess.

be wary in the lamplight, traveler

Schmole's comments:
An absolute joy to play from start to finish - all the levels connect together and tell a story (as well as level titles and tiles can!) as you move through the world Natey has created.
It really does feel like you're exploring a world, and Natey did a fantastic job at both creating that world, and balancing it for Hardcore as well.

Similar to abho's APEX, this pack is a testament to the creativity and mapping prowess of one of the best to ever do it.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2025/02/24

Author(s):
MegalordX8

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/467dba7/ACIDIC.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1343618594726084711

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Here we are again everyone with another custom tab released for N++ presented by myself, MegalordX8.
This time I welcome you to ACIDIC, the sequel and counterpart to my previous project ALKALINE. You know the drill, 125 levels that replace the solo introduction of the game. Difficulty is easy to intermediate throughout the pack, and each level is crafted with creativity and art in mind.
Are you ready to embark on the mission since the games are about to commence once again?

Schmole's comments:
Mostly simple pack with some difficulty curve balls thrown in as well. Only took a couple of hours to complete, so would recommend checking it out for a chill playthrough.

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

Release date:
2025/03/13

Author(s):
Metanet*
(A project by NateyPooPoo, using an N1.4 to N++ converter made by Eddy)

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
500 // Legacy tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/5c65ee3/NV1%2B%2B.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1349568429690060861

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Nv1++ is, as much as possible, a strict port of the levels from the classic flash version of N.

Nv1.4 was the final iteration of N’s original physics engine, and the version that saw the series’ biggest explosion in popularity.

Quirky exploratory level design of Mare & Raigan in their youth? You got it.
Levels with impossible gold? Sure!

Enjoy the quintessential mid-2000's flash platforming experience, now in the buttery smooth N++ engine. Slope stutter no more!

Schmole's comments:
TBD - yet to play

Shameless plug of my playthrough:
TBD - yet to play

Release date:
2025/06/19

Author(s):
Slomac
NateyPooPoo
audrey
Wobert
Darkstuff
frankytrees
Skylighter
SuperVolcano
abho
Ellsworth
filip
aloading
ekisacik
Hamwich
kkstrong
lily
paul
w95559w

Number of levels / Tab(s) replaced:
125 // Intro tab

Link to installer:
https://github.com/edelkas/npp_mappacks/raw/50f2a79/MAX.zip

Link to N++ Discord forum:
https://discord.com/channels/197765375503368192/1385296978572869672

Release notes from the mapper(s):
Introducing MAX, the fabled framewar tab of legend.

The Natey+Slomac+16 guest mappers collab tab of 125 bitesized levels built for speed. With live frame interpolation, a shiny new leaderboard mechanic from Eddy. And preset Dev Times to put your skills to the test.


Live frame interpolation:

When you submit a score while playing MAX, the score will be automatically interpolated to the one-thousandth (0.xxx) of a second. This will show in-game on the leaderboards after submission. This means that competition is never truly over until every last iota of optimization is achieved.

In addition, upon submission the “Global Rank” number that usually displays will now display the number of microseconds left until the next frame. This way you can tell if you are improving within a certain frame.


Dev times:

You will notice the levels have no gold to collect. Instead, completion is marked by exceeding all dev times. These times are displayed on the leaderboard for each level, noted as -- DEV TIME --

Schmole's comments:
A highscorer's dream. Simple levels, no gold; just get to the end as fast as possible.
Dev times as a goal are a first, compared to all previous releases which have gold / challenges to aim for.
If that's your jam, then get on it!

Shameless plug of my playthrough:

2025/01/06 - Version 1. Initial draft of all content.
2025/02/10 - NITRO installer released across the last week or so. Updated to reflect this.
2025/05/29 - Updated to reflect the latest two packs released (ACIDIC and Nv1++)
2025/06/30 - Added MAX section; updated the summary of map packs


(that's me)
The game has a wealth of content that will overwhelm people who strive for that elusive 100%, but there's so much more to the game that the community has built up over a great many years.

Hopefully this guide helps bring some of that insider (discord-residing) information out to the masses.

I'll look to keep this as contemporary as possible over time, but there may be a lag between information as it becomes available on discord, and when I can get to updating the guide.

If you notice any issues / errors / glaring omissions, please leave a comment and I'll try to revise as needed.