Let’s talk about Geometry Dash SubZero, the third spin-off of the popular, 2D rhythm-based platformer, available on iOS, Android, and PC via BlueStacks. 

SubZero brings forth three immensely challenging levels, several new 2.2 features, and massive rage quit potential.

Gameplay Mechanics: 2.2 Preview

The premise remains the same; help your cube get to the end of the level without running into a wall or falling into spikes. Sounds simple? Yeah, but the reality will hit you like a truck 10 seconds in… even if you’ve played previous Geometry Dash iterations.

More precisely, this free-to-play spin-off is a playable preview of features that came in the Geometry Dash 2.2 update, with an emphasis on more dynamic camera movement and dramatic cinematic transitions.

The level design is on a whole different level, too, but the core gameplay mechanics are still the same old Geometry Dash. So, if you’ve played any of its iterations, SubZero will feel right at home.

New Visuals

• New camera effects, including dynamic zooming and panning
• Advanced shaders and graphical effects, featuring neon visuals
• Enhanced particle effects and improved finish line animations

New Mechanics

• In ship sections, the control scheme switches to holding instead of tapping
• New ball sections that flip gravity and drastically increase the skill ceiling
• Tight wave sections with narrow up-and-down position switching
• Sections with variable jump height, new teleports and speed portals

If you’re just starting out with Geometry Dash, we recommend you kick things off with the Lite version. Just like SubZero, it’s free, but it offers a much more user-friendly learning curve. If you’re new to the whole GD universe and SubZero is your first experience with the mechanics, you’re in for a rude awakening.

3 Visually Superb but Immensely Difficult Levels

It’s true; Geometry Dash SubZero is much more difficult than other spin-offs. The game’s steep learning curve is far from forgiving. You’ll find yourself struggling within the first 20% of the first level, after which you’ll probably turn on the practice mode.

It’s okay, the practice mode is there for a reason.

Geometry Dash SubZero offers 3 new levels: Press Start, Nock Em, and Power Trip. They all provide a dash of fresh air to the series, boasting various new features and packing them into a somewhat familiar environment.

Here’s what each of them brings to the table:

• Press Start

The first level is where you should kick off your Geometry Dash SubZero gameplay. While it does have a somewhat steep learning curve, it’s still the simplest way to get into the rhythm and figure out all the new features this game puts its players up against.

Yes, the level is rated as “Normal” difficulty, but there’s not a lot of mediocrity about it. The first 18% aren’t too bad, but as soon as the beat drops, you’ll find yourself in what ought to be the final layer of neon hell.

The rhythm drastically speeds up, throws your attention around with new visual distractions, and forces you to stay on your toes with several transitions from normal to reverse gravity and ship (holding) mode.

If you’re struggling to consistently beat the first reverse gravity section, we recommend you switch to practice mode. Once again, it’s there for a reason!

• Nock Em

The second level will bind you to the practice mode and keep you there for hours. Even before the beat drops, you’ll feel the difficulty. It’s addictive!

The level will introduce you to even more new features, some of which act as a real beginner wall. By that, we’re mainly referring to the wave section that requires controlled inputs instead of good old tapping.

The level is chock-full of transitions, both visual and mechanical. You will be jumping in and out of scenes, navigating through narrow walls, and figuring out what each subsequent cut-off section will put you up against.

For the best experience, your primary focus should be on the practice mode where you can train your muscle memory for each individual section, then polish your know-how by connecting all the puzzle pieces together.

• Power Trip

The third and final level of Geometry Dash SubZero will make you rethink your life decisions. Real talk, it’s brutally difficult!

The starting area might feel slow, but the direction switch coupled with gravity pulls will make your life difficult way before you hit 20%.

The first wave will require tons of practice and you’ll start thinking it’s the most difficult GD section you’ve ever seen… until you reach the second wave, which is what nightmares are made of.

While it doesn’t require as much mechanical skill as Nock Em, Power Trip will throw you all around the stage and make you think carefully about what the next jump does and how the environment will react to it.

It’s a real rhythm test, that’s for sure! In our experience, the easiest way to play it is on your PC via an Android emulator like BlueStacks, which drastically improves your winning chances.

Where to Find Geometry Dash SubZero Coins

There are three secret coins you can collect in each of the three Geometry Dash SubZero levels. Here’s where they are:

Press Start Coin Locations

1. At 67%, instead of following the trail going upward, head straight through the narrow pathway to collect the first coin.
2. Within the classic cube section at around 74%, hit the first jump orb on the left but don’t hit the second one. This will drop you down to the platform below and show the coin.
3. In the final ship sequence at around 92%, fly next to the ceiling after the first laser blast, after which the coin will appear.

Nock Em Coin Locations

1. At around 5%, jump into the floating platform, which will reveal a path leading straight to the first coin.
2. The second coin is a bit trickier. You’ll have to collect the key at around 42%, which is necessary to collect the coin at around 51%.
3. The third coin is at roughly 90%. The game will reverse your direction at around 88%, after which the path to the coin will be revealed. But, the trick here is to get out of the area safely, which is far easier said than done.

Power Trip Coin Locations

1. At around 26%, avoid jumping on the second pillar but stay calm and slide through the gap that will lead you straight to the first coin.
2. The second coin can be collected at roughly 38%, where you have to hit 2 invisible orbs with perfect timing, which will launch you directly into the coin.
3. To collect the third coin, you need to tap 4 times on random text messages at around 60%.

Key Takeaways

If you like a good challenge, Geometry Dash SubZero is the game for you. It’s rather short, with just three levels that total to roughly 4 minutes and 30 seconds of tediously difficult gameplay.

But the dopamine rush you’ll get after completing each of the three new levels will leave you with a high that’ll last for days.

The best way to play Geometry Dash SubZero is on your PC via BlueStacks, because it offers smooth gameplay on much bigger displays. Plus, it supports mouse input, which is ideal for fast-paced, rhythm-based platformers like Geometry Dash SubZero.