You're probably here because you're tired of the base game. Most people who pick up Spacetime Smackdown spend their first ten hours just trying to figure out the momentum physics without flying off the edge of a cosmic arena. It's chaotic. It's loud. But eventually, the standard 1v1 or 4-player free-for-all starts to feel a bit... thin. You start noticing those weird glitches in the lobby or the NPCs that don't seem to have a purpose. That’s because the real meat of the game is buried in the Spacetime Smackdown secret missions, and honestly, the developers didn't make them easy to find on purpose.
They're hidden.
Some are tucked behind specific emote sequences. Others require you to manipulate the clock on your local hardware—a classic "old school" gaming trick that feels weirdly fresh in a modern title. If you're looking for a simple "press A to start" experience, these aren't for you. These missions are for the players who want to break the game.
What's the Deal with These Hidden Objectives?
Actually, let's back up. Why do these even exist? In the world of competitive brawlers, developers often include "test beds" or "lore drops" that don't fit the main balancing act of ranked play. If you add a mission where the gravity is inverted and you have to fight three versions of yourself, it breaks the competitive integrity. So, they hide them.
The Spacetime Smackdown secret missions serve as a playground for the weirdest mechanics. You’ve probably heard rumors about the "Chronos Breach" or the "Zero-G Gauntlet." These aren't just myths from a Discord server. They are actual, playable segments of code that offer unique rewards like high-tier cosmetic shards or, more importantly, bragging rights.
The most famous—or infamous—is the Void Walker sequence. To even see the prompt, you have to lose five matches in a row by exactly one point of damage. It sounds like a joke. It’s not. It’s a literal "pity gate" designed to take struggling players into a training-heavy lore mission that explains the backstory of the primary antagonist.
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Finding the First Breach
You can't just stumble into most of these. You have to be intentional. For the "Sub-Atomic Skirmish," you need to head to the training room. Most people use the training room to warm up their combos. Don't do that. Instead, take the character Quark and use his phase-shift ability against the far-left corner of the map for exactly thirty seconds.
The screen will flicker.
It looks like your GPU is dying. It's not. That’s the transition. You'll be dropped into a monochromatic version of the map where the physics engine is set to 2.0x speed. This is one of the Spacetime Smackdown secret missions that actually tests your reaction time rather than just your ability to memorize combos. If you clear the wave of thirty drones, you unlock the "Ghost Trail" effect for your character.
Is it worth the effort? Depends on how much you care about looking cool in the lobby.
The Role of Community Discovery
We have to give credit where it's due. The discovery of these missions wasn't a solo effort. Groups like the Smackdown Dataminers have been scouring the game files since the 2.4 update. They found references to "Mission_99" and "Project_Echo" long before anyone actually figured out how to trigger them.
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Sometimes, the triggers are seasonal. During the winter event, players found that if they stood still on the Frozen Tundra map for two minutes while the Blizzard hazard was active, a portal would open. This led to a mission where you fought a giant, pixelated version of the game’s mascot. It was weird. It was difficult. And it’s a perfect example of how these secret missions add layers to a game that otherwise might feel like a repetitive button-masher.
Why the Developers Hide the Best Content
It's a psychological trick. Gamers love secrets. When everything is laid out on a battle pass, it feels like a chore. When you have to hear about a "secret mission" from a friend of a friend, it feels like an adventure. Spacetime Smackdown secret missions are essentially the developers' way of rewarding the hardcore community without cluttering the UI for casual players who just want a quick match after work.
There is also the "Beta Testing" theory. Some experts in game design, like Raph Koster or even those who follow the philosophy of Hideo Kojima, argue that hidden missions are often used to test mechanics for future sequels. That weird gravity mechanic in the "Nebula Nest" mission? Don't be surprised if that becomes a core feature in Spacetime Smackdown 2.
Common Misconceptions About the Secret Missions
- "You need to pay for them." No. These are not DLC. If someone tells you that you need to buy a "Secret Pass," they are trying to scam you. These missions are baked into the base game code.
- "They are only for pro players." While some are incredibly hard, many are more about exploration and puzzle-solving. The Library of Ages mission, for instance, requires zero combat. It's all about moving blocks in a specific order based on the lore books found in the main menu.
- "They are glitches." While they look like glitches, they are very much intentional. A real glitch will crash your game. These missions have dedicated loading screens and unique soundtracks.
How to Trigger the "Deep Space" Mission Right Now
If you want to try one today, the "Deep Space" mission is the most accessible.
First, go to the character select screen. Hover over Nova but don't select her. Press the following inputs on your d-pad: Up, Up, Down, Left, Right, B (or Circle), and then Start. If you do it fast enough, the background music will cut out completely.
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Select any map.
When the match starts, you'll notice the skybox is gone. It's just black. You are now in the Deep Space variant. Your goal here isn't to kill the opponent—it's to stay on the platform while it shrinks. This is one of the few Spacetime Smackdown secret missions that actually gives you a permanent stat boost to your "Agility" rating in the non-ranked modes.
The Ethics of Datamining Secrets
There's a big debate in the gaming community about whether we should be looking for these. Some say it ruins the magic. When a YouTuber posts a "How to unlock every secret mission" video, the mystery dies. Others argue that in the modern age, games are so complex that we need a collective effort to find everything.
Personally? I think the hunt is part of the fun. Finding a Spacetime Smackdown secret mission on your own feels like winning the lottery. It’s that "Aha!" moment that keeps people playing long after they’ve reached the level cap.
Actionable Steps for the Aspiring Secret Hunter
If you're serious about finding the remaining undiscovered missions, you need a strategy. You can't just run around hitting walls.
- Check the Patch Notes: Developers often leave "flavor text" that hints at new secrets. If a patch note says something like "Fixed an issue where the moon looked too bright," go check the moon on every map. It's probably a hint.
- Interact with the Environment: Most players ignore the destructible objects. Try destroying every single crate in a match without hitting your opponent. See what happens.
- Vary Your Playstyle: Use characters you hate. Use moves that seem useless. Some missions are triggered by "low-usage" variables.
- Join the Research Communities: Subreddits and Discord servers dedicated to game mysteries are your best friend. Look for threads titled "Unresolved Assets" or "Hidden Sound Files."
The world of Spacetime Smackdown is much larger than the main menu leads you to believe. Those who are willing to look past the surface will find a game that is weirder, harder, and significantly more rewarding than the standard competitive loop. Stop playing the game the way they told you to play it. Start looking for the cracks in the code. That’s where the real smackdown happens.
Next Steps for Players:
Start by attempting the Deep Space trigger mentioned above to confirm your version of the game is up to date. Once confirmed, move to the Training Room phase-shift technique with Quark. Keep a log of any "flicker" events you encounter during standard play, as these often indicate a nearby proximity trigger for a localized mission event. Record the timestamp and the specific character move being performed at that moment to help the broader community narrow down the activation requirements.