Getting Started
Get started with Null Quest
Getting Started with Null Quest
Install Null Quest
Null Quest is available on Steam and as a direct download for Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Steam
- Search for "Null Quest" on Steam
- Click Install
- Launch from your library
Your progress syncs across devices.
Direct download
- Visit the piqadot website and click Download Null Quest
- Extract the archive
- Run the executable for your OS
Your first chapter
When you launch, you'll see a brief intro explaining your situation: you're a rogue program in corrupted memory, and you need to escape.
Chapter 1 teaches you the core mechanic: rewriting values.
On screen, you'll see:
- A puzzle area with variables and values displayed
- An editor where you can type new values
- A story description explaining what's happening
Your goal: rewrite the right value to unlock the door.
How the puzzles work
Each puzzle is a real code construct:
- Null dereference — access a null pointer and see what happens
- Off-by-one error — a counter is off by one, fix it to proceed
- Dangling pointer — a variable points to invalid memory, redirect it
- Type confusion — reinterpret bytes as a different type
The puzzles teach you how code actually works. Understanding them = solving them.
Making choices
Early in the game, you'll make variable choices that persist:
- Rewrite a variable one way → unlocks one story branch
- Rewrite it differently → unlocks another branch
Later chapters remember what you changed. You can't undo these choices in a single playthrough.
Unlocking debug mode
As you complete chapters, you unlock debug tools:
- Memory viewer — inspect the game's own memory
- Stack trace inspector — see call stacks
- Breakpoint mode — pause execution and step through code
These tools become part of the game's story. Use them to go deeper.
Speedrun mode
Want to race? Null Quest has built-in speedrun support:
- Split timers with categories (Any%, All Chapters, No Debug Tools)
- Leaderboard integration — submit runs from the pause menu
- Compare your times with other speedrunners