Casualties: Unknown has 11 layers: ten main layers on the way down to the cargo, then a shorter eleventh layer, followed by the ending sequence. The free demo only covers the first five, so the full release doubles the descent with layers 6 to 11.
That count comes straight from developer Orsoniks, whose September 2026 progress update described “10 main layers, an 11th shorter layer and an optional bonus ending sequence”, and the Steam store page advertises 11 layers. This guide covers what is confirmed about each layer, how the demo compares, and the settings and shortcuts that change how many layers you actually play through. Light spoilers for the late game follow.
Every Layer in Order
Each layer is a freshly generated cave with its own blocks, plants, traps and creatures. You enter at the top and work your way to the bottom, where you can save or carry on into the next one. Orsoniks has not published an official list of what sits on each layer, so here is how the descent breaks down from what the developer and the patch notes do confirm.
| Layers | What we know |
|---|---|
| 1 to 5 | The layers in the free demo; layer 1 starts every run |
| 5 onward | Ilmenite starts to spawn, per the 7.0 patch notes, so titanium crafting opens up |
| 6 to 9 | New in the full release, the deeper half of the descent |
| 8 | The Crystalline Hollow |
| 10 | Where We Must Reach, the deepest point, where the cargo lies |
| 11 | The Ascent, the “shorter” eleventh layer Orsoniks described, followed by the ending sequence |
The 7.0 patch notes also stopped certain layer modifiers from rolling on the first layer, so the start of every run is a little more predictable than the layers that follow.
How the Full Game Compares to the Demo
The demo, which stays free on Steam, ends after the fifth layer. It will not be updated again, apart from a small text fix, so it stays on the older balance and content. The full release adds layers 6 to 11, the endings, two more playable characters, 40 achievements and Endless mode, according to Orsoniks’ launch post and 1.0 patch notes.
The launch announcement put it simply: the full game has “twice as many layers” as the demo. If you finished the demo, you have played a little under half of a full run.
How Long the Layers Take
A full run is long. Orsoniks wrote while finishing the game that runs “can get very long” and that “losing multiple hours of progress isn’t very fun”, which is why the later layers were tuned to be less brutal than they might have been. Steam’s achievement list has one for beating the game in under three hours of in-game time, and as of November 10 only about 1% of players on Steam had earned it, so most runs take a good deal longer.
Because you can only save at the bottom of a layer, plan your sessions around layer breaks. Our guide to saving in Casualties: Unknown explains why quitting halfway through a layer ends the run.
Drill Pods: Skipping Ahead
Drill pods are scattered around the world, and using one carries you down faster than digging. Orsoniks added more of them before launch and made them easier to use, specifically because runs had grown so long. There is an achievement, Express Route, just for using one.
They are not free. The 1.0 patch notes changed drill pods to lower your stats less than they used to, which tells you they still cost you something, and the same notes simplified the drill repair kit recipe. Skipping a layer also means skipping its loot, so a drill pod is best when you are already well stocked.
Layer Modifiers and Run Settings
When a layer is generated, it can roll a layer modifier that changes its conditions. You can adjust how often that happens, along with the amount of loot and danger, from the run settings on the main menu. The 7.0 patch notes stopped certain modifiers from appearing in the first layer, so your opening layer is a little more predictable.
When you enter a new layer, the 1.0 update also clears a small safe area free of liquid around you, so you no longer spawn into a flooded cave.
Endless Mode
Endless mode, added in the 1.0 update, turns the descent into a loop. Instead of ending, reaching the cargo sends you back up to the first layer, and the run keeps going until you die. You cannot finish the game this way, but there is an achievement, Round and Round We Go, for looping an Endless run twice.
Tips for Getting Deeper
- Pack for the next layer, not this one. Every layer is generated fresh, so you never know what the next one holds; carry clothing, food, water and a way to make fire. Our guide to lighting a torch covers an early light and heat source.
- Carry more. A good container means more supplies per layer. Our guide to the best container covers what to aim for.
- Keep scrap for climbing. A piece of scrap metal can be placed as a block to get out of a pit you cannot jump out of.
- Rest before you descend. Your energy carries over from one layer to the next, so a long layer on an empty tank is a bad start. Our sleep guide covers how to rest safely.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many layers are in Casualties: Unknown? Eleven: ten main layers down to the cargo and a shorter eleventh layer after it, followed by the ending sequence.
How many layers are in the demo? Five. The demo stops after the fifth layer, and the full game adds layers 6 to 11.
Which layer is the cargo on? The cargo is at the bottom of layer 10, the deepest point of the descent.
Can you skip layers? Drill pods carry you down faster, but using one costs you some stats and means leaving that layer’s loot behind.
Does Endless mode have more layers? No new ones. It loops you back to the first layer after the cargo, and the run continues until your experiment dies.