I took the test twice! Eagle Corner is already lost in its own high-level artistry.

The Crisis Contract promotional PV’s comment section is flooded with “I was so scared I cried.” Arknights Crisis Contract: First Clear on 920 (Source: Bilibili, Star Sea Strategy Group) Endland Crisis Contract: First Clear on 54(Source: Bilibili creator “Little Sheep: Going to Bed Early Is a Blessing”) “Guts Cup” Crisis Contract Tournament in the Land of the End – Completion and Awards Ceremony (Source: Bilibili creator “Magic Zc Directory”) The Terra Continent truly lives up to its reputation as the First Stronghold.

June 26, 2026, is destined to be a day that Eagle Corner players will never forget.

Crisis Contracts have always been dubbed the “second-tier college entrance exam.” That very day at noon, I had just stepped out of the “exam room” for the latest batch of Crisis Contract entries in *Arknights: The End of the World*, having finished the first subject—the “Reignite” test—and I still had to take the next subject that afternoon: *Arknights*’ latest Crisis Contract“Ink Purge Operation.” Yingjiao is just like that nerdy classmate who sat behind me in high school and loved to create and explain problems. When you first met him, you might have suspected he had ulterior motives for giving you an impossibly difficult test; but once you got to know him, you’d realize he was just a simple guy who genuinely loved coming up with problems.

Yingjiao had already teased this Crisis Contract during the Ark Anniversary preview livestream. Unlike the novelty and speculation surrounding the “Reignition of the Endlands” test, the original Crisis Contract in Arknights is already a familiar staple for players, who have very mixed feelings about this classic, high-difficulty mode.

Where there are exams, there are test-takers; where there are difficulties, there are challengers. Among the players, there are many strategy enthusiasts—some choose to go it alone, while others join strategy groups of various sizes, relying on collective wisdom to achieve impressive results.The launch of the Dual Contracts has created some pressure for many strategists aiming to secure the first kills on both the “New Covenant” from the “Reignite” test and the “Ink Purge” from the “Old Covenant” campaign; at the same time, many newcomers can use this opportunity to showcase their playstyles. These factors serve as a fresh source of vitality for the current gaming community.

Active players in "The Endland Crisis Contract" since its launch

For *Arknights* players, this night was once again the all-too-familiar Crystal Sanctuary, with the same heart-pounding theme music, and another night spent pulling an all-nighter, playing nonstop—all without any rewards to show for it.

However, for Eagle Corner and the Crisis Contracts game mode, this day marked a milestone.

01

 One Contract, One Responsibility

When it comes to Yingjiao, many people immediately think of one term: “Zhouwei.” “Zhouwei” generally refers to the functional, industrial art style of *Arknights*, but this design philosophy—with its metallic sheen—is also evident in Yingjiao’s gameplay design, and “Crisis Contracts” is a prime example.

To understand this way of thinking, we need to go back to the very beginning of the crisis contract.

In the survey conducted before the Crisis Contract was launched, Eagle Corner asked players about their experience with the difficulty of the levels at the time; the majority of players responded that they were “very easy.” Shortly thereafter, this high-difficulty game mode was released amid calls from the community for “lower production demands” and an “extended idle period.”

The introduction of Crisis Contracts resolved the issue of Ark: Tomorrow lacking endgame content on the test server at the time. Before Crisis Contracts were introduced, some players even questioned the purpose of the Skill Specialization system. After Crisis Contracts were introduced, the numerical requirements of high-difficulty gameplay finally breathed new life into the Training Room in the Base, and players’ character-building resources finally found a use when facing “Red Knife.”

The Deployment Zone Under "Red Knife Brother’s" Command

From then on, Arknights has periodically launched new Crisis Contract seasons.Toward the end of each contract season, a survey is conducted. Many Doctors, reminiscing about the painful memories of being dominated by that season’s contract, flip through their logs—only to proudly mark “Very Easy” on the survey once again—and then wait for the next contract to begin shortly thereafter, entering the cycle all over again.

This situation continued until “Operation Origin” in 2023—the “final season” of the Crisis Contract. After news of this season broke, players found themselves once again facing off against Red Knife with a sense of bidding farewell to an old friend; as a result, this “Fire and Steel” trial became the most memorable Crisis Contract for many players.However, just as fans of the Contract were immersed in the bittersweet emotions of the “final episode,” the “Sharp Extinction Test” announced the return of Crisis Contract shortly thereafter. The Crisis Contract we play today is the version optimized following the Sharp Extinction Test.

The gameplay rules for Crisis Contracts are actually quite simple:Players can freely combine the preset terms provided by the game. These terms typically limit the player’s in-game resources, weaken the player’s Operatives, or boost the enemy’s stats. Some terms have mutually exclusive effects, and the more terms selected, the higher the score earned upon clearing the level. If the score exceeds a certain threshold, the player will receive event rewards.

Prior to the “Sharp Extinction Test,” Crisis Contracts were generally named after “Operations,” such as “Operation Origin”; whereas Crisis Contracts released after “Operation Sharp Extinction Test” are named after “Campaigns,” such as this latest “Operation Ink Cleanse.”Following the update, the scoring system and entry design underwent significant adjustments, resulting in an optimized player experience; however, the difficulty remains extremely high, and the challenge has not lessened in the slightest.

12 Contract Season Logos

The strategy for combining these entries is like building with blocks: players challenge themselves bit by bit, constantly breaking their personal bests, and before they know it, they’ve built their very own “Tower of Babel.”However, within the game, it’s like assembling a精密 machine: even the slightest change in the external environment can completely shift your strategic layout. The higher the score you aim for, the more drastic the environmental changes caused by adding new entries become—unlocking just one more entry can drastically alter the existing axis arrangement within the game.Add one gear and it’s a mech; remove one and it’s a car. Even the “steam engine mode”—where no perks are selected at all—has its own unique appeal. This unpredictable, “Transformers”-style design philosophy is precisely why I believe Crisis Contracts can be called a “high-difficulty art form.”

As a mature game that has been in operation for seven years, *Arknights* boasts a very diverse player base. Many “Doctors” may have joined the game relatively late and were unable to experience the Crisis Contracts prior to the “Sharp Extinction” beta; they can only learn about them through the records kept by various guide groups. The Crisis Contracts from before the “Sharp Extinction” beta, as the most established endgame gameplay mode, carry a significant responsibility.Let’s now examine this mode from the perspective of event planning to gain a deeper understanding of what this so-called responsibility entails.

When people talk about “Crisis Contracts” in Arknights, they usually mention its advantages—such as veteran characters never leaving the roster and the absence of “potential anxiety”—but as an endgame mode designed to test players’ skills, how does Crisis Contracts fulfill its primary purpose? The answer lies in the seemingly simple design of the “Old Covenant” and “New Covenant.”

Nowadays, each Crisis Contract in Arknights is more than just the launch of a simple game mode—it’s like a festival. First, the theme of the new Crisis Contract is teased during a major preview livestream, followed some time later by the release of a promotional trailer to spark player discussion about the contract and speculation regarding its entries,Next, the “Old Covenant” terms are released on schedule, followed by the release of the episode’s theme song, and finally, the “New Covenant” terms are unveiled.

Cover Art for the Theme Song of "This Crisis"

When the Old Testament and New Testament updates are released, within just one week, the addition of new entries may render many strategy-oriented Operators obsolete or significantly enhance their effectiveness—including veteran Operators who have been mainstays in the recruitment pool for several years.The community will repeatedly update its understanding of contract-based gameplay in response to this, which is likely to increase the visibility of certain Operators and could significantly influence contract-focused players’ gacha strategies for the next six months or even a year. Therefore, even if Crisis Contracts do not cause players to worry about their potential, they will still impact players’ spending decisions—a point that is very easily overlooked when discussing this mode.

A tribute to the legendary operator Magellan, who has claimed many championships

How can a game fulfill its core mission of validating gameplay without pressuring players or increasing anxiety about unlocking potential? Eagle角 has provided its own answer in the form of “Crisis Contract”—a responsibility the game has quietly shouldered since its inception.However, after everyone bid farewell to “Operation Origin,” and following its rebirth after the 2023 “Sharp Extinction” test, Crisis Contracts once again quietly embraced a new mission.

02

Two Contracts, Two Missions

Looking back, 2023 was a very special year, and many of Yingjiao’s strategic decisions left their mark during this time.In 2023, *The End* launched its “Technical Test,” and *Arknights* introduced a wealth of new content. In terms of *Arknights*’ event storylines—from “Ascending Intent,” which expanded the Great Flame storyline during the Spring Festival, to “Lone Star,” which is still widely discussed today—players witnessed an even broader corner of the land of Tera;In terms of spin-off productions, updates to *Arknights: Winter’s Hiding Place—The Return*—which was praised for its significant technical advancements—were released, alongside the debut of the first official board game, *City of Exploration: The Founders*, offering players more ways to explore the continent of Terra;In terms of gameplay design, from updates to Crisis Contracts and explorations of the Vitality Algorithm to the release of the integrated strategy “The Explorer’s Silver Frost End,” the Operator evaluation system has gained more dimensions.

Filming Wraps for "Jieyuan Meat Pigeons"

Any discussion of Crisis Contracts cannot be separated from another established endgame gameplay mode in Arknights: Integrated Strategy. Players generally refer to Integrated Strategy as “such-and-such roguelike”; for example, “Shuiyue and the Deep Blue Tree” is commonly known as the Shuiyue roguelike, while “The Explorer’s Silver Frost End” is often called the Sami roguelike.This mode is a system of bonuses built upon the integration of Operator classes and roguelike mechanics, which differs significantly from the design philosophy behind Crisis Contracts’ recommended modes. Subsequent designs after 2023 have also reflected a design philosophy that emphasizes off-map operational strategies, whereas Crisis Contracts places greater emphasis on in-game execution.so the strategies players use to build Operator squads in these two modes are completely different. But why did Eagle角 decide to “start from scratch” and design an endgame mode that takes a different approach?

I’d been pondering this question ever since I failed to find the collectibles required for the five endings in Sakaz’s Pigeon five times in a row. It wasn’t until I reached the Endlands and was knocked flying by the angel in the contract five times in a row that, in the boundless void, it suddenly dawned on me. I recalled a famous quote from Seraya:

“Your tactics are modern, but your approach is quite old-fashioned. Who exactly are you?”

Earlier, we analyzed the core role Crisis Contracts played in endgame gameplay from their inception through the “Sharp Annihilation Test Operation.” However, even after that, the player experience with Crisis Contracts didn’t actually deteriorate significantly—they simply appeared less frequently.In the current “Ink Cleansing Operation,” the difficulty curve is designed to be smoother, and player engagement is higher; for casual players aiming for the minimum rewards, earning them is now even easier. So, why did Eagle角 decide to update Crisis Contracts?

To understand this, we need to analyze the current state of *Arknights*. First, *Arknights* has been operating steadily for seven years, and the number of six-star Operators alone has surpassed 130—yet a squad can only accommodate 12 Operators, with a maximum of 13 if you borrow Operators from friends.Instead of abandoning Operators who can’t make it into daily squads and treating them as mere cold statistics, Arknights has actively and continuously introduced new gameplay features to provide more opportunities for these Operators.

Therefore, Crisis Contracts require necessary upgrades. By innovating mechanics, streamlining processes, and creating a new contract environment tailored to specific enemies—while limiting the use of general-purpose cards and elevating the strategic importance of counter cards—we can enable characters with modest stats but excellent design to truly shine;further enhancing operators’ targeted utility through counter-strategy design, limited-use modules, and buffs tailored to specific situations, while allowing other gameplay modes to accommodate operators unsuited for the contract environment—thereby feeding back into game design.Only when players’ affection for their favorite Operators is no longer merely a fan obsession but is internalized as a desire to experience the game firsthand can the game’s lifespan be extended and player retention improved. All of these strategic plans must be supported by a rich variety of gameplay modes.

Considering the game’s environment after years of development, looking back at the gameplay innovations mentioned above, one cannot help but acknowledge that they were highly strategic.The pressure on operators to find employment within the game has been alleviated. Thanks to the game’s rich endgame content, Arknights has minimized the exacerbation of stat inflation caused by a monotonous endgame experience, effectively enhancing the game’s long-term sustainability and significantly reducing the costs associated with contract design.

From this perspective, the theme of this “Ink Wash Operation” feels more like a comprehensive review of the operator design direction over the past phase. It provides a stage for operators with different roles and functionalities to showcase their strengths, allowing for a more flexible and fluid design approach—rather than serving as a stopgap measure to urgently solve a specific problem.Even niche Operators who rarely see action in standard stages can become the key to breaking a stalemate when specific keyword combinations are activated. This requirement—to keep veteran Operators relevant and ensure new Operators each have their own distinct roles—is precisely the new mission of Crisis Contracts in Arknights.

Let’s talk about the End Times again. If the frequent return of counter-strategies for Operators is the defining feature of Arknights’ Contracts, the current End Times Crisis Contract showcases a diverse array of viable strategies. Based on the results from the Old Testament, all limited-time characters have already reached the top rank in that contract.Different team-building approaches ultimately allow players to achieve the best results in their own playstyles, truly proving that all roads lead to Rome.

For most players, as long as they approach the game with the right mindset, their Operatives will deliver strong performance. This tests not only the players but also the skill of the designers. Anyone who’s taken an exam knows that creating a difficult test is easy, but creating one that’s challenging without turning students off is an even tougher task.I’m glad *The End* has managed to pull it off.

At this point, some might ask: You’ve explained “modern tactics,” but what about “ancient concepts”?

Endland has only recently launched, and after its early-access phase, it now faces the same challenges that Arknights encountered many years ago. However, times have changed: “We are not powerless in the face of natural disasters.”” The Crisis Contracts in The Endlands, adapted to the game’s mechanics and serving as the endgame content, have done their utmost to avoid the prolonged stagnation that Ark: Tomorrow once experienced. The “Crisis Contracts: Reignite Test Operation” itself employs “modern tactics,” while the design of the Crisis Contracts mode itself is rooted in Yingjiao’s “time-honored concept.”The diverse array of solutions, the heated discussions, and the thrilling tournaments remind me of that night many years ago when, faced with Crisis Contracts, I chose to pull an all-nighter playing the game even though I had to be at work at 8 a.m. the next day.

Similarly, I believe that the success of Crisis Contracts in Endland will enable this new game to follow in the footsteps of the original Arknights, offering both engaging gameplay and fun, and bringing together both new and old players to enjoy the experience together.

Two contracts, two games: one is an old friend that has remained steadfast after seven years of operation, while the other is a new partner that has just been launched and is still finding its footing. Though they share the same model, each game carries a distinctly different mission.

For Eagle角, the “Endlands” contract serves as a testing ground for refining endgame mechanics for its new title; the original “Arknights” contract acts as a cornerstone for revitalizing existing Operators and sustaining the long-term vitality of the game’s content.These two challenges, both updated on the same day—one exploring the IP’s future, the other preserving the nostalgia and habits of longtime players—reveal Yingjiao’s strategic vision for the entire Arknights IP.

03

One Way to Play, One Journey

In the gaming industry, when we discuss IP development, we often focus too much on the “accumulation of visual symbols” or the “excessive volume of content,” while easily overlooking a more sophisticated element that binds an IP together—consistency in design philosophy.

In the field of literature, there has long been a debate over whether the author or the reader holds the authority to interpret a work’s worldview and characters. We’ve experienced this conflict ever since we started doing reading comprehension exercises in school.Many reading comprehension questions are poorly crafted, and the answers can be downright bizarre. As students, we naturally question: “Is that really what the author meant? Or did the test-maker just make it up?” Once we’ve turned in our papers and left the exam room, some classmates will even accuse the test-maker of being out of their mind.

Actually, this contradiction is easy to explain. To put it simply, the question writer’s reasoning was off, and the question was framed incorrectly. To put it more simply, it was “OOC.”

The test writer who was criticized must feel pretty wronged—after all, there are a thousand Hamlets in the minds of a thousand readers, so why am I the one getting attacked?There are so many factors to consider when crafting an essay question—difficulty level, structure, wording, scope… Yet many test writers fail to realize that when they’ve written so many questions, the one thing they’re most likely to overlook is the beauty of the passage itself.

That’s why we say that, when it comes to creating reading comprehension questions, the ideal situation is for the student to create them themselves.

The game *Arknights* features an expansive world setting. Players who have read world-building compendiums like *Journey Across the Earth* may have a more intuitive sense of just how “expansive” this world really is.In my view, if the *Arknights* storyline were a book, then designing its levels would be somewhat like creating exam questions—though with different objectives. The purpose of reading comprehension questions is to test whether readers have understood the text, whereas level design aims to help players better experience the game’s world.

As an older game, *Arknights*’ narrative impact may not be immediately apparent due to its presentation style and gameplay mechanics, but that doesn’t mean it’s a weakness. I believe that *Arknights* succeeds in bringing this world to life through, first, its solid writing, and second, its innovative approach to “gameplay-driven storytelling.”

This doesn’t mean other games aren’t rich in gameplay. However, few games manage to combine tower defense mechanics with storytelling quite as well. This isn’t about “intense character art transitions,” but rather an experience where “playing is like reading.” The most iconic example of this is Crisis Contract.

To all the Doctors who participated in this "Ink-Wash Operation" and carefully followed the storyline of the "Farewell to the Year" event, I'm sure you'll share my feelings from here on out.

In the “Farewell to the Year” event storyline, we witnessed Jie’s departure—a single book knife that shattered the scholars’ hearts. And when I experienced the “Ink-Washing Operation” this time, I found myself in the same desperate situation as Jie.The Book Knife was right in my deployment zone. I had thought I’d do better, but due to tight resources and limited deployable spaces, I struggled to balance all my priorities. In the end, I could only watch helplessly as the enemy, with just a sliver of health remaining, breached my defenses.

At that moment, my gaming experience formed a kind of “gameplay intertextuality” with Jie from *Farewell to the Year*. After failing, I could choose to restart, but the characters in the story couldn’t.I couldn’t even fully conquer the Zi-Xiong—so how could I bring myself to harshly judge them as they prepare to face the Year Beast? And when I successfully cleared the level and emerged victorious, I experienced a similar intertextual moment with Wang. The emotion of that victory wasn’t simply joy, but a deeply complex sense of relief.

"Crisis Contract" doesn't contain a single line of dialogue, yet by having me personally construct a scenario of utter despair, it allowed me to experience the most searing regret and the most bone-chilling sense of release.

This is the narrative behind the Crisis Contract gameplay. Good level design not only enhances gameplay but also encourages players to think more deeply about the game’s world; the deeper players’ understanding, the more willing they are to explore the gameplay—the two go hand in hand.

Today, Crisis Contracts are no longer the be-all and end-all, and opinions on an Operator’s strength are increasingly divided. For Contract-oriented players, there are powerful top-tier Operators; for roguelike players, there are go-to operators for winning streaks; and for survival-focused players, there are favorite “tree-toppling” champions… Everyone has their own preferred mode.However, the fun of Crisis Contracts best exemplifies Yingjiao’s consistent design philosophy for the Arknights IP.

In this era when weak protection and soft mechanics are commonplace, I believe that respecting the gameplay is the same as respecting players’ intelligence and emotions.

Conclusion

I’ve played many mobile games—some are emotionally resonant, some feature stunning visuals, and some offer profound philosophical depth—but when it comes to *Arknights*, I play it purely for the gameplay itself.

Playing games for the sake of the gameplay can be addictive. Sometimes I get so frustrated with gacha draws that I lose my cool, or get so stuck on a level that I’m tempted to throw my mouse.But whenever there’s a new event in Rhodes Island, I put aside my previous frustrations for the sake of this potentially fun gameplay. Even though I’ve long since claimed all my rewards and my account is overflowing with materials and Longmen Coins, I still keep conquering Wraiths and hunting Year Beasts time and time again…I’ve found the meaning of the game. The meaning of the game isn’t gacha or grinding for materials—the meaning of the game is the game itself.

Whether it’s *Arknights*, an old friend, or *Arknights: Endland*, a new friend, I look forward to the day when the joy inherent in the game itself weaves itself into a beautiful landscape, and I’m eager to embark on a journey called “gameplay.”