KEY POINTS

  • "The Riftbreaker" is a hybrid strategy/survival game with base-building and RPG elements
  • Play as a scientist in a mech-suit and create a trans-galactic portal to help Earth's colonization efforts
  • The game mixes "Factorio" with hack-and-slash combat and tower defense mechanics against large enemy hordes

Exor Studios’ “The Riftbreaker” breached Steam’s top sellers list less than a week after its launch, making the game one of the platform’s latest indie hits.

As of writing, “Riftbreaker” has a Very Positive rating on Steam with over 3,000 favorable reviews. Players praised “Riftbreaker’s” fun gameplay, vibrant graphics and nigh-endless replayability. However, some said that they experienced some frustrating bugs, while others criticized the game’s tutorials as bad and unhelpful.

“Riftbreaker” is an interesting combination of a number of genres. The game has elements of base building and factory optimization from “Factorio” mixed with strategy, tower defense, hack-and-slash combat and an RPG-style loadout system with item crafting and tech research.

Riftbreaker's mech-suit can be customized with a variety of weapons, upgrades and consumables to help defend against hordes of hostile creatures
Riftbreaker's mech-suit can be customized with a variety of weapons, upgrades and consumables to help defend against hordes of hostile creatures EXOR Studios

Players will take the role of Capt. Ashley Nowak, a military researcher and commando who is tasked to go on a solo mission to build a large, trans-galactic portal from Earth to Galatea-37, an alien planet that meets all the necessary conditions for sustaining life.

Captain Nowak is assisted by Mr. Riggs, an AI powering a mecha suit capable of dimensional rift travel. Armed with an arsenal of high-powered weaponry and a complete suite of tools for automated base construction, resource harvesting and stationary defense, Mr. Riggs is an all-purpose machine that’s perfect for the Galatea mission.

In-game, players must collect enough resources in order to build the rift portal and begin the colonization of Galatea-37. However, harsh conditions and hostile wildlife will pose a threat, and it’s up to the players to make sure that the mission is a success.

Occasionally, large swarms of creatures will try to destroy the player’s main HQ building. Several hundred creatures can be present at any given time, which gives the game a “Starship Troopers” vibe.

Mr. Riggs can be equipped with a variety of high-powered weapons, from machine guns to swords, flamethrowers, rocket launchers and high-tech laser guns. Bases can also be reinforced with walls and defensive turrets to help fend off massive enemy swarms.

“Riftbreaker” features a campaign mode where players will get to build persistent bases across multiple locations across Galatea-37. The game also has an action-oriented Survival mode and a free-form Sandbox mode that lets players customize the game to their liking.

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