The Riftbreaker
A blend of base building strategy and intense action encounters.
The Riftbreaker is a video game that blends action and real-time strategy, created by the Polish studio EXOR Studios, which also handled publishing. It launched on October 14, 2021, for Windows PCs, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X/S. The game follows a human pilot named Ashley who controls a mech called Mr. Riggs. Players must construct bases on a distant planet, using walls, power generators, mining facilities, and defensive turrets to establish a safe haven for humanity. Simultaneously, they craft weapons through research and fight hostile alien creatures that assault their structures. Critics praised the game for successfully combining strategic base-building with fast-paced combat.
In gameplay, the player explores the planet Galatea 37 to gather resources needed for essential base buildings. These structures enable research, energy production, and ammunition supply. A tech tree lets players choose what to research next, unlocking improved weapons and advanced base components like plasma or artillery turrets. Eventually, players must warp to other locations on the planet to mine rare materials such as uranium and titanium. The local fauna periodically launches waves of attacks on the base, which grow more difficult over time. If the player has built a portal, they can respawn there after death, though they drop a weapon at the death site. A hardcore mode exists where dying ends the game entirely.
Cooperative multiplayer was added on August 25, 2025, supporting up to four players in Campaign Co-op and Survival modes. It includes a server browser and dedicated server option, with connections possible online or via local LAN. The game can be played entirely offline in LAN mode. Every game mode and mission was balanced for both single-player and multiplayer enjoyment. Co-op is currently exclusive to the PC version.
According to Metacritic, The Riftbreaker received "generally favorable" reviews. Travis Northup of IGN rated it 8 out of 10, calling it a "fantastic blend of real-time strategy and bullet hell combat" with an intense challenge and addictive RPG loop. Lennard Fink of PC Games gave it 90 out of 100, praising the "extremely well-done genre mix with massive battles and fantastic graphics." Rainer Hauser of Gamestar awarded it 83 out of 100, recommending it to fans of both fast action and classic base building.
Quick Facts
- Title
- The Riftbreaker
- Developer
- EXOR Studios
- Platforms
- Microsoft Windows · PlayStation 5 · Xbox Series X/S
- Released
- October 14, 2021
- Genre
- Real-time strategy, action
- Modes
- Single-player, multiplayer
Facts from the source article.
Lore & Background
The Riftbreaker is set on the distant planet Galatea 37, where the player controls a human named Ashley navigating a machine called Mr. Riggs. The goal is to secure a new home for humanity by building bases with walls, energy sources, mining resources, and defense turrets, while also engaging in combat with enemy creatures that attack base structures. The player must explore the planet to find resources that enable construction of crucial base buildings, which provide functions such as research, energy, and ammunition. Research is guided by a tech tree where the player can specify what to research next, unlocking newer weapons and better base structures like plasma or artillery turrets. Eventually, the player must warp to other locations to mine rare elements such as uranium and titanium. Occasionally, the player is warned of an imminent attack by local fauna, and waves of creatures attack the base, with attacks becoming more difficult as the game progresses. If the player has built a portal, they can respawn there upon death while dropping a weapon at the death location; a hardcore mode means the game ends when the player dies.
Reader's Guide
The Riftbreaker is notable for its successful fusion of real-time strategy base building with bullet-hell action combat. Critics highlighted its intense challenge and addictive RPG loop, with IGN awarding it an 8 out of 10 and PC Games giving it 90 out of 100, praising the massive battles and fantastic graphics. Gamestar awarded it 83 out of 100, recommending it to fans of both fast action and classic base building. The game's cooperative multiplayer, introduced on August 25, 2025, supports up to 4 players with Campaign Coop and Survival mode, including a built-in server browser and dedicated server mode. Players can connect online or via local LAN, with the game playable entirely offline in LAN mode. Every game mode and mission was balanced for both single-player and multiplayer. Co-op mode is currently only available on the PC version. The game's legacy lies in its well-received genre blend and the later addition of robust co-op functionality.
Did You Know?
- The Riftbreaker was developed and published by Polish company EXOR Studios.
- Cooperative multiplayer was introduced on August 25, 2025, supporting up to 4 players.
- A hardcore mode means the game is over when the player dies.
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