Survive the Rift (2021)

Developer: Monster Helix Inc.
Platforms: Windows
Genres: Action, Indie, Early Access
Rating: 4.5 of 5, 10 player ratings
Typical playtime: about 2.2 hours
Where to get it: Steam

The 3D catalog: game boxes on wooden shelves, with the cat sitting at the counter next to its greeting.

The catalog in 3D

The same catalog has a room you can walk around in. The cat behind the counter is the AI Catbot, and they pick real games from it when you tell them what you feel like playing. Nothing is for sale, here or in there. Go in from here and this game is already out on the counter, with more like it waiting on the shelf next to it.

More games like this

How it feels

A fast-paced arcade shoot 'em up where each run feels different thanks to procedural levels and unlockable ships, with tension from choosing riskier stages for better rewards.

fast-pacedarcade-styleproceduralrogue-literetrosci-fitenseaction-packed

What players say

Players praise the pixel art and music, calling it a fun rogue-lite take on classic shoot-em-ups like R-Type. However, some note the lack of meta-progression makes deaths feel punishing and the game can get repetitive. Controller support splits players, with a few reporting Xbox controllers don't work.

Screenshots

More games like this

This page is from Underplayed Gems, a catalog of older and overlooked games. Not quite it? You can browse by platform and genre, or take this one into the 3D catalog and ask the Catbot for something closer.