Hyper Light Breaker
" Ambitious open-world roguelike with charming art and combat, but plagued by poor optimization and abandonment "
Hyper Light Breaker Review
Hyper Light Breaker launched with high expectations as a sequel to the beloved Hyper Light Drifter, but players widely express disappointment due to its unfinished state and halted development. The game suffered from poor optimization, clunky gameplay, and a lack of content variety, especially in bosses and enemies. Despite some initial fun and potential in its gameplay mechanics and art style, the experience was marred by technical issues and an unclear game direction.
Development was abruptly stopped following layoffs, leaving the game in early access indefinitely without a promised final update. This abandonment has left many players feeling misled and frustrated, especially given the $30 price tag. The community mourns the lost potential and expresses skepticism toward future projects from Heart Machine, with many advising against purchasing the game in its current state.
Highlights
Players praised the game's art style and visual design, which retains some charm reminiscent of Hyper Light Drifter. The combat mechanics, while imperfect, were described as having unique weapon feels and satisfying boss fights. The upgrade system offers some build variety, and multiplayer cooperative runs could be enjoyable when available.
Fans appreciated the developer's initial efforts to improve the game during early access and recognized the game's core ideas and concepts as promising despite its flaws.
Criticisms
The most common criticisms center around poor optimization and performance issues, with many players experiencing low frame rates and input lag. The game is considered unfinished, with limited enemy and boss variety and a lack of meaningful progression or cosmetic rewards. The shift to 3D was seen as a misstep that contributed to a loss of the original game's soul.
Development was halted unexpectedly, leaving the game abandoned in early access, which many view as a breach of trust. The $30 price is deemed excessive for the current content, and the game’s identity as an extraction shooter or roguelike was unclear and poorly executed.
Pros
- • Art style and graphics evoke charm similar to Hyper Light Drifter and Solar Ash.
- • Combat features unique and satisfying boss battles with varied weapon feels.
- • Upgrade system allows for different playstyle builds and customization.
- • Multiplayer cooperative runs can be fun and engaging with friends.
- • Developers showed initial commitment with multiple updates during early access.
- • Game has a promising core concept and interesting enemy designs.
- • No microtransactions, providing a fair gameplay experience.
Cons
- • Game suffers from severe optimization and performance issues on most PCs.
- • Development was abruptly halted, leaving the game incomplete and abandoned.
- • Limited enemy and boss variety reduces replayability and engagement.
- • Lack of meaningful progression, cosmetics, or long-term goals.
- • Clunky gameplay and input delay detract from the combat experience.
- • Confusing and poorly executed game identity between extraction shooter and roguelike.
- • Shift to 3D lost the original game's soul and charm for many fans.
Rating Criteria
Screenshots
Frequently Asked Questions
When was Hyper Light Breaker released?
Hyper Light Breaker was released on January 14, 2025.
Who developed Hyper Light Breaker?
Hyper Light Breaker was developed by Heart Machine.
Is Hyper Light Breaker available on Mac?
No, Hyper Light Breaker is not currently available on Mac according to our data.
Is Hyper Light Breaker available on Linux?
No, Hyper Light Breaker is not currently available on Linux according to our data.
Where can I buy Hyper Light Breaker?
You can buy Hyper Light Breaker on Steam.
Game Details
A brand-new entry in the Hyper Light franchise, Hyper Light Breaker is an open world rogue-like with a unique world fully realized in 3D for the first time.