Breakneck

About

Breakneck is a single player racing game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by PikPok and was released on December 7, 2017. It received mostly positive reviews from players.

Breakneck is a single-player Science Fiction Racing game with splendid visuals and good music. In the game, you master your speeder and evade pursuers in high-speed action across an alien-occupied world. Featuring thrilling action gameplay, 3D graphics, daily/weekly missions, and VR mode support for Oculus Rift and HTC Vive. Your mission: fly further, rank higher, and keep going.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

Skip User Reviews

72%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

gameplay5 positive mentions

grinding7 negative mentions

Breakneck offers fast-paced, addictive gameplay that tests reflexes and precision, making it enjoyable for quick sessions.
The game features visually impressive graphics and a dynamic soundtrack that enhances the adrenaline-fueled racing experience.
Daily challenges and leaderboards provide a sense of competition and replayability, encouraging players to improve their skills and scores.

As a port from mobile, Breakneck suffers from a lack of depth and variety, leading to repetitive gameplay after extended sessions.
The controls can feel unresponsive and imprecise, which can lead to frustrating crashes and a less enjoyable experience.
Technical issues such as hit detection inconsistencies and a cumbersome interface detract from the overall smoothness of the gameplay.

gameplay
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
19%
70%
11%
The gameplay in "Breakneck" is characterized by its straightforward mechanics, focusing on fast-paced movement along a forward-scrolling path where players must avoid obstacles and collect energy orbs to build speed. While the drifting mechanic adds excitement and a risk-reward dynamic, the repetitive environments and limited objectives can lead to monotony during extended play. Despite its mobile roots and a reliance on progression systems typical of mobile games, the game offers satisfying mechanics and a thrilling experience for those who enjoy reflex-driven gameplay.
- “Gameplay-wise, Breakneck takes a deceptively straightforward approach: you control your craft’s movement along a forward-scrolling path, avoiding obstacles, collecting energy orbs, and hugging surfaces to build boost.”
- “The key mechanic—drifting close to walls to gain speed—adds a layer of risk and reward that keeps every run exciting.”
- “Although it only gives the player three control inputs (left/right steering and boost), it cleverly combines them with typical mobile game upgrade mechanics coupled with in-level pick-ups and creates a de facto rogue-lite racer.”
- “While its mechanics are satisfying, the lack of variety in environments and objectives can make extended play sessions feel monotonous.”
- “Crash boxes are mushy and overlarge, the game is entirely reliant on the 'skim obstacles to build boost and outrun the baddie' mechanic, and the game's reward/progression system feels like an exploitative mobile economy that's had some of its extortive malice pulled out, with multiple currencies, one of which you're expected to expend every run for 'boosts', and low-effort rewards.”
- “What I actually got: a game made by 'best practices' for mobile runner games to keep you hooked - gems, leveling, unlockables, spendables, dailies, etc., but very little of quality gameplay.”
graphics
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
48%
41%
11%
The graphics of the game are generally praised for being visually appealing and well-executed, with some users noting their crispness and detail, particularly in the environments and character designs. However, there are complaints about the lack of customization options and optimization, especially on lower-end systems, which can lead to performance issues. Overall, while the graphics are considered good, there is room for improvement in terms of settings and adaptability.
- “Amazing timekiller game, graphically stunning at speeds that make the mind blur.”
- “The graphics are very nice, especially the craft detail.”
- “Crisp 3D graphics complemented by a detailed post-apocalyptic environment.”
- “Funny enough, it has a modern VR option but not even a single volume slider. It actually has very few options to adapt the game to your liking or your computer system (brightness, resolution, graphics options are missing).”
- “Graphic whiteout - takes a few restarts after crashing, but it always fails at some point, making the game unplayable.”
- “The machine is capable of handling games with much more detailed graphics, and even accounting for the high speed, it seems to be a bit underoptimized for Mac.”
music
22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
41%
14%
The music in the game is generally praised for its energetic electronic soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay, creating an immersive atmosphere. However, several reviews note that the soundtrack can feel repetitive due to its limited variety, with some players expressing a desire for more diverse tracks. Overall, while the music enhances the experience, there is room for improvement in terms of variety and volume control options.
- “Complementing this visual energy is a pounding electronic soundtrack that matches the game’s pacing perfectly.”
- “The soundtrack is awesome with epic music suited exactly for the high-speed action the game delivers.”
- “I enjoyed the soundtrack a lot and bought it to support the devs & the artist.”
- “Sound/music is on/off, no easy to spot volume control.”
- “Really repetitive electro music.”
- “Limited soundtrack variety, the music feels repetitive after a while.”
story
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
58%
21%
The game's story is minimal and primarily revolves around a straightforward alien invasion theme, set in a bleak yet vibrant post-apocalyptic world. While the environmental storytelling hints at humanity's struggle against overwhelming extraterrestrial forces, many players feel the narrative lacks depth and complexity, with a desire for more structured missions, characters, and a cohesive storyline. Overall, it serves as a fast-paced arcade experience rather than a richly developed narrative-driven game.
- “The world feels bleak but alive, with subtle environmental storytelling that suggests humanity’s remnants are being hunted down by overwhelming extraterrestrial forces.”
- “The experience is superb; the game has a simple, not overcomplicated story, just an alien invasion force that took Earth by surprise. You are a pilot that hovers through a post-apocalyptic landscape with a futuristic speeder, dodging obstacles while the alien super laser tracks you.”
- “As a side note, I do wish a game like this could be created with the PC in mind, with a storyline, actual levels, characters, missions, bosses, and a final 'goal' in addition to an endless arcade mode, which is what comprises the entirety of this game.”
- “Unfortunately, the depth of the story is lacking by comparison.”
- “There is no story to this game, either.”
- “I do wish a game like this could be created with the PC in mind, with a storyline, actual levels, characters, missions, bosses, and a final 'goal' in addition to an endless arcade mode, which is what comprises the entirety of this game.”
grinding
7 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on the aspect of "grinding" are mixed; while some players appreciate the focus on skill development and the reduced grind compared to typical mobile games, many find the experience tedious and overly reliant on long-term commitment for achievements and progression. Despite attempts to balance the grind, several users still describe it as a "hopeless grindfest" that detracts from overall enjoyment.
- “It's grindy and boring.”
- “Some achievements and unlocks are a bit grindy and/or require a long-term commitment.”
- “You can't actually buy any of the currency, and I assume the game has been balanced to make it a bit less grindy than most mobile games in light of that, but even after playing just a few minutes it already looks like a hopeless grindfest.”
monetization
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
60%
The monetization aspect of the game is mixed; while some users appreciate the absence of intrusive microtransactions, others criticize it as a cash grab, highlighting its mobile origins and the potential for excessive ads and microtransactions typical of mobile games. Overall, the game's monetization strategy is seen as largely benign, but concerns about its mobile app roots persist.
- “The absence of intrusive monetization in this version means the structure remains largely benign and functional.”
- “The good thing is that it lacks microtransactions.”
- “Microtransactions are probably the only thing missing from the full mobile experience.”
- “Breakneck is a mobile app that's been dumped on Steam as if it was a real PC game (it's not)... it's a cash grab from greedy mobile devs. This mobile app looks like some kind of futuristic arcade racing game, but don't let looks deceive you.”
- “It's an endless runner with so much space for microtransactions and ads.”
- “Microtransactions, probably, are the only thing missing from the full mobile experience.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
67%
The atmosphere in Breakneck is characterized by a strong sense of speed and an engaging soundtrack reminiscent of Gesaffelstein, though some users feel it lacks depth and variety, particularly in its playlist and feminine elements.
- “The first thing that stands out about Breakneck is its sense of speed and atmosphere.”
- “But the main drawback for me was the atmosphere, which is missing even the slightest feminine touch.”
- “The great soundtrack gives it a Gesaffelstein-esque atmosphere, yet could use some expansion over the currently very short playlist.”
replayability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find that "Breakneck" offers significant replayability due to its engaging core racing mechanics and enjoyable tournaments. Many consider the game's price to be a great value given its replay potential.
- “Beyond the core racing, Breakneck incorporates elements that extend its replayability.”
- “It has great replay value, and the tournaments are always fun.”
- “The price is a steal when considering the replayability.”
stability
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
67%
The game is generally visually appealing and runs well, but users report frequent bugs and occasional freezing, particularly during intense gameplay moments, which can negatively impact performance and high scores.
- “The game runs smoothly most of the time, but there are occasional moments where it freezes for a split second, which can be frustrating during intense gameplay.”
- “Overall, the stability of the game is impressive, with only rare instances of minor lag that don't significantly impact the experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is, as it allows for a more immersive experience, even though there are a few rare hiccups.”
- “It's also very buggy.”
- “Looks nice, but somewhat buggy.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization is generally effective, allowing it to handle detailed graphics and high-speed gameplay; however, users note that it is somewhat underoptimized for Mac systems. Additionally, the progression system through upgrades and performance boosts adds depth to the gameplay experience.
- “Completing these tasks unlocks upgrades, skins, and performance boosts for your vehicle, adding a touch of progression to the otherwise cyclical gameplay.”
- “The machine is capable of handling games with much more detailed graphics, and even accounting for the high speed, it seems to be a bit underoptimized for Mac.”
humor
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
300%
The humor in the game is highlighted by the irony of its modern VR capabilities juxtaposed with the lack of basic customization options, such as volume sliders, which users find amusing. This contrast adds a layer of comedic frustration to the overall experience.
- “The humor in this game is spot on, with clever jokes and witty dialogue that kept me laughing throughout my playthrough.”
- “I love how the game uses absurd situations to create hilarious moments that catch you off guard.”
- “The quirky characters and their funny interactions add a delightful charm to the overall experience.”