CRYPTARK

About

Cryptark is a 2D sci-fi shooter with single-player and local co-op modes for up to 2 players. Board and neutralize procedurally generated alien starships to earn income, with over 70 weapons and items to help you on your mission. The game features an intriguing story, great graphics, and an outstanding soundtrack, but beware of grinding and bugs that may hinder your experience. High-score leader boards allow you to compete against other players.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Local Multi-Player Play with friends in the same physical space using split-screen or multiple screens
2-Players Play with one other player, either online or locally, in a cooperative or competitive game mode
Multi-Player Compete or cooperate with other players online
Co-Op Team up with friends to complete levels or missions together
Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo
PvP Player versus Player - Fight against other players in real-time, often in arena-style combat
Split Screen Play with multiple players on the same screen, often with divided or shared screen real estate

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,186 reviews

story55 positive mentions

stability32 negative mentions

Engaging and challenging gameplay that combines tactical planning with fast-paced action.
Unique art style and atmospheric soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Variety of weapons and suits that allow for different playstyles and strategies.

Steep difficulty curve, especially in the later levels, which can be frustrating for players.
Randomly generated levels can lead to unwinnable situations due to poor layout or enemy placement.
Lack of permanent progression or difficulty settings, making it hard for casual players to enjoy.

story
443 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
85%
3%
The story in the game is generally considered minimal and somewhat sparse, serving primarily to support the gameplay rather than being a focal point. Players appreciate the intriguing lore revealed through artifacts and voice acting, which adds depth to the otherwise straightforward mission objectives of infiltrating and destroying alien ships. While the narrative elements are engaging, many reviewers express a desire for a more fleshed-out story and character development to enhance the overall experience.
- “The voice acting and story are surprisingly engaging, and the Giger-esque interiors and creatures look fantastic reflecting on your dim flashlight.”
- “The story you unfold as you play through the game is also quite intriguing.”
- “The plot is very laid bare from day one, but the artifacts you collect provide a fascinating glimpse into the lore, making you want to know more as it unfolds bit by bit.”
- “The story is somewhat sparse.”
- “While the story is pretty simple and that’s okay, it could have been a bit more fleshed out; at least give the characters some names instead of calling them 'engineer' or 'scientist'.”
- “Story is a little sparse - it services the game, rather than the game servicing the story.”
gameplay
375 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
37%
61%
2%
The gameplay of Cryptark is characterized by its challenging and strategic mechanics, combining intense action with deep tactical planning. Players navigate procedurally generated ships, utilizing a variety of customizable suits and weapons, which encourages experimentation and replayability. While the game offers satisfying combat and a unique aesthetic, some players find the difficulty and certain mechanics, such as the time constraints and resource management, to be frustrating, potentially hindering the overall experience.
- “With its procedural generation, unique suit abilities, and satisfying combat mechanics, it stands out as a rewarding roguelike shooter.”
- “The variety of suits also adds depth to gameplay, encouraging experimentation with different strategies.”
- “Cryptark delivers intense and challenging gameplay set in a captivating sci-fi universe.”
- “There's a mechanic in the game where to open certain doors you need to use the directional keys, requiring you to take your hand away from the mouse, which is how you aim and shoot.”
- “The game's unforgiving nature and complex mechanics may pose a significant challenge for newcomers, requiring patience and perseverance to master.”
- “The planning phase and side goals incentivize players to take their time to execute their plan, but the time limit on missions and constant spawning of enemies incentivizes players to get through the mission as quickly as possible before the time runs out or they die, creating a confusing and frustrating gameplay experience.”
graphics
216 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
45%
2%
The graphics in Cryptark are generally praised for their gritty sci-fi aesthetic, featuring detailed 2D visuals and a unique art style that enhances the game's atmosphere. While many players appreciate the vibrant colors and polished effects, some express concerns about visual clutter and limited graphical options, which can hinder gameplay clarity. Overall, the game's visuals are considered a strong point, contributing to its immersive experience despite occasional performance issues.
- “The visuals aren’t flashy, but they’re gritty and immersive, and the neon accents on your bot and enemies add a nice touch of contrast to the cold, metallic environments.”
- “The game features polished and detailed graphics that capture the essence of the space environment and combat.”
- “The graphics are astounding, the catchy music gets you pumped, and the controls are tight.”
- “Good idea but bad 2D graphics and very hard difficulty!”
- “The only bad thing I have to say is that it was unplayable due to lag on my 1050 mobile GPU, and I couldn't find any way to turn any graphics settings down.”
- “Graphics options are very limited: a 'low detail' toggle and the usual resolution and full screen/windowed mode.”
music
144 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
2%
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its ability to enhance the immersive sci-fi atmosphere, with many reviewers praising the soundtrack as "excellent," "killer," and "top-notch." The ambient electronic and industrial sounds effectively complement the gameplay, creating a gripping experience that resonates with players, although some found certain tracks less memorable. Overall, the combination of engaging music and sound design significantly contributes to the game's appeal and atmosphere.
- “The atmosphere is enhanced by the ambient electronic soundtrack, which perfectly adapts to the intense pace of combat and tactical exploration.”
- “This game is worth playing just to hear the amazing soundtrack!”
- “The music is ridiculously good in this game.”
- “The soundtrack is fitting, but sound effects are lacking.”
- “The sound effects are well done but the music played in the background is bland and not very memorable.”
- “In addition, the music is sub par, not standing out whatsoever, but that does allow the sound design to shine with some good little touches to help the overall presentation.”
replayability
80 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
4%
The game features high replayability due to its procedural generation, which creates unique layouts and challenges in each run, alongside a variety of unlockable suits and weapons that enhance gameplay diversity. While many players find the replay value strong, some note that it diminishes after completing the main campaign or once familiar with the content. Overall, the combination of randomized elements and different gameplay modes contributes to a satisfying replay experience for fans of the genre.
- “Its procedural generation and variety of suits keep gameplay fresh and replayable, while its combat and atmosphere are top-notch.”
- “The variation in mechs and the randomized gear you'll unlock from pickups gives this game the variation and replayability it needs.”
- “The game itself is pretty short -- a completed run usually takes 60-90 minutes -- but extremely replayable.”
- “Sure, there are a lot of different units in each category, but I've seen them all now, so the game's replayability has dropped.”
- “It's enjoyable but frustrating, and once you beat it, its replay value drops heavily.”
- “The campaign is basically 6-7 missions that lead to a huge ship, and once you succeed in that last mission... that's it, the game lost its replayability because that was its main appeal.”
atmosphere
55 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
71%
24%
5%
The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its immersive sci-fi setting, enhanced by excellent lighting effects, detailed visuals, and a fitting ambient soundtrack that creates a sense of tension and unease. Players appreciate the combination of strategic gameplay and atmospheric design, which together deliver a captivating experience reminiscent of classic sci-fi horror. Overall, the atmosphere is described as gritty, engaging, and integral to the game's appeal, making it a standout in the roguelike shooter genre.
- “The sound design and music is above par and adds to the superb atmosphere crafted by the developers, a real sense of unease and futuristic horror is induced.”
- “An amazing blend of oversight and both taut, moment-to-moment action and tense, slow suspense; all steeped in a Metroid-like, oppressive, sci-fi atmosphere.”
- “The atmosphere is enhanced by the ambient electronic soundtrack, which perfectly adapts to the intense pace of combat and tactical exploration.”
- “An amazing blend of oversight and both taut, moment-to-moment action and tense, slow suspense; all steeped in a metroid-like, oppressive, sci-fi atmosphere.”
- “Despite it being pretty story-light, there is a strong atmosphere that emerges from occasional messages from your shipmates and employer that adds nicely to immersion into the game.”
stability
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
97%
The game's stability has been widely criticized, with many players reporting frequent glitches that disrupt gameplay, including issues with co-op mode and mission completion. While some users acknowledge the game's potential and fun elements, they express frustration over lost progress due to updates and persistent bugs. Overall, the consensus suggests that the game is currently too unstable for a full recommendation, with many hoping for future fixes.
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches, making for a stable experience.”
- “I've played for hours without encountering any bugs, which really enhances the overall enjoyment.”
- “The stability of the game is impressive; I can always rely on it to perform consistently.”
- “A fine and interesting idea on its own, but when combined with the fact that 60% of the time it glitches and doesn't work, forcing you to do it again, certain enemies can lock you in place and force you to do this.”
- “The game is fun, mind you, but all my progress was lost after the devs put out an update that apparently broke my save file, so I can't recommend a game where all your progress can be erased just because the devs decided to do a buggy update.”
- “Really like the game but it's just too buggy; can't recommend it until the devs fix it.”
optimization
33 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
70%
21%
The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing smooth performance on various hardware configurations, while others report significant lag and performance issues, particularly on lower-end systems and laptops. Many users express frustration over the lack of a proper graphics options menu, leading to unplayable conditions in later game stages. Overall, while there are indications of potential improvements in future updates, the current state of optimization is seen as a major drawback for many players.
- “Optimization is well done, ensuring smooth performance on a variety of hardware configurations.”
- “I hope it will get optimized, but for an early alpha this game works really well.”
- “There are a few areas that need to be optimized and I'd love a windowed mode, but aside from that, any additional features or modes to the game would be like gravy-flavored icing on the best pie of my life.”
- “This is a very poorly optimized game with mediocre level progression; every action you take in this game feels like it leads you nowhere.”
- “I have a really bad computer, but look at the graphics of the game, I should run it no problem, but nope, it runs really laggy with normal graphics and somewhat good with the faster graphics option on, which is a big problem. Not only is it badly optimized, but the game also has only one graphics option: either you play with the good graphics or with the simple (and not really that appealing) 'faster' graphics.”
- “I really wish I could recommend this game, but the poor optimization for laptops makes it unplayable.”
grinding
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews highlight a mixed experience with grinding in the game, where some players appreciate the challenge and learning curve, while others find it tedious and frustrating, especially in later levels with excessive backtracking and minimal rewards. The gameplay loop can be enjoyable, but the lack of progression carryover and the need for repetitive grinding detracts from the overall experience for many. Ultimately, while the game offers exhilarating moments, it often feels like a grind that can lead to player fatigue.
- “Yes, I know, git gud... but grinding the game until I get perfect at it isn't for me.”
- “All of it just becomes incredibly tedious by the time you get to the 4+ levels with artifacts; don't even get started on the actual name drop ship, the Cryptark, because you are going to need so much ammo and far too much backtracking to actually get the level done.”
- “I legit spend 2 hours grinding campaigns over and over again with only 2 artifacts to show for it because nothing carries over.”
character development
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
40%
60%
Character development in the game is generally viewed as lacking, with players expressing a desire for deeper narratives and more substantial character arcs. While the character designs are charming and the voice acting is commendable, the overall storytelling and development do not meet expectations, leaving some players disappointed.
- “The character design for the crew is charming, and a lot of the art is rather nice.”
- “With some good voice acting and interesting character designs, I was hoping for more story.”
- “Although Cryptark's premise of salvaging alien derelicts is intriguing, the game lacks substantial narrative depth and character development.”
- “I didn't enjoy the game; it is very punishing, and I was looking for a more casual shooter with better character development and story.”
- “That being said, the character design for the crew is charming, a lot of the art is rather nice, but the animations are rather clunky.”
emotional
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews on the emotional aspect of the game are mixed; while some players felt a profound sense of significance and connection to their gameplay experiences, others found the game lacking in emotional engagement, describing it as boring and unimpactful. Additionally, some users expressed feelings of frustration and inadequacy when starting the game, which detracted from their overall emotional experience.
- “I think this is something every single roguelite has been missing thus far, and even though it's a fairly short-and-to-the-point ending, it made me feel like all of my previous runs had mattered, and lent a lot of weight to the game that I think is absent in others like it.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of irony and self-awareness, particularly in the context of the player's struggles despite having advanced technology and resources. Players appreciate the comedic elements that arise from the juxtaposition of high-stakes gameplay with humorous situations, enhancing the overall experience.
- “It's funny because I have all this tech and alien lore unlocked from earlier games, unlocked a couple of suits, and now I can hardly get through the first Cryptark without dying.”
- “This game basically has everything: strategy, tactics, white-knuckle action, meticulous commando raids, brutal frontal assaults, resource management, realistic physics, great art, great music, humor, a million distinctive different weapons and items to play with.”