Red Tether

About

In "Red Tether," engage in explosive top-down space combat using an indirect system that revolves around tether-harpoons. Experience unique "combat-puzzle" gameplay as you link yourself with opponents, crush vessels, rip off weapons, and outmaneuver fleets. Make split-second tactical decisions to use ships as battering rams and disarm enemies in a changing battle environment.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

97%

Audience ScoreBased on 65 reviews

gameplay9 positive mentions

replayability3 negative mentions

Red Tether offers a unique and engaging gameplay experience with its innovative tether mechanic, allowing for creative combat strategies and satisfying interactions.
The game features a rich variety of content, including numerous ships, upgrades, and enemy types, which enhances replayability and keeps the gameplay fresh.
The sound design and visuals are well-executed, creating an immersive atmosphere that complements the intense and chaotic gameplay.

The game's difficulty can be overwhelming, with some players feeling that certain enemy types and mechanics can lead to frustrating and seemingly unavoidable deaths.
Movement can feel slow and clunky at times, making dodging and maneuvering challenging, especially in chaotic combat situations.
Some players have reported issues with the UI and controls, including difficulty in tracking the tether and occasional glitches that disrupt gameplay.

gameplay
24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
50%
13%
The gameplay in "Red Tether" is characterized by a simple yet deeply engaging core mechanic centered around a grappling hook, which allows for intricate interactions and chaotic encounters with enemies. Players can unlock a variety of ships and upgrades, enhancing replayability and offering a satisfying challenge as they master the mechanics. The game combines clear visuals, immersive sound design, and a tight gameplay loop, making it an addictive experience that rewards skill and strategy.
- “A very tight and addictive roguelike with an immensely satisfying core gameplay loop.”
- “The music and sound effects are sublime, the gameplay is tight, and there is so much replayability thanks to the range of upgrades, level variety, and boss designs.”
- “The gameplay is very simple but incredibly complicated, especially as you get deeper and deeper into the game where more enemy classes are introduced.”
- “This results in a hectic gameplay loop of using tethers to pull yourself right through the middle of enemy fleets, attaching enemies to one another (or to battlefield debris) before yeeting yourself back out of their weapon's range.”
- “For those familiar with the other work from sleeper games, you'll find some similarities between Red Tether and Hyperspace Dogfights, but due to the mechanic of the tether, it feels more slow-paced and more 'puzzle-y' compared to the chaotic (yet fun) mayhem that was HD.”
graphics
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
38%
15%
The graphics of the game are praised for their clarity, beauty, and effective simplicity, creating a captivating atmosphere that enhances gameplay. The visuals are well-polished and support the game's mechanics, with a unique art style and a striking color palette that contribute to an engaging experience. Overall, players find the graphics to be a standout feature, complementing the game's satisfying interactions and sound design.
- “The setting and mechanics support each other, and the visuals and sounds are clear and make sense in-universe.”
- “On the presentation side, the visuals are clean and beautiful, and the music is fantastic, so absolutely no complaints in that department.”
- “Finally, the graphics are simple but very effective.”
- “The visuals may seem simplistic, but are heavily polished and surprisingly clear given the amount of stuff that can end up on screen.”
music
12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
17%
25%
The music in the game is widely praised for its energetic and captivating quality, enhancing the overall gameplay experience. Reviewers highlight the combination of a great soundtrack and excellent sound design, which contribute to the game's immersive atmosphere and replayability. Many players express a desire for a soundtrack list, indicating a strong appreciation for the music's impact on their enjoyment of the game.
- “If you're looking for a game that gives you a challenge and the satisfaction of successfully destroying countless fleets worth of ships, has great designs and music, then I highly recommend picking up this game.”
- “The music and sound effects are sublime, the gameplay is tight, and there is so much replayability thanks to the range of upgrades, level variety, and boss designs.”
- “Not only is the soundtrack groovin', the environmental sounds are great and provide excellent feedback for your actions.”
- “Also, one thing I would absolutely love is a soundtrack list in the game.”
- “I know they're all free music, but some tracks are absolutely terrible.”
- “The music is repetitive and lacks variety, making it hard to stay engaged.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
20%
60%
The game boasts high replayability due to its diverse content, skill development opportunities, and engaging gameplay mechanics, including a variety of upgrades and level designs. Players appreciate the enjoyable structure of the levels and the dynamic nature of the gameplay, which combines elements from multiple genres for a fresh experience each time. Overall, it offers a limitless replay value that keeps players coming back for more.
- “The game is hugely replayable, thanks to the variety of content and the scope for skill development.”
- “The music and sound effects are sublime, the gameplay is tight, and there is so much replayability thanks to the range of upgrades, level variety, and boss designs.”
- “Rundown: a limitlessly replayable asteroids-meets-bionic-commando-meets-bullet-hell action roguelite, in which your attention and reflexes are repaid with sweet, sweet explosions.”
atmosphere
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere of the game is highly praised for its distinctive and immersive qualities, enhanced by chaotic yet manageable visuals during battles. The combination of sound and visual design, particularly in tether combat, adds depth and enjoyment, while the overall aesthetic and atmospheric music contribute to a captivating space experience.
- “The atmosphere is distinctive and immersive.”
- “There can be a lot of visual chaos in battle, but it works in the game's favor - it's atmospheric, adds pressure, and can be managed or avoided with skill.”
- “Plus, the visuals are super cool - I did have to turn down some of the effects so I could aim better, but it creates a great atmosphere.”
story
1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game's story features a surprisingly rich backstory, drawing inspiration from the [i]culture[/i] novels while maintaining its unique elements. This narrative is conveyed through captured data boxes and character profiles that are unlocked alongside ship upgrades.
- “There's even a surprisingly rich backstory, heavily inspired by the culture novels, though unique in its details, told through captured data boxes and character profiles linked to ship unlocks.”