Rifter

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Rifter is a single-player platformer game known for its sensational mechanics and ingenious graphics, set in a neon-lit 80’s inspired world. As you dash, swing, and smash your way through over 90 levels, unlock 30 upgrades, and discover different endings to unravel the mysteries of Rifter's world. The game is infused with a hypnotic synthwave soundtrack that enhances the challenging obstacles and boss battles, providing an immersive and thrilling experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

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

Reviews

95%

Audience ScoreBased on 93 reviews

gameplay20 positive mentions

stability3 negative mentions

Incredible movement mechanics that are easy to learn but hard to master, providing a satisfying sense of speed and control.
Vibrant visuals and a fantastic synthwave soundtrack that enhance the overall experience.
Challenging yet rewarding gameplay with a variety of levels, collectibles, and optional challenges that encourage replayability.

Controls can be clunky and frustrating at times, particularly with grappling mechanics that may lead to unintended actions during gameplay.
Some players find the difficulty curve steep, with certain levels requiring precise timing and execution that can lead to frustration.
Technical issues, such as graphical bugs and lack of accessibility options, have been reported, impacting the overall experience for some users.

gameplay
36 mentions
56 % positive mentions
36 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The gameplay in Rifter is characterized by its fast-paced, fluid mechanics, particularly the innovative grappling hook that serves both traversal and combat purposes. Players appreciate the game's gradual difficulty curve, tight controls, and the satisfying challenge of mastering its mechanics, making it a standout title for fans of precision platformers. The vibrant visuals and engaging soundtrack further enhance the overall experience, creating a compelling and enjoyable gameplay environment.
- “It starts off in a nice easy way allowing you to grasp the basics quickly, and progressively it will get harder while also putting in new mechanics for you to learn and master.”
- “Rifter is a phenomenal blend of breakneck speed, vibrant visual and musical style, and challenging yet very fun and accessible gameplay.”
- “This game combines great visuals, fast-paced and easy to learn but hard to master gameplay and a good synthwave soundtrack into one awesome experience, highly recommended!”
- “While it's just one bad thing, it's a major problem because it can apply to every aspect of gameplay.”
- “It is pretty easy to learn the main mechanics (but it takes some time to master) and the well-made storyline introduces them at a good rhythm.”
- “The mechanics get more intense as you progress, and then there are tons of hidden things, secret routes to complete a level, leaderboard support, and collectibles that earn you upgrades (which make speedrunning even better).”
music
33 mentions
58 % positive mentions
33 % neutral mentions
9 % negative mentions
The music in the game is widely praised for its solid synthwave soundtrack that complements the fast-paced gameplay and vibrant visuals, creating an engaging atmosphere. While many players enjoy the existing tracks, there are frequent requests for additional songs to enhance the overall experience. The dynamic nature of the soundtrack, which adjusts to gameplay circumstances, further elevates its appeal.
- “Rifter is a phenomenal blend of breakneck speed, vibrant visuals, and musical style, along with challenging yet very fun and accessible gameplay.”
- “The soundtrack is a perfect match to the visuals of the game as well.”
- “This game combines great visuals, fast-paced and easy to learn but hard to master gameplay, and a good synthwave soundtrack into one awesome experience, highly recommended!”
- “I wish that there were more songs in the OST.”
- “I think that adding a few extra songs would go a long way, though as I'm writing this I'm not done with the game, so maybe some more songs will unlock as I progress?”
- “You can blast as much synthwave music as you like, but that can only distract me so much from the fact that you're asking too much of me.”
graphics
25 mentions
56 % positive mentions
32 % neutral mentions
12 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are widely praised for their vibrant, colorful aesthetic and stylish 80s synthwave influence, which enhance the overall gameplay experience. While many players appreciate the unique art style and clean visuals, some have noted a graphical bug that has not been addressed by the developers. Overall, the combination of impressive visuals and a fitting soundtrack creates a polished and engaging atmosphere, though some players desire more variety in the environments.
- “Extremely underrated game, had it wish-listed a few years ago for its visuals alone.”
- “The sense of speed and momentum physics are unmatched, the level design is tight, the controls free flowing, and the graphics, performance, progression and soundtrack are all perfect.”
- “This game combines great visuals, fast-paced and easy to learn but hard to master gameplay and a good synthwave soundtrack into one awesome experience, highly recommended!”
- “I'm not going to comment much on the graphics and the audio; you can see for yourself that they are amazing.”
- “Obviously, the game has a very stylish aesthetic, although I feel that variety in environments is lacking; I got to the second planet and the environment is essentially a color swap.”
- “Sure the 80's aesthetic is nothing nobody has ever seen, but it feels so refreshing in this game's case.”
story
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The story in the game is generally well-received, described as simple yet engaging, with interesting lore and dialogue that enhance the overall experience. Players appreciate the integration of story elements through collectibles, which adds depth and personality to the gameplay, despite the primary focus being on speedrunning mechanics. Overall, the narrative is seen as a charming complement to the action, encouraging exploration and mastery of the game.
- “The story, while simple, fits very well.”
- “The real story comes from what you find out during your campaign of collecting all the shinies to get all the upgrades, as well as some key points throughout the game.”
- “And an overall charming and interesting story.”
- “The lore and some of the big story beats are hidden behind 'story shards' that you need to collect, so you can get access to some of the more esoteric bits.”
- “The story seems simple at first glance: you complete the levels, you destroy the tower, rinse and repeat until credits roll.”
- “That means, if you want the full story, you're going to have to git gud.”
replayability
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game offers significant replayability through various play modes and the ability to revisit previous planets for collectibles. Players appreciate the engaging level design and challenging boss fights, which enhance the overall replay value.
- “Lots of replayability with different modes of play; you can go back to previous planets and collect lots of goodies.”
- “Lots of replay value, awesome level design, great boss fights.”
optimization
2 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The game excels in optimization, featuring unmatched speed and momentum physics, tight level design, and fluid controls. Players praise its perfect graphics, performance, and soundtrack, along with a well-balanced difficulty curve that makes it accessible for a wide audience.
- “The sense of speed and momentum physics are unmatched, the level design is tight, the controls are free-flowing, and the graphics, performance, progression, and soundtrack are all perfect.”
- “This game is fast-paced and has the right level of challenge with an optimized difficulty curve, making it accessible for most people to jump in and play.”
atmosphere
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is characterized as fun and fast-paced, enhanced by a great soundtrack that contributes to an engaging experience, making it highly recommended by users.
- “A fun, fast, atmospheric platformer with a great soundtrack. Highly recommend.”
- “The game's atmosphere is immersive, drawing you into its vibrant world.”
- “Every level is filled with unique visuals and sounds that create a captivating atmosphere.”
stability
1 mentions
0 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
300 % negative mentions
While the game is highly rated at 10/10, players have reported the presence of glitches and bugs that require attention for improved stability.
- “10/10 game, but there are some glitches and bugs that need to be sorted out.”
- “The game crashes frequently, making it hard to enjoy the experience.”
- “I encountered several stability issues that disrupted my gameplay.”
emotional
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is enhanced by its numerous levels and optional challenges that encourage players to engage deeply with the gameplay, fostering a sense of achievement and personal investment. These challenges, reminiscent of those in Portal, add layers of complexity and satisfaction, contributing to a more immersive emotional experience.
humor
1 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
Rifter is praised for its stunning visuals and straightforward gameplay, complemented by a sharp and clever sense of humor that enhances the overall experience.
- “Rifter is a gorgeous game with deceptively simple mechanics and a wicked sense of humor.”