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Shatter

Shatter's a solid download that offers a terrific sense of style while also bringing you a really good update of the old Breakout/Arkanoid formula.
Shatter Game Cover
89%Game Brain Score
Most mentioned positive aspects:music, gameplay
Most mentioned negative aspects:stability, grinding
93% User Score Based on 988 reviews
Critic Score 82%Based on 4 reviews

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Shatter Game Cover

About Shatter

Shatter is a single player and multiplayer casual action adventure game with a science fiction theme. It was developed by Sidhe and was released on March 15, 2010. It received positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

Shatter is a retro-inspired brick-breaking game that merges familiar action with unique twists and a modern crafted production approach. Innovative controls, physics effects, power-ups, special attacks, and boss battles which combine to provide an experience that is always interactive.

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Shatter screenshot
Shatter screenshot
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Reviews

93%Audience ScoreBased on 988 reviews
music351 positive mentions
stability1 negative mentions
  • Innovative twist on breakout gameplay with push/pull mechanics allowing control over ball trajectory and objects, reducing frustration and adding strategy.
  • Excellent audiovisual presentation featuring vibrant, stylized neon graphics and a widely praised electronic/techno soundtrack by Module that enhances the immersive experience.
  • Various game modes including story with boss battles, endless, time attack, co-op, and bonus modes offering decent replayability and challenge.
  • Short story mode with limited content and lack of meaningful progression; some modes unlock only after certain progress causing artificial gating.
  • Controls can be unintuitive or awkward especially keyboard defaults; lack of in-game key remapping and limited or problematic controller support.
  • Visual effects can become overwhelming or cause difficulty in tracking the ball; occasional frustrating boss fights and repetitive gameplay after mastery.

  • music

    509 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    69% positive mentions, 30% neutral mentions, 1% negative mentions

    The game's music, composed by Module, is widely praised as a standout feature, described as an energetic, funky, and immersive electronic soundtrack that elevates the brick-breaker gameplay experience. Many players consider the soundtrack so exceptional it alone justifies purchasing the game, highlighting its lasting appeal and seamless integration with the visuals to create a captivating atmosphere. Overall, the soundtrack is regarded as one of the best and most memorable in the genre, receiving high acclaim for its quality and contribution to the game's charm.

    • “The soundtrack alone is worth the price of admission, and the fun breakout variant gameplay is the icing on the cake.”
    • “Oh my dear god the music... human words cannot adequately describe how well this ties everything together. Just know that whatever you have played in this genre, whatever you will play in this genre and whatever you plan to do, this soundtrack alone is literally the key aspect of what ties all of this together in the same fashion as Hotline Miami does.”
    • “The music by 'module' is among the best I've ever heard. The entire soundtrack was composed by Jeremiah Ross (a.k.a. 'module'), who, to my knowledge, had never composed a game soundtrack before working on Shatter. I'd love to see him get more work; the Shatter soundtrack is truly awesome.”
    • “The soundtrack is just alright.”
    • “Shatter could really use more variety in this category, or the ability to load your own music tracks.”
    • “And has a bland soundtrack.”

  • gameplay

    267 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    46% positive mentions, 45% neutral mentions, 9% negative mentions

    Shatter revitalizes classic brick-breaker gameplay with innovative "suck and blow" mechanics that allow precise control over the ball and in-game objects, adding strategic depth and fast-paced action. Coupled with varied modes, challenging boss battles, and a phenomenal electronic soundtrack, the gameplay is engaging and polished, though some find it repetitive with limited long-term variety. Overall, it offers a fresh, addictive take on the genre that balances simplicity with clever twists.

    • “Shatter, developed by Sidhe and published by PikPok, is a revitalized take on the classic brick-breaking genre that blends familiar mechanics with modern design and presentation.”
    • “The push and pull mechanics allow the player to feel like they are always in control of the ball and it greatly reduces the 'takes forever to hit the last few bricks' issue that plagues this genre.”
    • “It's a wonderfully polished breakout clone, impressive visuals, nice gameplay twists and awesome soundtrack on top.”
    • “You have so much control over aiming it becomes a joke, the slow one speed ball and blow mechanic make defending a joke as well, the physics objects fail at making breakout more dynamic, there's nothing to make the stages feel different there's a huge lack of powerups, and the new mechanics add nothing.”
    • “The graphics were, well, typical of what I had already considered 'dated Newgrounds graphics' at the time (a lot of games between 2009 and 2013 had this type of look, and I don't remember much of the details aside from a general overuse of gradients and 'shiny' UI design with not enough focus on substance, theme, functionality or timelessness, and that sometimes bled into the artwork, making for a messy and inconsistent graphical style that felt amateurish to look at), and the gameplay was quite repetitive.”
    • “Or the constant stuff doing its best to shove you and your ball out, I thought I bought a brick breaker game but I ended up playing what felt more like Wii Tennis with a family member at times and then bad bossing and okay gameplay at best.”

  • graphics

    189 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    61% positive mentions, 37% neutral mentions, 2% negative mentions

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their polished, vibrant, and futuristic 2.5D sci-fi art style, with crisp, colorful visuals that hold up well even years after release. While some find the flashy, neon, and particle effects visually stimulating and immersive, a few mention the graphics can feel dated or overly busy, occasionally impacting gameplay clarity. Overall, the combination of clean, attractive visuals paired with a dynamic presentation significantly enhances the arcade experience.

    • “The graphics are crisp and clean, making it a joy to look at even by today's standards.”
    • “A wonderful modern re-imagining of the classic brick busting game that started with Arkanoid, Shatter adds lush graphics, new game mechanics, and a campaign mode with imaginative boss battles that firmly brings the genre into the 21st century.”
    • “Brilliant visuals, fantastic audio, awesome reinvention of gameplay (to say it's a breakout clone is like saying apples and oranges are both fruits; it's a pointless and incomplete comparison) and loads of bonus modes (that don't feel tacked on).”
    • “The graphics were typical of what I had already considered "dated Newgrounds graphics" at the time (a lot of games between 2009 and 2013 had this type of look). There was an overuse of gradients and "shiny" UI design with not enough focus on substance, theme, functionality, or timelessness. This sometimes bled into the artwork, making for a messy and inconsistent graphical style that felt amateurish to look at.”
    • “Has the "bullet hell" aesthetic, done amateurishly so that it's nearly impossible to actually play the game through all the visual noise, making it extremely unsatisfying.”
    • “Disliked: graphics are dated; could use a HD rehaul.”

  • story

    91 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    10% positive mentions, 86% neutral mentions, 4% negative mentions

    The story mode in the game offers about 10 levels with unique bosses and thematic worlds, providing a short yet enjoyable experience that typically lasts around 2-3 hours. While the narrative is minimal and somewhat light on plot, it adds a charming backdrop to the gameplay. Additional modes like endless, time attack, and boss rush extend replayability beyond the brief story campaign.

    • “The game has a bunch of game modes, story mode which takes you through 10 chapters with multiple levels, some horizontal, some vertical, some even round. At the end of each chapter there is a boss level, which is super cool—bosses are very well made. After the boss level you get a bonus level and then on to the next chapter.”
    • “The story mode has 10 levels, each with its own theme and boss at the end. There are additional modes in the game to keep you playing after that, including a boss rush mode and an endless play mode, both eligible for local split-screen gameplay.”
    • “The story mode presents a minimally explained but nevertheless intriguing plot development. There are a variety of arcade modes to keep things interesting, and the scoring system will have you coming back to every game mode to try to beat your best.”
    • “The story mode is very short and can be completed in under 3 hours, offering minimal plot and limited content.”
    • “Despite the existence of a story mode, the game is pretty short on actual plot and lacks depth.”
    • “The story mode is fairly easy, short, and lacks replay value, making it the only mode that might not hold long-term interest.”

  • replayability

    24 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    25% positive mentions, 62% neutral mentions, 13% negative mentions

    Replayability in the game is generally praised due to multiple modes, co-op play, leaderboards, and challenging achievements that encourage continued engagement. While the main story mode may feel short or lose appeal after completion, extra modes like endless, time attack, and boss rush provide lasting variety and competitive incentive. Overall, the game offers solid replay value, though some find it moderate rather than exceptional.

    • “Beyond the main story mode, extra modes like endless, time attack, and boss rush keep the game replayable, while leaderboards add a competitive edge that encourages score chasing.”
    • “Unlocking more game modes adds to the replay value, as does the inclusion of leaderboards that spark competition between you and your Steam friends.”
    • “Shatter also features a ton of modes and co-op play to extend the replayability further.”
    • “Once you crack them, though, replay value drops pretty fast.”
    • “It's short, and you may not find much replayability, but it's a clever little game that's worth a play, if for the soundtrack alone.”
    • “Although there are many game modes and a lengthy campaign, I don't feel this has much replay value considering the base game doesn't introduce anything new besides the physics mechanic.”

  • humor

    5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game features a lighthearted and clever sense of humor, with witty wordplay and amusing moments that enhance the overall experience. Players find it entertaining and enjoyable, adding a fun, casual vibe to the block-breaker gameplay.

    • “Very funny, great game to chill out a bit.”
    • “And the whole game has a sense of humor about it (see previously mentioned, as well as 'clock blocked,' 'master batter'... you get the idea.)”
    • “This is a block-breaker style game with really nice graphics and a story mode that I am working on now, but incredibly funny. A great game to have for under $5.”

  • atmosphere

    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The atmosphere is praised for its unique blend of beautiful visuals and a glorious soundtrack, which together elevate an otherwise generic block-breaking game into a distinctive and engaging experience.

    • “The soundtrack, composed by module, plays a huge role in shaping the overall atmosphere.”
    • “It all creates unique atmosphere for an old and generic block breaking game making it truly something else.”
    • “With a combination of beautiful visuals, and a glorious soundtrack, the atmosphere is perfect.”

  • optimization

    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    100% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 0% negative mentions

    The game is highly optimized, running smoothly on virtually any system without performance issues or bugs.

    • “Performance/bugs: anything can run this game.”
    • “Runs smoothly.”

  • stability

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    Users report that the game experiences several bugs and glitches, affecting overall stability and causing occasional disruptions during gameplay.

  • grinding

    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
    0% positive mentions, 0% neutral mentions, 100% negative mentions

    The grinding in the game is considered tedious and boring by some users, particularly during bonus stages.

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Critic Reviews

82%Critics’ scoreBased on 4 critic reviews
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Play Times

2h Median play time
2h Average play time
2-2h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Shatter is a casual action adventure game with science fiction theme. Common tags for Shatter include science, indie, psychedelic, fast-paced, stylized and others.

Shatter is available on PC, Mac OS, Windows, PlayStation 3 and others.

On average players spend around 2 hours playing Shatter.

Shatter was released on March 15, 2010.

Shatter was developed by Sidhe.

Shatter has received positive reviews from players and positive reviews from critics. Most players liked Shatter for its music but disliked it for its stability.

Shatter is a single player game with multiplayer and local co-op support.

Similar games include Assault Android Cactus, Jamestown, Ultratron, Nex Machina, Geometry Wars 3: Dimensions Evolved and others.