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Yars Rising

Taking elements from the best MetroidVanias, retro shooters, and anime series, Yars Rising delivers a truly immersive experience with mass appeal.
Yars Rising Game Cover
81%Game Brain Score
music, gameplay
grinding, character development
91% User Score Based on 135 reviews
Critic Score 71%Based on 14 reviews

Platforms

Nintendo SwitchXbox Series X|SPCPlaystation 5Playstation 4Xbox OneXboxSteam DeckWindowsPlayStation
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Yars Rising Game Cover

About

Yars Rising is a single player platformer game. It was developed by WayForward and was released on September 9, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from critics and very positive reviews from players.

"Yars Rising" is a single-player platformer game with excellent mechanics that offers an expansive mystery to solve. As Emi Kimura, a young hacker, players infiltrate the shadowy QoTech corporation, evading obstacles, and using hacking skills to solve minigames. Emi's growing powers enable access to previously unreachable areas, creating a non-linear exploration experience referencing the classic game, "Yars' Revenge." The game boasts exceptional music, enhancing the overall gaming experience.

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Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
Yars Rising screenshot
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91%
Audience ScoreBased on 135 reviews
music51 positive mentions
grinding8 negative mentions
  • The game features a charming art style and a fantastic soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The hacking mini-games are creative and provide a fun twist, drawing inspiration from classic Atari games.
  • The gameplay is accessible and enjoyable, making it a good entry point for newcomers to the Metroidvania genre.
  • Frequent loading screens can disrupt the flow of gameplay and make backtracking tedious.
  • The combat feels simplistic and lacks depth, with some boss fights being underwhelming.
  • The dialogue can be cringy and may not appeal to all players, detracting from the overall experience.
  • music
    93 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many players praising its catchy and diverse soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Described as a standout feature, the soundtrack blends calm and energetic tunes, making it enjoyable both during gameplay and as a standalone listening experience. While some players noted minor issues with music transitions during loading screens, the overall consensus is that the soundtrack is a major highlight, often considered one of the best aspects of the game.

    • “The soundtrack is killer omg, definitely the best thing about the game, I can't stop listening to it!!”
    • “The soundtrack is fantastic.”
    • “The music is amazing and I find myself listening to the megamix on Wayforward's YouTube frequently; I honestly don't dislike a single song in the soundtrack.”
    • “Music is grating for most of the game and the dialogue is so... cringe Gen Z humor.”
    • “My only gripe about the music is that it changes when you hit a loading screen, which is pretty often, so it's rare to hear more than 30-40 seconds of a song at a time.”
    • “It's a shame because the game visually looks solid, and the music is full of bangers, and there's a lot of effort put into the story with all the voice acting (sometimes a bit too much), but as a Metroidvania fan it was very generic, generally linear, full of loading screens, and it just failed to grab me.”
  • gameplay
    65 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay in "Yars Rising" is a blend of traditional metroidvania mechanics and innovative hacking minigames inspired by the classic Atari title, Yars' Revenge. While the core gameplay is solid and accessible, offering a mix of exploration, combat, and puzzle-solving, it is often described as simplistic and lacking in challenge, particularly for seasoned players. The inclusion of varied hacking challenges adds a unique twist, though some players feel that the repetitive nature of these segments can detract from the overall experience.

    • “Great metroidvania gameplay, fantastic Megan McDuffie music, and the usual WayForward charm.”
    • “The core gameplay is as solid as I'd expect from WayForward, with tight controls and satisfying progression.”
    • “Yars Rising creatively blends retro Atari gameplay with platforming.”
    • “What I got instead was a short and casual metroidvania with rather dull and repetitive who-can-mash-faster gameplay that poses little challenge.”
    • “Gameplay is where I felt the game lets itself down a bit.”
    • “While all of the hacking challenges focus on the gameplay of Yars' Revenge, they are all varied enough to keep the numerous challenges fresh.”
  • story
    43 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The story of the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it engaging and humorous, while others describe it as generic and lacking depth. It features a blend of nostalgia from the original "Yar's Revenge" and introduces new elements, though some feel the pacing suffers due to a rushed conclusion and self-deprecating humor. Overall, the voice acting and character interactions are praised, but the narrative's execution leaves room for improvement and potential expansion in future content.

    • “The story is funny, silly, and well acted.”
    • “The story has so far kept me engaged even if I'm not finished with the game, which was not something I was expecting.”
    • “Good story that keeps flowing and just when you think it's over - it still keeps going!”
    • “The story is okay, but the writing is kind of off-putting for me.”
    • “The story itself is fine, but the game spends the first half deprecating itself by pointing out how weird or annoying certain things are--lasers are its favorite target--that when it decides that it wants to try taking itself seriously in the last act it's already trained me not to even bother getting engaged.”
    • “It's a shame because the game visually looks solid, and the music is full of bangers, and there's a lot of effort put into the story with all the voice acting (sometimes a bit too much), but as a metroidvania fan it was very generic, generally linear, full of loading screens, and it just failed to grab me.”
  • graphics
    38 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are widely praised for their vibrant and charming art style, which blends neo-retro and anime influences, creating a visually appealing experience. While some users noted a lack of graphical intensity and occasional inconsistencies in style, the overall aesthetic is considered well-executed, with smooth performance even on lower-end hardware. The inclusion of comic-style cutscenes and a colorful UI further enhances the game's visual appeal, making it a standout feature despite some minor criticisms.

    • “The art style and visuals are top notch.”
    • “I think the visuals are nice, and there are some comic/manga panel style cutscenes that really look good!”
    • “I'm not at all an anime person and have never seen the appeal, yet I've really fallen in love with the vibrant and bold visuals that this game uses to present itself, from the character and environment design to the overall UI design.”
    • “Feels like most of the budget went to visuals and cringe voice acting.”
    • “The budget really shows in the game for its visuals.”
    • “The graphics aren't exactly intensive, so I'm not even sure why they needed this many load screens to start with, which just ends up taking away from the game experience.”
  • humor
    18 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is a mixed bag, with some players finding it funny and well-acted, while others criticize it as overly cringeworthy and reliant on tired tropes. The main character's dialogue often falls flat, leaning heavily on meta and sarcastic humor that can feel forced and unoriginal. Despite these criticisms, some appreciate the clever integration of humor with gameplay elements, suggesting that it may appeal to fans of the genre.

    • “The story is funny, silly, and well acted.”
    • “It really has a nice mix of both styles of gameplay, and the fabulously hilarious dialogue and character design that is standard for WayForward.”
    • “Also, there was more than one time where I looked at the name of a boss and screamed and was so excited for the dumb but very targeted humor.”
  • grinding
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and time-consuming, particularly due to the non-linear nature of optional upgrades and the repetitive hacking minigames. Backtracking and the inability to skip cutscenes further contribute to the frustration, leading many to stick with a balanced build rather than optimizing for specific challenges. Suggestions for improvement include adding build slots for easier customization during gameplay.

    • “Tedious, too long, and boss cutscenes can't be skipped after seeing them for the x-th time; it just wastes time.”
    • “This is an action platformer interrupted by old-school shoot-em-up styled hacking minigames that grow increasingly tedious.”
    • “The twist is these hacking minigames that are cute at first, but 80 minutes in, I feel like I have done 100, and they are so slow and tedious.”
  • character development
    3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Character development in the game is highlighted by the charming design and engaging dialogue typical of WayForward's style, which enhances the overall experience despite the gameplay not being particularly innovative. The main character's appeal is noted, though some players express a desire for more revealing attire, reflecting a blend of aesthetic appreciation and gameplay enjoyment. Overall, the polished character design and humor contribute significantly to the game's charm.

    • “So yeah, gameplay-wise this is far from revolutionary, but it's polished and fun, and fortunately WayForward's usual attention to character design and excellent music lifts up what would be a 'just good' game to one you can really come to love.”
    • “It really has a nice mix of both styles of gameplay, and the fabulously hilarious dialogue and character design that is standard for WayForward.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
    • “I was hoping for more growth and complexity in the characters, but they remain one-dimensional throughout the game.”
    • “The interactions between characters are often clichéd and predictable, which detracts from the overall experience.”
  • atmosphere
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The atmosphere is characterized by a charming blend of nostalgic and modern elements, highlighted by a beautiful art style and endearing characters. While some find the voice acting cheesy, it complements the overall vibe, which is filled with playful Atari references.

    • “I love the silly little characters (the complaints about the writing are overblown, it's cute), the art style is beautiful, and the atmosphere is pretty sweet, a nice mix of the new and old, with a whole lot of Atari references packed into it.”
    • “The voice acting is a little cheesy, but seems to fit the atmosphere they were going for, so I won't count it against the game.”
  • replayability
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Users note that the game lacks customizable graphics settings, which can hinder replayability for those sensitive to motion sickness. However, it is generally considered more engaging and playable than older titles, suggesting some potential for repeated play despite these limitations.

    • “The lack of meaningful choices and variety makes replaying the game feel tedious and uninteresting.”
    • “Once you complete the game, there’s little incentive to go back and experience it again.”
    • “The game offers minimal changes in different playthroughs, which severely limits its replayability.”
  • emotional
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game is praised for its wholesome graphics and engaging voice acting, creating an emotionally uplifting experience. The city pop soundtrack enhances the atmosphere, while the retro minigames add a layer of challenge, though accessibility improvements are suggested to enhance overall enjoyment. Overall, it is seen as a commendable effort to breathe new life into the Yars license.

  • optimization
    1 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's optimization is generally acceptable, with users noting decent performance, especially when considering its strong visuals and voice acting. However, it may be best to purchase during a sale for those looking to try something new.

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71%Critics’ scoreBased on 14 critic reviews
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7h Median play time
7h Average play time
6-7h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs
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Frequently Asked Questions

Yars Rising is a platformer game.

Yars Rising is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 7 hours playing Yars Rising.

Yars Rising was released on September 9, 2024.

Yars Rising was developed by WayForward.

Yars Rising has received mostly positive reviews from players and mostly positive reviews from critics. Most players liked this game for its music but disliked it for its grinding.

Yars Rising is a single player game.

Similar games include Gunbrella, The Messenger, Ghost 1.0, Shantae: Risky's Revenge - Director's Cut, Shantae and the Seven Sirens and others.