Extinction Rifts - Feel every heartbeat: Turn adrenaline into devastating combos, punch down monoliths, and fight to keep humanity standing. (Game Review)

Ready your gauntlet and feel the pulse, Extinction Rifts turns adrenaline into annihilation.

What This Game Is All About

A retro‑tinged arcade shooter that channels your raw fury into a powerful weapon, blending fast-paced action with nostalgic visuals and adrenaline-fueled combat mechanics.

Extinction Rifts puts you in the shoes of humanity’s final defender, standing against enigmatic monoliths and a ruthless faction determined to wipe out select survivors. Equipped with the Adreno‑Gauntlet, you harness the raw energy of combat adrenaline, turning every enemy defeated into a surge of power. Each kill fills your meter, combos stack to boost your attacks, and when fully charged, the Extinction Punch delivers a satisfying, devastating blow that can crush foes and bring down a monolith in one explosive strike.

The gameplay is a thrilling mix of fast-paced, score-focused FPS action combined with fluid, combo-driven melee combat set within tight, arena-style missions. Each run is a compact burst of intensity. Begin by delving into hidden bases, unlock new weapons and abilities, and compete for top spots on global leaderboards. Whether you favor wild, over-the-top combos or a more calculated, tactical approach, the game’s loop rewards bold aggression, smart route planning, and keeping your momentum alive.

Watch the trailer here:

Core Loop & Mechanics: How It Plays

Time to dive into the adrenaline-pumping action, strategic depth, and retro charm that await, setting you up for a deeper dive into how it all plays out in the arena.

Extinction Rifts centers on a tight, addictive arcade loop that keeps you coming back for more. You drop into an arena, face waves of enemies, and clear them out with precision and speed. As you fight, your adrenaline builds, powering up devastating abilities and the signature Extinction Punch. The combat flows seamlessly between ranged gunplay and combo-driven melee, with quick switches between firearms and gauntlet strikes keeping every encounter fresh and full of energy.

As you progress, you unlock new weapons and powers that carry over between runs, encouraging you to find the best routes through enemies and hazards to maximize your score and keep your adrenaline meter topped off. The game rewards curiosity too, hidden secrets and risky shortcuts offer big payoffs for those willing to explore. The combo system is at the heart of the action. Meaning, the longer and cleaner your streak, the more explosive and satisfying your attacks become. With leaderboards and rankings, each run turns into a thrilling challenge of speed, strategy, and style, pushing you to master the flow and climb the competitive ladder.

Visual Identity: The Game’s Look and Style

This is the moment where Extinction Rifts truly comes alive. The visuals and audio work together to immerse you in the heart of the chaos, making every explosion, combo, and pulse of adrenaline feel electrifying and unforgettable.

Aesthetic

Extinction Rifts embraces the charm of the PS1 era with its low-poly visuals and pixelated textures, giving it a nostalgic, retro feel. But it doesn’t stop there. The game blends this vintage look with modern lighting and particle effects, making sure the fast-paced action stays clear and easy to follow even when things get hectic. The overall style feels gritty and bold, with a purposeful design that’s both a nod to the past and a fresh take on arcade aesthetics.

Audio Cues

The soundtrack keeps the energy flowing with driving beats and crisp sound effects that make every combo hit feel impactful. You can hear your adrenaline rising in the pulse of the music! The distinct sounds of weapon strikes and the gauntlet charging give you a clear sense of your momentum, which means there is no need to glance at meters or numbers.

Design Intent

The game pushes you to master tight runs. Each level asks you to pick a route that balances speed and score. Which means sometimes the quickest path costs points, and the highest-value route forces riskier encounters. Enemy placement becomes a tool, one that teaches you which fights to trigger, which to avoid, and when to chain kills so your adrenaline bursts land at the right moment for maximum effect. The retro filter does more than look nostalgic. It goes a step further as a way to strip visual clutter so that enemies, pickups, and hazards read instantly, keeping the game feeling like an arcade sprint rather than a sprawling shooter.

Multiplayer and Replayability: Social Dynamics

This is the heart of the game’s replay value. Competition fuels every run. Leaderboards and community rivalries turn each quick session into a thrilling test of skill and strategy. Achieved by pushing players to refine their routes, perfect combos, and climb the ranks. It’s not just about playing again… it’s about outplaying everyone else!

Extinction Rifts is a solo, score-chasing thrill, but it thrives socially through global leaderboards and community-driven competition. The quick, repeatable runs and leaderboard setup push players to find the fastest routes, share strategies, and dive into speedrunning culture. Watching top players’ runs or swapping route tips becomes part of the game’s rhythm. In turn, the rhythm naturally sparks rivalries and highlight moments, even without direct multiplayer!

Replay value is baked right into the core loop from hidden secrets, multiple endings, and ranking tiers that give plenty of reasons to jump back in! Unlocking new weapons and abilities opens up fresh ways to play. If the developers add community features like seasonal challenges, special score events, or replay sharing, the competitive scene could really take off.

Final Verdict

Wrapping it up… Extinction Rifts embodies short, intense runs where mastering routes, timing adrenaline, and chaining combos turns every sprint into a high‑score thrill!

Extinction Rifts captures the thrill of arcade momentum and combo satisfaction with a retro style that feels intentional… and not just for show! Its adrenaline-fueled gameplay and focus on leaderboards create an addictive loop for anyone who loves fast-paced, score-driven shooters. While the game could use some fine-tuning in weapon balance and more accessibility features, its core design delivers a rush that keeps players coming back for more.

Notable Strengths: Tight combo system and addictive score‑chasing loop.

Notable Limitations: Needs more weapon balance and accessibility options.

Where to Download

Available on the following platforms, click each link to download or wishlist:

• PC (Steam) - $9.99

• Xbox - $14.99

• Nintendo Switch - $9.99

• PlayStation 4 / PlayStation 5 - $9.99

How to Keep Tabs on This One

Why wishlist

Wishlist to get launch alerts, patch notes, and leaderboard events. If you enjoy short, high‑intensity runs and competitive scoring, then wishlisting ensures you don’t miss balance updates and seasonal challenges that shape the meta.

How to stay informed

Follow QUByte Interactive on Steam and social channels for patch notes, community highlights, and speedrun showcases. Community hubs and leaderboards are where route optimizations and combo discoveries surface fastest.

Price perspective

At $9.99 / $14.99, Extinction Rifts is priced as an arcade‑style experience. This is affordable for repeated runs and leaderboard grinding, making it a good value for players who enjoy mastering short, high‑intensity sessions.

Key Takeaways

• Core hook: Adrenaline‑fueled arcade FPS where combos and momentum scale your power, culminating in the Extinction Punch.

• Gameplay loop: Short, intense runs focused on chaining kills, optimizing routes, and maximizing score.

• Combo system: Melee and ranged interplay rewards clean streaks; longer combos unlock dramatically stronger options.

• Visual identity: PS1‑inspired filter with modern lighting keeps action readable while leaning into nostalgia.

• Audio design: Driving soundtrack and punchy SFX provide clear feedback and amplify momentum.

• Replayability: Strong leaderboard and secrets-driven incentives encourage repeated runs and route refinement.

• Social dynamics: Competitive focus via global rankings, where community-driven speedrunning and strategy sharing expected.

• Accessibility gaps: Needs clearer onboarding, HUD options, and balance tuning to widen appeal.

• Value proposition: Good $9.99 / $14.99 pick for players who enjoy short, repeatable, score‑chasing shooters.

• Recommendation: Play if you like fast, skill‑based arcade shooters and competitive leaderboard play.

Game Information

Developer: QUByte Interactive

Publisher: QUByte Interactive

Platforms: Xbox (Reviewed), Nintendo Switch, PC, PS4, PS5

Release Date: September 18, 2025

Reviewed by: Alissa Worley

Reviewed on: 2/26/2026

Score: 7 / 10

Extinction Rifts is a blast in short bursts, as it feels like an arcade cabinet shoved into modern hardware. Combos land with satisfying weight, the soundtrack pushes you forward, and the retro filter gives every run personality!

However, it stumbles where it matters, as some weapons feel uneven, the onboarding assumes you already know the tricks, and accessibility options are thin. Those rough edges don’t ruin the core loop, but they do keep the game from reaching its full potential.

7/10 - Fast, fun, and addictive! Once the balance is polished and the game teaches the player the ropes… this could transform into a classic score‑chaser.