RIFTSTORM Review Summary

Excellent co-op and addictive gunplay are undermined by severe performance issues, poor graphics, and the controversial online-only requirement.

Co-op multiplayer is excellent: Co-op multiplayer works well and is satisfying, with teamwork mattering and making missions rewarding. Playing with friends enhances the overall experience and immersion.

Game is fun and addictive: Players consistently describe the game as fun, addictive, and enjoyable to play. The combination of challenge and satisfying gameplay loops keeps them engaged.

Builds define playstyle: Skill trees and builds are important, offering distinct class differences and powerful options that define how players approach combat. Progression through builds is rewarding and creates crazy moments.

Great gun feel and gunplay: Gunplay feels good, with solid gameplay and satisfying gun feel. High rarity drops and effective aim assist further enhance the shooting experience.

Engaging missions and bosses: Missions are cool and engaging, including challenging operations and hardcore boss fights. These elements provide a sense of accomplishment and keep players invested.

Severe performance and optimization issues: Many reviews report severe performance problems, including unplayable stuttering, crashes, black screens, frame rate drops to single digits during heavy enemy spawns or after map transitions, and issues persisting from the demo. These issues render the game unplayable for numerous players.

Poor graphics and animations: Multiple reviews criticize the game's visual presentation, including rough model quality, outdated graphics, low-effort modeling compared to the demo, stiff character animations, and cluttered or poor art style. This broadly affects first impressions and overall polish.

Online-only requirement heavily criticized: The always-online requirement is widely criticized, especially the lack of proper disclosure on system requirements and the need for an accelerator to avoid packet loss. Even in single-player, lag or disconnections cause progress loss, and many players dislike the online-only model for a service game.

Persistent network and latency problems: Players report low FPS in lobbies and missions, high latency without VPN, disconnections at settlements, desync in co-op, and disconnects during mission entry requiring restarts. Network problems are pervasive, affecting both solo and multiplayer experiences.

Forced online connection is resented: The online requirement forces an internet connection and often requires an accelerator, which many players deem foolish for a long-term service game. Even in solo, disconnections cause lag and sticky movement, leading to frustration.

Loot-based gameplay loop: The game is described as a loot-em-up with heavy loot drops, rarity tiers, and a looter shooter core. Loot acquisition is central to the experience.

Roguelike elements present: The game incorporates roguelike or roguelite mechanics, such as runs, perks, and procedural elements. It is often described as a twin-stick shooter with these features.

Co-op multiplayer supported: The game offers online cooperative play, including missions and lobbies. Co-op mode is a core feature emphasized by multiple players.

Skill trees and builds: Characters have skill trees and distinct builds, allowing for varied playstyles. Different characters or Weavers offer unique progression paths.

Variety of weapons: The game features multiple weapon types, including assault rifles and sniper rifles with charge mechanics. Gun crafting and combos add depth to combat.

Poor optimization with frame drops: Players consistently report severe frame drops and stuttering in both the lobby and missions, indicating widespread optimization problems. The issues occur even on high-end hardware, such as an RTX 4090, and remain in the full version.

Post-tutorial FPS lock fix: After completing the tutorial, many players experience a hard lock to 10 FPS with low GPU usage (around 15%). This can be resolved by setting the thread count to 2, though some report that the fix is only temporary.

High-end hardware still lags: Even on top-tier graphics cards like the RTX 4090, the game runs with severe lag and single-digit FPS, indicating that the issue is not user hardware but the game's optimization. This suggests the game requires impractical hardware for acceptable performance.

Crashes and black screens: Players report crashes leading to black screens, particularly after long sessions, which are attributed to poor optimization. This severely impacts gameplay and suggests stability issues beyond mere performance.

Connection issues and disconnects: Players experience disconnects without the ability to rejoin, as well as severe delays that only improve with a VPN. This points to network code problems and server instability, frustrating online play.

Do not buy game: Several reviewers strongly advise against purchasing the game, citing current issues. The recommendation is to avoid buying until problems are resolved.

Recommended for co-op players: Reviewers recommend the game to players who enjoy action-packed cooperative gameplay. It is highlighted as a good fit for co-op enthusiasts.

Recommended overall: Some reviewers give a general recommendation, endorsing the game positively. They think it's a good purchase.

Great for twin-stick shooter fans: The game is recommended for fans of top-view twin-stick shooters with bullet hell mechanics and lots of loot. This target audience will likely enjoy it.

Fun and fairly priced: A reviewer finds the game fun and reasonably priced. The cost is seen as appropriate for the experience.

Riftstorm starts with generic, frustrating early hours and a delayed multiplayer unlock, but becomes addictive and fun once players overcome performance issues and progress to good builds and co-op play.

Friction: long tutorial unlocking multiplayer; generic first few hours; performance lag after tutorial requiring thread count adjustment; lack of direct multiplayer queue solution.

Unlock drivers: unlocking multiplayer after 7-10 missions; adjusting thread count to fix lag; obtaining good guns and builds; playing with a responsive controller and co-op team.

Co-op Enthusiast: Team-oriented, focused on synergy and communication, prefers playing in a group for chaotic action. Motivation: Enjoy cooperative gameplay with friends, seeking immersive and action-packed team-based missions. Stance: buy.

Disappointed Veteran: Critical evaluator who compares game mechanics, progression pacing, and overall value against established genre titles. Motivation: Expecting iterative improvements and fair value; frustrated by stagnation and better alternatives in the market. Stance: no buy.

Technical Frustration: Attempts both solo and co-op but is repeatedly blocked by connectivity issues, bugs, and design flaws; seeks workarounds like adjusting thread count. Motivation: Overcoming technical barriers to enjoy the game; frustrated that basic functionality is compromised. Stance: no buy.

Across Windows VRAM cohorts, the game is reported to perform poorly with crashes, low FPS, and poor optimization, resulting in predominantly negative reviews.

Windows 12-15GB VRAM: negative. Players with 12-15GB VRAM on Windows report severe performance issues including crashes, low GPU usage, and frame rate drops, with the majority not recommending the game.

Windows 16GB+ VRAM: negative. The single review for a 24GB VRAM system describes entering a mission and being locked to 10 FPS with low GPU usage.

Windows <8GB VRAM: negative. The review for an 8GB VRAM system indicates the game cannot tolerate even slight lag, leading to a negative recommendation.

Steam Deck: User feedback reveals critical stability and performance issues. The game frequently fails to launch or crashes within minutes, and even when it runs, severe stuttering and frame drops to 5-9 FPS make gameplay nearly impossible. One user reported acceptable Steam Deck performance during a demo, but the overwhelming evidence points to broken technical state.

Thread count workaround fixes stutter: Setting the thread count to 2 is a reported fix for performance issues like stuttering. This workaround has been mentioned by several users and confirmed to help in the release version.

Performance issues and fixes: Performance is a concern, with low GPU usage and FPS drops, but workarounds like setting thread count to 2 and using accelerators can help. Developers are working on patches to address these issues.

Early access risks and concerns: Multiple reviewers highlighted that the game is in early access, which brings risks of future wipes and uncertainty. They expect updates but acknowledge the current state may change.

Demo version played before release: Some reviewers experienced the demo before the full game, which may shape their expectations and comparisons. The game seems to offer little more content than the demo for some players.

Missing quality-of-life features: The game lacks several QoL features such as a lobby shooting range, ping system, detailed options, quest visualization, key binding, and more. These omissions affect player convenience and usability.