The 90s were the golden era for side-scrolling shooters, with the genre not as popular as it once was. However, developers like Rhino Rock Studios are keeping the genre alive with the likes of Outblast, a sci-fi shooter ’em up heading to VR headsets and flatscreens in a couple of weeks.
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What is Outblast?
Outblast is a neon-drenched arcade shooter, where you pilot a ship through an assortment of Tron-style environments, blasting everything in sight.
The game has been furnished with a light narrative, pitting you as the last line of defence. Piloting your C11-28 interceptor, you have to face a rogue viral intelligence known as Typhon, who is corrupting entire districts and destabilising the planetary core of Perseon-6. You have to blast, dodge and survive countless attacks to ensure the core doesn’t collapse.
Gameplay Details
The game is split into five areas (or districts), filled with wave after wave of relentless enemies as well as five bosses: Hydra, Gorgon, Minotaur, Siren and Typhon. The entire game takes place inside a cylindrical play space, with you able to pilot your interceptor both left and right. That also means enemies attack from all angles, meaning you have to stay constantly aware of where they might appear from.
Needless to say, with this being a retro-inspired shooter, you can upgrade your ship by collecting valuable data fragments. You don’t need to wait either, as you can upgrade in the middle of a battle.
When and Where?
Outblast is coming to Meta Quest and PCVR headsets via Steam on 4th June 2026. Furthermore, the Steam version will support flatscreen gaming as well as the Steam Deck.
Do you like the look of Outblast? Let us know your impressions in the comments.
