When you jump into a game and find that the tutorial takes less time than the download, you know you’re in for something special. That’s exactly the case with Haste: Broken Worlds, the quickest and most exhilarating game I’ve tried this year. You’re off and running in the demo in under half a minute.
Haste’s concept is straightforward: the world is collapsing, and your only means of survival is speed. The game doesn’t bog you down with backstory; instead, it thrusts you directly into action as Zoe, a young girl equipped with some seriously snug glasses. Before you’ve had a chance to blink, you’re racing down slopes, sliding and gliding without a moment’s hesitation.
Sonic the Hedgehog might just have some competition because Haste captures that sheer joy of uninterrupted velocity. The controls boil down to the press of a single button, your trusty spacebar, which lets you skim along the ground and take off again. Landings are crucial; nail them perfectly, and a gauge fills, allowing you to hop on a hoverboard. This nifty gadget comes in handy when you crash into rocks or get caught by encroaching waves of corruption. The only pauses in your high-speed adventure are to chat with friends or snag some upgrades.
This game’s roguelike nature means every run is full of choices. After crossing the finish line, you’re faced with decisions about your next destination. Some levels challenge you to race through drab monochrome environments, restoring them with color, while others have you dodging black holes, desperately searching for the exit as the clock ticks down. Trails of shimmering crystals mark your path, and you can cash these in for upgrades when you encounter a shop. Basic upgrades might boost speed or health slightly, but some, like those replenishing health through crystal collection, can really guide your strategy for a level.
The demo wraps up with a boss fight featuring a menacing robot that showers lava across the stage. You’ll need to navigate carefully, exploiting every chance to slam straight into it. Maintaining your speed becomes crucial for outrunning the spreading lava, prompting you to seek those perfect landings to boost your hoverboard energy. Picking up clusters of crystals to bolster your health adds an extra layer of challenge.
In lesser hands, a boss battle juggling so many elements could fall apart, but Haste’s smooth mechanics keep everything grounded. Whether you’re sailing effortlessly through levels or just managing to scrape by, the game rewards you for daring maneuvers. When you’re in sync, it’s like hitting note after note in a rhythm game that just won’t quit. It only breaks the spell when it ends.
Landfall, known for their quirky multiplayer horror hit Content Warning, plans to launch Haste: Broken Worlds before the year wraps up. Keep an eye out; it’s shaping up to be quite the rush.
