Recently, a thought crossed my mind: the desire for a survival game reminiscent of the original Far Cry. Picture this—lush tropical islands paired with the open-world mercenary action that defined Crytek’s 2004 classic, all while allowing players to plan and execute missions from a self-built base. The inspiration likely stemmed from my recent gaming experience with Abiotic Factor, a survival title set in a vast underground research facility that draws from the iconic Half-Life. This led me to ponder what other classic shooters could benefit from a survival twist. Now, that thought lingers, igniting a fervent wish for such a game.
Introducing Lost Rift
Enter Lost Rift, a title that, while not an exact match for my envisioned game, comes tantalizingly close. Developed by People Can Fly, the studio behind Painkiller and the beloved Bulletstorm, this game transports players to the shores of a tropical archipelago known as Pioneer’s Landing. Although it lacks the beefcake mercenaries shouting quips before being dispatched, it introduces an impressively muscular monkey that dynamically hunts players throughout the experience.
In addition to the cooperative gameplay, Lost Rift features a PvP extraction mode, where players can venture to other islands within the archipelago. These islands are described as “unstable,” implying a time-sensitive exploration element. Players must act swiftly to gather valuable loot while contending with rival players.
While these elements could easily coalesce into a generic gaming experience, the trailer suggests that Lost Rift may offer more than meets the eye. Historically, People Can Fly has delivered engaging gameplay that transcends initial impressions. Take, for example, Outriders from 2020, which appeared to be a standard cover shooter at first glance but ultimately revealed a captivating sci-fi narrative and exhilarating bullet-time mechanics through its Trickster class.
Lost Rift is set to launch in Steam early access on September 25th, with a price tag of . The initial version promises at least 10 hours of PvE content alongside the multiplayer expeditions. Given the studio’s recent challenges, including the layoff of 120 employees and a reduction in several in-development projects due to an “evolving” video game market, the success of this title could be crucial for People Can Fly.
