A wave of enemy ships in formation, with an elite marked by a halo

Combat

Easy to pick up. Hard to master.

Slide up and down; everything else is reading the screen. The further you fly, the more the waves mix it up: formations, enemy types that rotate from wave to wave, and rare elites whose traits change how you fight them. Your ship skill, timed well, turns a bad moment around.

A sector boss telegraphing an attack band across the screen

Bosses

Bosses that fight back

Every chapter ends in a boss fight. Beyond the inner planets, bosses hold their distance and attack with telegraphed volleys, rings, broadsides and slams, then enrage at half hull. Read the warning, find the safe lane, keep firing.

The salvage reactor

Turn salvage into firepower

Every few waves your cores pour through a reactor of ×2 and ×3 gates, catapults and locks. Aim the spout, release at the right moment, and spend the multiplied haul on upgrades that reshape your run.

Progress

A fleet that grows with you

Start in the Vanguard and earn new ships as you push further from home, each with its own weapon, sound and skill. Level them, merge gear, recruit pilots, chase three stars and chapter missions, then test yourself on Hard, Nightmare or the endless Infinite Mode.

New in 0.2

Smoother steeringYour ship races toward your finger and brakes where you point. (0.2.2)
Region chestsEarn stars and missions across a region to open Silver, Gold and Platinum chests. (0.2.1)
New missionsThree per chapter: no escapes, no rams, a clean boss wave, and more. (0.2.1)
Bosses fight backTelegraphed attacks and an enraged second phase.
More enemiesNew types with their own tactics, formations and elites.
Livelier shipsBanking, recoil and hit reactions: the fleet feels alive.
No ship left behindDeeper in, ships that slip past swing back around.
A bigger fleetMore ships join as you push further out.
A new lookNew icon and a short launch intro.

Full notes on the releases page.

Screenshots

Dodging enemy fire near Jupiter — Dodge and auto-fire

Choosing an upgrade in the draft — Build your firepower

A sector boss among the outer planets — Sector bosses

Install in a minute

Android

Download RiftBarrage-android.apk on your phone.
Open it and allow installing from your browser when Android asks.
Play in landscape. Updates install over the previous preview.

Windows

Download and unzip RiftBarrage-windows-x64.zip.
Run RiftBarrage.exe. SmartScreen may warn about an unrecognized app; choose More info → Run anyway.
Mouse drag, W/S or arrows to fly, Space for the skill, Esc to pause. Gamepads work too.

Requirements: Android 7.1+ on 64-bit ARM, or Windows 10/11 64-bit. Check downloads against SHA256SUMS.txt on the releases page.

Questions

Is it free?

Yes, Rift Barrage is free to play. Later versions will add optional extras, such as watching a short ad for a revive or an extra supply box, and optional purchases. They are always a choice: finishing the campaign never requires them.

What data do you collect?

The current preview collects nothing: no analytics, no crash reporting, no ads. When a version adds ads or online play, the privacy page will say exactly what changes before it ships, and you will be asked for consent where the law requires it.

Will my progress carry over to new versions?

Previews update in place and usually keep your progress. While the game is in preview, balance can change, and a later preview may occasionally need a fresh start.

Is there an iPhone version?

Not yet. Android and Windows come first; an iPhone version is planned.

Why does Windows warn me when I run it?

The preview is not code-signed yet, so SmartScreen does not recognise it. Choose More info → Run anyway, or compare the file against the published SHA-256 checksum first.

How do I hear about new versions?

Follow the releases feed in any RSS reader, or watch the GitHub repository for releases.

Ready for launch?

The solar system will not clear itself.

Download for AndroidAPK · free Download for WindowsZIP · free