Now, I’ll be honest—I’ve never really been into horde shooters. The idea of being thrown into a game where enemies keep swarming you until you inevitably explode into space dust has always sounded more stressful than fun. But then along comes Rising Heat, the upcoming sci-fi roguelite from Fuzzy Sock Studios and Apogee Entertainment, which has somehow managed to make the concept not only intriguing but downright exhilarating.

The premise is as wonderfully ridiculous as you’d hope. You’re a contestant in an intergalactic tournament, fighting for survival in a deadly spectacle designed for the amusement of rich alien elites. And instead of just dodging waves of enemies and shooting wildly like I assume most horde shooters require, Rising Heat demands something far more chaotic: it wants you to crash into them.

Momentum is Your Best (& Only) Friend

Yes, you read that right. This isn’t about careful movement or precise sniping—this is about using momentum to launch yourself into enemies like a human (well, spaceship) pinball. You don’t just move; you hurtle. You don’t just attack; you collide. And the more I think about it, the more I realise that this actually makes a lot of sense. Why waste time shooting enemies when you can bodyslam them out of existence?

And just to make sure no two runs feel the same, the game throws in over 60 upgrades, letting you tweak your playstyle in increasingly ridiculous ways. Maybe you want a ship that turns into an unstoppable wrecking ball, bouncing off enemies like a game of interstellar billiards. Maybe you’d rather focus on speed and precision, weaving through the chaos like a stunt pilot who’s had one too many energy drinks. The choice is yours, and I have a feeling half the fun will be in figuring out just how broken you can make your build.

Two Players, One Disaster Waiting to Happen

Then there’s the co-op mode, which takes everything I just described and adds a hilarious twist—you and your teammate are tethered together by an energy beam. If that sounds like a recipe for disaster, that’s because it absolutely is. Move well together, and you’ll amplify your attacks and tear through enemies like a well-oiled machine. Lose focus for even a second, and you’ll drag each other straight into oblivion. If nothing else, it’ll be a brilliant way to test friendships.

I Might Actually Like Horde Shooters Now

With a demo already out on Steam and a full release planned for early 2025, Rising Heat has somehow managed to do the impossible: make me, someone who has never been drawn to horde shooters, genuinely excited to give one a proper go. If you like fast, chaotic action—or even if you don’t but are willing to embrace a bit of mayhem—this is one to keep an eye on. Just don’t be surprised if you spend half the time accidentally slingshotting yourself into a wall.