The solar system has been overrun by hostile aliens, and the stranded civilians scattered across it won’t rescue themselves. Every mission starts with a Vortal jump into dangerous territory, and every one ends the same way: finish the job, grab what you can carry, and haul yourself back through before it’s too late.
Vortica is a 2D twin-stick shooter roguelite from developer Vortical Studios, published by Caketown Interactive. Looting derelict outposts, crafting weapons and utility items back at your home base, and carefully selecting a loadout for each unique mission, you’ll fight through endless alien hordes and hunt massive bosses, rescuing survivors and neutralizing threats on your way across the solar system.
What Makes It Different?
- Brave hostile territories, rescue stranded civilians, and neutralize deadly alien threats
- Scavenge for resources and craft weapons and items back at your home base
- Fight everything from rusty automatic rifles to high powered plasma guns
- Deploy automated sentry turrets to back you up during the toughest waves
- Find or craft over 100 utility items, including jumping boots, traps, and improvised explosives
- Choose your own path across the solar system using Vortal technology
- Play solo or team up with a friend in local co-op
Prepare for the Mission, Then Survive It
Vortica puts as much weight on preparation as it does on shooting. Loadouts matter, because every mission throws different conditions at you, from stations plunged into darkness by power failures, to facilities saturated with radiation, to levels where gravity has failed altogether. With over 100 items available, whether found in the field or crafted at home base, there’s a tool for almost every problem, from repelling enemies to lighting your way through a dark, powerless station or growing extra resources. Choosing what to bring, and what to leave behind to make room, shapes how a run unfolds long before the first alien appears.
A Home Base Worth Returning To
Between missions, the home base becomes a hub for progress. Unlocking increasingly advanced gear and expanding your carrying capacity gradually shifts the balance of power, until the creatures that once looked unbeatable are the ones fighting for their lives. Finding new characters out in the field opens up more options back home, such as better crafting or new objectives, and the base itself has some charm of its own, including a cute robot vacuum buddy and a cat.
Alongside the narrative Adventure mode, Survival and Custom modes give players different ways to test what they’ve built, and local co-op with a friend adds even more chaos to the mix.
How Long Does a Run Take?
Individual mission runs typically last about 5 to 10 minutes, while completing the main story in Adventure Mode takes roughly 7 to 8 hours. Standard missions and expeditions take around 5 to 10 minutes per run, and a full playthrough of the primary campaign takes approximately 7 to 8 hours. Total time varies depending on whether you play the narrative Adventure Mode or the randomized Roguelike Mode, with many players logging 10 to 15 or more hours experimenting with different loadouts and upgrades.
Controller Support
Vortica features Full Controller Support for Xbox Controllers and PlayStation Controllers. A gamepad is required for local co-op.
Good If You Like…
If you enjoyed Rogue Star Rescue, Alchemickal, or A Contusion, Vortica’s mix of twin-stick shooting and loadout-driven roguelite raids should be well worth a look. A free demo is also available on Steam if you want to try it before committing.
