Nova Drift is a rogue-lite space shooter from developer Chimeric and published by PixelJam Games. In it, you play as a lone spaceship dealing with a never-ending onslaught of enemies. With each wave you survive, you’re given the reward of upgrading your spaceship with much stronger equipment. Being essentially endless, Nova Drift is a test of survival that encourages players to utilize and improvise in hopes it will guarantee a higher score than the last run.

A Hypothetical Space Saga

Normally, I prefer my games be more story-driven, but something about Nova Drift’s open-ended world fills my headspace with so many possibilities. There is a certain intrigue to be found in the hostility of the environment. In this universe, perhaps outer space has been overrun by an oppressive regime. Or perhaps a once peaceful solar system has become militarized. Who knows?

Regardless of the how and why of the situation, Nova Drift exudes an air of isolation and hostility. After all, you play as a one-man rebellion, forced to deal with the worst of enemy fleets solo. In the role of protagonist, we are alone, utterly helpless to an infinite onslaught of firepower. To meet our demise at the might of a mechanical behemoth is merely predated by their drove of minions. Through such subtle design choices, Nova Drift makes it apparent that it doesn’t expect you to win; it expects you to survive.

There’s a subtle intent behind the elaborate designs of the larger ships. There’s such a menacing aura that instills fear in me the moment I know it’s approaching. These massive ships, each one named, are being piloted by something or someone, and either of those options has deemed me enough of a threat to bring out the big guns.

What have I done? Who am I? Who are these people and why do they want me gone specifically?

The game is marked by a vagueness that compels players to persist purely out of spite. I found there was a certain fun that came with characterizing these enemies. As I played, my brain concocted their possible evil deeds as a natural reflex. Or, at least, that’s the way I went about my playthrough. I was already crafting a narrative in my head about who I was and what I was doing in such a treacherous environment. But none of that would have been possible if Nova Drift’s atmosphere wasn’t so foreboding.

Control Panel

Nova Drift’s controls are flexible and free roaming with a special emphasis on mobility. The only issue that arises is that it does sometimes feel like your ship is ice skating. In the worst of moments, this can make accurate aim a bit of a hassle. Pair that with the onslaught of enemies during later waves, and the slippery mobility can be a blessing and a curse.

Although stability may not always be an option, a decent trade-off is your breakneck speed. Dodging and narrowly escaping enemy fire becomes much more doable once you find a rhythm. What helps is that the game doesn’t penalize you for falling into the edges of the screen, always popping you out of the opposite end if you fall off course.

I mentioned accurate aiming can be difficult at times. However, the game’s surplus of weapon upgrades can be a great aid to players still coming to grips with the controls. I’d highly recommend pouring resources into a stronger damage output, better shields, and the automatic assists that come in the form of rotating drones.

A New Cosmic Classic

I found myself deeply captivated by Nova Drift and its relentless difficulty. This helps place an emphasis on self-preservation and self-improvement. You soon become your own competition, constantly trying to surpass your previous score. Each run promises new opportunities to experiment with buffs and try out new combinations. Strategizing becomes a top priority against an evolving onslaught of enemies.

Final Thoughts

Fans of rogue-lite are sure to get a lot of mileage out of this game. More competitive players will be compelled to try beating their own high scores and test their endurance during the rockier waves.

Even though I’m not well versed in rouge-lites, I found myself compelled to keep going no matter how treacherous the next wave could be. To see how far I could go was well worth the struggle. But, above all, the part of my brain that relishes in hypotheticals and immersion are what truly drew me into Nova Drift. Despite the game’s simplicity and rather stellar gameplay, it was the underlying narrative draw that truly roped me in. I do love a good underdog story, even if I’m the one making it up.

Nova Drift is out on Steam, Itch.i.o and GOG. NeverMore Niche was provided with a free review key.