Rastergeist is an action scrolling shooter for PC where players construct their ship block by block before each stage. The core loop centers on flying through waves of enemies while managing a modular vessel assembled on a grid. Every component matters: guns provide firepower only if they have a clear forward lane, engines determine speed based on available space behind them, and generators supply power that affects the entire ship. Damage targets specific parts, so losing a cannon ends its contribution for the rest of the stage, while a destroyed generator starves weapons of energy and a lost core forces an immediate return to the hangar.
Gameplay
Building the ship encourages experimentation with trade-offs. Armor protects vulnerable sections but can block gun lines if placed incorrectly. Rechargeable shields offer temporary full coverage at the cost of power draw. Glass serves as transparent armor that lets the player's own shots pass through, though it offers little durability. A magnet collects scrap from destroyed foes, and credits from kills fund repairs and upgrades. Bosses yield blueprints for new parts, while enemy types drop components matching their own loadouts, such as emitters from shielded gunships. The hitbox shrinks with a sleeker design, rewarding precise dodging over heavy plating.
Rules enforce careful placement. Guns require an unobstructed path forward, pushing powerful weapons toward the front where incoming fire is heaviest. Engines need rear clearance, making narrow profiles slower overall. Adjacent guns and generators grant a firing rate bonus, tempting players to position power sources forward despite the risk. These constraints shape every run and force repeated hangar visits to refine layouts after failures.
Game Modes
The main campaign spans 28 stages across six sectors. Each stage features a unique boss and two dedicated music tracks. Sectors include forks where choosing one path closes the alternative for that playthrough, locking out exclusive parts from untaken branches. A full campaign run covers 20 stages, leaving room for different component choices on subsequent attempts.
Landfall serves as a second campaign available from the start. It consists of 25 stages across four sectors set over a human colony world. The route progresses from coastal dawn through highland storms and interior dusk to a capital night, with the enemy's magenta scan-lattice expanding across the backdrops. This mode introduces 21 new bosses, 11 midbosses, 25 unique backdrops, six new ship parts, and 30 additional songs. Its forks reduce a playthrough to 16 stages and tune difficulty for players who have completed the main campaign.
Endless Run functions as a roguelite mode that remixes waves and bosses from the main campaign across fifty backdrops, many exclusive to this mode. Players begin with a minimal ship and draft one card after each stage from options including parts, boosts, or extra hull. No repairs occur, so lost components stay gone. Daily runs use identical stages and cards for all players, feeding into monthly leaderboard standings. Local co-op supports two players on one screen, with shared parts and credits, while Steam Remote Play Together allows remote sessions.
Custom Content and Challenges
The same editors used to create the campaigns ship with the game. Players can design waves timed to music verses and choruses, customize enemies, draw ship sprites, map routes, and publish results to the Steam Workshop. A music editor allows remixing any included track. Custom campaigns and music use a lightweight format that supports easy sharing and editing without large downloads.
Optional challenges on every stage award Mastery points that unlock boosts. Repeating stages grants additional points, salvage, and credits to strengthen the ship during difficult sections. Full controller support includes rebinding and on-screen prompts for multiple controller types. Visual effects such as screen flash, shake, and glitches can be reduced or disabled entirely.
Is It Worth Playing?
Rastergeist suits players who enjoy modular ship construction combined with precise scrolling shooter action. The two distinct campaigns provide substantial stage variety and branching paths that encourage multiple playthroughs. Endless Run adds roguelite drafting and daily competition, while the built-in editors support ongoing creation and sharing of new content. Co-op works smoothly for shared sessions without requiring separate purchases. The emphasis on part management and placement rules creates meaningful decisions during both building and flight phases. Those seeking a focused single-player or local multiplayer experience with deep customization will find consistent depth across its modes.
