Yars Rising (v1.1.0)

A corporate break-in becomes a full-scale science-fiction conspiracy in this slick 2D action-adventure from WayForward. You play Emi Kimura, a young hacker sent to infiltrate the secretive QoTech corporation, initially expecting a job but quickly uncovering links to alien technology and her own hidden origins. The tone balances shadowy laboratories, high-tech paranoia, and escalating danger with the studio’s familiar anime-inspired presentation and occasional humor. Rather than simply reviving an Atari relic, Yars Rising turns the old Yars concept into a story-driven metroidvania built around movement, combat, and digital espionage.

Emi runs, jumps, shoots, sneaks past patrols, and hacks systems while pushing deeper through QoTech’s connected facilities. Combat pits her against mechanical security forces and alien threats, while new biohacks and latent abilities expand her toolkit over time, opening blocked paths and encouraging return trips to earlier zones for secrets. Hacking triggers compact arcade-style minigames that reinterpret the fast, twitchy ideas behind Yars’ Revenge, breaking up platforming with a more retro challenge. Not every obstacle invites a blaster fight, either: stealth sequences require careful use of cover and timing when guards become too dangerous to confront directly.

WayForward’s strength lies in making progression feel tangible, as Emi’s new powers steadily reshape how she navigates the map rather than merely raising damage numbers. The adventure moves from ordinary office spaces to hidden research complexes and stranger cosmic locations, giving its conspiracy plot a broader scope than its opening suggests. Its colorful character work, polished animation, and blend of old-school arcade references with modern exploration make it more approachable than many punishing genre peers, while completion-minded players get plenty of incentive to revisit unexplored corridors. Fans of Shantae, Metroid-style ability gating, and brisk narrative action games should find a lot to like, while longtime Atari followers also get a modernized version of the original Yars’ Revenge from the main menu.