EarthNight

Our EarthNight PS4 review skydives headfirst into the apocalypse, slaying a bunch of dragons in this zen auto-runner that we can't get enough of.

EarthNight was one of the most pleasant surprises back at E3 2019. I knew very little about that game prior to testing it, and was captivated by its fantastic production values and interesting take on the roguelike genre. A small indie title made by half a dozen people ended up being one of my favorite games from the show and one I’ve been salivating for ever since. The game is finally out, on the Switch as well (it was originally planned for PC, mobile and PS4), and here’s my take on it.

Humanity's last hope doesn't lie on Earth but in the skies far beyond the atmosphere. Living aboard a floating spaceship are Syndey and Stanley, the pair of protagonists in EarthNight that hope to one day return to the planet. However, in order to do so, they'll have to pass through swarms of flying dragons on this one-way journey. It's here that the story opens up and players are sent on the right adventure in EarthNight, always moving and never stopping.

Sadly, it has just enough downsides that the game becomes impossible to recommend to people who aren’t interested in that. Which is a shame, because the stuff it gets right is really charming and fun. But if you’re just charmed by the visuals, you’ll find enough fun in here to keep playing just for that, and the gentle curve upward in difficulty makes it clear that you will eventually get through everything.

EarthNight is an okay game, great for passing the time. Its chiptune soundtrack draws you in, making you want to play more. Defeating dragons are satisfying but there’s nothing more to it than that.

Earthnight is a pretty package that contains dull gameplay and technical issues that simply shouldn't exist in this style of game.