Hullstorm is a space survival shooter on PC that puts players in command of customizable starships against relentless enemy fleets. The core experience revolves around surviving escalating threats while building increasingly powerful loadouts through XP collection and upgrade choices. Action gameplay emphasizes precise aiming, ship boosting, and resource management in an arena setting where the goal is to last as long as possible before extraction or pushing further into danger.
Gameplay
Players pilot a ship through waves of aggressive enemies, focusing on aiming weapons, firing accurately, and using boosts to maneuver. Collecting XP from destroyed foes triggers level-ups that grant upgrade options. These upgrades allow reinforcement of the hull for durability, boosts to firepower, deployment of support units, or weapon evolutions that alter playstyles dramatically. Examples include overheated beams, minefields, plasma projectiles, missiles, defensive systems, and companion units that can be combined in various ways to create synergistic builds.
Eight distinct hulls are available, each offering unique stats, traits, and playstyles. Unlocking them involves progression through runs, after which players can increase mastery levels for additional benefits and unlock cosmetic finishes. No single hull dominates; success depends on matching a ship's strengths to the evolving threats and chosen upgrades. Persistent elements carry over between runs, including scrap gathered from defeats that unlocks more options in the hangar for future attempts.
Game Modes
The game features five modes in total across three difficulty levels. Siege serves as the structured campaign experience, requiring survival through exactly 25 waves while defeating five bosses. Each boss incorporates multiple phases with distinct attack patterns that demand adaptation. Successful completion allows extraction with bonus rewards.
Staying after the Siege waves leads into Endless mode, where enemy numbers, durability, and power continue scaling indefinitely. This creates opportunities for longer runs and higher scores but increases risk substantially. The combination of finite wave defense and open-ended survival supports varied session lengths and replay strategies.
Progression and Systems
Build crafting forms the heart of long-term engagement. Six weapon families and six build evolutions provide branching paths for customization. Support options like defenses and companions add layers to combat, encouraging experimentation across multiple runs. A codex tracks discoveries, while a workshop area supports further refinement of strategies.
Achievements total 37, complemented by 12 challenges that test specific skills or build approaches. Mastery systems for hulls and overall progression ensure that repeated play yields tangible improvements, turning early defeats into advantages for subsequent attempts.
Is It Worth Playing?
Hullstorm suits players who enjoy single-player wave survival combined with roguelite-style build experimentation and ship selection. The loop of short, intense runs that feed into persistent upgrades appeals to those who like optimizing loadouts against increasing difficulty. With eight hulls, multiple weapon families, and the choice between structured Siege runs or open-ended Endless play, the game offers substantial variety without requiring multiplayer coordination.
Three difficulty levels accommodate different experience levels, while the emphasis on extraction decisions adds strategic tension. Persistent progression through scrap and mastery means every session contributes to future success, rewarding consistent play. Those drawn to action-focused space combat with deep customization options will find the systems rewarding, particularly if they appreciate managing risk versus reward in wave-based encounters.
