Fit check
Is Yars Rising worth it for you?
We tell you who should skip it, too.
Play it if you…
Good fit- Metroidvania fans who want platforming, exploration, and ability-gated areas
- Players who enjoy science-fiction mysteries involving corporate facilities and alien connections
- Yars’ Revenge fans who want a modern game with related hacking minigames
Skip it if you…
Saves you a refund- Players seeking a tightly linear action game may find the interconnected map and backtracking demanding
- Players who prefer uninterrupted combat may dislike the stealth sections and hacking minigames
- Players looking for a realistic visual style may not want anime-influenced art and retro game elements
Our take on Yars Rising
The mix of platforming, stealth, combat, and hacking gives the adventure varied challenges, but it also interrupts the action with minigames and sections where direct attacks are not the primary approach.
What is Yars Rising?
Yars Rising is a 2D action adventure centered on Emi Kimura, a hacker infiltrating the QoTech corporation.
The game combines platforming, combat, stealth, and hacking challenges across an interconnected map of offices, underground laboratories, and locations in space. Emi gains new abilities, augments, and biohacks during the adventure, opening routes to areas that were previously unreachable. Hacking minigames draw on mechanics from Yars’ Revenge, while a story involving hacker allies, QoTech, and a distant alien race unfolds through exploration. Players can also access WayForward’s modern version of the original Yars’ Revenge from the main menu. The presentation uses anime-influenced art, 3D environments, humor, and retro game elements.
How Yars Rising plays
- 01Interconnected Exploration
- New abilities let Emi revisit earlier locations and enter hidden or previously blocked areas.
- 02Stealth Sections
- Some areas require Emi to avoid security guards rather than relying on shooting or jumping.
- 03Hacking Minigames
- The hacking challenges take inspiration from the top-down gameplay of Yars’ Revenge.
- 04Playable Classic
- A modern version of the first Yars game is available from the main menu.
Yars Rising compared to similar games
Yars Rising combines 2D platforming, stealth, hacking minigames, and an interconnected map, while Sundered: Eldritch Edition is described as a chaotic metroidvania. Sundered emphasizes its definitive edition and roguelite-style action, whereas Yars Rising includes a science-fiction mystery and a playable modern version of Yars’ Revenge.
Yars Rising: platforms & release
Is Yars Rising worth it?
It is worth it if: metroidvania fans who want platforming, exploration, and ability-gated areas. Skip it if: players seeking a tightly linear action game may find the interconnected map and backtracking demanding.
Where can I download Yars Rising?
Use the Download Now button on this page: it opens Yars Rising's store page, where you can choose how to get it.
What platforms is Yars Rising on?
Windows only.
