Sci-fi roguelike Risk of Rain is getting a total remake, as publisher Gearbox Games buys the series from developer Hopoo Games to create it alongside brand new content.
Risk of Rain Returns is a complete remake of the 2D 2013 roguelike, taking everything in the original game, adding items and heroes released for the 3D sequel, and a host of other improvements, and it will launch on Nintendo Switch and PC a time in 2023.
“Risk of Rain Returns completely overhauls the original and introduces a ton of new content,” it the announcement reads (opens in a new tab), promising a “completely new game and an upgraded experience from the original Risk of Rain.” Expect new enemies, survivors, improved audio, gameplay tweaks and survival abilities on top of everything in the original.
Squirreled away in Risk of Rain Returns’ announcement is the news that Gearbox, the developer of Borderlands 3 and publisher of Risk of Rain 2, has acquired the rights to the series. That means it can make new games in the Risk of Rain series, and original developer Hopoo Games can work on other projects.
Bring an umbrella
Risk of Rain is an action-packed 2D platformer that features rogue-like elements to up the ante, with enemies getting stronger as you move through a bizarre alien world. Permadeath is a key component, so the goal of the game is to use your characters’ unique skills to get as far through each level as possible, gaining time to grab powerful items while fending off the bloodthirsty hordes in droves. You can play alone or with friends for a multiplayer experience, but beware – friendly fire is a thing, and if one of your teammates dies, so do you all.
Although the 2020 sequel, Risk of Rain 2, ditched the platformer stylings for a blocky 3D third-person shooter angle, Risk of Rain Returns will stay true to the original in all its pixelated, side-scrolling glory. From the announcement, we know that the remake offers “a smoother ‘game feel’ without losing the legendary Risk of Rain challenge,” so get ready to experience platform hack n’ slash goodness that shouldn’t feel clunky or as difficult to maneuver .
“We are ready to move on to new challenges and welcome the exciting and fresh ideas Gearbox will bring to Risk of Rain,” Hopoo writes in the announcement notes. “Completing the console versions of [Risk of Rain 2 expansion] Survivors of the Void remains a top priority for Gearbox and we look forward to seeing what the future holds for Risk of Rain with them at the helm!”
While Hopoo Games will be the developer on Risk of Rain Returns, the team says they are “ready to move on to new challenges”. There is no release date for Risk of Rain Returns beyond sometime in 2023.
