Nova Drift

About

- SURVIVE - EVOLVE - DOMINATE - Nova Drift is a 'rogue-lite' space shooter that melds a classic arcade experience with modern action-RPG elements, emphasizing build-crafting and deep customization. Your ship rapidly evolves as you defeat enemies, allowing you to take a build from inception to execution in a single, captivating game session.

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9
Based on
9049 reviews
Country Compatibility:
Languages:
Developer:
Chimeric
Publisher:
Pixeljam
Engine:
Solar2D / Corona SDK
Release date:
12 August 2024
Recent Steam reviews:
Mostly Positive (39)
All Steam reviews:
Overwhelmingly Positive (9049)

Game features

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Description

- SURVIVE - EVOLVE - DOMINATE -


Nova Drift is a 'rogue-lite' space shooter that melds a classic arcade experience with modern action-RPG elements, emphasizing build-crafting and deep customization. Your ship rapidly evolves as you defeat enemies, allowing you to take a build from inception to execution in a single, captivating game session.

Build to play how you want, creating a unique build every game. Runs are quick, allowing for rapid experimentation and iteration.

DEFINE YOUR BUILD, combining dozens of choices of Weapon, Shield, and Body GEAR, including:




  • Weapon - Thermal Lance: Channel a focused lance of heat that makes targets vulnerable to further damage.
  • Weapon - Swords: Wield a pair of monomolecular double-edged swords that parry projectiles.
  • Shield - Warp: Teleport when your shield breaks, creating an entry and exit blast.
  • Shield - Halo: Burn targets within your shields radius.
  • Body - Carrier: Command a legion of Swarm Constructs.
  • Body - Leviathan: Become an ever-growing serpent that shreds with its body.
  • Body - Firefly: Sear targets with massive thrusters.

Unlock an arsenal of over 200 MODULAR UPGRADES:


Transform your build, choosing from dozens of SUPER MODS:




  • Charged Mines: Your mines charge, unleashing your weapon on detonation.
  • Dying Star: Take constant damage, but burn nearby targets based on proximity and how damaged you are.
  • Barrage: Transform any weapon into a bullet hose.
  • Singular Strike: Fuse all of your projectiles into one giant projectile.
  • Ataraxia: Gain powerful passive buffs for each unspent upgrade point.
  • Antimatter Rounds: Your weapon can punch through hostile projectiles.
  • Void Slice: Teleport, slicing through anything in your path.
  • Warp Strike: Your projectiles can screen-wrap.
  • Sanctuary: Convert your shield into a massive roving bubble and gain power while within it.

Enjoy varied GAME MODES:




  • Endless: Find out just how far you can push your build after victory.
  • Draft: Jump deep into enemy territory with a pre-constructed build.
  • Wild Metamorphosis: Enjoy a challenging "rogue-like" experience that offers powerful, transformative mods.

Unlock MODULAR CHALLENGE MODES as your skills grow. Greater risk means greater rewards!


EXAMPLE BUILD - Celestial Striker:


This unconventional build defeats enemies by slamming right through them, detonating its shields, and burning anything nearby.





  • Hullbreaker is the cornerstone of our build, fast, resilient, and able to deal massive crash damage based on its velocity.
  • Amp Shield increases our velocity and damage, which results in massive crash damage.
  • Volatile Shields ensures that when our Amp Shield breaks on impact, nearby enemies receive a devastating explosion.
  • Flash Shielding lets us get our shield back quickly.
  • Celestial Lance converts our speed into a burning aura, letting us crowd control as we soar.
  • Celestial Surge lets us convert our aura into a massive burning projectile on demand, igniting anything in its path.

Nova Drift is a decade-long labor of love developed by Jeffrey Nielson (Chimeric) in collaboration with its community, featuring music and audio by Miles Tilmann (Pixeljam).

Recommended system requirements

minimum*

OS *:
Windows 8 or higher
Processor:
2 Ghz CPU
Memory:
4 GB RAM
Graphics:
Intel HD Graphics 4000 or equivalent, Integrated cards also work
Storage:
800 MB available space

recommended*

Not specified

User reviews

Memesphere
Recommended | 19 Jun 2026
610h played

This is a must have game for fans of the genre. I bought this back in 2020 and continue to play it today (600+ hours in). It has incredible replay value and is well supported by the dev. Now stop reading the reviews and

Helpful: 0
puppeteer
Recommended | 09 Jun 2026
1.1h played

I made bombs. I filled the screen with my bullets. In my most successful run, I abandoned normal weapons and even my shields to turn myself into a bullet. I felt unstoppable.

Helpful: 5
GoldeNoob
Not recommended | 10 Jul 2026
21.1h played

Looks better than it actually is.... You get randomly insta killed by some mob with insane modifiers. I wouldnt recommend it tbh. I wish I passed on this game.

Helpful: 0
marz
Recommended | 24 Jun 2026
41.5h played

The gameplay is really relaxing while still being engaging/challenging and offering a wide variety of builds. 40 hrs in and I've barely scratched the surface interaction-wise. Many indie games nowadays come out with

Helpful: 2
Lati
Recommended | 23 Jun 2026
7.3h played

Great game, especially for the price. I was initially irritated that it wasn't a twin-stick shooter, but then after playing, that choice made sense. It really is about drifting around and the momentum and inertia of the

Helpful: 1
KhaoticFuture
Recommended | 14 Jun 2026
145h played

I don't know why I still play this game. It's less entertaining after you've unlocked everything and tried all the combos and stuff but for some reason I keep playing it a couple hours here and there.

Helpful: 0