The player must explore the planet Galatea 37 to find resources that enable construction of crucial base buildings. These structures provide necessary functions such as research, energy, and ammunition. The research is guided by a tech tree where the player can specify what to research next. Different research tracks unlock newer and better weapons that the player can equip or better base structures such as plasma or artillery turrets. Eventually the player must warp to other locations on the planet to mine more rare elements such as uranium and titanium. Occasionally, the player will be warned of an imminent attack by the local fauna. A short period later, waves of creatures will attack the base, with the attacks becoming more difficult as the game progresses. As long as the player has built a portal, they can respawn there upon death while dropping a weapon at the location they died. However, there is a hardcore mode that means the game is over when the player dies.
Cooperative multiplayer featuring Campaign Coop &
Survival mode was introduced to the game on August 25, 2025. The co-op mode supports up to 4 players and includes a built-in server browser and dedicated server mode. Players can connect online or through a local LAN connection, with the game playable entirely offline in LAN mode. Every game mode and mission was specifically balanced to be enjoyed in both single-player and multiplayer modes. Co-op mode is currently only available in the PC version of The Riftbreaker. ==Reception==