Exoborne Is an Extraction Shooter With a Twist(er)

Exoborne: A High-Octane Extraction Shooter

Get in, grab the loot, and get out—the core tenets of any good extraction shooter, and Exoborne is no exception. But Exoborne elevates the formula with supercharged Exo-Rigs boosting strength and mobility, dynamic weather effects, and the ever-popular grappling hook. After a 4-5 hour preview, while I didn't crave an immediate "one more drop," Exoborne shows strong potential to make waves in the extraction shooter genre.

The Exo-Rigs are central to Exoborne's unique identity. Currently, three types exist: the Kodiak, offering a sprint shield and devastating ground slam; the Viper, rewarding aggressive play with health regeneration on kills and a powerful melee attack; and the Kestrel, prioritizing mobility with enhanced jumps and temporary hover. These archetypes are further customizable with unique modules, enhancing their individual abilities.

Personally, the Kodiak's ground slam, combined with the grappling hook's Spider-Man-esque traversal, proved incredibly satisfying. While the other suits were fun to experiment with, the limited selection (only three) feels restrictive, leaving room for future expansion—though developer Shark Mob remained tight-lipped on future Exo-Rig plans.

The shooting mechanics feel excellent. Weapons possess a weighty recoil, melee attacks pack a punch, and the grappling hook's glide function surpasses traditional traversal. Random weather events introduce dynamic challenges: tornadoes boost aerial mobility, while rain renders parachutes ineffective. Fire tornadoes offer another mobility option, but getting too close is deadly.

Risk vs. Reward: The Core Gameplay Loop

Risk and reward underpin Exoborne's design. A 20-minute timer begins upon entry, broadcasting your location after it expires, granting a 10-minute extraction window or instant death. Extracting early yields less loot, but staying longer increases potential earnings. Loot is scattered throughout—on the ground, in containers, and on enemy corpses—with other players representing the ultimate prize, their possessions up for grabs.

Artifacts, high-value loot boxes requiring keys, are another significant reward. Their locations are visible to all, often leading to player conflict. Similarly, high-value loot areas are heavily guarded by stronger AI, demanding risk for greater reward. This creates intense gameplay and fosters squad communication. Even downed players aren't entirely out, with self-revives and teammate revives offering a fighting chance, though risky.

Two main concerns emerged from the preview. Firstly, Exoborne heavily favors coordinated squads. While solo play and random matchmaking are possible, they are less than ideal, a common issue in squad-based tactical extraction shooters exacerbated by the game's non-free-to-play model.

Secondly, the late-game remains unclear. Game Director Petter Mannefelt mentioned a focus on PvP comparisons, but the preview lacked sufficient late-game content to assess its appeal beyond initial skirmishes.

Exoborne's PC playtest (February 12-17) will be crucial in shaping its future.