Developer Discusses Gear Design in Hyper Light Breaker

With 2025 now here, a new wave of video game titles is on the horizon. One release that’s got people talking is Hyper Light Breaker, which is set to hit Steam Early Access later this month. Coming almost nine years after its predecessor, this game by developer Heart Machine serves as a prequel to Hyper Light Drifter. It takes the leap from a 2D realm into a vibrant, fast-paced 3D roguelike world.

This game aims high, offering something exciting for both long-time fans and those new to the series. In Hyper Light Breaker, your goal is to navigate expansive, procedurally-generated worlds and gradually increase your strength with each attempt, all while working to overthrow the Abyss King. Recently, I had the chance to speak with Michael Clark, the lead producer at Heart Machine, to get an inside look at what players can expect regarding character builds and playstyles in this new adventure.

A press release shared some intriguing insights into their design philosophy. While talking about the design approach for Hyper Light Breaker, Clark explained how they tackled build variety by saying:

_”We began by creating many specific archetype builds—like tank, summoner, and sniper. Initially, this creates a pool of very specific gear. But to make gear more versatile, we later tweak it, ensuring that different setups can work well together.”_

This method of starting with classic archetypes and weaving in more specialized gear shows a thoughtful approach. It allows players to spend as much or as little time as they want fine-tuning their setups. Hyper Light Breaker gives you a mix of melee and ranged weapons, which acts as the backbone for your strategy. Plus, unlocking and upgrading gear gives players even more opportunities to customize how they face challenges in the Overgrowth.

Heart Machine seems to be banking on players investing serious time in experimenting with builds and gear combinations. As each session unfolds in a randomly-generated map, players can explore numerous strategies before maps reset at the end of every cycle. By releasing the game in Early Access, the developers can refine gameplay based on player feedback, ensuring mechanics are polished and engaging.

This new chapter in the Hyper Light series promises to be a captivating blend of innovation and nostalgia, likely keeping players engaged through its dynamic and adaptable gameplay.