Astebreed
You are Roy Becket, a young pilot with dreams of becoming as skilled as his adoptive father. When a galactic war with an ancient mechanical alien race reaches its boiling point, Roy is forced to spring into action and take control of an otherworldly bipedal war machine in hopes of saving what's left of humanity. Joining Roy is a young girl who claims to have escaped the clutches of the nefarious aliens. Forever altered through horrible experimentation, she now possesses the very abilities humanity will need to push back the doomsday clock. Together, they must battle an unrelenting army alone and reunite their shattered family. The End of All Things is in sight. At the edge of eradication stands Astebreed.
SCREENSHOTS
HISTORY
Astebreed is an action shoot 'em up 3D video game developed by Edelweiss and published by Playism for Microsoft Windows in May 2014, for PlayStation 4 in March 2015, and for the Nintendo Switch in November 2018.
Gameplay
Astebreed is an action shoot 'em up game. The player controls a mech with several attack options being that of a blade attack, a blade dash attack, a spread shot of 'bullets', two different lock-on functions, and a special "ex-attack". The various attacks are also the means by which the player defends either by canceling out enemy projectiles using the main gun or sword, or by using the sword dash attack to dodge.
Reception
Astebreed received positive reception from critics since its release.
STORY
The Filune have made it their mission to eradicate all mankind and it is time for humans to fight back. The player, Roy Becket, has set out to do what his adoptive father, Grato Nono, could not finish which is saving Estina Nono along with putting an end to the Filune.
1CC RUNS
One-credit clears we point to as the benchmark for this game.
TRAILERS
STORES best right now: Nintendo eShop −80%
Prices are cached from each storefront and may be out of date. Last checked 24 Sept 2026.
PRICE HISTORY
Every price change we know of, per shop. Flat means the price held; PC shops reach back through IsThereAnyDeal's archive, console shops start when this site started watching.
Nintendo eShop low: $3.99 (10 Sep 2026) , Fanatical low: $14.69 (12 May 2020) , GOG low: $3.69 (8 Mar 2015) , Humble Store low: $3.74 (15 Jan 2016) , Steam low: $3.74 (17 Jun 2015)
REVIEWS
Published elsewhere, collected here. Every score is the outlet's own, on the outlet's own scale. Follow the link for the full review.
“Stunning to look at, slick and fluid to play as well as being a satisfying -- but never insurmountable -- challenge, Astebreed is a top-quality game that everyone with even a passing interest in shoot 'em ups should have in their collection.”
“Seriously bursting at the seams with style and beauty from every corner, Astebreed is a must play, and will continue to be a must play long after you've beaten it. Now if you'll excuse me, I have some more Filune ships to blow up.”
“This is one of my favorite shoot-'em-ups in years, and fellow STG enthusiasts would be remiss to overlook such a gem. Astebreed is a masterstroke. Spread the word.”
“If Japanese indie developer Edelweiss wasn't already on your radar, consider this your wake-up call.”
“One of the most impressive indie titles of the year and arguably the most cinematic and accessible 2D shooter of the modern era.”
“With as many bullet hell shmups as I’ve played over the years, including ones that have dabbled in different perspectives of various kinds, I’ve simply never played anything like Astebreed. It’s visually full of detail that you’ll blow by and struggle to appreciate as your screen is full of targets, but for all of that intensity the gameplay rarely has any hitches. Once you get the controls in order it’s smooth sailing and feels very natural, even as the game constantly shifts perspective and style on you. While I couldn’t really tell you much of anything about the story, there’s certainly one”
“Luckily, the added difficulty modes and competing for the best score on the leaderboards adds some replay value, but some might consider the $19.99 asking price a bit steep for what's on offer. For others like me, this is a little slice of bullet heaven that the PS4 has been long awaiting.”
“Astebreed is loaded with gorgeous graphics, intense gameplay and high replayability, making it a must have for fans of the Shmup genre.”
“Astebreed is a must-download title for any gamer who loves shoot 'em ups.”
“Astebreed is a fantastic indie old school shooter that is fun for both veterans and those new to the genre”
“Astebreed is great fun, and its download price makes it very easy to recommend – it just seems a shame that the game's six stages can be whizzed through in the best part of an afternoon. Without the Score Attack mode, the game would actually feel pretty hollow, but the blast-'em-up's still sure to stir emotions in anyone who had the pleasure of growing up with some of the fantastic titles that inspired it. Just be thankful that this game exists, saving us all a walk to the arcade and countless pockets of change.”
“With its delicious score system taken into account, Astebreed is well-constructed, well-presented and well-balanced. A certain amount of delight comes from the novelty of a 32-bit-esque indie game, as it offers a welcome change from the army of sprite-based titles of the previous few years.”
“With game-changing gameplay, beautiful visuals, and a decent story, Astebreed makes for a great diversion that you'll wish could go on forever.”
“Nintendo Switch has plenty of shmups to its name, so Astebreed finds itself rubbing shoulders with some of the best retro and modern examples the genre has to offer. With its shifting planes and the constant switch between ranged and melee combat, it manages to offer just enough extra spice to help it stand out, although the lack of an English dub makes its story nigh-on impossible to follow unless you understand Japanese. Still, developer Edelweiss has made an effort to make its previously unwieldy controls fit the confines of the Switch's control interface - although you really should invest”
“Astebreed is a good game that makes you see quality over quantity in a whole new light. The game is stunningly beautiful, to the point that you would mistake it for a triple-A title. However, the game is absurdly short and severely lacks in content beyond the story mode.”
“Edelweiss is to be applauded for applying modern day game design to a genus long in need of a 21st century lick, and while it might not totally rejuvenate an interest in bullet hell shooters, it would be foolish for fans of the genre to ignore a game as polished and slick as Astebreed. Granted, there's a limited audience for this type of game, and it's definitely not for the casuals, but any gamer nostalgic for the time when skill played a major factor in progression should find this a worthy challenge.”
“Astebreed is a remarkably well-built indie title, which nails both the mecha genre and its anime flavouring. Anyone who's enjoyed Radiant Silvergun or Ikaruga will find plenty to like here, and though it can be easy to blast through the levels as quickly as possible, its rewarding mechanics and high-score leaderboards will ensure plenty of reasons to make repeat visits.”
“While Astebreed may be short in length, it more than makes up for it with its anime styled storytelling and quality, fast, furious action. It's another classy little indie game on the PlayStation 4 that further enhances the console's value.”
Reviews are the work of the outlets named. Titles, scores and quoted excerpts are reproduced for identification and criticism; each links to the original.
