Sonic the Hedgehog Hasn’t Said Much Since the Release of This New 3D Runner

When you’ve spent more time downloading a game than learning how to play it, you know you’re in for something special. “Haste: Broken Worlds” definitely fits that bill. It’s the quickest game I’ve had the pleasure of trying out this year, with its demo launching in under 30 seconds flat.

The game sticks to a straightforward plot: the world is collapsing, and your only hope is to outrun the chaos. Haste doesn’t bother with lengthy explanations. Instead, it throws you right into the action as Zoe, a girl sporting a pair of impressively snug glasses, and before you know it, you’re sliding and gliding down slopes without a single pause for breath.

Fans of Sonic the Hedgehog might start to feel a twinge of envy. Haste is all about capturing that exhilarating rush of nonstop speed. Once you’re in motion, it’s essentially a one-button experience. By pressing the spacebar, you can gracefully return to the ground before launching yourself back into the air. Nail those landings perfectly, and you fill a gauge that lets Zoe hop on a hoverboard, perfect for when you crash into obstacles or fall victim to the waves of corruption. Aside from the breathless racing sequences, the only breaks you get are to upgrade your gear or chat with companions.

Haste is a roguelike where every “run” offers you choices on where to go next. Once you reach a finish line, you decide your next destination. Some levels transform from black-and-white to vibrant color as you speed through them, while others challenge you to evade black holes before the clock runs out. Following sparkling crystal paths, you can gather and spend these gems on upgrades at various shops. Many upgrades give modest boosts to speed or health, yet some, like those restoring health when collecting crystals, can shape how you navigate a level.

The demo’s finale features a showdown with a giant robot that showers lava onto the course. You have to weave your way through and seize the moment to take him down. Speed is your ally in escaping the encroaching lava, pushing you to pursue perfect landings to top up your hoverboard gauge. Grabbing those small crystal clusters is essential to keep your health intact, adding an extra layer of strategy.

In a game with less polished mechanics, managing such a dynamic boss fight could easily become overwhelming, but Haste stays the course with smooth gameplay. Maneuvering through its stages feels instinctive, even when you’re struggling, and the game rewards daring maneuvers. When everything clicks, it’s a bit like hitting every note in a rhythm game. Unfortunately, the spell breaks only when the game does.

The team at Landfall, who not long ago released the quirky multiplayer horror title “Content Warning,” plans to launch “Haste: Broken Worlds” by the end of this year.