PAX East 2026
Cosminers was one of many wonderful video games showcased in Boston, MA during PAX East 2026. Housed under the Games from Poland booth, the creative minds at Gravity Rifters were eager to showcase their co-op adventure and sci-fi sim.
I gave the Cosminers demo a whirl on a controller (mouse and key were also available), and I experienced the day-to-day tasks of mining, crafting, and defending. Yes, while mining in the throes of outer space, you need to be mindful of your environment, such as oxygen levels, while also fighting off any monstrosities that come across your path. Once I collected enough material, I crafted a few items, then I got to experience the more “tower defense” aspect.
Although previously designed in a third-person perspective, the developers ultimately decided on a first-person view to lock-in immersion, especially when mining. The visuals were gorgeous. I wanted to slow down and just absorb my environment. The lighting powered by the Unity engine really helped immerse me in this alien environment to the point where I almost forgot what I needed to accomplish.
Toward the end of my demo, the developers simulated what tower-defense portion would look like if you had more materials, as if you’ve been playing for much longer. I was impressed at what you can build and customize at your base. At the same time, it felt realistic, as the monsters can easily destroy your missles, so don’t get too comfortable! It was pretty cinematic.
While playable alone, I do feel that Cosminers strikes gold in co-op. The developers explained that when playing with others, you can split up tasks and coordinate roles to ensure the success of your base.
There are clear inspirations for this game. The developer shared their love for science fiction and games such as Deep Rock Galactic, Helldivers, and Satisfactory. So, if you enjoyed any of those games, you probably will like Cosminers.
Cosminers has been in development for about a year and a half, and Gravity Rifters hopes to drop early access later this year. In speaking with the devs, it’s clear their love for their game. Even when asking what was the most rewarding part of development, one mentioned the fact that some “accidents” during play testing ended up staying in the game!
Does Cosminers sound right up your alley? Check out the trailer and synopsis below. Also, be sure to wishlist the game in Steam today!
“Cosminers is a 1-4 player co-op FPP sci-fi building and mining game with survival elements based on day/night cycle. As a space miner kill various aliens on procedurally-generated planet’s undergrounds. Craft and upgrade your tools, weapons & base to get countless hours of thrilling gameplay” –Steam
Thank you to the team at Gravity Rifters, and please stay tuned for more news coverage at PAX East 2026!
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Featured Image Source: Gravity Rifters via Steam
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