Polaris Review | A Frustrating Mess of Pure Destruction

54
Story
5
Gameplay
6
Visuals
5
Audio
7
Value for Money
4
Price:
$ 10
Clear Time:
5 Hours
Polaris was marketed as an extraction shooter with fully destructible environments, and while that promise holds true, it, unfortunately, extends to the overall gameplay experience as well. While there are moments of fun to be had, the game suffers from game-breaking bugs, unpolished mechanics, and a lack of key features that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The foundation has promise, but Polaris needs significant improvements before it can deliver on its ambitious vision.
Polaris
Release Date Gameplay & Story Pre-Order & DLC Review

Polaris is a sci-fi co-op extraction shooter featuring a fully destructible environment. Read our review to see what it did well, what it didn't do well, and if it's worth buying.

Polaris Review Overview

What is Polaris?

Polaris is a sci-fi co-op, session-based PvE extraction shooter where up to four players take on the role of Skylancers, an elite resistance force fighting to liberate a planet under the control of the oppressive Regime. Focused on high-intensity guerrilla warfare, players engage in large-scale battles against enemy forces in fully destructible cityscapes, dismantling infrastructure and striking at the heart of the Regime’s war machines.

Polaris features:
 ⚫︎ PvE Extraction Shooter
 ⚫︎ Multiplayer Up to 4 Players
 ⚫︎ 4 Open Area Maps
 ⚫︎ Destructible Environment
 ⚫︎ Third Person
 ⚫︎ Flight Shooter
 ⚫︎ Sci-Fi


Digital Storefronts
Steam IconSteam
$9.99

Polaris Pros & Cons

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Pros Cons
Checkmark A Playground for Destruction
Checkmark Having Hover Boots is Fun
Checkmark Rifftastic Soundtrack
Checkmark Game Breaking Bugs
Checkmark Lack of Game Modes
Checkmark Boring Enemies
Checkmark Horrible Solo Experience

Polaris Overall Score - 54/100

Polaris was marketed as an extraction shooter with fully destructible environments, and while that promise holds true, it, unfortunately, extends to the overall gameplay experience as well. While there are moments of fun to be had, the game suffers from game-breaking bugs, unpolished mechanics, and a lack of key features that prevent it from reaching its full potential. The foundation has promise, but Polaris needs significant improvements before it can deliver on its ambitious vision.

Polaris Story - 5/10

In Polaris, you take on the role of a Skylancer, fighting to reclaim your ancestors' birthright by resisting the Regime’s war of conquest. It’s an interesting premise, and while the game lacks a dedicated story mode, there are glimpses of environmental storytelling in this world.

Abandoned buildings hint at forced evacuations—or possibly worse—while the sci-fi ships and Skylancers’ rebellious nature evoke a feeling reminiscent of the Rebel Alliance vs the Empire from Star Wars. At times, you truly feel like the last hope for this world, though the world itself feels somewhat empty.

Adding human NPCs in future updates could further enhance immersion, making the resistance feel more tangible and alive. It’s a bit ironic that while you're fighting to save the planet from the Regime, you end up causing massive destruction yourself with the sheer amount of environmental damage left in your wake.

Polaris Gameplay - 6/10

Polaris presents itself as a third-person extraction shooter with an emphasis on environmental destruction, a core concept that, on paper, holds significant promise. However, despite the ambitious vision from the 11-person development team, the current iteration of the game is lacking in several crucial areas, leaving it feeling unfinished and underdeveloped. The core gameplay is marred by a lack of depth, with missing game modes, a weak solo experience, and a rather limited variety of enemy types. In a genre that thrives on rewarding loot systems, Polaris falters with its scarcity of loot, undermining one of the primary draws of extraction shooters. These issues detract from the potential enjoyment, making the experience feel more frustrating and repetitive than engaging. While the promise is there, Polaris remains a work in progress, one that requires significant updates to meet the expectations set by its marketing.

Polaris Visuals - 5/10

Polaris opts for a bright, high-contrast visual style, distancing itself from the typical gritty shooter look. Unfortunately, this execution falls short, with excessive brightness making the game feel washed out and the environments, except for Desert Canyons, feeling lifeless. Enemy designs are generic, which is disappointing given the sci-fi setting. While the Skylancers' designs are standout, they highlight the lack of creativity in the world and enemy designs. Moreover, the visuals often interfere with gameplay, with poor contrast making it hard to see important details, and frequent bugs and clipping issues disrupting the experience.

Polaris Audio - 7/10

The soundtrack is arguably the best part of Polaris. The guitar riffs and high-octane drums really stand out, especially when you’re dropping into the map. The intense electric guitar and bombastic drops get you pumped up, setting the perfect tone for shooting and combat. That said, while the music is thrilling, it can start to feel repetitive after a while.

Polaris Value for Money - 4/10

At just $10, Polaris is an affordable game, but unfortunately, I can’t fully recommend it in its current state. The lack of additional game modes, a poor solo experience, and the sheer number of technical issues make the gameplay frustrating rather than enjoyable.

That said, I hope the developers address these problems quickly, because with the right updates, Polaris has the potential to be a fun and addicting experience.

Polaris Review

A Frustrating and Destructive Mess

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It’s disappointing to say this, especially because Polaris clearly has a lot of potential and passion behind it, but in its current state, it’s a frustrating mess. I hate to be so critical because, on the surface—when everything works—the game can be genuinely fun. However, the numerous issues make it hard to fully enjoy, especially if you're planning to play with friends.

Before diving into the problems, let’s take a quick look at how the game actually plays.

Gameplay Overview

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As a third-person shooter, Polaris drops teams into four expansive open-area locations—Mountain, Archipelago, Desert Canyons, and Floating Islands—where they can choose between two mission types:

 ⚫︎ Gunship Assault – Disable enemy generators and shields before taking down massive warships.
 ⚫︎ Devastation – Destroy a spiraling enemy rig in a high-risk, all-out offensive.

The match begins with everyone starting in the airship, from which you'll drop onto the map at different designated areas. As an extraction shooter, your first task is to scavenge for loot scattered around the environment, typically found in pods.

You start with just a pistol and must shoot your way through everything, as the world is fully destructible—from trees and plants to buildings and the very land itself. After landing, you'll encounter Daggers—small black ships that will attack you on sight.

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Throughout each match, players earn Requisition Points by eliminating Daggers. These points can be used to acquire powerful upgrades, including hovering boots for aerial mobility and advanced ships to navigate the battlefield with greater ease.

Your objective is to follow the marker, starting by eliminating the shields and then destroying the main ships or rigs within a set time limit.

Once objectives are complete, the team must successfully extract by flying back to their carrier, ensuring their survival and the continued fight against the Regime with ten difficulty levels.

Lots of Destructive Fun to be Had

Let’s start with the positives: Polaris certainly delivers on its promise of a destructible environment. Almost everything you shoot breaks apart, even with just a pistol, which is a lot of fun. The hover boots are a highlight, allowing you to hover and sprint freely without worrying about fuel—giving you an Iron Man-like experience.

The ships are harder to control but can be fun once you get the hang of them, especially when you’re speeding through the environment, causing destruction.

There’s a palpable sense of tension as you race against the clock to complete objectives, heightened by the adrenaline-pumping soundtrack, especially those awesome guitar riffs that really get you fired up. Playing with a group of four, working together to finish the mission, is definitely a fun experience. Unfortunately, this is where the enjoyment starts to taper off.

Lots of Destructive Bugs and Weird Game Design Choices

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While the developers have noted that the solo experience isn’t recommended, they were right to make that point. Playing solo is an unenjoyable experience due to the map’s sheer size and the constant respawn of enemies. The game lacks a proper scaling option for solo mode, only offering a difficulty setting, which doesn’t do much to improve the experience.

A smaller map or additional solo-friendly features would’ve been a welcome addition, as the current setup simply doesn’t make solo play enjoyable. What makes matters worse is the slow lobby matchmaking, which I understand, but it feels like it takes longer than expected.

From the very start of the game, there are noticeable issues. For example, during the falling sequence, the cutscene is impressive when diving down, but why not allow players to control their descent, as seen in other games like Apex Legends or Fortnite? Instead, you’re stuck in an awkward shooting position, unable to move while falling.

Image

This feels limiting, especially when you drop into water areas, which can be frustrating to navigate out of. To make it worse, enemies immediately target you upon landing, forcing you to quickly look up for threats.

Aiming can be a chore at times, as the environment constantly obstructs your view. For a game that’s supposed to focus on extraction, it’s baffling that loot is so scarce. Pods are hard to find, and most of the time, I had to rely on killing Daggers just to purchase items. The loot drops in pods are also inconsistent, and I wish they would regularly drop more weapons, as I found myself rarely getting any.

The destructible environment, while a fun feature, can be a real hassle. At times, it obstructs your view and even affects movement. For example, when hovering or flying, environmental destruction can stop your progress. It would be ideal if players could simply smash through obstacles, but instead, you have to shoot them to clear the way, which feels tedious.

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Unfortunately, the biggest issue is the game-breaking bugs that plague the experience. I’ve encountered moments where I got stuck outside the map, trapped underground and unable to move, or found myself immobilized in water. These bugs, exacerbated by the destructible environment, really hinder the overall gameplay experience, and I hope the developers address these issues quickly.

Really Boring Enemies

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The gameplay loop quickly becomes repetitive and boring because the enemies are all the same—just generic black ships with little variation. It would have been much more engaging if we actually got a glimpse of what the Regime looks like—are they humans or aliens? As it stands, shooting becomes a chore, especially since you're almost always looking upward to target enemies unless you're flying.

The constant waves of enemies feel tedious, with no real variety or personality among them. This lack of differentiation makes the experience predictable and ultimately less exciting.

Is Polaris Worth It?

Best to Wait for More Updates

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It's unfortunate to say, but as it stands, Polaris is simply not in a fun playable state at the moment. While the $10 price tag is reasonable, the game still feels underdeveloped and lacks the polish needed to make it truly enjoyable.

It’s hard to recommend it, especially when trying to convince friends to join, particularly when other similar games offer a better experience without any cost. I really want to support this game, though, as it has great potential, and I hope the developers continue to update and improve it.

If you're still interested in playing or supporting the creators, I recommend joining a lobby or connecting with others by joining Polaris' Discord server to find a group to play with.


Digital Storefronts
Steam IconSteam
$9.99

Polaris FAQ

How Many Playable Maps are in Polaris?

There are currently 4 maps to play:
 ⚫︎ Mountain
 ⚫︎ Archipelago
 ⚫︎ Desert Canyons
 ⚫︎ Floating Islands

Can You Change Your Character or Appearance in Polaris?

Currently, Polaris does not allow you to change appearance or characters. Instead, each session randomly assigns you a character to play.

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Polaris Product Information

Polaris Cover
Title Polaris
Release Date January 29, 2025
Developer POLARIS TEAM, Variable State
Publisher Variable State
Supported Platforms Steam
Genre Extraction Shooter, Online Co-Op
Number of Players 1-4
ESRB Rating RP
Official Website Polaris Website

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