The Cycle cover art

The Cycle

2019Yager DevelopmentPC (Microsoft Windows)

The Cycle is a Competitive Quest Shooter or PvEvP for insiders. You play as a prospector sent on Fortuna III, a living and unstable planet swarming with hostile alien wildlife. Compete or deal a fragile pact with other Prospectors to claim as many resources as possible.

What it feels like

The PvEvP format and extraction pressure create sustained edge-of-seat tension throughout each run. Alien creatures and environmental hazards present an active, present threat that clearly intends prospectors harm.

Tense70%
Menacing55%

What it's about

An abandoned alien world with hostile creatures and advanced prospecting technology anchors the sci-fi setting. Surviving the planet's hostile environment, deadly storm, and competing prospectors is central to the experience. Prospectors operate on a hostile alien world cut off from civilization, with limited backup and high personal risk.

Science Fiction75%
Survival Against Nature65%
Isolation45%

How it plays

The core loop is entering Fortuna III to prospect for resources and survive extraction with loot intact before the deadly storm forces departure. First-person shooting against alien wildlife and other prospectors is a primary interaction mode throughout each run. Shooting combat is fused with prospecting for randomized loot and resources as the core reward loop.

Extraction Loop95%
Gunplay85%
Looter-Shooter80%
Resource Management75%
Loot & Drops70%
Detection & Awareness55%

How it looks and sounds

The game is presented entirely from a first-person perspective as the prospector navigating the alien world.

First-Person85%

How it's structured

Prospectors must contend with hostile alien creatures, environmental threats, and other players simultaneously in the same space. Direct competition with other prospectors for resources and extraction is a central dynamic, even if cooperative deals are possible. Each match is a discrete run where prospectors enter, gather loot, and extract or lose everything on death.

PvPvE90%
Competitive PvP75%
Run-Based70%
Online Co-op60%
Seamless World60%
Short Playtime50%
ARC Raiders74% match

Shares Extraction Loop, PvPvE, Gunplay, Looter-Shooter.

Both lean into Extraction Loop, PvPvE, Gunplay, Looter-Shooter.

Extraction Loop95%PvPvE80%Gunplay85%Looter-Shooter80%

Shares Extraction Loop, Gunplay, PvPvE, Tense.

Both lean into Extraction Loop, Gunplay, PvPvE, Tense.

Extraction Loop92%Gunplay95%PvPvE85%Tense88%
Vigor63% match

Shares Extraction Loop, Looter-Shooter, PvPvE, Gunplay.

Both lean into Extraction Loop, Looter-Shooter, PvPvE, Gunplay.

Extraction Loop92%Looter-Shooter95%PvPvE85%Gunplay80%

See all games like The Cycle

A lesser-known kindred — Gunplay, First-Person, Science Fiction, Resource Management. 96% positive across 4,402 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Gunplay, First-Person, Science Fiction, Resource Management.

Gunplay95%First-Person90%Science Fiction75%Resource Management40%
20XX32% match

A lesser-known kindred — Gunplay, Run-Based, Loot & Drops, Online Co-op. 91% positive across 4,562 Steam reviews.

Both lean into Run-Based, Gunplay, Loot & Drops, Online Co-op.

Run-Based95%Gunplay80%Loot & Drops65%Online Co-op70%

A lesser-known kindred — First-Person, Gunplay, Science Fiction, Competitive PvP. 91% positive across 4,914 Steam reviews.

Both lean into First-Person, Gunplay, Science Fiction, Competitive PvP.

First-Person95%Gunplay75%Science Fiction75%Competitive PvP50%
Work on The Cycle?Claim this page to correct details or add missing context.