What are the pros of The Ascent?

Exceptional cyberpunk visuals and dense, atmospheric environment design.. Competent and fun twin-stick shooter combat mechanics.. Rich world-building and an interesting storyline that gets better as it progresses.. Includes a freecam mode that is highly valued by screenshot enthusiasts..

What are the cons of The Ascent?

Persistent, years-old bugs including game-breaking save file wipes.. Confusing and poorly designed map system that acts as a barrier to progression.. Repetitive gameplay loops involving frequent backtracking and resetting enemy encounters.. Inconsistent difficulty scaling and a perceived lack of depth in late-game mechanics.. Underwhelming cover mechanics and a lack of impact in some combat encounters..

The Ascent

The Ascent is a solo and co-op Action-shooter RPG set in a cyberpunk world. The mega corporation that owns you and everyone, The Ascent Group, has just collapsed. Can you survive without it?

73%

Mostly Positive

DeveloperNeon Giant

PublisherKRAFTON, Inc.

Release DateJul 29, 2021

$29.99

Peak Players13.9K

Controllerfull

PlatformsWindows

AI Review Summary

The Ascent is a visually stunning twin-stick shooter that masterfully captures a gritty cyberpunk atmosphere, though it is often described as a shallow experience. While the initial combat and world-building make a strong impression, the game is heavily marred by persistent technical issues, including a notorious save-wiping bug and a frustratingly confusing map system.

Pros

Exceptional cyberpunk visuals and dense, atmospheric environment design.95%
Competent and fun twin-stick shooter combat mechanics.85%
Rich world-building and an interesting storyline that gets better as it progresses.70%
Includes a freecam mode that is highly valued by screenshot enthusiasts.40%

Cons

Persistent, years-old bugs including game-breaking save file wipes.90%
Confusing and poorly designed map system that acts as a barrier to progression.85%
Repetitive gameplay loops involving frequent backtracking and resetting enemy encounters.80%
Inconsistent difficulty scaling and a perceived lack of depth in late-game mechanics.75%
Underwhelming cover mechanics and a lack of impact in some combat encounters.60%

Notable Mentions

The developer Neon Giant was acquired by Krafton, leading to community concerns regarding future content updates.
Reviewers noted a very low completion rate for the main campaign among the player base.
The game is frequently recommended only when purchased at a significant discount.

Confidence: 96%

Based on the 83 most relevant reviewsGenerated on Sep 4, 2026

Game Vitals

Live snapshot

Player Activity

Current peak

268

Peak · last 90 days

1.5K

All-time peak

13.9K

Price

Current price

$29.99

Lowest tracked

$2.99since Jan 18, 2026

Review Sentiment

Last 30 days

61%

All-time positive

73%

Review Statistics

Total Reviews25.3K

Positive: 18.6K (73%)Negative: 6.7K (27%)

Reviews from Steam Deck

Dev Response Rate

16h

Avg Playtime at Review

80%

Credible Reviews