Galactic Glitch Review: A Chaotic and Clever Space Shooter Simulation

Galactic Glitch, developed by Crunchy Leaf Games, is a fast-paced roguelike space shooter that blends nostalgic twin-stick action with modern physics-based mayhem. Set inside a mysterious spacetime simulation, players must blast, hurl, and outmaneuver their way through glitchy galaxies packed with enemies, rewards, and cryptic secrets.

Now available on Steam, Galactic Glitch is an indie standout that offers quick sessions, smart build variety, and a surprisingly deep combat sandbox for fans of games like Geometry Wars.

1. Story: Escape the Simulation

You are the latest spacecraft creation of a mysterious engineer known as Siren. Tasked with escaping a fractured simulation, your mission is to fight through waves of enemies and piece together the truth hidden in spacetime.

Through subtle dialogue and eerie design cues, Galactic Glitch builds a sense of narrative mystery: Are you just another failed experiment or the one who finally breaks the loop?

Unlike most indie roguelikes that drown players in lore or forget story altogether, Galactic Glitch strikes a compelling balance. The story isn’t spoon-fed; it’s scattered in cryptic lines from bosses or abandoned prototypes, teasing a deeper tale of failed experiments, existential dread, and betrayal, which I find enjoyable while playing through the game.

Comms With Siren.

2. Gameplay: A Physics-Fueled Roguelike Shooter

At its core, Galactic Glitch offers a unique blend of

• Physics-based combat
• Tight twin-stick shooting
• Roguelike progression

The game encourages creativity through its combat system, allowing you to shoot, dodge, hurl debris, or even bounce enemies off each other to clear the screen. The addition of grab-and-throw mechanics gives every battle an emergent feel, where the environment becomes your arsenal.

Combat in Galactic Glitch is swift, satisfying, and filled with choices—from which weapon to equip to how you use your momentum and terrain. The further you get, the tougher and trickier the enemy formations become, especially the late-game bosses that will test your build efficiency and dodging reflexes.

The Tesseract in Galactic Glitch.

2.1 Ship Customization: Weapons, Prototypes, and Rift Powers

2.1.1 Weapons

There are four types of weapons: melee, short-range, medium-range, and long-range, each of which changes your approach to a fight. From the precision-focused Void Ring to the devastating Quantum Beam, weapons are unlocked via blueprints and cannot be changed mid-run, forcing you to commit to your build.

Some weapons, like the Void Ring or Quantum Beam, have tricky mechanics, but once paired with the right ship and Rift Powers (Galactic Glitch’s version of power-ups or relics), they transform the way you play. For example, during one run, I equipped a Rift Power that left a trail of damage every time I dashed, turning me into a living buzzsaw across the battlefield.

New Powers.

2.1.2 Prototypes

Each prototype ship comes with different base statistics and passive abilities, such as enhanced agility, damage resistance, or gravity manipulation. Some even provide unique effects, such as freezing enemies or boosting drone damage. Your prototype choice heavily impacts your run strategy.

Prototypes in Galactic Glitch.

2.1.3 Rift Powers

Rift Powers, which are discovered during exploration, offer passive bonuses and conditional buffs, such as:

• Leaving a trail of damage while dodging
• Summoning support drones
• Gaining extra loot
• Or reducing cooldowns

With limited slots, managing Rift Powers becomes a vital part of your loadout planning. They’re your ticket to adapting as challenges intensify.

Rift Power Cache in Galactic Glitch.

2.2 Explorations: Warp Across Bubbles

Galactic Glitch doesn’t just drop you into linear levels; it places you in a dynamic, node-based space dungeon. Each node might spawn enemies, offer loot, contain a rift challenge, or house a shop. You can warp between explored areas, letting you backtrack for upgrades or heal before a boss fight.

This system keeps exploration fast-paced and minimizes downtime, making it perfect for players seeking short yet action-packed runs.

3. Graphics and Audio: A Simulation Worth Getting Lost In

Visually, Galactic Glitch isn’t flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. Its minimalist, retro-futuristic art style is clean and effective, keeping visibility crisp even during chaotic battles. Colors pop, hazards are easy to spot, and every hit has weight thanks to sharp visual feedback.

Audio is where the game comes to life. From the “boing” of a dash slicing through enemies to the distorted pulse of glitch powers activating, sound cues add personality and urgency. While the soundtrack itself isn’t particularly memorable, the sound effects carry the experience, offering just enough feedback to keep the player immersed without fatigue.