Brass Rebellion is a free-to-play action-arcade wave-based FPS developed by third-year students in the Game Development program at Niagara College. Players take control of the last surviving engineer trapped inside an automaton production facility, where survival depends on clever use of the environment rather than raw firepower alone. The core loop revolves around triggering traps with the Riveter weapon to crush waves of mechanical enemies while managing limited steam resources that serve as both ammunition and a measure of resilience.
Gameplay
The Riveter fires rivets that activate seven distinct traps scattered throughout the factory floors. Each trap delivers a different form of destruction, from crushing mechanisms to electrified hazards, and players must position themselves to lure automatons into these kill zones. Steam regenerates naturally over time but drops sharply when the engineer sustains damage, forcing careful movement and positioning. Replenishment stations placed deeper in the facility allow recovery, though reaching them requires unlocking gates that lead further into hostile territory.
Three automaton variants appear across the waves, each presenting unique movement patterns and durability. Destroyed enemies drop powerups that temporarily boost capabilities, while scrap and blueprints accumulate for later use at the workbench. Crafting produces repair kits and utility items that extend runs, and durability repairs keep the engineer functional longer against mounting pressure. High scores track wave survival and total automaton defeats, displayed on the main menu for personal comparison.
Game Modes
Brass Rebellion centers on endless wave survival within the single production-line environment. Players progress by surviving successive waves, defeating automatons, and pushing deeper through unlocked sections. The focus remains on personal high-score runs rather than competitive multiplayer sessions, though the leaderboard system encourages repeated attempts to improve placement among previous efforts. No separate cooperative or versus modes appear in the current build.
Progression and Resources
Scrap and blueprints gathered from combat feed directly into the workbench system. Players craft items that restore durability or provide tactical advantages during waves. This loop ties resource management to both immediate survival and longer-term preparation, as better repairs allow deeper exploration and higher wave counts. The system rewards consistent performance without requiring external purchases or premium currencies.
Is It Worth Playing?
Brass Rebellion suits players who enjoy short, intense sessions focused on trap placement and resource timing in a wave-survival format. The free-to-play model removes any upfront cost barrier, and the compact scope from a student team delivers a complete experience centered on its core mechanics. Those seeking fast-paced FPS action with environmental interaction rather than traditional gunplay will find the trap-triggering loop satisfying. The absence of ongoing seasonal content or large-scale updates means the game remains in its launch state, best approached as a focused indie title rather than a live-service experience. Players comfortable with single-player high-score chasing and iterative improvement will likely appreciate the straightforward design and the satisfaction of chaining trap activations across increasing wave difficulty.
