Explode is a co-op first-person shooter built around short, intense looting runs against waves of security robots. Players take on the role of a crew hired to extract valuable items from guarded sites using a van as the central hub. The core loop revolves around grabbing loot with both hands while teammates handle the escalating threats, all within tight time limits that force quick decisions and coordinated movement.
Gameplay
Each run begins with the van door opening at an abandoned site. Guards already surround the loot, and successive waves of robots arrive in increasing numbers. The timer runs for sixty seconds per round, pushing the crew to prioritize targets and extraction paths. Loot such as televisions, safes, and payroll chests requires two hands to carry, leaving the carrier vulnerable and dependent on the rest of the team for cover.
Combat centers on a fixed arsenal chosen at the start of a run. Options include rocket launchers, grenade launchers, miniguns, shotguns, sniper rifles, land mines, and fragmentation grenades. Movement tools add verticality and speed: rocket jumps clear crowds, while slides, grapples, jetpacks, and dashes help reposition around the van. Friendly fire from explosions can launch teammates forward, turning accidents into useful shortcuts. Between missions the quota rises and robot types grow tougher, including patrol bots, charging bruisers, laser gunners, chaingun suppressors, and fast ninjas.
Progression happens through shared earnings. The crew divides the take and purchases armor, larger backpacks, jump boots, damage boosters, blast radius upgrades, and weapon-specific modifications. These changes alter how a chosen gun behaves on the next run, encouraging experimentation with loadouts over repeated attempts.
Game Modes
The game supports solo play or online co-op for one to four players. Proximity voice chat lets teammates hear reactions in real time, especially from whoever is hauling heavy loot. Missions consist of three rounds that must all meet the quota to succeed and bank the haul. Failure on any round ends the run. No separate competitive or versus modes exist; the focus remains on cooperative extraction against AI waves.
Progression and Upgrades
Successive missions steadily increase the quota and introduce stronger robot variants. Earnings from completed runs fund permanent and temporary upgrades purchased between jobs. Armor improves survivability, backpacks allow more carried items, and specialized boosters change weapon performance or movement capabilities. The system rewards consistent performance because higher quotas demand better coordination and loadout choices over time.
Is It Worth Playing?
Explode suits players who enjoy short-session co-op shooters with clear objectives and escalating pressure. The emphasis on two-handed loot carrying creates natural teamwork moments, while the fixed-weapon-per-run rule keeps each attempt distinct. With no release date passed and no player reviews available yet, the experience remains untested at scale. Those drawn to wave-based defense mixed with extraction goals and upgrade loops may find the structure appealing once it launches, particularly in small groups using voice chat for coordination.