Publisher(s): First Break Labs
Platform(s): PC (Steam), Steam Deck, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, Nintendo Switch
Release Date: Q3 2025
If there is one thing that absolutely stood out for me about Baseless, it was the art style. This is a game that focuses on colors and shapes, no black outlines, and really pushes such a unique design aesthetic that you don’t want to look away. Set in a sci-fi world, I played through the first tutorial level of Baseless while skipping past the majority of the story content in order to fit the time into the demo slot I had available.
The gameplay is a planet-jumping shooter title: when you leap from area to area, you will find that the gravity of each new orb will grab you and pull you into it. If you’ve played Super Mario Galaxy or Super Mario Galaxy 2, then this gameplay concept should be familiar to you, but it is instead set in a 2D universe. Your means of propulsion are via the S.P.I.N.G.U.N., which you’re armed with very early on. You aim and shoot it behind you in order to move yourself forward, and then you whip it around and use it to shoot at your enemies. You’re also able to use a larger gun that has limited, replenishable ammunition to do damage faster.
Baseless was a lot of fun to experience once I got the hang of shooting behind me to propel myself forward. I was surprised and excited about the ease for which I could move myself to a favorable position, whip my gun around to blast away enemies with light and heavy shots, and then move immediately again to another favorable spot. Baseless is not easy by any means- don’t get me wrong. If you aren’t careful and you don’t aim well, it is possible to lose track of yourself and get demolished by enemies. Thankfully, you also have a bubble ability you can use to defend yourself. With just a simple tap of the Left bumper button, you can throw up a shield that defends yourself from attack until you’re ready to go on the offensive again. All of this, combined with the fact that you’re often flowing in a full 360 degrees around whatever planet you’re fighting on at a given time, creates an addictively fun and frantic gameplay loop.
Baseless is also supplemented by a very catchy soundtrack I couldn’t get enough of. Graphically, it is simply a gorgeous game. The art style echoes that of the classic animated series Samurai Jack: the characters are depicted utilizing simplistic, but stunning colors without black outlines. This arresting art style means that anyone who sees Baseless will instantly know what game it is on sight.
Overall, I had an absolute blast playing Baseless at GDC 2025. If you get a chance to experience it for yourself, you won’t regret it. It’s simply that fun of a game with challenging battle and movement mechanics looped into a gravitational atmosphere that makes me want to experience more of it, and its hard to believe that this game is being done by just one person in New York.
Are you excited for Baseless to be released?
What do you think of the game’s graphics?
Let us know in the comments below!
