Gravity Hounds has launched in Early Access on PC and Xbox Series X|S, simultaneously joining Game Pass. The current co-op point-defense gameplay shows some potential, but the single-player mode feels hollow, and the balance between resource management and defensive pressure can easily become skewed.
Developed by Octopus Panic, this title is a third-person co-op shooter that blends tower defense, extraction, and physics-based interaction elements. Players must land on an alien world, gather surface resources, fortify mining facilities, and then use defenses like turrets to hold off waves of enemies before attempting to extract. Compared to Helldivers 2 and Deep Rock Galactic, the combat is more focused around mining bases, with gameplay structures leaning more towards cooperative point defense.
There are currently five canine heroes with distinct abilities, including Dozer the English Bulldog who serves as a tank, the well-rounded Selene, Luna the Samoyed who can boost teammates' speed, Zane the tough-looking Doberman, and Finn the agile Shiba Inu. Testers ultimately chose Finn for his mobility and character personality.
The canine characters' designs and backgrounds, the extensive skill tree, upgradable weapons, and basic shooting feel are the most appealing aspects of the current version. However, when playing solo, players must leave the base to collect resources while simultaneously fending off enemy hordes and repairing damaged turrets; the management pressure quickly exceeds reasonable limits, making the world feel empty and unresponsive.
As a result, testers recommend teaming up with friends at this stage, noting that the mission depth and balance are not yet mature. The development team has experience with the Halo and Battlefield series, and Gravity Hounds has already established a basic shooting framework.