The creators of Rain World didn’t want to make another game that feels like a funeral for joy. So they built something loud, brash, and gloriously messy: Airframe Ultra, a cyberpunk hoverbike racer where every race ends in a free-for-all brawl. No ranked systems. No pay-to-win traps. Just raw, competitive multiplayer with a twist—you can dismount your bike at any moment, trade speed for chaos, and fight your way back to victory.
It’s the kind of game that feels like it was designed by someone who spent their childhood dodging puddles on a tricycle and then grew up to ask, ‘What if racing and Smash Bros. had a baby?’ The result is a title that rewards skill in both movement and melee, where tracks double as battlegrounds and every match is a test of adaptability.
A Race That Never Stops
Most racing games let you focus on one thing: speed. Airframe Ultra flips that on its head. The core loop is simple—hoverbikes tear through neon-lit megacities—but the real action happens when the timer hits zero. That’s when the track splits into an open arena, and the rules change. Dismount, grab a weapon, and the race becomes a fight. The last player standing (or the one with the highest score from knockouts) wins the round. It’s a design choice that turns every match into a hybrid of Rocket League and Super Smash Bros., where precision handling meets chaotic brawling.
Weapons aren’t just for show. The game throws in everything from traffic cones (yes, as jousting lances) to melee tools that feel weighty and satisfying in hand. Guns exist, but they’re the easy way out—mastering the melee arsenal turns every brawl into a dance of aggression and counterplay. And if you’re not in the mood to fight? You can wander the maps on foot, exploring at your leisure until the game gently nudges you back into action.
No Gimmicks, Just Depth
This isn’t a game that relies on loot boxes or season passes. Airframe Ultra is a one-time purchase with lasting value—no engagement hacks, no forced updates. The demo alone, available now during Steam Next Fest, shows off its competitive bones: hoverbikes that handle with surprising finesse (slower than you’d expect, but with razor-sharp control), arenas designed for both racing and combat, and a cyberpunk world that feels alive even when you’re not moving at breakneck speeds.
The lack of single-player content isn’t a flaw—it’s a deliberate choice. This is a multiplayer game through and through, with bot matches serving as the only solo option. For fans of Straftat or Battlefield 6, it’s a refreshing alternative: no grind, no manipulation, just pure, skill-based competition where every match feels like a test of reflexes and strategy.
Who It’s For
Airframe Ultra isn’t for players who want polished, sterile racing. It’s for those who crave games that feel like they were built by people who remember the thrill of smashing controllers in frustration—or triumph. The hoverbikes demand mastery, the brawls reward creativity, and the world is designed to be explored as much as raced. If you’ve ever wanted a game that’s equal parts Wipeout and Street Fighter, this is it.
There’s no release date yet, but the demo is live and waiting. For now, it’s a promise: Videocult isn’t making games that make you feel sad anymore. They’re making ones that make you laugh, fight, and scream—all while keeping your wallet safe.
