Sektori is hallucinogenic, resilient as iron, and deserving of the agony

Sektori is a classic twin-stick shooter. Developed by a previous team member from Returnal studio Housemarque, it places you in the cockpit of a tiny vessel that navigates through hordes of foes, requiring you to maneuver through them to gather enhancements that will assist in your survival. Frequently, my attempts conclude in under a couple of minutes, reminiscent of an old-school arcade title. Yet, creator Kimmo Lahtinen cleverly integrates contemporary elements from roguelikes with vibrant visuals and a soundtrack that transform Sektori into an entrancing journey.

A crucial aspect that makes Sektori enjoyable is how it immerses you in a flow state. “Sektori is an environment, a way of existing, a process of change,” states the description of the game’s campaign mode. “Sektori encompasses seeking, processing, shaping. Sektori embodies a vision of your null state.” It may be elaborate, abstract wording, but stay with me as I explain the inner workings of the game. It took me a while to get a grip on it, and understanding how all the elements connect is what elevates the game to those esteemed levels.

When you commence a run in campaign mode, your diminutive ship lands in a compact playing area. You initially possess two methods of attack: a blaster that releases infinite laser projectiles in the direction your right stick points, and a “strike” that propels your ship forward but has a brief cooldown. Enemies typically take the form of polygonal figures that momentarily appear as red outlines, giving you a moment to evade before they solidify and become actual threats. Sustaining a hit results in the loss of one of the three shields you start with. Upon defeating foes, they drop small triangles called “glimmer,” and collecting enough allows you to acquire upgrades.

The upgrade mechanism is the game’s hidden gem. Displayed on the left side of the screen, you’ll find a roster of upgrades related to speed, score, strike, shield, missile, and blaster. When you collect a selector token, it advances the potential upgrade by one position on the list, but when you actually choose an upgrade, it resets the selector back to the beginning. For instance, if you gather enough selector tokens to earn a missile upgrade, the subsequent selector token will make you eligible for a speed upgrade.

This system ensures you’re continually faced with decisions, often while encircled by enemies, regarding whether to opt for a more easily obtainable speed or strike upgrade or gamble on waiting for the more valuable enhancements higher on the hierarchy. Additionally, you can only utilize selector tokens to secure five bonus shields in total during a run, meaning you’ll frequently have to consider if you want to grab a shield or take a risk in order to secure a missile or blaster upgrade that could offer more offensive capabilities.

From time to time, you’ll discover “evolver tokens” that provide you with more significant upgrades to select from a deck, such as drones that orbit your ship or a cannon that fires projectiles behind you. Occasionally, you’ll also encounter a token featuring a rotating series of letters; if you collect all the letters to form a word (the higher the difficulty, the longer the word), you’ll transition into a short, rainbow-filled supercharged state akin to acquiring a star in Mario Kart.

Further complicating matters is the ever-shifting arena surrounding you. Every few moments, the map expands, contracts, and occasionally even temporarily blocks you from areas you could previously access. If you find yourself in a section that gets cut off when it’s removed, which is indicated by flashing red zones before its disappearance, it’s an instant game over. If you endure for long enough, the arena transitions into a boss fight, such as a massive, Moldorm-like serpent, and defeating the boss allows you to progress to the next, more challenging level. Survive for five levels and you can complete the run.

It can feel overwhelming to navigate. A majority of my attempts don’t take off because I cannot secure upgrades quickly enough to withstand the relentless assault of foes. Even with a powerful build, success often feels precarious. But that’s what renders the game captivating; when a session gains momentum, Sektori transforms into something remarkable as you dash through levels, eliminate foes, persistently pursue upgrades, and, despite the barrage, keep going — all while stunning visuals and an energetic techno soundtrack inundate your senses.

I’ve managed to finish the game just once. Yet during that one extraordinary attempt, I finally grasped the essence of Sektori.

^{Sektori is currently available on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X / S.}