Sektori is psychedelic, tough as nails, and worth the pain

"Sektori is an old-school twin-stick shooter. Created by a former developer at Returnal studio Housemarque, it puts you in the role of a little ship that blasts through swarms of enemies, and you have to weave through them to get upgrades to help you survive. Often, my runs end after less than a couple minutes, like a retro arcade game. But creator Kimmo Lahtinen brilliantly weaves modern ideas from roguelikes with pulsing visuals and music that make Sektori a mesmerizing experience."

"A key part of what makes Sektori good is how it puts you into a flow state."

"' Sektori is a place, a form of being, a method of transformation,' reads the description of the game's campaign mode. ' Sektori is seeking, processing, shaping. Sektori is a specter of your zero state.'"

Sektori places the player in control of a tiny ship that navigates compact arenas, blasting swarms of enemies while weaving through them to collect upgrades. Runs frequently end quickly, echoing retro arcade tension while modern roguelike ideas shape progression and risk-reward choices. Pulsing visuals and synchronized music heighten engagement and support a sustained flow state. The campaign frames Sektori as a transformative space focused on seeking, processing, and shaping, reinforcing a hypnotic gameplay loop. The project is led by Kimmo Lahtinen, a former developer from Housemarque, combining classic design with contemporary systems.

Read at The Verge