Kinetik
Kinetik is a tactical RPG shooter built around careful, squad-driven combat where positioning, roles, and coordination matter as much as aim. It supports both third person and first person perspectives, letting players choose the view that best fits their playstyle.
 | Publisher: Hero Machine Studios Type: Tactical RPG Shooter Release Date: 2017 Shut Down Date: November 09, 2018 Pros: +Deep character customization for a shooter RPG. +Strong focus on coordinated squad tactics. +Co-op and multiplayer raid-style missions. Cons: -Very little official information remains available. |
Kinetik Overview
Kinetik is a tactical RPG shooter developed by Hero Machine Studios, designed to lean into methodical, high-stakes firefights instead of run-and-gun chaos. Set in a sci-fi future with stylized armor and weaponry, the game aimed to be approachable at the control level while still demanding smart decisions from players who want to perform well consistently. You can swap between first person and third person cameras, which helps the game cater to different preferences, whether you want tighter aiming or more situational awareness.
Character building is central to the pitch. Players create an operative by selecting one of three classes (Recon, Engineer, Assault) and pairing it with a Special Forces origin (Navy SEALs, Russian Spetsnaz, British Special Forces). Those choices are meant to define how you contribute in a team, offering different abilities and skill tree paths. Rather than treating teammates as optional support, Kinetik frames success around working angles, protecting allies, and moving as a unit.
On the progression side, missions and raid-style content were positioned as the main loop, with loot collection feeding into crafting. The crafting system applies to weapons, armor, and items, and it scales with character level, encouraging longer-term play for anyone chasing stronger loadouts and more specialized builds.
Kinetik Key Features:
- High-pressure tactical combat – Easy to understand at first, but demanding once missions start punishing poor positioning and bad coordination.
- RPG-forward character building – Choose from multiple classes and Special Forces backgrounds, each influencing abilities, strengths, and skill progression.
- Team-first squad gameplay – victory depends on covering lanes, supporting allies, and making coordinated pushes.
- Gear crafting – create weapons, armor, and usable items, with crafting potential improving as you level.
- Co-op and raid missions – take on challenging content alongside friends or other players.
Kinetik Screenshots
Kinetik Featured Video
Kinetik Review
Kinetik was positioned as a hybrid between a tactical shooter and an RPG, with a clear emphasis on squad roles and deliberate pacing. In concept, it targeted players who enjoy planning an approach, sticking to a formation, and making loadouts that complement a team, rather than relying on individual hero plays. The class trio (Recon, Engineer, Assault) suggests a familiar division of responsibility, and the added “origin” choice was meant to further personalize how a build develops through its skill tree.
What stands out most about Kinetik on paper is its focus on teamwork as the default expectation. The game’s core promise was that you would need to cover teammates, control space, and move with purpose. That style can be extremely rewarding when a group is communicating and each player understands their job. It also tends to be less forgiving for solo-minded players, since a tactical framework usually exposes mistakes quickly, especially in harder missions and raid content.
The RPG layer, particularly character creation and progression, seemed designed to give firefights longer-term meaning. Loot acquisition combined with crafting implies a loop where players are constantly refining gear and experimenting with different setups. For fans of build-crafting, that can add a lot of motivation, because performance becomes tied not only to mechanical skill but also to smart preparation and synergy across the squad.
That said, Kinetik is difficult to assess in the way a typical released title can be judged, because the project’s public footprint is limited and its development ended. With the last announcement dated November 09, 2018, and the game considered abandoned, prospective players should treat Kinetik more as an interesting concept and a snapshot of ambition than a living game to invest in today.
Kinetik System Requirements
Minimum Requirements:
Operating System: Windows 7 64 bit
CPU: Core 2 Duo E6550 2.33GHz or Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 5600+
Video Card: GeForce 8800 GTS or Radeon HD 5670 1GB DDR3
RAM: 4 GB
Hard Disk Space: TBA
Kinetik Music & Soundtrack
No official soundtrack details are currently available, and information on the game’s audio direction is limited due to the project’s status.
Kinetik Additional Information
Developer(s): Hero Machine Studios
Publisher(s): Hero Machine Studios
Platform(s): PC (via Steam), Xbox One, PS4
Game Engine: Unreal Engine 4
Closed Beta Release Date: Q4 2017
Shut Down Date: November 09, 2018
Development History / Background:
Kinetik was developed and published by Hero Machine Studios, with crowdfunding support through Kickstarter. It was introduced as a cross-platform tactical RPG shooter planned for PC (via Steam), Xbox One, and PS4, and it also listed a closed beta window of Q4 2017. The final known announcement from the team is dated November 09, 2018, and the project appears to have been discontinued and left in an abandoned state.