Jumping into Hyper Light Breaker can feel a bit intimidating at first, especially if you're new to roguelikes.
The Overgrowth is packed with dangers, so you’ll have to think on your feet for each run.
But don’t worry; this guide is packed with tips to help you stay on track and get the most out of your experience.
What You Should Know Before Diving into Hyper Light Breaker
Hyper Light Breaker is an action-packed RPG set in an ever-changing world called the Overgrowth.
You play as a “Breaker,” a warrior who has to explore, fight, and survive in a dangerous, monster-filled environment.
You’ll be dodging dangerous cycles, collecting items, fighting some serious enemies, and leveling up to handle even tougher challenges.
It’s a roguelike, so the world changes each time you go in, and you start fresh (but with some permanent upgrades).
You’ll face off against bosses, known as Crowns, and try to gather as many upgrades and resources as possible before things get too dangerous.
Difficulty-wise? It’s a challenge. Hyper Light Breaker pulls no punches.
It punishes you when you make mistakes, and rushing things can quickly leave you feeling swamped.
But here are some beginner tips to help you get started and make your first few runs smoother.
1. Go Slow, Enjoy the Ride
One of the first things you’ll learn in Hyper Light Breaker is that the game isn’t a race to the end.
It’s more about surviving the Overgrowth and making steady headway with each run.
Before going after the Crown bosses, get familiar with how the game works for your first few cycles.
Wander through the world at your own pace, gather what you need, and gradually level up your gear.
The real trick is survival and getting stronger over time, not diving into tough battles too soon.
Pace yourself, and the game will pay off as you progress.
2. When in Doubt, Extract Out
One of the things that makes Hyper Light Breaker unique is the extraction mechanic.
It gives you a safe way to bail out with all your loot, so you don’t lose any progress if you’re not ready for the next big hurdle.
As things get riskier, extraction is your chance to keep your loot and resources safe without worrying about a game-ending loss.
If you’ve secured important items or aren’t up for a hard fight, triggering extraction is a good call.
When you trigger the extraction, expect a wave of enemies, but you'll get a chance to heal, upgrade your gear, and plan ahead.
3. One Goal at a Time
Early on, a solid plan for each run will make a big difference.
Rather than trying to do it all at once, focus on short-term goals that fit your current skills.
For instance, maybe you’d just gather the resources for an upgrade, collect prisms for a Crown gate, or make it to the extraction point without doing anything risky.
When you keep your goals simple and doable, you take off some of the stress and up your survival game.
That also means you should watch how much you explore the map since there is only so much time you can spend in the Overgrowth.
If you rush, you might not be ready for the bigger challenges later on.
4. Gear Doesn’t Last, But a Good Build Does
The gear and upgrades in Hyper Light Breaker are key to staying alive, but don’t get too comfortable with any single item or piece of equipment.
As with most roguelikes, your gear will eventually wear out, so you’ll have to keep tweaking your build to fit the moment.
Instead of hoarding rare items, focus on building a setup that matches how you like to play and works with your character's abilities.
Make sure your upgrades and gear sync up. If you’re stacking precision shots, it’s a good idea to prioritize Holobytes that up your critical hit damage.
Take a little time to see what upgrades work well, and if something doesn’t click, you can switch it up during the run.
5. Play with Others When Possible
You can play on your own in Hyper Light Breaker, but multiplayer makes it much more enjoyable.
When you squad up with other Breakers, you can rely on each other to make the game more forgiving.
The enemy has their attention split, so it takes the heat off you.
When playing multiplayer, your teammates can pull the boss’s focus, making it easier for you to hit them.
If possible, squad up with friends or use matchmaking to find a team that works with how you play.
Just keep in mind that multiplayer does slightly increase enemy health, but the overall advantage of working as a team outweighs this challenge.
6. Keep Your Resources in Check for Better Runs
You'll need a good stash of resources to make it through and level up your character in Hyper Light Breaker.
As you explore the Overgrowth, you’ll run into items like Bright Blood, Medigems, and Cores, all essential for your progression.
However, these resources are limited and can be easily squandered if you're not smart. Make them count by spending them wisely.
For example, don't throw away Medigems on little heal when you can hold onto them and unlock Medipacks for bigger healing later.
You can use Bright Blood to upgrade your gear, but if you're close to an extraction point, saving it for upgrades after the run might be better.
If you manage your resources well and choose upgrades that will help in the long run, your runs will be smoother, and you'll have a better chance of surviving.