# Blast Waves — Challenging Offline Roguelike > Tactical arcade shooter with roguelike survival and squad auto-battler modes. (iPhone/iPad app by Kyle Barrett.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blast-waves/id1448678847 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [Kyle Barrett](https://appshunter.io/developer/1214660639) - Category: Games, Role Playing, Strategy - Price: $3.99 - Rating: 4.20/5 from 42 App Store ratings · 27 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 9+ - Requires: iOS 9.0 · 109 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2021-12-15 - Data updated: 2026-09-08 - Monetization: paid - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blast-waves/id1448678847/reviews.md ## What is Blast Waves? Blast Waves is a tactical arcade shooter where time only moves as you move, and every shot counts. Play through the rogue-like Survival Mode as a fresh recruit. Rapidly gain new weapons and abilities while trying to make it through an intergalactic conflict. Most troopers won't make it. The few that do survive become permanently playable as clone squad commanders. In the auto battler-like Command Mode, players build and organize squads while fighting to last as long as possible against overwhelming odds. Key Features: -Survival Mode: Build a character from the ground up across multiple battles. -Command Mode: Characters that make it through Survival Mode can be selected to lead squads against increasingly overwhelming odds. -100s of weapons, armor types, and gadgets to unlock. -6 unique biomes with destructible terrain and distinct environmental challenges. -Dozens of allied and enemy troop types to learn and master. -Skill-based joystick shooting and tap-to-target control schemes. -Holotags record the unique exploits of every character. ## Key features - Roguelike Survival Mode - Squad Auto-Battler Command Mode - Hundreds of unlockable weapons, armor, and gadgets - 6 unique biomes with destructible terrain - Dozens of allied and enemy troop types - Skill-based joystick and tap-to-target controls ## Chart rankings - #170 in Top Paid · Role Playing (US App Store) ## Recent user reviews (10 of 27) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blast-waves/id1448678847/reviews.md ### 5/5 — Better one so far *2026-07-13* I have played your Ultima Blade and enjoyed a lot. It’s supposed to be the top game of your career. But this game made me review that opinion. Blade Waves is the best one so far. It turn based is more enjoyable than the fast paced of Ultima Blade. If I’m super picky, the health bar could be better positioned, since some iPhones place their front cameras where the health bar is. Other than that, it’s a perfect game. ### 5/5 — Incredible Offline Game *2025-07-31* Takes a minute to get the hang of the controls/cadence, but once you do, the challenge becomes addictive. I limit myself to one phone game at a time, requirements being no in game ads / no internet required. This didn’t just fit the profile, this game exceeded my expectations in almost every way. Great work, KB. Recommendations are as follows: make more games! ### 5/5 — Yes *2025-01-11* It’s so perfect ### 3/5 — Great game major problem *2025-01-10* Game would be 5 stars it is so fun but the command mode only saves the first 42 characters you beat the game with so you’re stuck without any of the fully Upgraded characters you beat it with later ### 1/5 — Controls -_- *2024-04-07* The controls for this game are atrocious. Avoid this game at all costs. ### 4/5 — 9/10 *2023-07-17* Fun game I do like the wave styles gameplay but do wish for more content ### 5/5 — The Update Deserves Another Star From Me! *2023-02-24* I was happily surprised by the new update and thought it was crazy how close it came out to the release of Ultra Blade! I have been enjoying the added weapons and Gorrian home world level! Already said it before but this is a great and unique game, and Kyle Barret is an amazing dev! If you like this game check out his other stuff, especially the first one I played by him, a century spanning vampire rogue-like called Rogue Immortal! **Developer response:** Thanks so much for playing! ### 5/5 — A new game from Kyle Barrett? Shut up and take my money! *2023-01-02* Kyle Barrett is a solo developer who is passionate about the games he makes. He literally makes the games he wants to play, and wow, I want to play them too! Every one of his games is a gem. Here’s to many more Kyle Barrett games! I am in my first playthrough now, and I am loving the game. I am using the default controls Kyle created, and I find them intuitive and fun. Just gotta get used to not starting on your character when you want to move the camera, and always starting on your character when you do want to move. The backstory of my character is cool, and it is fun to see his impressive list of accomplishments grow. I always love unlockables, and Blast Waves has tons of them! Going rogue now. Get the game and have a Blast! **Developer response:** Thanks for the kind words! It's always exciting to see someone digging into and enjoying one of these projects. I appreciate your feedback on the controls as well. I'm looking for ways to improve this system- both for Blast Waves and any other future games that may use it. ### 5/5 — Great game *2022-11-26* This is a great game and it has lots of potential. I do think that there should be more to the survival story than just ending with command mode. I think there should be like a campaign of some sort where you can continue to grow and conquer worlds and win battles. There should be some kind of end goal. Maybe you could make a mode where you are actually fighting a war and have to liberate the planets and continue fighting and liberating planets until your commander dies. The commander mode has no weight to it, you just endlessly fight until you die and then do it all over again. There should be other modes and other campaign style elements just to give the game a lil more spice. I do think that it’s a pretty good game though. Will there be any updates in the future? ### 3/5 — Control mechanics *2022-07-07* Concept is good, but the control is too clunky. Why not give us a virtual joystick to control moving, and an emergency fire button to shoot the closest enemy. ## Frequently asked questions about Blast Waves ### What kind of game is Blast Waves? Blast Waves is a tactical arcade shooter with roguelike elements. It features a Survival Mode where you build your character by acquiring new weapons and abilities, and a Command Mode where you manage and lead squads in auto-battler style combat. ### How does the gameplay work? Time only moves when you move, making every shot count. You'll navigate through different biomes, fight various troop types, and unlock hundreds of weapons, armor, and gadgets. The game offers both skill-based joystick shooting and tap-to-target controls. ### Is Blast Waves free to play? Based on the provided information, Blast Waves is a paid application. It does not appear to have in-app purchases or advertisements, suggesting a one-time purchase model. ### What are the main game modes? The game has two primary modes: Survival Mode, a roguelike experience where you progress through battles and gain power, and Command Mode, an auto-battler where you organize and lead squads using characters who have survived Survival Mode. ### Can I play Blast Waves offline? Yes, the app is described as a 'Challenging Offline Roguelike', indicating that it can be played without an internet connection. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.1.6 — 2023-01-10 New Years Update! -New world, Gorria Ultima, added -Endless survival mode added (can only be accessed at the end of a run) -10 new primary weapons to unlock (laser bazookas, shotgun pistols, bayonet rifles, etc) -Fixed an issue where some runs got locked out of upgrades ### 1.1.5 — 2022-12-31 New Years Update! -New world, Gorria Ultima, added -Endless survival mode added (can only be accessed at the end of a run) -10 new primary weapons to unlock (laser bazookas, shotgun pistols, bayonet rifles, etc) ### 1.1.4 — 2022-01-24 New Years Update! -Fire and Pyro core mods now work consistently on primary weapon -Fixed issue where pathing could rapidly zig-zag -Cycler and Splitter shots now benefit from ricochet perks -Drone kills now generate credits -Improved stability for large Command Squad sizes. -Fire deals more damage -Player base health increased -All power cores are now automatically collected if a battle won -Cryo and Pyro Core mods fixed + buffed -Shrapnel mods fixed + buffed -Fixed terrain on Aggro Minor ### 1.1.3 — 2022-01-12 New Years Update! -Fixed issue where pathing could rapidly zig-zag -Cycler and Splitter shots now benefit from ricochet perks -Drone kills now generate credits -Improved stability for large Command Squad sizes. -Fire deals more damage -Player base health increased -All power cores are now automatically collected if a battle won -Cryo and Pyro Core mods fixed + buffed -Shrapnel mods fixed + buffed -Fixed terrain on Aggro Minor ### 1.1.2 — 2022-01-01 New Years Update! -Fixed issue where pathing could rapidly zig-zag -Fire deals more damage -Player base health increased -All power cores are now automatically collected if a battle won -Cryo and Pyro Core mods fixed + buffed -Shrapnel mods fixed + buffed -Fixed terrain on Aggro Minor -Fixed an issue where only 1 cluster rocket would seek its target -Fixed allies sliding on timestop -Fixed issue where supply crates wouldn't spawn ## Apps similar to Blast Waves | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [Top War: Battle Game](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/top-war-battle-game/id1479198816) | 4.1 (103,147) | Free | Games | | [WarBeast Blitz](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/warbeast-blitz/id6483305141) | — | Free | Games | | [War Hole](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/war-hole/id6743308398) | — | Free | Games | | [Core Guardians](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/core-guardians/id6751098594) | 5.0 (2) | Free | Games | | [Stick Warfare Battle Strike](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stick-warfare-battle-strike/id1670602841) | 4.4 (917) | Free | Games | | [Xeno Swarm: Alien Survivor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xeno-swarm-alien-survivor/id1497499124) | 4.5 (760) | Free | Games | ## More apps by Kyle Barrett - [Ever Knight](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ever-knight/id1214660640) - [Immortal Rogue](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/immortal-rogue/id1448086604) - [End of the Universe](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/end-of-the-universe/id1448678917) - [Ultra Blade](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ultra-blade/id1590704681) All apps by Kyle Barrett: https://appshunter.io/developer/1214660639 --- *Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-08.*