In a genre saturated with PvPvE extraction shooters, Sharkmob’s Exoborne attemps to dip its hand into the bowl with a visually striking experience that aims to stand out from the crowd. Built in Unreal Engine 5 and designed as a premium title, Exoborne endeavors to add its own twist, quite literally, with dynamic weather systems and vertical traversal mechanics.

We went hands-on with the game at Tokyo Game Show 2025, and what we played suggests a confident and feature-rich entry that could carve out its own space in the competitive landscape given proper development and feedback from players.

Exoborne Hands-on Preview

From the moment we dropped into the map, Exoborne impressed with its visuals. Character models are detailed and expressive, animations are fluid, and the environmental effects, especially weather, add a nice touch. Lightning storms and tornadoes often swirl in the distance, and these are not just for show as the weather system is really a custom mechanic that adds unpredictability in every run.

It was revealed by the developers that these weather conditions directly affect the battlefield, and tornadoes don’t remain as is once they are introduced to another element, as it could even turn into a fire or poison tornado depending on the circumstances. Alternatively, you can also use a tornado to help you elevate when using your glider, which is a great touch. There’s even fog, rain, and more that adds to the unpredictability.

At its core, Exoborne follows the familiar extraction shooter loop: squad-based deployment, scavenging for loot, battling enemy mobs, and surviving long enough to reach the extraction point. Extractions are high-stakes moments, which will be visible to other players and vulnerable to ambush. Successfully escaping with your loot allows you to upgrade gear for future drops, while failure means losing everything and starting over.

Mini story quests scattered across the map offer direction beyond simple survival. Whether it’s eliminating specific mobs or collecting rare items, these objectives help guide players and add a narrative element to each session.

Exoborne features a class-based system, with each character offering unique abilities and playstyles. In our demo, we played as the Kodiak, a heavier, tank-like character equipped with shield reinforcement and a perk that allows it to take less damage while sprinting along with carrying heavy weapons. Other classes include a stealth-focused scout with cloaking abilities called the Viper, ideal for reconnaissance and flanking.

One interesting thing Exoborne does is that once players have successfully extracted with their hard-earned loot, they’ll get to upgrade their suit with up to 10 different modifications that can drastically shift gameplay styles. One player can build their Kodiak to be a tank character, while another can build it to be something more offensive-based. While this may spell bad news for some players, the developers have confirmed that players will matchmake with others of a similar level, leaving newcomers on equal footing with other newcomers.

Combat feels weighty with responsive controls and a deliberate pace that rewards positioning and timing. The class system encourages team synergy and strategic planning, especially during extraction phases where coordination is key.

Another of Exoborne’s standout features is its emphasis on vertical movement. Players wear suits that enable elevated jumps and gliding, allowing for dynamic traversal across environments. This added mobility opens up new tactical options, whether it’s escaping a firefight, scouting from above, or flanking enemies from unexpected angles, especially when paired with a grappling hook. It’s reminiscent of Anthem’s fluid movement, minus the actual flying, and it works well within the game’s structure.

Exoborne surprised us with its ambition. While the premium price point may give players accustomed to free-to-play shooters a slight cause for concern, the game does seem promising with fun gameplay and sessions that offer a new experience almost every time. With dynamic weather, class-based combat, and vertical traversal all working together, Sharkmob’s latest project could leave its mark in the genre.