The Cycle: Tarkov in Space? Yager’s shooter put to the test

PvPvE shooter The Cycle: Frontier has been available on Steam and Epic since June 08, 2022, developed by Yager, creators of Spec Ops: The Line. The game’s beta was well received, albeit occasionally bumpy. And what was the game’s pre-season like? It was more of an open beta, the Cosmetic Shop has since opened, but the Season Pass wasn’t available yet. Some bugs and server issues from the beta still existed, with lag spikes particularly noticeable. It all seems like this pre-season existed to test the stability of the game before the first season starts.

We didn’t encounter any cheaters during the test, but you can always read reports from affected players on Reddit. The basic gameplay hasn’t changed since the beta (read our preview here), The Cycle: Frontier is still an escape shooter in the style of Escape from Tarkov set in space. According to Yager, a “wipe” is carried out every season, in which the inventory of all players is completely emptied. This should ensure that there is always something to do.

By the way: Our tips for beginners for The Cycle: Frontier will help you get off to a perfect start in the shooter!

Fortuna III is a beautiful planet. From the green spaces at Bright Sands to the forests of Crescent Falls, there are pretty settings to be seen everywhere. If only it weren’t for all these bloodthirsty monsters and a super storm making it impossible for people to live there. In the remains of the abandoned colonies, many valuable items were left behind during the evacuations.

The Bright Sands jungle looks pretty peaceful… until a Marauder spots you.

Source: PC Games






Coupled with the fact that the rare mineral “Veltecite” is found in abundance on Fortuna III, courageous fighters dare to enter paradise again and again. Members of this group are known as “prospectors” and we are such a prospector. We collect materials and data on the planet in exchange for money on behalf of some organizations that have taken up residence in a space station above Fortuna III.

Of course, being a prospector is not the safest job, storms and monsters are the least of our worries. Because: As soon as you are down on Fortuna, the rule “each for himself” applies. Other prospectors try to take the loot from us with a lot of force of arms. And if you don’t deliver the goods, you won’t get paid.

In order to earn our pay, we have to go to the so-called “Evac Points” including the loot, which are marked in red on the map. There we request pickup by spaceship that will take us to the station dubbed “Prospect Station”.

How do I survive the journey to Fortuna III?

The colorful style of the game is deceptive, because The Cycle: Frontier is unforgiving. All monsters deal massive damage, unlike our beginner gear. Particularly strong are the Marauders, the most powerful aliens that we meet under normal conditions.