GRAVHOUNDS Early Access Review – A Dog’s Work Is Never Done

GRAVHOUNDS is an entertaining combination of third-person shooting, base building, and resource extraction. Developed by Octopus Panic, the game puts us in the paws of genetically engineered dogs who have been sent to distant planets to collect valuable resources. But does it have enough charm to appeal to the blokes who enjoy defending their hard-earned possessions against unrelenting hordes of enemies? Let’s find out what awaits us on our next shift!

Quick Peek:

• Platforms: PC (Steam, Xbox PC), Xbox Series X|S
• Developer: Octopus Panic, Inc.
• Publisher: Octopus Panic, Inc.
• Genre: Third-Person Action, Base Building, Roguelite
• Release: November 2, 2026 (Early Access)
• Modes: Single-player, Online Co-op (up to 4 players)
• Availability: Xbox Game Pass

Another Day at the Office

With our outstanding crew of bio-engineered dogs, we visit all kinds of dangerous planets, focusing on resource extraction, alien technology recovery, and the construction of industrial installations. It reminded us of Helldivers 2, especially in the way each expedition begins aboard our ship, where we select an assignment before heading down to the planet. Once on the surface, operations revolve around the Collector, a large machine that serves as our central base and eventual means of extraction. During the opening mission, we’re introduced to the basics of connecting pipelines, constructing a Fabricator, and mining Titanium. From the get-go, we loved the fluidity of movement, the way collected materials are delivered, and how defenses are established before the local wildlife decides to make our lives miserable. And by local wildlife, we mean creatures that would very much like to tear us and our equipment apart.

In GRAVHOUNDS, we have to perform all kinds of jobs while enemies constantly threaten our operation. We can spend time collecting additional resources, yes, but we also need to expand our network of structures or concentrate on keeping the Collector intact. Staying longer can bring better goodies, but, as expected, the enemy presence becomes increasingly dangerous as the shift progresses. Eventually, the time comes to prepare the Collector for launch and survive one last hurrah.

There’s a really nice idea behind this approach to extraction, and to make matters better, it’s realized in a mechanically tight and entertaining way. Unlike other similar games, we don’t have to rush around like headless chickens looking for valuable objects. The resources we collect also help us establish the infrastructure needed to survive the expedition. If you become greedy, however, and decide to stay a little longer, well, that’s on you, dear reader, and you’d better be prepared to pay the piper. Quite often, we didn’t stay longer because we were greedy, but because we simply didn’t want the fun to end. The more we invested in our operation, the more we wanted to stick around and see what else we could accomplish.

Base Building

The Grav Beam is a tool that allows us to manipulate objects using gravity, somewhat like the Gravity Gun from Half-Life 2, but with a lot more flexibility and versatility. We can pick up materials, transport construction equipment, and place structures around our base. You’d be surprised to find out that it also works quite well against the local wildlife. We can grab smaller enemies and throw them far away, while nearby objects can become improvised but effective projectiles. The highlight for us was when we threw a health pickup toward an injured teammate. Talk about practical aid!

Construction revolves around pipelines that carry power, transport resources, and provide connections for defensive structures. We can deploy automated turrets, generators, and Fabricators. All these bad boyz help us expand our operation across the planet. The available defensive equipment includes the missile-launching MLRS, electrical weapons such as the Electrocoil, and protective devices such as the Ballistic Shield.

We must mention that our doggos also wear propulsion equipment that allows them to boost, jump, and hover. Connecting to a pipeline lets them travel along it at high speed with unlimited boost, which is something we advise you to try the moment you get the chance. Imagine working at a distant mining deposit when enemies suddenly begin attacking the Collector. Having a pipeline connecting both locations gives you a much quicker way to return and help defend the base. It goes without saying that expanding that network also means there are more structures for the aliens to damage. It’s all about finding the right balance in GRAVHOUNDS.

When it comes to combat, we can combine conventional firearms with the Grav Beam, automated defenses, and individual character abilities. There are five playable Gravhounds in the current version, each with a different special ability. One doggo uses explosive bone bombs, while another can unleash a powerful bark that sends nearby enemies flying. We loved using the latter to push away large groups of enemies that got too close to our precious thingies.

Good Dogs, Dangerous Upgrades

The game also incorporates roguelite progression through randomized upgrades awarded during expeditions. By completing objectives and fighting enemies, we earn Reward Pods, and those babies contain equipment and modifications that improve all kinds of capabilities. For example, Gravity Bomb pulls nearby enemies together, creating an opportunity to attack several targets at once. Live Wire can chain electricity through groups of enemies, while Life Sap provides additional survivability. Combining these effects with our weapons and defensive structures opens up some interesting possibilities.

A so-called Mod Deck system lets us choose which unlocked modifications can appear during future expeditions. However, all these wonderful toys become a lot more difficult to take full advantage of when there’s nobody around to help. GRAVHOUNDS is a wonderful game, but it truly shines when we’re part of a team. Cooperation has a considerable influence on how these systems are used. With four players, it comes naturally to distribute responsibilities between mining, construction, and fighting enemies. Playing alone is certainly possible, but we’d recommend giving it a try with a group of friends to appreciate just how much more enjoyable and manageable everything becomes. There’s something particularly satisfying about watching an operation come together when everyone knows what they’re doing, even if things occasionally go horribly wrong.

Great Company

Our score: EA Title