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C.A.S.T. (Chernozem Anomaly Strike Team) is a third-person PvE extraction shooter that launched on Steam on July 14, 2025. It supports solo play and online co-op for parties of one to four, sending players into monster-filled anomalous zones to complete objectives, gather progress and extract alive.
What C.A.S.T. is
Developed and published by BRAIN DOES (NOT) WORK, C.A.S.T. combines the risk-and-reward structure of an extraction game with cooperative PvE combat. Steam describes it as a “third-person PvE extraction shooter playable solo or in co-op.” The game is built around choosing a character and loadout, entering a raid, completing objectives, surviving enemy attacks and anomalies, then reaching an extraction point.
The setting is an alternate version of 1950s Europe. Its nostalgic visual style is paired with advanced technology, hostile monsters and unexplained anomalies. That combination gives the game a science-fiction horror identity rather than a conventional military setting.
How the extraction loop works
- Prepare a character and loadout. Select the equipment and modifiers you want to take into the raid.
- Enter a zone. Missions take place on handcrafted maps that also use procedural elements, so layouts and encounters can vary.
- Pursue objectives. Each raid includes a primary objective and optional side tasks. Side tasks can add rewards or strategic value but increase the time and exposure involved.
- Manage threats. You fight enemy hordes while watching for anomalies and changing weather conditions.
- Extract. Completing objectives is not enough: you must leave the zone successfully for the raid to pay off.
The structure makes route planning important. A team can focus on the main objective and leave quickly, or take on side tasks for potentially greater gains while accepting more combat and anomaly exposure.
#1 Best Overall
- Compatible with Windows and Android.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate (for 2.4G and wired connection)
- Hall Effect joysticks and Hall triggers. Wear-resistant metal joystick rings.
- Extra R4/L4 bumpers. Custom button mapping without using software. Turbo function.
- Refined bumpers and D-pad. Light but tactile.
Is C.A.S.T. PvE only?
C.A.S.T. is presented as a PvE game: its combat is against monsters, hordes and environmental anomalies rather than opposing player squads. The available Steam description does not identify a PvP mode. Players looking for an extraction shooter centered on fighting other human teams should therefore treat C.A.S.T. as a different type of experience, focused on mission execution and survival against the game’s systems.
Can you play solo or in co-op?
Solo
Solo play is supported, allowing one player to enter raids without a human squad. Playing alone means handling objectives, combat, anomaly avoidance and extraction without teammates to divide responsibilities or revive you.
Rank #2
- Supported Multi-Platform:Switch/Switch 2 (NO support wake-up function)/iOS/Android/Windows PC (Notice:Not compatible with Xbox, PlayStation or GeForce Now, For game platforms not mentioned, please consult customer service before buying）
- Connection modes:Wired/Bluetooth/Wireless Dongle(Connect to PC via Bluetooth : Select iOS (phone) mode, but it's not recommended; Dongle is more stable)
- 【Innovative Intelligent Interactive Screen】Manba One V2 wireless game controllers create a new era of controller screens; Equipped with a 2-inch display, no App & software needed, you can set the pc controller directly through the screen visualization, More convenient operation
- 【Micro Switch Button】Manba One wireless controller has Micro Switch Button and ALPS Bumper; The 6-axis gyroscope function makes switch games more immersive
- 【Customize Your Own Controller】The intelligent interactive screen allows you to easily set vibrations, buttons, joysticks,lights, etc., without the need for complex key combinations; 4 configurations can be saved to unlock your own gameplay for different games; The 4 back keys support macro definition settings, and you can activate the set character's ultimate move with one click
Online co-op
Online parties can contain up to four players. The one-to-four-player range supports a single-player run, a small group or a full squad. Cooperative planning is useful when a mission combines objectives with large enemy waves, because players can split tasks, cover one another and coordinate an extraction route.
Maps, weather and anomalies
The maps are handcrafted but include procedural elements, creating a balance between recognizable locations and changing raid conditions. Weather can also vary, adding another environmental factor during an operation. Anomalies are more than ordinary enemies: they are hazards players must evade or account for while moving through the zone. Together, procedural variation, weather and anomaly behavior are intended to keep repeated raids from following exactly the same pattern.
Rank #3
- Tri-mode Connectivity: Wired for Xbox, 2.4G & Wired for PC, and Bluetooth for Android. The G7 Pro supports seamless connectivity across Xbox, PC, and Android. Effortlessly switch between modes using the convenient physical mode switch.
- TMR Sticks: The G7 Pro features GameSir's Mag-Res TMR sticks, combining Hall Effect durability with traditional potentiometer performance. This advanced technology delivers stable polling rates for smooth, drift-free gaming with low power consumption.
- Hall Effect Analog Triggers: The GameSir precision-tuned Hall Effect analog triggers provide unmatched smoothness and linear input for precise control. Featuring clicky Micro Switch trigger stops, gamers can easily switch based on their preferences.
- 1000Hz Polling Rate on PC: Experience ultra-responsive gaming with a 1000Hz polling rate on PC, available through both wired and 2.4G wireless connections. This ensures instantaneous input registration, reducing lag and optimizing your performance for the most competitive gameplay.
- GameSir Nexus App: The G7 Pro is compatible with the upgraded GameSir Nexus app, which brings a significant upgrade over the original. It introduces powerful new features such as gyro settings, stick curve adjustments, and button-to-mouse mapping, giving you deeper customization and more control than ever before.
Weapons, loadouts and progression
Weapon upgrades
Both ranged and melee weapons have upgrade options. This gives players ways to improve existing equipment instead of treating every weapon as disposable between raids.
Loadout modifiers
Loadouts can use modifiers, letting players tailor how a character enters a mission. The practical choice is whether to optimize for direct combat, survivability, objective work or a particular team role.
Rank #4
- Multi-Platform PC Gaming Controller: Working with Switch, PC, Android, and iOS devices via Bluetooth, wired, and wireless dongle connections.
- Hall Effect Joysticks: Delivering enhanced recentering performance for smoother control and superior anti-drift capability. Plus, with anti-friction rings.
- 2-Way Trigger Lock: With trigger stops, gamers can toggle between short and long pull positions. Additionally, gamers can activate hair trigger mode by pressing M+LT/RT (triggers must be in the long pull position).
- 1000Hz Polling Rate: This ensures that your inputs are registered almost instantaneously, minimizing lag and maximizing your performance during competitive play.
- Mechanical Circular D-pad: Designed for quick reactions and accuracy in every direction, this D-pad elevates your gaming experience with superior responsiveness.
Workshop crafting
A crafting workshop improves existing gear and can create new equipment. Progression therefore has two linked paths: upgrading what you already own and producing additional tools for future raids. The available information does not establish a complete crafting recipe list, upgrade costs or a maximum progression level.
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PC requirements on Steam
Steam lists the following minimum requirements. They describe the baseline hardware and software needed to run the game; they are not a guarantee of a specific frame rate or image-quality setting.
Best Value
- Platform Compatibility: This PC controller is designed for Windows PC, Steam, Switch, Android, and iOS. Xbox-style asymmetric stick layout for PC gamers. Three modes cover all your devices. Please check your device compatibility before purchase
- Three Connection Modes: 2.4G wireless, Bluetooth, wired USB-C. PC gets native XInput/DirectInput. Switch pairs via Bluetooth, no adapter. This gaming PC controller switches devices seamlessly. Stable wireless minimizes random disconnects during gaming
- Hall Effect Precision: Hall effect joysticks and triggers eliminate stick drift. This gaming controller for PC delivers smooth, responsive input with no dead zones. Built for FPS, racing, and action games. Long-term precision for competitive PC gaming
- Back Buttons & Battery: Two programmable back buttons map combos and shortcuts. Textured grips with dual vibration. 1000mAh battery delivers up to 20H playtime. RGB can be turned off. A solid PC controller for gaming with custom back buttons
- ABXY Layout Switch: Press B + Minus + Plus to swap between PC and Switch modes. Features: 1000Hz polling rate, RGB lighting, turbo. Note: designed without mic jack or gyro sensor
| Component | Minimum requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 10 |
| Processor | Intel Core i5-2500 or AMD FX-6350 class CPU |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM |
| Graphics | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 class GPU |
| Graphics API | DirectX 11 |
| Network | Broadband internet connection |
| Storage | 1 GB available space |
Because the game supports online co-op, broadband internet is part of the listed minimum specification even for players who may sometimes play alone. Steam’s store requirements and other listing data can change, so check the current game page before installing on an older PC.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Release and current store information
C.A.S.T. released on Steam on July 14, 2025. SteamDB records the release event at 08:31:33 UTC that day. The title is a digital Steam game; no physical edition, printed manual, soundtrack, collectible release or required accessory is established here.
Price, discount status, review totals and review percentages are live store data and can change by region and date. Verify those details directly on Steam when deciding whether to buy. No independent performance test or measured frame-rate result is established, so hardware decisions should be based on the published minimums rather than an assumed benchmark.
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Who C.A.S.T. is for
- Players who want extraction mechanics without a required PvP focus.
- Solo players who prefer to tackle objectives independently.
- Groups of up to four friends looking for cooperative mission runs.
- Players attracted to alternate-history science fiction, monsters and anomaly hazards.
- Players who enjoy improving weapons, tuning loadouts and crafting equipment between raids.
Its strongest distinction is the combination of a PvE-only premise, four-player co-op ceiling and anomaly-driven setting. The result is an extraction game where success depends on completing and escaping missions against hostile creatures and unpredictable conditions, not winning a firefight against another squad.
Quick Recap
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