Brink , a multiplayer shooter, takes place in a future where almost all of Earth's landmass is flooded. The Ark, one of the last habitable places left, is home to a conflict between security guards and the resistance. In this open conflict, both sides try to gain the upper hand.
The game features two single-player campaigns, but they are largely similar to multiplayer, with bots and cutscenes.
Every map has several areas with unique objectives. Security and resistance goals often contradict each other, so players must work together to achieve their objectives. The four classes – soldier, medic, engineer, and agent – have different roles: soldiers handle brute force, medics heal teammates, engineers use gadgets, and agents hack computers.
Players can choose from four basic mission types (escorting, destroying, defending, and using a device) and class-specific goals. The game uses an automatic mission system, where players receive missions based on their actions. Completing these missions rewards experience points, which can be used to upgrade characters and unlock new abilities.
The focus of the game is on teamwork, with many ways for classes to support each other. Players can change their class from an in-game terminal if needed. When creating a character, players can customize appearance but not body type, which affects gameplay. Lighter characters are faster and have access to the "SMART" system, allowing them to climb or slide over obstacles.