92% positive and Steam top 10: Why this hack-and-slash is so popular

Tears of Metal is an action roguelike that combines the large-scale battles of Dynasty Warriors with the addictive progression loop of Hades – and players seem to love the formula. The game entered Early Access on July 22 and has already received more than 300 reviews, 92% of which are positive.

At the time of writing, Tears of Metal ranks No. 7 in Steam's Popular New Releases chart. According to SteamDB, it has also already reached a peak of nearly 4,000 concurrent players.

Musou-style combat meets roguelike progression

Players can venture out alone or team up with up to three friends as part of a Scottish battalion determined to reclaim their island from invading forces. In true Musou fashion from Dynasty Warriors, you'll carve through enormous hordes of enemies using fast-paced attacks and powerful special abilities. Between battles, players unlock new upgrades that can be combined with more than 100 artifacts to create increasingly powerful builds, adding a satisfying roguelike progression system to the experience.

At launch, players can choose from three distinct heroes: Wallace, a well-rounded swordsman; Brienne, a fast melee fighter who defeats enemies with her bare fists; and Ruadh Stonecrusher, who wields a massive hammer capable of delivering devastating blows. The action is presented in a striking comic book-inspired art style and backed by a thunderous heavy metal soundtrack.

In its review, INSERTCOINS.press awarded Tears of Metal 8 out of 10 and gave it a recommendation. The review particularly praised the satisfying Musou-style combat, the addictive roguelike progression and the four-player co-op mode. According to the reviewer, mowing down entire enemy armies together with friends is especially enjoyable. That said, the game is still in Early Access. Whether its enemy variety and build diversity can keep players engaged over the long term remains to be seen. Players who aren't fond of the genre's repetitive nature or who are looking for deeper tactical gameplay may also lose interest fairly quickly.

Launch discount available now

Tears of Metal normally costs $24.99 on Steam. Until August 5, however, a 10% launch discount lowers the price to $22.49. Alternatively, the game – currently rated Playable on Steam Deck – is also included with PC Game Pass. According to the developers, Early Access is expected to last between four and twelve months, depending on player feedback. That means the full release is likely to arrive no earlier than November 2026 and no later than July 2027.