Metal Slug Tactics

Metal Slug Tactics' move from the arcade to a tactical RPG has turned out better than I ever expected, this game is both challenging and rewarding to play.

79%Game Brain Score

gameplay, story

stability, grinding

79% User Score Based on 603 reviews

Critic Score 78%Based on 22 reviews

Platforms

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About

Metal Slug Tactics is a single player tactical role playing game with fantasy and warfare themes. It was developed by Leikir Studio and was released on November 5, 2024. It received mostly positive reviews from both critics and players.

Metal Slug Tactics is a tactical RPG that combines the classic, arcade action of the Metal Slug series with roguelike elements. Assemble your team of iconic brothers-in-arms and lead them to victory through strategic battles, unlocking new weapons and skills as you go. Experience the nostalgic charm of Metal Slug in a whole new way!

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player

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79%

Audience ScoreBased on 603 reviews

gameplay58 positive mentions

stability53 negative mentions

The game successfully blends the classic Metal Slug run-and-gun gameplay with tactical turn-based mechanics, creating a unique and engaging experience.
The pixel art and animations are stunning, capturing the charm of the original series while providing a fresh visual style.
The gameplay encourages aggressive movement and strategic positioning, rewarding players for executing combos and synchronizing attacks.

The game is plagued with numerous bugs and glitches that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with character abilities and visual errors.
There is a lack of variety in mission types and enemy encounters, leading to repetitive gameplay over time.
The user interface can be confusing, with small text and unclear descriptions that make it difficult for players to fully understand mechanics.

gameplay
212 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
71%
2%
The gameplay of "Metal Slug Tactics" is a unique blend of turn-based strategy and the franchise's classic run-and-gun mechanics, emphasizing constant movement and positioning to maximize damage through synchronized attacks. While the game introduces innovative mechanics like the adrenaline and dodge systems, which encourage aggressive play, some players find the learning curve steep and the repetition in mission types a drawback. Overall, the gameplay is praised for its depth and engaging tactical elements, though it may overwhelm newcomers to the genre.
- “The goal was not to make a tactical RPG based on the Metal Slug IP, rather it was to make a Metal Slug game—a fast-paced, run-and-gun arcade game—in the form of a turn-based tactics game, and realizing that makes the game and its mechanics click into place so much better and become much more enjoyable.”
- “The mechanics are intuitive and play off each other really well, and setting up multi-character combos hasn't stopped feeling incredibly satisfying yet.”
- “Strong tactics gameplay combined with the trademark 'run and gun' Metal Slug is known for make for an engaging and highly addictive experience.”
- “The gameplay is overwhelming, trying to do too much at once.”
- “The tutorials agonize over very basic, obvious things and then leave you to discover critical mechanics all on your own.”
- “The game plays turn-based, but has so many unheard of new mechanics that at times it feels very overwhelming and acts nothing like a usual turn-based game at all.”
story
180 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
8%
85%
7%
The game's story is minimal and lacks depth, primarily serving as a backdrop for repetitive mission objectives rather than a compelling narrative. Players often find themselves engaging in the same four regions and mission types, which diminishes the overall replay value and excitement. While there are some character interactions and light story elements, the focus remains on gameplay mechanics rather than a rich storyline, leading to a sense of missed potential for a more engaging narrative experience.
- “I go back and play the original Metal Slug games once in a while, and I think most Metal Slug fans will enjoy it in this strategy/turn-based format, as tactics has more of a story element that wasn't really there in the other games.”
- “The missions range from very straightforward stuff like 'kill all enemies' to convoy interception, miner defense, or straight-up boss battles that show some of the best sprite work the game has to offer.”
- “Each region presents a small web of mission locales, with each mission locked until you've completed one of the connected missions.”
- “With no story, and the combat being the same, and no real progression, just new characters to beat the ultra short game with, replay value is pretty low.”
- “The visuals look amazing, but there's not really a story except go beat up bad guys, do the same again and again.”
- “It's very buggy but I really enjoy it anyway, very similar to 'Into the Breach' in regards to mission style/progression/upgrades but it puts its own unique spin on it and it works really well.”
graphics
84 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
49%
47%
4%
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the nostalgic pixel art and fluid animations that pay homage to the classic Metal Slug series. However, some players expressed disappointment with the new art style, which diverges from the franchise's traditional aesthetic, and noted various graphical glitches that detracted from the experience. Overall, while the visuals are generally regarded as beautiful and vibrant, they are marred by inconsistencies and bugs that need addressing.
- “The graphics are really cool, but the game is really short.”
- “The graphics are awesome, the sound is great.”
- “The game shows plenty of love for the Metal Slug series, featuring fantastic artwork, fluid animations, and engaging gameplay mechanics.”
- “Recent entries in the franchise tried to introduce 3D or HD art styles and animations that felt sloppy, which for Metal Slug, known for its astonishing and fluid animations especially in MS 1, 2/X, and 3, really took a hit afterwards.”
- “- No Shinkiro: trading in the Shinkiro aesthetic for a more generic anime style robs the game of some visual identity.”
- “Though this is a series not renowned or even known for its writing but rather its action and pixel art, for the most part the artwork holds up very well. However, the blood and gore has been toned down, with almost laughable 'bouncing' idle animations that take me out of the experience and don't feel true to Metal Slug.”
music
69 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
41%
55%
4%
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising its catchy and nostalgic qualities that evoke the classic Metal Slug series, while others find it repetitive and lacking the energy of the originals. Bugs related to overlapping tracks and sound cutouts have been noted, detracting from the overall experience. Despite these issues, many players appreciate the soundtrack's fitting style and the vibrant pixel art that complements the game's aesthetic.
- “The beautifully animated pixel art and rocking soundtrack show a deep respect for Metal Slug's roots, and the whole thing feels well-polished in spite of the odd bug or two.”
- “The great soundtrack is composed and provided by Tee Lopez, which only adds onto the polish and style that Metal Slug Tactics oozes from almost every aspect, from its glorious pixel-art aesthetic to its bouncy and energetic backing tracks.”
- “It feels a lot like a sequel to Into the Breach, except Metal Slug with a great emphasis on character movement and Disgaea-like combos, combined with fairly good pixel art and a decent soundtrack reminiscent of the classics.”
- “The soundtrack is quiet, and vocal samples sound 'off'.”
- “The music is a bit repetitive at times, the curse of most roguelites, and sometimes the sound effects could be a bit better (where's the classic soldier death scream).”
- “It doesn't sound like Metal Slug; its soundtrack is overall just bland, generic, low energy, with the game's sound design leaving equally as little impact.”
stability
54 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
6%
98%
The game is widely reported to be quite buggy, with issues ranging from glitched dialogues and unresponsive skills to crashes and visual glitches. While some players have noted improvements with updates, many still experience frustrating bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including softlocks and inconsistent user interface elements. Despite these stability concerns, the game's engaging mechanics and charm have kept some players invested, though many recommend waiting for further patches before diving in.
- “It's not buggy; the animations are stellar.”
- “The game runs smoothly without any crashes or glitches.”
- “I appreciate how stable the gameplay is; it enhances the overall experience.”
- “On top of which the game is buggy and I had to beat the story three more times because of glitched dialogues, and sometimes my characters would end up with zero movement and would be floating and unable to be moved.”
- “The game was released very buggy, and even crashed several times during runs - without saving.”
- “It's very buggy, but I really enjoy it anyway; very similar to 'Into the Breach' in regards to mission style/progression/upgrades, but it puts its own unique spin on it and it works really well.”
replayability
26 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
38%
12%
Overall, the game boasts high replayability due to its variety of characters, unlockable elements, and strategic gameplay, appealing to fans of turn-based and roguelite genres. While some players noted a lack of story and progression, many found the diverse builds and mission objectives provided ample motivation to replay. The combination of enjoyable mechanics and a nostalgic aesthetic further enhances its replay value, making it a solid choice for both newcomers and series fans.
- “Overall, the game is great with a massive amount of replayability, and it ended up being one of my favorite games of 2024.”
- “The two fields where they went above and beyond are the variety and replayability.”
- “There are so many abilities and weapon mods available that there's going to be a lot of replayability, and the different mission objectives work nicely to get you thinking how to defeat enemies more efficiently with those tools.”
- “With no story, and the combat being the same, and no real progression, just new characters to beat the ultra short game with, replay value is pretty low.”
- “However, it's about as replayable as any roguelite, and mastering the curve is oh so satisfying.”
- “They trusted the roguelite aspect to provide replayability enough and ended up with a very short game.”
humor
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
93%
21%
The humor in the game is characterized by its goofy characters, self-aware jokes, and a vibrant, cartoonish style reminiscent of Looney Tunes, which enhances the absurdity of the gameplay. Players appreciate the creative and often hilarious abilities, as well as the charming pixel art that includes both intentional comedic elements and amusing visual glitches. However, some users noted that while the humor is strong, there are moments where bugs detract from the experience, and a desire for more brutal comedic elements was expressed.
- “The music is fire, the announcer is awesome, the jokes are funny, the characters are goofy and (at times) self-aware about the absurdity of the situation they're in.”
- “I'm a huge fan of the Looney Tunes energy to combat; it operates off of cartoon logic a lot of the time, meaning abilities are creative, weird, and often quite funny.”
- “It's especially hilarious to have them use wrestling moves to toss enemies back and forth between each other to trigger a sync attack to get rid of that enemy.”
- “The humor in this game falls flat and feels forced.”
- “I found the jokes to be more cringeworthy than funny.”
- “The attempts at humor often miss the mark and feel out of place.”
grinding
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly in the early missions where limited abilities and long boss fights contribute to a repetitive experience. While there are attempts at innovation, the reliance on familiar tropes and poorly scaled difficulty can make the grind feel unnecessarily drawn out and frustrating. Overall, the grinding mechanics detract from the enjoyment of the strategy puzzler genre.
- “The strategy puzzler genre does not translate well to grinding for achievement, especially if they have long boss fights like this one.”
- “Because scaling isn't done very well, completing early missions can be extremely tedious due to your limited access to abilities.”
- “You'll often play the same missions over and over for the sake of certain rewards offered on that tile, but also because you'll want to avoid the more tedious missions.”
optimization
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
The game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing bugs and performance issues, while others report smooth gameplay. Although there are concerns about controller optimization and widescreen support, the overall performance has been deemed acceptable, with many hoping for improvements in future patches. Despite the glitches, the engaging gameplay has kept players invested.
- “Apparently the game in its current state is rather buggy; fortunately, I haven't encountered anything I could call a bug. The game has run smoothly and performed well throughout my playthroughs.”
- “I really am impressed with the end product and, after a patch or two for performance and bugs, I think this will genuinely be my Game of the Year.”
- “Performance has been fine.”
- “Thought it would be the JRPG I knew (FF Tactics, Disgaea, Sword of Convallaria, etc.), but it turns out to be a rogue-like RPG. It feels like you are being rushed to meet the objective, and you can't take it slowly to enjoy the exploration of the entire map. Optimization with the controller is also very bad, and it doesn't support widescreen gameplay either.”
- “While its lack of optimization and frequent glitches occasionally crashed the party like an enemy hand grenade, Metal Slug Tactics' fast-paced, feature-rich combat and wealth of unlockable content kept me coming back for more.”
- “The game also launched with a myriad of bugs; while I never encountered any run-destroying or performance-crippling bugs, others have.”
character development
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
67%
67%
Character development in the game is seen as a mixed bag; while some classes, like the bot summoner Nadia, offer unique gameplay experiences, others, such as Marco, may be overly complex for new players. The art style enhances character appeal, but players feel that character growth is hindered by the necessity of engaging in battles to progress the storyline. Overall, the balance between accessibility and depth in character design is a point of contention among users.
- “Beautiful, nostalgic art style: both the character designs and pixel art are stunning.”
- “It's worth noting that some of the funkier classes that don't require you to be a tactical wizard to do awesome things (like bot summoner Nadia) take a few runs to unlock.”
- “It's worth noting that some of the funkier classes that don't require you to be a tactical wizard to do awesome things (like bot summoner Nadia) take a few runs to unlock. The developers, I think, made Marco appear off-puttingly complex for a starter hero; he should be the most basic character design. The extra hit buff and adrenaline cost reduction are good, but I bet Marco's weird package is going to scare a few people away before they get into the game.”
- “There's no point in character development if you can't fight randomized battles without pushing the storyline forward.”
monetization
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Reviews indicate a clear preference for Metal Slug Tactics, which is viewed as a passionate and worthwhile paid experience, over Metal Slug Awakening, which is criticized as a free but soulless cash grab. This highlights a desire for quality and depth in monetized games rather than exploitative free-to-play models.
- “If I was given the choice of playing Metal Slug Awakening (a free but soulless cash grab) and Metal Slug Tactics (a paid but passionate work).”
- “The monetization in this game feels exploitative, with constant prompts to spend money on items that should be earnable through gameplay.”
- “It's frustrating to see a game that could be great overshadowed by aggressive monetization strategies that prioritize profit over player experience.”

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78%Critics’ scoreBased on 22 critic reviews

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24h Median play time

22h Average play time

7-47h Spent by most gamers

*Based on 4 analyzed playthroughs

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Frequently Asked Questions

Metal Slug Tactics is a tactical role playing game with fantasy and warfare themes.

Metal Slug Tactics is available on Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X|S, PC, PlayStation 5 and others.

On average players spend around 22 hours playing Metal Slug Tactics.

Metal Slug Tactics was released on November 5, 2024.

Metal Slug Tactics was developed by Leikir Studio.

Metal Slug Tactics has received mostly positive reviews from both players and critics. Most players liked this game for its gameplay but disliked it for its stability.

Metal Slug Tactics is a single player game.

Similar games include Star Renegades, Hard West 2, Pathway, The Rogue Prince of Persia, Endless Dungeon and others.

Metal Slug Tactics

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