Morbid Metal

About

Morbid Metal is a single player hack and slash game with anime and science fiction themes. It was developed by SCREEN JUICE and was released on April 8, 2026. It received positive reviews from players.

Morbid Metal is a stylish fast-paced hack’n’slash action rogue-lite. Shapeshift into powerful characters in real time, chain impactful combos, and tear through waves of deadly machines and brutal bosses.

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86%

Audience ScoreBased on 598 reviews

gameplay62 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Fast, fluid, and satisfying combat with real-time character switching enabling creative combos.
Strong core gameplay loop that is addictive and rewarding, especially for fans of hack-and-slash and roguelike genres.
Impressive visuals, sound design, and music that enhance the intense and stylish atmosphere.

Currently limited content with only two biomes, few bosses, and small variety of upgrades and enemies, making runs feel repetitive.
Several bugs and technical issues remain, including stamina/movement bugs and camera problems that affect combat flow.
Difficulty spikes and harsh damage can make early progress frustrating, with limited healing options and sometimes unfair attack telegraphing.

gameplay
148 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
42%
55%
3%
The gameplay is praised for its smooth, fast-paced, and satisfying hack-and-slash combat centered around a unique three-character swapping mechanic, offering engaging combos and fluid action reminiscent of titles like Devil May Cry and Returnal. However, reviews note limited content, repetitive combat due to a small moveset, occasionally janky mechanics, and underdeveloped roguelike elements, suggesting more depth, variety, and polish are needed to fully realize its potential. Overall, the core gameplay loop is addictive and promising, especially for fans of action roguelikes, but the game is still evolving in early access.
- “The gameplay loop supports a variety of playstyles, largely due to its core mechanic of switching characters mid-combat.”
- “The core gameplay loop is incredibly satisfying.”
- “I can't suggest this game for those who are only into the polished idea of a roguelike. It's not far along on those aspects, but it is an exemplar hack and slash. The shapeshifting gameplay is so fluid and satisfying when done; the style system and its gameplay bonuses encourage character switching, and the enemies play into this as well.”
- “I get that swapping is the core mechanic but with the atrocious cooldown, it's pretty limiting the stylishness of my combo.”
- “Gameplay loop leaves much to be desired as item pickups don't feel very "rogue-esque."”
- “At times, the gameplay can feel a bit janky, with occasional rough edges that break the flow.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
38%
4%
The game features stunning, polished graphics with a distinctive futuristic and Japanese-inspired aesthetic that many find visually impressive and comparable to AAA titles. While the visuals and art style receive high praise for detail and design, some users note occasional minor glitches and optimization issues, especially on less powerful hardware. Overall, the graphics contribute strongly to an immersive and enjoyable gameplay experience.
- “Pros - interesting mechanics, amazing graphics and world design, fun movement, the roguelite elements of this game are well done and make it very replayable.”
- “Graphically, this game is stunning, from the environments to the combat itself everything looks AA worthy.”
- “The graphics are stunning to where if I wasn't following this page and played the demo, I would have thought this was a game made by a AAA company.”
- “I don't have a bad PC for most recent games, I make my whole Steam library run smoothly in 1080 ultra, this game made me feel like I was on a Pentium, whether I was in low or ultra graphics, performance or quality DLSS, still the same FPS number interrupted by the same random freeze (I tried VSync) and the game was locked around 90 but the cap was at 180.”
- “The graphics look good though, but a bit badly optimized. My 5080 runs this game at around 80%-90% on 'ultra preset' on 1440p... don't know if there's even any optimization work being done.”
- “4.5/10, graphically it's pretty poor considering the performance which isn't terrible but it's not good enough currently.”
optimization
76 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
36%
56%
8%
User reviews on optimization for this early access game are mixed but generally positive, with many praising smooth performance, stable framerates, and good optimization even on modest systems like the Steam Deck. However, some users experience occasional stuttering, random freezes, or demanding performance on certain hardware, indicating room for improvement. Overall, the game runs well but would benefit from further optimization polish and stability fixes as development continues.
- “Performance has been nothing but perfect so far, constant framerates, no crashes, and quick load times.”
- “Graphically awesome, fast paced, and optimized extremely well.”
- “As for optimization, I can run max graphics with over 90fps along with DLSS turned up, so that is pretty insane compared to other games.”
- “The game also starts randomly stuttering and the only fix I found for this is to restart PC.”
- “Performance is atrocious, even on the lowest settings.”
- “Even on medium settings with DLSS performance and half resolution textures, the game struggles to stay above 90 fps outside the tutorial area which feels incredibly choppy with how much the FPS fluctuates on a 144hz display.”
music
46 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
54%
39%
7%
The game's music is widely praised for its high energy, perfect fit with combat, and overall quality, often described as engaging and intense, enhancing the gameplay experience. However, some users desire more variety, louder battle music options, and a broader, more dynamic soundtrack, especially during exploration and cutscenes. The soundtrack's strong appeal is a major highlight, with several hoping for official streaming release and better sound system support.
- “The soundtrack and audio cues make for an experience that gets you lost into the fight.”
- “On top of all that, the soundtrack is genuinely exceptional, well crafted and perfectly matched to the energy of the game.”
- “You control up to four characters; shapeshifting between them mid-combo, mid-air, even mid-dodge; chaining style ranks, managing cooldowns, and hearing the music get progressively harder the higher your ranking climbs.”
- “Expand the soundtrack so each zone doesn't only have one track (outside of bosses).”
- “Cutscenes in the boss fight have a music fade out which kills the vibe a bit.”
- “The music is okay, but it could use more intensity or variety to better match the energy of the battles.”
story
29 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
10%
80%
10%
The story in the game is minimal and largely underdeveloped, with most players noting it as sparse or barely present beyond a brief tutorial and cryptic dialogue. While the gameplay and combat receive praise, the narrative lacks depth and emotional engagement, leaving many hoping for a more fleshed-out story in future updates or the full release. Overall, the game currently prioritizes gameplay over storytelling, appealing less to those seeking a strong narrative experience.
- “Not just fighting, but the story itself hooks me in.”
- “The voice acting you hear really helps set the mood in scenarios as well makes you want to learn more about the story or see what you can figure out.”
- “With slightly larger areas and a story this would make a great roguelite RPG.”
- “Story is basically non-existent after the tutorial aside from some random comments of your 'guide'.”
- “Focus of the game is on the gameplay, not on complex worldbuilding, narrative, or character stories — in two and a half hours of play, very little actual story is told, only some cryptic and vague mood-setting lines of dialogue.”
- “Missing identity: there is no story to drive the action and no depth to the gameplay outside of these light skirmishes.”
stability
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
80%
The game exhibits several bugs and glitches, including freezes during special skill use and occasional graphical issues, but overall runs smoothly and is well-optimized, especially on platforms like the Steam Deck. Despite its current instability typical of early access titles, players find it enjoyable and stylistically appealing, with expectations for improvements as development continues.
- “Btw, runs great on the Steam Deck!”
- “Feels great to play and runs great too, they just need to really refine the roguelite aspects a bit more.”
- “Runs great.”
- “I'll change the review if the game gets fixed and the major bugs/glitches are resolved.”
- “Anytime I want to use a special skill, it just freezes up.”
- “The game does have a couple of glitches here and there, including characters disappearing off screen during swaps and the game going into permanent slow-motion after chaining skills.”
replayability
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
24%
38%
The game’s roguelite mechanics, smooth combat, and appealing world design provide strong initial replayability, especially for fans of the genre. However, some players find the current variety and depth limited, with replay value declining after multiple runs until more content and features are added in future updates.
- “The roguelite elements of this game are well done and make it very replayable.”
- “I love roguelike games with lots of replay value.”
- “Plus, it is a roguelite, so replayability is built in.”
- “There is a single basic attack, and two abilities plus ultimate per character, which simulates weapon swapping like DMC but without directional or input-based combos (i.e., attack + pause + attack would be a different combo than attack + attack + attack). It lacks real substance that adds replayability and a skill ceiling to work towards.”
- “Also, replayability is quite low right now – after I had beaten the final boss three times, there's nothing else except the meta progression.”
- “Definitely still early access though: will be excited to see how things get fleshed out more and become more replayable when they add in new skills, maps, and characters.”
character development
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
33%
17%
Character development excels through striking, detailed, and stylish character designs that strongly enhance the game's cyber aesthetic. The animations and voice acting complement the visuals, creating a cohesive and engaging experience with memorable characters.
- “Character designs are really cool and play into the cyber aspect really well.”
- “Honestly can say I enjoy this game; combos and animations feel great, the voice acting is pretty nice, and the character designs are peak. Here's hoping Ubisoft doesn't mess this up for screen juice.”
- “The graphics are striking, with detailed environments and slick character designs that give the game a strong visual identity.”
grinding
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Grinding in the game can feel tedious and slow, especially when tracking hidden caches disrupts the fast-paced combat. Progressing quickly may require repetitive runs, which some players find grindy, particularly when aiming to unlock additional characters.
- “Additionally, the hidden caches take away from the fast-paced combat and became tedious to track down when I was just itching to fight the next room.”
- “-Runs can feel a little grindy if you’re trying to progress fast.”
- “Other than that, I'm grinding to get that third character, dammit!”
monetization
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
75%
25%
The game is praised for being skill-based and well-optimized without any microtransactions, which players strongly appreciate. Users emphasize that it should remain microtransaction-free, especially given its single-player and potential co-op nature. While the price is considered fair, improvements in gameplay polish are needed for long-term appeal.
- “It's a high stakes, high reward game that is very skill-based with no microtransactions whatsoever.”
- “It's fun, keeps the brain busy, requires skill, and is optimized really well. Don't put any microtransactions or anything!”
- “Don't put microtransactions in a single-player game; possible co-op in the future.”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players report that the game's early story struggles to emotionally engage, lacking a compelling hook in the opening hours. However, some find the experience deeply saddening, making it stand out as an emotionally impactful game despite technical performance issues.
- “This is the most sad a video game has made me feel while playing it.”
- “Maybe the story develops later, but in the opening hours it lacks the hook that keeps the player emotionally invested.”
atmosphere
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The atmosphere is highly praised for its immersive sound design and music, which effectively enhance the game's intensity and engagement during combat. Additionally, the randomized area layouts contribute to a compelling, replayable experience reminiscent of the "one more try" loop in Returnal.
- “Paired with that, the sound design and music do a great job of reinforcing the atmosphere, combat feels punchy, and the audio cues keep you engaged throughout each encounter.”
- “Very atmospheric, great music by Blue Stahli.”
- “Every run features randomized area layouts, capturing that atmospheric, 'one more try' loop seen in Returnal.”
humor
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is generally appreciated, engaging players to return despite initial exits. However, some jokes or humorous elements feel repetitive and occasionally ineffective. Additionally, there’s some amusing confusion among players regarding the game's publisher, adding an unintended layer of humor.
- “It is funny, I exit the game after quite a few runs but then I'm thinking about it and decide to go back on again and again.”
- “The funny thing is some people keep trash talking this game, because they thought it was made by Ubisoft, when in reality they are just a publisher.”